There is a silver lining in everything…

…including in the ongoing pandemic wreaking havoc all over the world.

I am not, in any way, romanticizing this disastrous disease—this year had been rough for everybody affected by the pandemic and the consequences it brings. And I hope this will come to an end really soon (this too, shall pass). Stay safe, everyone.

What I mean is at the very least, there is something the pandemic can show us—like how incompetent the government is, absolutely, but that’s for another story.

But have you ever considered judging people based on what they do as COVID-19 is going rampant everywhere?

Ever since I was a kid, I was taught not to judge people; neither by their cover i.e anything physical from races to fashion style, nor by what you see them do by just a single observation. As we never know what someone might be going through, we should assume the best out of everybody (or as we muslims call it, husnudzan). Maybe that grumpy driver who keeps honking behind you at the traffic light is, in fact, actually a nice man whose employment contract had just been terminated just now due to the corporate’s financial problems? Or maybe he just wants to pee so badly? The point is, everyone got their own reasons. We can’t deem people as a ‘bad’ person just because our paths cross in an unfortunate timing.

Nobody, and nothing, can make any lawful judgement beside God Almighty Himself.

But growing up, I realise we actually need to judge people—or as I like to phrase it, ‘make an initial assessment in our mental note’, regarding everybody. It’s not a bad skill to master, imho. If we managed to catch someone’s nature on the first glance, we might find better ways to interact with them. For example; if you meet someone who, by your initial assessment, looks meek, then it might be better if you become more sociable around them than you usually are—as they might not initiate anything with you otherwise. This works both in a friendly relationship, or simply a professional one.

So if a single observation can’t really help us guessing what kind of person someone is, then what else could? From my personal experience (which is not much), if we actually need to judge make an initial assessment in our mental note regarding someone, it would be more accurate if we make one based on that person’s habit. Because anybody can do anything for set ups—but habits don’t lie. And it takes anybody an enormous willpower and sheer determination to actually change a habit.

And thanks to social media—though anything we see there is carefully filtered and  sugarcoated more often than not—we can actually see more glimpses of someone’s habit; a little bit more than cross-sectional observation.

Which brings us back to my first point.

The pandemic forces a lot of changes upon us. In a sense, it is indeed about who adapts better to it—as most people who practice precautions earlier would be way more fortunate compared to many of those who are late and got caught up by the virus. But here’s the catch: nobody knows when this pandemic will actually end. It’s not merely about how quick you are on adapting; but it is also about how long you can stick to it.

Like a running competition—rather than a sprint race, the pandemic has been more like a marathon. It actually tests your endurance in the long term.

Now if you don’t have an Instagram account yet (which I highly doubt), you might want to consider creating one and follow your friends and colleagues, or just anybody you’d like to make an initial assessment in our mental note on. In no time, many of their Instagram stories will start popping out in your timeline.

For the next step, you will only need a list of categories you’d like to put people in, and your clear judgement. (And mobile data/good wifi connection, but that one is obvious.)

Keep in mind that not all of your friends would post their daily life online—if they were anything like me, their Instastories would mainly consist of a lot of flyers of webinars they likely would miss—so let’s just focus on the ones who do.

Firstly, there will be friends who are religiously staying at home, trying to keep themselves busy. These people would upload things like the novels they are reading, their cookings, WIP, netflix watchlist, and such. Occasionally they’d upload posts when they are driving, ordering takeaways, or buying groceries—of course with masks on.

It is safe to assume that those people above are, in a sense, inherently good. Not only they have a high endurance; but they also involuntarily encourage other people to do the same, reminding them that the pandemic is not over yet. So it would be safe to assume that:

• They know science.
• They are adherent to rules—this likely also applies on other aspects, not simply COVID-wise. These kind of people would be less likely to be a pain in the arse to work with.
• They are forward-thinking—they know that posting things like that would give their followers a sense of crisis (which is a good thing to have nowadays), and vice versa.

And then there will be friends who frequently update whenever they go somewhere—office, inside public transports, restaurants. They might (or might not) wear mask and practice social-distancing. Every once in a while some of them will post with captions such as, “copot masker bentar aja pas lagi foto bareng”, “pandemi gini, target kantor kudu jalan terus”, “boleh lah sekali-sekali”.

Below are the verdicts you could give them:

• They can be put to the 1st category (the ‘inherently good’ one), since many people I know would like to stay in quarantine till it’s actually safe, but their job just won’t allow it. This type would always practice precautions nonetheless.
• Even though they are not in the 1st category, well at the very least, they know what they are doing is not quite right. They know that we will be doomed if everyone starts doing what they do in those 15-secs Instastories—hence, they are considerate enough to put in disclaimers such as, “copot masker bentar aja pas lagi foto bareng”. These people might not have that high of mental endurance, but at least, their subconscious mind acknowledges it.
• Most of them know science. Kinda.
• These kind of people are generally still easy to talk to and work with, and tend to not overlook their own fault. They might also respond well to well-delivered critics.

Lastly, the obnoxious one; people who frequently update whenever they are traveling, dining in, nongki, and such (in this pandemic, mind you). These people would very rarely post a pic of them with masks on (and when pointed out, would defend themselves with “kan copotnya pas cuma foto doang!” without bothering to make such disclaimer in the first place without being asked first), would usually seen attending wedding receptions while showing their make-up off (of course without mask), dining in at restaurants with a flock of people sitting near each others while proudly recording it on Instastories ( like who would eat whilst wearing mask??).

This kind of people, empirically, might be the hardest ones to deal with.

• Weak mental endurance, enough said.
• They don’t know science.
• Or, they might know that what they are doing are actually wrong—but they are just too proud to admit that they are on the wrong side here.
• Have no sense of forward-thinking—they won’t think that updating such contents would further contribute to the lack of sense of crisis, which is sadly had been widespread among our people. So what would guarantee that this kind of people actually think of others sans themselves and their ego?

If any of you guys, whom are accidentally compatible with the last type, are reading this, then hear me out: Yes. I am shading you. Now go the f back inside because the pandemic is not over yet and XXI can wait for another one year.

Please do keep in mind that what I wrote above are contextual, and shall not be taken just the way they were written. There are many factors involved also, but I hope you guys could see the bigger picture from my writings.

To end this post, I would like to thank everybody for practicing social distancing, wearing mask, avoiding crowds and such, because it is already a HUGE help for our national healthcare system which is currently on the brink of collapsing. May Allah repay your thoughtfulness and consideration. Aamiin.