Shivaun Lindsey Oral History, 2020/09/29

An interview given with Shivaun by her wife, Camden regarding COVID-19.

09/29/2020

Camden Bailey

Shivaun Lindsey

Camden Bailey

HIST3158

University of Cincinnati

English Home & Family Life

English Government Federal

isolation

quarantine

science

anime

work from home

stay home

Cincinnati

clueless

casual

LGBTQ+

10/03/2020

03/24/2021

03/25/2021

03/26/2021

05/05/2021

10/06/2023

09/29/2020

Camden Bailey

Shivaun Lindsey

45230

Cincinnati

Ohio

Hamilton County

United States of America

Audio

English

00:18:34

Camden Bailey 0:01
Okay that one was recorded. And… all right, we're good. Okay, so we are recording. My name is Camden Bailey, and I’m the interviewer. I am here with Shivaun Lindsey. The date is September 29, 2020. The time is 10:44pm, eastern time. We are in Cincinnati, Ohio in our home. Shivaun, I want to briefly review the informed consent and deed of gift document that you signed. This interview is for the COVID-19 Oral History Project, which is associated with the Journal of the Plague Year: A COVID-19 Archive. The COVID-19 Oral History Project is a rapid response oral history focus on archiving the lived experience of the COVID-19 epidemic. We have designed this project so that professional researchers in the broader public can create and upload their oral histories to our open access and open source database. This study will help us connect narratives and understandings about COVID-19 as well as help us better understand the impacts of the pandemic over time. The recordings, demographic information and verbatim transcript will be deposited in the Journal of the Plague Year: A COVID-19 Archive and the Indiana University Library System for the use of researchers and the general public. Do you have any questions about the project that I can answer for you?

Shivaun Lindsey 1:31
No.

Camden Bailey 1:33
Taking part in the study is voluntary; you may choose not to take part, or you may leave the study at any time. Leaving the study will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits to you which you are entitled. Your decision whether or not to participate in this study will not affect your current or future relations with Indiana University, IUPUI, or the IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute, or the University of Cincinnati, through which we are running this project. Participating in this project means that your interview will be recorded in a digital video or audio format and may be transcribed. The recording and possible transcriptions of my interviews and copies of any supplementary documents or additional photos that you wish to share. And the informed consent and deed of gift may be deposited in the Journal of the Plague Year: A COVID-19 Archive and the Indiana University library system. It will be available to both researchers and the general public. Your name and other means of identification will not be confidential. Do you have any questions?

Shivaun Lindsey 2:32
No

Camden Bailey 2:34
In addition to your signed document, would you please offer a verbal confirmation that you understand and agree to those terms? I am asking that you verbally confirm that you have agreed that your interview will be made available under the following license… [long pause] Which one did you agree to? 1. Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike 4.0 International 2. The Covid 19 Oral History Project, the Journal of the Plague Year: A Covid 19 Archive, and The Trustees of Indiana University (“IU”), acting through its agents, employees, or representatives has an unlimited right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, perform, broadcast, create derivative works from, and distribute the oral history materials in any manner or media now existing or hereafter developed in perpetuity, throughout the world. I agree that the oral history materials may be used by the Voices from the Waterways and IU, including its assigns and transferees, for any purposes, including but not limited to, marketing, advertising, publicity, or other promotional purposes. I agree that IU will have final editorial authority over the use of the oral history materials, and I waive any right to inspect or approve of any future use of the oral history materials. Moreover, I agree that the public has the right to use the materials under the terms of fair use (U.S. copyright law Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act). Finally, I want to ask you for verbal confirmation that you have agreed that your interviewee- that your- your interview will be made available to the public immediately.

Shivaun Lindsey 4:36
I confirm.

Camden Bailey 4:41
Alrighty, so some background questions. Um, what is the date and time?

Shivaun Lindsey 4:51
September 29, 2020, and it's 10:48.

Camden Bailey 4:59
What is your name? And what are the primary things you do on a day to day basis?

Shivaun Lindsey 5:04
Hi, my name is Shivaun Lindsey, and mostly I work and sleep and play video games on a day to day basis.

Camden Bailey 5:16
Okay, where do you live? And what is it like to live there?

Shivaun Lindsey 5:19
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and in an apartment just outside of the very edge of Cincinnati, Ohio. It's pretty fine to live here, it’s quiet.

Camden Bailey 5:35
When you first learned about COVID-19, what were your thoughts about it? How have your thoughts changed since then?

Shivaun Lindsey 5:43
I didn't think it would be as impactful as it is. And what seems much more long term.

Camden Bailey 5:54
What issues have concerned you- what issues have most concerned you about the COVID-19 pandemic?

Shivaun Lindsey 6:02
How poorly it’s been like contained.

Camden Bailey 6:11
Okay. In regards to employment, has COVID-19 affected your jobs and in what ways?

Shivaun Lindsey 6:18
I work from home now, but other than that hasn't really changed much. I still do the same thing just in my home.

