Social distancing (SD) has surely been the most effective deployment of PSYOPS in human history. In the space of a few months, this recent, controversial, empirically un-tested hypothetical model about how best to manage influenza epidemics; has been universally propagated and imposed by the governments of the world.
The two metre separation has redefined, and begun the annihilation of, all human social functions and interactions.
To varying degrees, in varying ways, the way we relate to other people has been transformed.
People now treat each other as potential threats; walking down your own street has become regarded (internally) as a high risk activity.
When we approach a stranger (if indeed we dare to venture outdoors or into a supermarket, and if there is anybody else outside at all - since many places now resemble towns of the dead: ghost towns, with human beings deleted from the scene), there is a new social evaluation and negotiation.
Some people are friendly, others (like me) apologetic - and only really concerned not to offend; others are looking-out to take personal offence, and engage in self-righteous indignation and condemnation, or signal their own virtue and concern.
Some people radiate terror, others glare with baleful hostility.
(I suspect that there are significant numbers of people who - from the way they avoid these activities - believe the birdemic plague can be caught by making eye-contact, or by saying 'hello'.)
My point is this: all over the world, billions of people have suddenly had their basic human relationships transformed for the worse by a theory!
This is a solid fact. It is necessary to grasp and consider it - without inserting more theories about 'why'.
No doubt the legislation, surveillance and fines were a trigger; the unrepented and uncontextualised fear was a strong contributor; and the almost eager agreement and embrace of these restrictions by the masses has surely been a vital element.
But whatever the cause (and asserted necessity), thanks to this hypothetical epidemiological theory (presented as a known fact) the whole world is now a worse place.
If you could rewind the clock six months or a couple of years and point to a handful of obscure research articles modelling influenza outbreaks - arguing over whether SD made outbreaks better or worse; it would not have been possible to believe that this single idea could have been propagated to cover the world and change everything.
Yet it has happened.
Here we are.