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Post being replied to

They, and many others, also need lessons by FaytlND

on not being shamelessly self-interested.

From the beginning, a sub-segment has been focused only on how the pandemic affects them personally. How many times have we heard discussions about how vaccinations, masks, etc. protect not just an individual but those around them?

The problem is that the cost can be magnified. Sure, the cost of a delta headache for one person might be 100 units. But what's the societal cost if that person continues the chain of transmission. They didn't die, so no skin of their back, but what if someone downstream dies? Or, as others have mentioned in this thread, what if their behavior leads to hospitalizations which amplify the pressure on the healthcare system?

The calculus frequently boils down to "Well, if I get sick I won't die, so it doesn't matter what I do. It's up to me to decide my risk tolerance." While that may be true, it's different when decisions about your individual risk tolerance negatively influence others. Even if you could explain risk in alternative situations, I think we'd still fall short in having people appreciate risk that extends beyond the individual.