Apparently, "shun" is a Four-letter Word

City Conversations No One Else is Having—#7, Part 2

This City Conversation is Part 2 of an essay—Some ideas just don’t work as Conversations.

This past week has been tough for me on the COVID front: the COVID death of a young acquaintance of my daughter; the revelation a good friend was retiring early from teaching because of a 3-1/2 month bout with COVID, leaving them with “long COVID;” topped off by a vaccination denial from an unexpected source. On the brighter side, I got my BC vaccine card.

Against this background, I published Part 1 of this Conversation. It elicited more feedback than any of my previous blog posts: one person quietly left my blog, although two more joined; a private email called my writing “banal”—that hurt; one whose opinion I value suggested I was intolerant, which gave me pause. A few other folks whose opinions I also value expressed their nervousness about my position, which I have heard.

Ranged against the critical, in addition to my blog, I had posted in four Vancouver Facebook groups. All captured a number of likes and positive comments, no negatives. The administrator of one reported to me that I had been reported by a group member to Facebook for “hate speech,” but he was not about to take down my essay—it remains in place, so I guess Facebook is okay with it. Several other members of that same group then started a lively “this is not hate speech” discussion, interesting because there were no negatives to their positives. Lots of “likes,” no “dislikes” or “hates” and 28 comments so far from articulate folks, most of whom I don’t know personally, some quite passionate in their defence of my free speech—for which, thanks. These are small numbers in an influencer world I don’t inhabit or aspire to, but biggish for me and my modest words.

I used the word “shun” in Part 1, suggesting it was the appropriate interaction with the unvaccinated. Several commenters agreed that gentler ways were not working so far, as witnessed by the relentless spread of the Delta variant. I explained the non-religious shunning process as a proven behavioural moderating approach; nonetheless I think it was the negative connotations of that word which caused some discomfort for some, anguish for a few unvaccinated others.

So, for those who take offence at my use of the word “shun,” I apologize for any upset.

I will end Part 2 as I did Part 1. So far as vaccination goes, you don’t have to agree with me or like me—you just have to do it.

Brian Palmquist is a fully vaccinated Vancouver-based architect, building envelope and building code consultant and LEED Accredited Professional (the first green building system). He is semi-retired, so not beholden to any client or city hall. These conversations mix real discussion with research and observations based on a 40+ year career including the planning, design and construction of almost every type and scale of project. He is the author of the Amazon best seller “An Architect’s Guide to Construction.”