I know everyone wants to celebrate but the huge crowds are a bad look.

[PTWB]

We’ve been (rightfully) chastising Trump for his irresponsible outdoor MAGA rallies. We have just hit the highest single day COVID new case total.

I know there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle with these crowds and I know people are ecstatic and relieved and celebrating ... but it will come back to bite us.

Edit: Yes, almost all are wearing masks. But without social distancing masks are less effective (even outside). Further, everyone is singing and chanting and yelling in jubilation. These types of vocalizations have been shown to be significant sources of the virus being expelled and transmitted, mask or no mask.


This is going to directly undermine Joe’s ability to get people on the right to accept and follow the guidelines that they have so far been ignoring.

[Pisces]

1. All wearing masks!!!!

[LiberalFighter]

6. Damn right.

[Baltimike]

29. this! nt

[dchill]

2. Bad look? Who is going to punish us?

[Towlie]

37. The virus is going to punish you.

[Loge23]

3. There is a difference

Masks. They don't wear them, we do.

[mzmolly]

4. They're masked

from what I can see.

[Siwsan]

5. I'm seeing a LOT of mask wearing, and they are outdoors. The joy is uncontainable.

I understand the concern but this is a tsunami of relief.

[BusyBeingBest]

7. Outside with masks is fine.

[PTWB]

11. Socially distanced it would be fine.

Crammed in shoulder to shoulder singing and chanting ... the masks aren’t gonna help that much.

[Blue_true]

36. Studies have shown that when everyone is wearing a mask, particles from

loud speaking transmit about 2-3 inches. In order to endanger each other, people would literally have to be kissing while yelling.

[PTWB]

47. Whether or not this results in significant transmission isn't the only issue.

We are flouting the social distancing guidelines that Joe is going to need to enforce.

We aren’t helping by doing that.

[Blue_true]

56. I believe that people will get down to brass tacks on social distancing.

I wear a mask all the time in public, even when around family, and I social distance.

In order to get the country back rolling while tackling the virus, I believe Joe is going to have to heavily rely on people wearing masks and doing social distancing where that is possible.

[UTUSN]

8. *HUH*????????????????!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. They are outside and wearing masks, so the risk isn't especially high.

There's some risk, of course, but the masks will mitigate it. The massive George Floyd demonstrations in Minneapolis this summer didn't result in a significant uptick in cases, probably because most of the people were masked.

[Moostache]

10. I've thought the same...

There is still a very real danger out there and while one evil has been beaten back for now, we have too much work and too much danger to allow the elation many of our feeling after 4 years of constant dread to short circuit us.

Follow the Italian model from April 2020....sing on the balcony, scream into the phones and video chats, honk your horns and parade through towns...but do it safely, and then let's get to work fixing this mess...we have no time to lose and we need all hands on deck to make it!

[MOMFUDSKI]

12. NOT

I am still not over Pelosi saying we would just look forward after W did what W did. We can get as raucous as the next guy and who will stop us? Things will settle down soon enough but let's just put the shoe on the other foot for a moment and contemplate that. Let them see we have a bit of a backbone. They take for granted the democrats will always play nice. Turnabout . . . .

[Dem2]

13. We almost lost our democracy

And this is your best reaction?

Would you like to see the 30 car Trump caravan that passed through my area today?

[NutmegYankee]

16. +1000! nt

[PTWB]

18. I am thrilled that we won.

But I didn’t magically forget we are in the middle of a pandemic. The flouting of social distancing recommendations is irresponsible.

I’d be saying the same thing if Trump had won and his MAGATs had been out in the street celebrating - and so would everyone else here.

[Dem2]

20. I still think it's an exceptionally odd time to raise this as an issue

It's been like 3 hours since likely the most consequential election since 1864 was called.

[PTWB]

27. How?

This is going to undermine Joe’s effort to get people to follow the guidelines.

[Tommymac]

34. No way. Sorry.

Anti-maskers will not wear them regardless.

Those who were smart enough to vote for President Biden will.

Holy Cow the Nation needs to release the anxieties of 2020.

