Thanks, all, but get back on topic. Play nice, no personal attacks, and be factual/science-based - and if you can't do that, then kindly step away from this thread.
@rasp56 I appreciated your first two comments on this thread:
Its a risk for sure, but we have to keep it simple at this point...get fully vaccinated or no cuddles And tbh its the personal safety which has more weightage than anything else
Those were great comments. It was your third comment that ticked me off:
I agree with bekah and klowe...
You lumped me in with someone who doesn't know what they're talking about. That's why I responded with examples of how wrong that other person was, and you kept insisting that he was "right." My confusion stems from wondering how you could accept such conflicting ideas, one based on facts and science, and the other based on exaggerations and false information.
I was trying to follow that train of thought, but I've realized that's only going to give me a headache, because there isn't one. I'm done with this conversation.
To anyone else concerned with the original point of the thread: If you want to cuddle safely, get vaccinated. That's it. End of story.
@bekah_cuddles
I apologize if i was not clear. When i said i agree with you and him, i meant get vaccinated (from your statements) but be cautious (from his statements).
I never said he is right, only said what he is saying might be true. There might be cases where post vaccination people are still getting infected.
Dont get me wrong, I have respect for CDC but they got a lot of things about covid totally wrong. Its new to everyone, there might be exceptions, there might be new scenarios, efficiency is too early to debate. I would not call someone bs if they have experienced anything different.
Factors that can made cuddling more covid-safe (in no particular order):
Washing hands (and face) carefully beforehand Wearing masks throughout (grim, but not as grim as you might think) Cuddling outside Cuddling in a very well ventilated room Adjusting positions to avoid breathing toward each other's face Having a shorter cuddle, and staying at least 2m apart while not actually cuddling
Single or complete vaccination of one or both parties Restricting cuddling and other close physical interactions to as few people as possible Leaving ten days between close physical interactions
Thanks @Sideon
@rasp56, please cite sources to back the claim that the CDC "got a lot of things about covid totally wrong".
Didn't they say that if both parties are vaccinated, it's safe for them to gather inside without masks or social distancing?
@Cuddle_RN
Before anyone gets me wrong, i want to be clear i am not downplaying CDC or anyone. Just saying even they got it wrong. You can google it or look at washington post or whatever sources you trust. Few things that i remember are
they were totally wrong when they said non-health workers dont need mask
they were wrong when they said children are safe
Etc etc
Pretty sure someone will come and argue on this too.
@rasp56 - Even experts don't automatically know everything about something they've never seen before. Recommendations change as they learn more about it.
@Mike403
I totally agree, questioning them was never my intention. I just wanted to say to bekah that its a new thing, to say someone is talking bs about what they experienced is a bit too harsh.
Ignoring what you think of the vaccine or covid.... if 2 non vaccinated people cuddle - you are much more at risk to catch covid.
Consider that you are 2 people that both value personal pleasure over covid risks and the odds go up.
Not judging whether you think covid is good for your body or bad - just commenting on the risk of catching it.
Personally, i want to thank all of the Pro Cuddlers for being brave and getting vaccinated - you are providing us with a safe, healthy service!
Actors on set, are gargling with low concentration hydrogen peroxide, seconds before doing a scene together.
@MaullySterling Oh wow! That's wild!
Rasp56 thank you for having an open mind on facts that you stated. That is what discussions are for. I never say anyone is wrong overall. Just point out what they choose to ignore based on subjective feelings. Sorry u were attacked.
@klowe45
Its all good, you need not be sorry i dont mind at all having discussions and learning from them.
Thanks, @Mare_Bear. It's really not surprising at all, the number of people who don't think about the other people they share breathing space with—who don't even see employees or their neighbors in an apartment complex or other public transit users, or bus drivers, (etc.) as human.
The NPC phenomenon was around centuries before video games. "What, be careful? Why? There's no one else here!"
"It's up to you if you think it's safe," people say. "As a person with free will, you can do whatever you like," people say. "Vaccinated people catch the variants more easily than those who weren't vaccinated against the original strain," people claim (though the exact opposite is true). "I don't need to get vaccinated, wear a mask, stop meeting other unvaccinated people, quit exhaling particles into our shared air!"
It's all... very... frustrating. You know, I used to be able to breathe without coughing.
So. Is it safe to cuddle in person again?
Depends on your vaccination status, the precautions you take, and whose safety you're actually considering here. Do I matter to you? Your local cashier, bus driver, indoor neighbor, their close friends and relatives—do they matter?
Whose lives matter to you? Who are you willing to endanger in order to get your cuddles? Select your level of caution based on that.
@CuddleDuncan's list is a good one! But bear in mind also the state of the virus where you are.
Note that if you're already sharing, say, an apartment with somebody, you may as well cuddle regardless of vaccination status. You're sharing all the same air all the time anyway. But for the sake of others, take precautions when you go outside... and get vaccinated when you can, if you can.
No mention of people who have had the virus in the last few months and recovered? I'm not sure why they need the vaccine, at least for several months, when they have built up immunity.
@snugbuddy: Right. Because I, after I got over being dizzy and nauseated and burning with fever and so on, was definitely incapable of carrying the virus in my nose and throat, and passing it to others.
Edit: ...This is sarcasm. Just to be clear.
Why would someone with immunity from the being infected be any more likely to have the virus and pass it along than someone with immunity from the vaccine? Also if most people have or eventually will have immunity from being infected or from the vaccine then what is the danger to those people? At this point anyone can get the vaccine unless there is some medical issue that would make it unsafe. If someone does not have immunity from either being infected with virus or from the vaccine, then they should not be cuddling anyway unless they want to risk getting the virus.
@snugbuddy: ... You're seriously asking why someone whose system was just full of live virus would be more likely to pass live virus to someone else than someone whose system only dealt with dead virus or plain spike proteins.
And then you're ignoring A the people who can't afford to catch the virus even once because they'll die or be crippled, and B the people like me who deeply preferred their life before the virus to their life after on account of liking the ability to laugh without coughing painfully and uncontrollably.
"If most people have or eventually will have immunity from being infected or from the vaccine then what is the danger to those people?"
Great. Nice to know my preference for healthy lungs is unimportant to you.
And then you go right on ahead and ignore the fact that I didn't cuddle the customers who infected me! "If someone does not have immunity from either being infected with virus or from the vaccine, then they should not be cuddling anyway unless they want to risk getting the virus," indeed.
I stayed on my side of the counter, mask on, and it didn't matter because they weren't taking precautions, they weren't wearing masks, they were breathing all over the store I'm trapped in for eight hours!
I don't like your rhetoric.
In Alberta I am staying on the sideline. I have been vaccinated but I wear masks all the time. It really nuts here, 4.2 m people here and 40 % have been vaccinated . BUT 1500 to 2000 new cases daily. Too many anti maskers . Totally useless enforcement laws. That being said IMO it is not safe here ( Yet )
I'm not sure why they need the vaccine, at least for several months, when they have built up immunity.
The answer to this question is a) obvious and b) all over the internet.
I will enjoy the closeness of in person cuddles but I do also enjoy virtually for my snugglers who are more cautious.