People say they're canceling their subscriptions over The Atlantic's 'No One Cares About COVID' piece

We’re pretty used to criticizing The Atlantic, but the magazine actually took a chance and published a piece by Matthew Walther entitled, “Where I Live, No One Cares About COVID.” Some are outraged by the author’s simple observation that “many, if not most, Americans are leading their lives as if COVID is over, and they have been for a long while.” For the record, Walther writes from rural southwest Michigan.

"Outside the world inhabited by the professional and managerial classes in a handful of major metropolitan areas, many, if not most, Americans are leading their lives as if COVID is over," @matthewwalther writes. https://t.co/wOdSQDYSPs

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) December 14, 2021

Well, it’s true.

Walther writes:

Meanwhile, our children, who have continued to attend their weekly homeschooling co-op since April 2020, have never donned masks, and they are distinctly uncomfortable on the rare occasions when they see them, for reasons that, until recently, child psychologists and other medical experts would have freely acknowledged. They have continued seeing friends and family, including their great-grandparents, on a weekly basis. As far as I can tell, they are dimly aware that “germs” are a remote cause of concern, but only our oldest, who is 6, has any recollection of the brief period last year when public Masses were suspended in our diocese and we spent Sunday mornings praying the rosary at home.

“But I wager,” he continues, “that I am now closer to most of my fellow Americans than the people, almost absurdly overrepresented in media and elite institutions, who are still genuinely concerned about this virus.”

Cancelled subscription screenshots are the new "In this house we believe…" lawn signs?

There is not one Atlantic reader whose behavior will change as a result of this piece. So chill out and learn something about cultures outside of Peloton riders maybe?

— Placeholder (@chekovsguns) December 14, 2021

Reading these comments from sunny Florida like… pic.twitter.com/uRzvwqPXmi

— Sam Osborne (@samkirbyosborne) December 14, 2021

pic.twitter.com/syetdV2ftN

— KSB (@KSBruno9) December 14, 2021

I’m extending my subscription. Bravo.

— S Kutz (@sjkz) December 14, 2021

What are the guesses on how long it takes The Atlantic to un-publish that "No One Cares About COVID" piece?

I honestly did not expect it to hit so hard, people are pissed. I read it and was like "yeah, that's about right"https://t.co/RlweO87F0d

— PoliMath (@politicalmath) December 14, 2021

It depends on the decay rate of the hate clicks.

— ScottO Well What the Hell* (@gscottoliver) December 14, 2021

My response was…."Sounds heavenly!"

— GW (@SurlMudgeon) December 14, 2021

100%. I didn't realize people were mad about it but I guess I should have expected that.

My wife flipped it to me this morning w/ an "there are places like this out there?? we need to move!"

— blighter (@blightersort) December 14, 2021

If you aren’t going into a medical facility (masks) you’d almost think it’s 2018 where I live.

— peg (@pegj_) December 14, 2021

This phenomenon itself is extremely scary. These people have so much difficulty processing a fact that most of America isn't worried about something they are, that they lash out. These are the people for whom policy was targeted to in 2020.

— Chris Oldman (@ChrisOldman4) December 14, 2021

They need the public in fear in order to feel superior in their choice.

— Cocoa is a dog (@Cocoaisadog) December 14, 2021

https://twitter.com/rak3re/status/1470860490847010818

It's 100% correct

— D Mac- (@dougm7914) December 14, 2021

The reactions to this piece are stunning. The people most involved in discourse are emotionally stunted toddlers who can't differentiate between someone who chooses to live with the virus, and someone cheering its spread.

— K245 (@AJHodgeIV) December 14, 2021

Like the people who refuse to distinguish between vaccines and vaccine mandates.

https://twitter.com/alexanderjguy/status/1470860325641768966

Not really, but there are some good ones, especially if you love to see The Atlantic shamed for trying to kill people.

Related:

MSNBC says Republicans hating mandates but loving vaccines ‘may seem like another bit of blatant hypocrisy from the GOP’ https://t.co/oL5JqdCviD

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 14, 2021