CoVid-1984: the "poor" small businesses

This may start out "Negative", but it's a "Positive" Post!

So, I tried 3 times going into a small Nashville music store to buy strings for my guitar, but always got chased away for not wearing a mask. And it took me time to drive into town, park, and walk to that shop. But I tried 3 times. I’ve bought a couple of guitars, a nice hard-shell guitar case, straps, and lots of strings and capos and who know what else from this business. Now I know that I can get all of these things for much less money online, and now buy my guitar stings from JustStrings.com for half the price, free shipping (e.g., $5.50 for phosphor bronze D’Addarios) and I’m spreading the word. Today I am now “allowed” to go into that store w/o a mask, but I won't again, ever.

Last Thursday I went into another local music shop in Bloomington, whom I’ve patronized in the past, to get a pick-up installed in one of my acoustic guitars, and literally got chased out for not wearing a mask. So, I saved a bunch of money buying a couple of pick-ups (and other stuff) online. And I’ll never go back to that store again either.

When/if these guys go out of business:

• They may blame it on "the virus";

• And, thinking a just a wee little bit, maybe instead blame it on the gov't mandates, and “lock-downs”;

• And, if maybe thinking a little bit more, they might blame it on "following-the-mandates" -- e.g., on themselves.

Yes, the psychopathic leaders are a real problem. But a bigger problem is all the people "following-the-leaders".

I hate to say it, but while I’m trying my best to support the local economy with cash, some just won’t let me. So, it seems, at least in a few ways, I am now supporting that “Great Reset” which will put a lot of small businesses out out business while the large corporations and Amazon rake in record profits.

Don’t blame it on me. Blame it on yourselves for “following-the-leaders” and for being “virtuous” enforcers of these fascist totalitarian mandates which are completely non-sensical.

BUT WAIT — this is actually a Positive Post!

On the Other-Other Hand …

• There’s a couple of businesses here in Nashville that I frequent often, and they are (more or less) as much Old Farts as I am. And not only do they not say anything about me not wearing a mask, NO ONE in those places ever wears one! So we talk, share jokes, get to see each other smile and laugh. So, of course I look forward to going to these places, even if they are bit out-of-the-way and I might get what I need for less money elsewhere, like duh!, e.g., online.

• And during this whole last 18 months, I’ve been able to shop for groceries — not only w/o a mask, but also without anyone even once asking that I put one on. Guess where I’ll continue to shop even when the fancier groceries in Bloomington lighten up? Where I have been shopping — not only because I feel comfortable where I have been shopping, and now know where everything is, but because it is now a “habit” and I’ve lost my old “habits” — I’ll just go there without thinking.

• Similarly, there are restaurants I’ve been frequenting without ever wearing a mask and without ever being asked to put one on for that silly short trip to the table where then it is OK not to wear one for the past 18 months. And I’ll continue to frequent them when the insanity stops and I’m allowed into other restaurants without being muzzled. These places are now my “hang-outs”; I know the owners and most of the servers and they know me and are now like family. I’ll not only continue to frequent them, but to promote them as well!

So, in the future,

• it is not some much that I am actively boycotting the businesses (as well as Amazon) “virtuously” enforcing this fascist totalitarianism, which I am;

• and not so much that I am actively supporting folks celebrating life and freedom, which I am;

• it will be rather that I’ve now found some new friends and will continue patronizing them, not just because I enjoy going there, but because it has now become a habit! And habits die hard.

So, I’ve lost a few old “friends”, but made many more new friends! And shall continue to enjoy them and go out of my way to patronize and promote them.

I didn’t name names; I don’t want to further hurt the businesses I no longer patronize, and I also want to protect my new friends from virtuous “follow-the-leader” people who might tattle on them to the “authorities”.