A celebration is well in order.

[Spazito]

60. Exactly...

Well said!

[Dem2]

64. Agreed

I'm flummoxed that someone has chosen now as a time to raise this issue. Guessing they were against protests for the same reason

[ChubbyStar]

96. Gee you seem real concerned about this

I am not surprised. Trump fucking lost, move on dude.

[PTWB]

101. You keep replying to me but I think you're looking for someone else.

[likesmountains 52]

14. This is a spontaneous outporing of joy, not a scripted pep rally.

[MineralMan]

15. Nonsense! They are all wearing masks.

People need to celebrate today. Leave them alone!

[PTWB]

19. How much do you think masks help?

When you’re shoulder to shoulder in an environment with people yelling and cheering and singing and chanting for an extended period of time?

I share their sense of joy. But I haven’t forgotten we are in the middle of a deadly pandemic.

[MineralMan]

23. I'm pretty sure they help a good deal.

Ask yourself why so many people in the White House have caught Covid-19.

As for myself, I limit my contact with others as much as I possibly can, masked or not, but that's just me.

People will celebrate victories of this magnitue.

[PTWB]

25. This is going to make it harder for Joe.

He’s going to go on TV tonight and talk about covid and following the guidelines that we are flouting.

[MineralMan]

26. Don't be concerned about President-Elect Biden.

He's got this, you know.

[PTWB]

33. I'm not concerned about him.

He’s done an incredible thing. One has nothing to do with the other.

[MineralMan]

35. The celebrations have EVERYTHING to do with Biden's victory.

Think about it.

[PTWB]

52. Okay.

If Joe wants to encourage and enforce social distancing guidelines do you think it will be easier or harder when we are ignoring those guidelines?

[MineralMan]

55. I think that today is today. Tomorrow, we can all think about COVID-19

more often. Today, we won. That calls for celebration of one sort or another. Me? I'll be pouring some better gin than my usual plastic bottle stuff to mix with my tonic, and I have a new lime to slice. I might even use a nice glass for my drink, instead of whatever one is at the front of the cabinet.

Tomorrow, it's back to the normal set of worries and concerns. Not today, though.

[PTWB]

59. I hope so.

I’ve been celebrating since Wednesday when it became clear Joe was going to win. But I’ve also been incredibly disciplined with social distancing and mask wearing since this whole pandemic began. I don’t like seeing anyone disregard the guidelines no matter how emotional they are.

[Lock him up.]

102. He cannot do that before January 20, 2021 after noon.

Unfortunately, the antimaskers will not follow his guidelines ever, unless there are FINES attached to them.

[Blue_true]

40. With two people masked, even shouted particles travel about 2-3 inches.

So, that says that if they are doing anything but virtual mouth to mouth contact, they will be fine.

One health minister even put out a advisory that two relative strangers could have sexual intercourse, if they followed effective wash-up hygiene and both wore masks during the act.

[quickesst]

17. I have a question

Exactly what steps would you have recommended to keep the celebrations from happening as they are? The great majority are wearing masks, and if you recall, Dr Faucci and the CDC have both stated that wearing a mask is more effective then an actual vaccine. The fires are being extinguished. There's not really any reason for starting new ones.

[PTWB]

21. It isn't something that can be prevented.

It is just disappointing that so many people are choosing to flout the social distancing guidelines. I share their sense of joy but haven’t forgotten we are in the middle of a deadly pandemic.

Joe is going to come out tonight and make a speech to try to lead on COVID and get folks to follow the guidelines at the same time we have a million people on the street cheering for him and flouting them.

[quickesst]

43. you are right....

It could not have been prevented which prompted me to bring up the subject of masks and Dr Faucci, along with the CDC's statement on their effectiveness. It is the biggest difference between these crowds and Trump's super spreaders where virtually no masks were worn. I think I'll bookmark this thread and check back every couple of weeks when there should be information on covid infections attributed to these gatherings. I actually expect there will not be any. We'll see.

[PTWB]

45. The cheering and singing and chanting is going to hurt.

That will negate the effectiveness of the masks to some degree.

