Individual response to government “overreach”

TLDR: Regardless of whether you follow your government’s instructions or change your behavior in order to specifically not follow your government’s instructions, you’re still allowing your behavior to be controlled by your government.

I understand the urge to do things just because the government tells you not to (confederate flags), or to not do things just because the government tells you to do a thing (masks).

Look at confederate flags. For whatever reason, if you’re a person who has flown a confederate flag their entire life, cool. But if you’re a person that went out and bought a confederate flag to fly after you heard about various institutions banning them, then you’re a child. Daddy told you no and you’re going to prove that you can do it anyway.

As a free spirited, rugged individual, I don’t fly a confederate flag because I don’t fly any flags, never have, never will.

Masks. I see people all the time who only wear their masks in places that have signs up requiring masks (they don’t wear them in places that don’t have signs requiring masks). And then of course there are the folks that are never going to wear masks simply because they want to be a child and not listen to their daddy government. In either case, these people are doing specifically what they’re told or they’re specifically doing the opposite of what they’re told.

As a free spirited, rugged individual, I wear a mask everywhere. My mom came over to visit and I put a mask on in my own house. I don’t wear a mask because the government recommends it. I wear one because the scientific community that knows far, far more about this virus than I ever will recommends it. The same scientific community that has provided the people I love with life saving medications and procedures recommend it. The same community that has developed the vaccines that will likely bring an end to this global pandemic recommend it.

Stay safe out there you crazy fucks.