Aggressively compliant

I have zero issues with admitting I’m vaccinated. I’ve even had a booster and I’ll have every other booster they suggest I get.

I’ve been getting my flu vac every year since it became available. I had all the jabs as a kid, in hindsight non-consensually, but you know what. I didn’t get mumps, measles or rubella.

I’m in Victoria at the moment for a few days delivering training. I’ve been staying in a bush hut without power or an inside bathroom. So as you can imagine an eggs benedict was high on my list of reminders of civility.

I drove North via Pyalong, then across to Puckapunyal. So supremely pretty country but not much in the way of cafe culture.

I thought I’ll have a stop in the heart of Australian military training and spend some cash there. You can imagine my surprise, Puckapunyal is not a town like Aldershot, but literally a barracks with a guard box and gates. As I did a uey I half expected to be chased but military police asking why I was acting suspiciously.

I decided to see more of the area in Seymour. With the Tourist Info office closed and the box of “Help Yourself” town guides filled with rain. I found a cafe offering ‘All Day Breakfast’ but all the outside seating was wet and continuing to be rained on. So I went I search of somewhere with dry outside seating.

The 96 seemed to tick all the boxes until I had the audacity to ask if it was ok to sit outside.

“If you show me your vaccination certificate!”

It wasn’t a request, the tone implied DEMAND.

I responding by saying, ‘I’m sorry, it’s my understanding that check-in is required, but masks and proof of vaccination is no longer required. So I’m not currently carrying it with me.’

What came next reduced my ability to communicate in a calm manner evaporated.

“Well! If you want to get a fine and get me fired!”

I opted to take my money and now festering mood away from Seymour. I grabbed a large latte and hit the road.

As I drove away I felt myself understanding the anti-vac and Convoy to Canberra crew just a little better. At no other time in my life have I had to show my vaccination status. Even when I went to Africa I didn’t have prove I had all the jabs. I even drank cholera for that one. But no one stood at the door demanding to see my vaccination status.

I was looking to sit in an outside space and eat food, and yet my compliance was aggressively demanded.

Aggressively demand anything from me and I will kick back. Most folks will.

Where I struggle to understand the above co-hort is when they’re people of science. That really boggles my mind.

Anyway. Back on the road. I stopped at Euroa. I filled up the car and my belly with much needed fuel. As I ordered at The Nest*, I could see no signage regarding Covid-19 rules at all, but I flashed my vac certificate at the staff and asked ‘do you need to see this?’

“If you’re going to sit down. Thank you.”

Easy.

Painless.

No submission demanded.

I yielded in advance of any invitation.

In closing. I’m so glad I live in the ACT. At no point during the last two years have I been required by law to show my private medical/health information to complete strangers.

No wonder so many are pissed off.

*No EB but their bacon, double egg, and tomato relish on Turkish was great.