Even if there are no spikes attributable to these rallies that doesn’t really help Joe.

Joe is going to be telling folks they need to keep wearing masks, keep social distancing and trying to convince them to take COVID seriously. They’re going to point to these rallies and say that Democrats didn’t take the guidelines seriously - and if there are no spikes they’re going to say that social distancing isn’t necessary.

[quickesst]

58. well...

.... let's hope that Joe Biden's presidency can survive this crisis.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

61. The George Floyd demonstrations in Minneapolis did *not* result in an uptick in cases.

Thousands of people were out in the streets, shoulder to shoulder, yelling and chanting, for days. But the vast majority were wearing masks, and guess what? Subsequent testing didn't show an increase in infections. https://www.wired.com/story/what-minnesotas-protests-are-revealing-about-covid-19-spread/

[PTWB]

62. These celebrations may not result in any increase in infections.

That would be great for the folks celebrating.

But it is still irresponsible. Joe is going to have to try to enforce and encourage these same social distancing guidelines that his biggest supporters are disregarding.

If there is no big spike in cases all the COVID doubters are going to point to that data and say social distancing guidelines are too strict and ineffective.

[dhill926]

22. well....no....

most are wearing masks. This is a day for celebration....

[PTWB]

24. Masks are less effective when social distancing guidelines are not followed.

Masks are nearly ineffective when people shoulder to shoulder are cheering and yelling and singing and chanting.

[Blue_true]

42. They are good to within around 3 inches of a person.

Most people don’t get right in a person’s face while talking or even singing.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

28. Heard the same thing regarding the George Floyd protests, and they determined no spikes were related

to those. Calm down.

[PTWB]

31. Hmm.

When Joe comes on TV tonight to give his speech and talks about following the guidelines for social distancing, do you think folks who’ve been ignoring those guidelines are more or less likely to follow them after seeing us disregard them today?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

39. Wait, are you saying that "folks who've been ignoring those guidelines" WOULD follow them if they

saw Biden supporters following them scrupulously? LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[PTWB]

46. How many people live in America?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

66. Save us both some time and make your point.

[PTWB]

67. You already know what it is.

And you know I’m right.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

74. Wrong on both counts.

[Luz]

30. I get you. I wanted to go downtown and join in..but covid 😒

[PTWB]

32. I would love to be out there!

It just isn’t responsible and it will undermine Joe’s ability to get everyone to follow the guidelines.

[KG]

38. your concern is noted.

[essme]

41. oh for god's sake

Seriously?

[littlemissmartypants]

44. Oh, my Gawd! There's one in every crowd.

Someone get the blanky and teddy bear. Somebody needs a nap.

[Kingofalldems]

48. Nah. Not a good try there.

[cwydro]

49. I hear ya. Wore a mask everywhere, stayed as far apart from others as I could.

But I got the virus in August.

Masks aren't magic. I hope everyone will be ok.

[jcgoldie]

50. Who fucking cares today

People are experiencing relief and elation .

[PTWB]

57. Folks who are responsible care.

Winning this election means more to me than even Obama in 2008 and I never thought any election would top that but here we are.

It is still irresponsible and it undermines Joe for his biggest supporters to disregard social distancing guidelines when Joe is going to have to encourage and enforce those same guidelines soon.

[Hortensis]

51. PTWB, hope you're feeling better about this. In any case, it's not going to

undermine an ability he never had to inspire those spreading deadly disease as a spiteful political gesture (or, fighting to save their freedom as they put it).

Others will be more reasonable, but it'll be the soaring death toll that will inspire most to back off their holocaust.

[PTWB]

53. It just doesn't seem particularly responsible.

Joe is going to need to enforce and encourage people to follow social distancing guidelines. Joe’s biggest supporters are ignoring those guidelines in mass numbers all over the country. Does that make it easier or harder for him to do his job?

[Hortensis]

65. No, that's not the main impression, agree. But don't forget

camera shots foreshorten distances. I confess I'd be there if I could and expect that I'd overall feel safer than when passing in supermarket lanes and standing 6' apart to check out.

