Restrictions for Saving Lives But Why People Defy
Following Health Restrictions is a Kind of Examples Which is not Usual in Nature, Related to Huge Number of People and Enforcement is Extremely Difficult
By nature, humans are independent. They hardly like to obey anything that they are not familiar with, that does not bring any economic benefits or that is not imposed. Following health restrictions is a kind of example which is not usual in nature, is related to huge number of people and enforcement is an extremely difficult task. However, let’s explore why hard and strict regulations which are evident to save lives are violated frequently.
Folk’s general tendency is to follow what others do in case of maintaining a different type of restrictions. As these are not connected to monetary or other types of rewards which they assume are evident and quick, they hesitate to obligate themselves to these rules. When folk see that everybody is following the rules, they do not complain.
Availability matters. If there is an availability of obedience, more and more people join that rally and on the other hand, if there is an availability of ignorance, it becomes widespread and uncontrolled. Availability depends on factors like mass benefits, cost, enforcement, rewards, reprimands etc. If obedience gets rewarded, it becomes the norm or vice versa.
Livelihood is the most important factor. If this is hampered, people become disarray, corrupt and resistant. Social distancing and health restrictions may seem disturbing to many people’s business and employment, especially the persons who live by hand to mouth. Situation is dire in the poorest regions of the planet where people have no alternatives but to move outside for their income. Grant or donations are not guaranteed either. People forget the priority between income and death. It results in preference for the first one.
Folk want to live by examples. For example, if one says that there is a danger coming, one hardly believes but when a group communicates the same message again and again, perception becomes firm.
If people do not trust the source or the entity which is communicating, they do not like to obey. Moreover, if they find any discrepancy, they will fizzle. For example, if there is no integrity between the words and actions or spirit of an entity, folk will deviate and ask too many questions or argue before being obedient.
Nobody wants to take pain to do something different and be unconventional. The impulse in this case so strong that people do not want to change even after assuming the greatest danger or risk to life. For example, it can be an usual story that many families give up their all belongings to save the lives of a close one who is inflicted with a chronic disease like cancer in spite of knowing that the chance is very slim. But in case of Corona pandemic, there is no treatment even in the whole world. People can only remain safe wearing musk and maintaining social distancing but they do not care and fear. Why? Probably, crowd only accept something after they experience it themselves or see somebody experiencing it very closely. Another important thing is that people are prone to believe in the most conventional thinking rather than the in-depth fact because they do not bother to dig deeper themselves.
Corona Virus has taught and reminded the world that individual freedom is sometimes an obstacle to handle a crisis which affects the whole human race. In the wealthiest nations, authorities have taken measures timely, communicated the public, shown up the proper guidelines to follow in the hope that each citizen will become careful and take initiatives themselves. But they miscalculated one thing that one hardly hampers one’s freedom to secure whole community’s lives. Individual loss in terms of freedom may carry little importance while interest of group of people is taken into account. A person’s individual freedom is an impediment to assess the intensity of a risk that may affect a group because that person may only calculate his /her loss. For that reason, it is secure that a holistic authority assesses the whole thing and get each person behave that way.
Uncertainties are always covered in darkness. Nobody knows what will happen and what to do. Even defining a problem consumes significant amount of time, wealth and collected efforts. An individual lives in his/her comfort zones which get prioritized first. On other hand, a new danger like Covid-19 may get underestimated especially when it is already late to declare it a global emergency. Even after that being publicly established, people still do not like to come out of the luxury reflex and challenge the problem in true sense.
The similar trends are found in poor and wealthy nations. Why? Probably, the reason is that individuals become poor in managing something when they are in luxury or in poverty. Overabundance and destitution both force human’s rational brain to be ineffective. The pandemic has shown this to the whole world once again.
At the end of the day, humans although independent in nature love to rely or depend on stronger entity which secures their survival, existence and ensures never-ending marching forward. They always love to be cared for. So, it is not always the case that somebody is defying something in arrogance or for personal gain. It may be ignorance or lack of a big push from a strong entity which may show the folk the right path and guide them to reach the destination. Moreover, Most of the people are unaware of their habits and also do not have formal knowledge about making or breaking a habit. That is why although they want, they can not initiate and stick to the goal.
In a material world where capitalism dominates and almost everything is counted in terms of economic benefits, it is hard to ignore any monetary losses at the first place. But the global pandemic has put an exact pressure on global community that a shift is necessary immediately to save the human race and restore the greatness of this creature.
It is no doubt that so many things will change after the pandemic but nobody knows when this uncertainty ends. It has already been near four million people who have lost their lives. Death toll is increasing every day. Although rich nations arrange to vaccinate themselves, poor nations have not been able to secure theirs. What will be the ultimate fate of the poor? How many will be the victims before they get the jab? What will be the economic cost? Nobody knows the answers. Under these circumstances, if people still fail to follow social restrictions themselves, the costs in terms any form will manifold. No other period than the present one in the modern history requires human being to behave more responsibly and it still gets reminded before a fatal humanitarian crisis occurs. There is nothing wrong hoping for the best. Stay safe.