[mtnsnake]

54. My wife & I are heading out later to Buffalo to look for a street celebration to join

if there is any, that is. Mask and sanitizer in hand. We will be careful, though!

[bigtree]

63. there's always someone ready and eager to steal our joy

...always.

In my 60 years, I've come to understand just how joyless these people are.

This op is sad.

[Hekate]

68. What you said. Someone is deeply, deeply, deeply, deeply...

... concerned.

[PTWB]

75. I am full of joy.

I’ve been full of joy since Wednesday when we knew Joe would win. If we weren’t in the middle of a deadly pandemic I’d be out in the street celebrating too.

Being joyful doesn’t somehow make it less irresponsible to disregard social distancing guidelines at the very height of the deadly pandemic.

[bigtree]

88. full of something

...sure aint' joy.

[PTWB]

90. Joy!!!

Go Joe!!!

😘

[PTWB]

98. What?

Are you lost?

[ChubbyStar]

99. Been here a lot longer than you sport

Try harder

[PTWB]

100. I don't think you know what you're saying.

Be happy!!!

[grantcart]

76. This is why we can't have nice things anymore but

I have to give him the benefit of the doubt because he must be a close personal friend of the President-elect because he refers to him as "Joe" up thread.

[riversedge]

69. i SEE lots of masked folks (some not-not many).

[PTWB]

77. How many of them are adhering to social distancing guidelines?

[malaise]

70. They are all wearing masks n/t

[XanaDUer2]

71. no

after four years of hell, it's time for celebration

[PTWB]

79. Yes it is.

Celebrate! But don’t irresponsibly disregard social distancing guidelines we are going to need to enfoursge and enforce going forward.

[SidDithers]

72. JFC...

I've had enough of allegedly Democratic scolds today.


Sid

[PTWB]

80. Our principles matter.

We should be celebrating. We should not be irresponsibly disregarding the social distancing guidelines we need to encourage and enforce in the height of the pandemic.

[nolabear]

73. OFFS.

[HAB911]

78. LMFAO

[JI7]

81. One reason Republicans were suspicious about Covid was gatherings of Democrats

for liberal causes never resulted in virus outbreak the way Trump rallies and that motorcycle thing did.

I believe it's becsuse our side wore masks and were outside.

[PTWB]

82. Yes.

It’s just gonna be harder for Joe to encourage and enforce social distancing guidelines when we ourselves ignore them.


Celebrate!!! But celebrate responsibly.

[JI7]

84. WTF , I just said our side wears masks which is why our gatherings

did not result in outbreaks.

[PTWB]

85. What?

I’m not disagreeing with that.

[BlueIdaho]

83. People wearing masks and

Keeping their distance in Times Square - dancing, singing, and having fun. Nothing wrong with that!

[PTWB]

87. That is fine!

Celebrate responsibly!

Unfortunately a lot of folks are wearing masks but IGNORING the social distancing guidelines.

[helpisontheway]

86. I don't like it but I understand it. However, they are wearing masks!

I still would not gather like that due to health conditions. However, I understand why they felt the need to be out there after four LONG years of Trump.

[PTWB]

89. I'm proud of them for wearing masks.

It’s really disregarding the social distancing aspect that is irresponsible.

Celebrate but do it responsibly!!

[MoonlitKnight]

91. Stop it

People are wearing masks and it’s a spontaneous reaction to overthrowing a wanna be dictator.

It is not a sponsored campaign event where the leader is actively encouraging people to not wear masks.

This is both siderism concern trolling.

[PTWB]

92. No it isn't.

Celebrate responsibly!! Wearing masks is important.


Did we suddenly forget about the social distancing guidelines?

[Cha]

93. Good God Just STOP IT.. WE CAN

😷CELEBRATE WITH MASKS!! Get IT!!!

😷😷😷 😷😷😷😷

[PTWB]

94. The masks are great!!!

Disregarding social distancing guidelines is not great, it is irresponsible.


Celebrate!!! But do it responsibly.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

95. Lots of masks.... AND NO GUNS!!!!!! n/t