Camden Bailey 6:29
Has COVID-19 changed your employment status?

Shivaun Lindsey 6:32
No luckily, I have a job that I can do from home, so it doesn't change the ability to work.

Camden Bailey 6:39
What concerns do you have about the effects of COVID-19 on your employment and the economy- in the economy more broadly?

Shivaun Lindsey 6:47
It does make it a lot harder to change jobs at some point. It's not a good time to look for something else. But mostly it's fine at the moment.

Camden Bailey 7:06
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the employment of people you know?

Shivaun Lindsey 7:11
Yeah, it's been difficult for my sister I know. And it's been difficult for my fiancée who lost their job.

Camden Bailey 7:23
You can just say me.. you can just say me if you want. [laughs]

Shivaun Lindsey 7:25
Yeah, my fiancée, Cam.

Camden Bailey 7:28
Um, okay. In regards to family and household, how has COVID-19 affected you and in- and or your family's day to day activities?

Shivaun Lindsey 7:37
A lot of staying at home, no going anywhere. Alot of seeing each other more often.

Camden Bailey 7:49
How are you managing day to day activities in your household?

Shivaun Lindsey 7:56
I set an alarm to wake up when I go to work. Try to go to bed at a decent time.

Camden Bailey 8:08
[laughs]

Shivaun Lindsey 8:13
[laughs] … day to day activities

Camden Bailey 8:17
Has the Covid-19 outbreak affected how you associate and communicate with friends and family?

Shivaun Lindsey 8:23
I can't go visit people as easily, but I'm not especially sociable. So, it's a bummer. But I talk to a lot of people online anyway.

Camden Bailey 8:38
What have been the biggest challenges that you have faced during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Shivaun Lindsey 8:49
I guess just like reduced income from Cam not having a job. It hasn't had that much of a negative impact on me because I have a job that I could do at home.

Camden Bailey 9:05
If you want from here on out you can just say like me, instead of like Cam. Like, that's fine.

Shivaun Lindsey 9:12
I can say you?

Camden Bailey 9:13
Yeah, you can say like, “you.”

Shivaun Lindsey 9:15
Yeah, true.

Camden Bailey 9:16
Um, okay. What have you, your family, and friends done for recreation during COVID-19 for example, feel free to include details about shows, games, books, etc.

Shivaun Lindsey 9:28
Video games and anime, some other shows. mostly the same things I did before COVID-19. I just also can't go out and eat food with people.

Camden Bailey 9:46
Lots of stay at home dates. Okay, so in regards to community, how has COVID-19 affected, the COVID-19 outbreak affected your community? Remember, you may be part of many communities including school, club, church, job, etc. You are welcome to speak about all of these communities.

Shivaun Lindsey 10:08
I guess the only community I'm a part of is job, I don't social -- job wise, we're all working at home. We have to use like text chat with each other instead of just communicating face to face. Otherwise I'm not in any other communities.

Camden Bailey 10:33
I'm just saying this as a reminder, like just answer these questions like however like, you feel like fit. Like there's no right or wrong answer.

Shivaun Lindsey 10:42
Yeah, I know.

Camden Bailey 10:43
Okay. Um, how have people around- How are people around you responding to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Shivaun Lindsey 10:50
Well, you're the only person around me. So also staying at home.

Camden Bailey 10:57
[laughs]

Shivaun Lindsey 10:57
I think that's kind of the point of the andemic- of the pandemic, pandemic. There are no people around me.

Camden Bailey 11:05
Yeah. Um, have you seen the people around you change their opinions, day to day activities, or relationships in response to the pandemic?

Shivaun Lindsey 11:14
No, there are no people around me. Except for- except for you and we both have pretty much the same feelings about it.

Camden Bailey 11:24
Well like, I guess like, maybe to expand on this a little bit like ,what about like- like, your like other friends or like, you know, from like, real life or like- or like even online friends?

Shivaun Lindsey 11:38
They haven't really either like, I don’t- my friends are not idiots, so we're all kind of like yeah, this is a serious issue and still think that and continued to think that the whole time.

Camden Bailey 11:53
Um, so self-isolation and flattening the curve have been two key ideas that have emerged during the pandemic. How have you, your family, friends, and the community responded to requests to self-isolate and flatten the curve?

Shivaun Lindsey 12:09
Most people I know are not stupid. So they've been doing a good job staying home, including me and you. And I don’t know, I would assume my parents aren't but I don’t know exactly, but I know what my friends are. I know Allison is, my sister.

Camden Bailey 12:31
Has COVID-19 changed your relationship with families, friends and community?

Shivaun Lindsey 12:36
Can't go see people in person as often but not really other than that.

Camden Bailey 12:41
Okay, some questions about health. Have you or anybody you know, gotten sick during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Shivaun Lindsey 12:51
Like not with COVID-19. I had a cold. [laughs]

Camden Bailey 12:58
What has- what has been your experience responding to the sickness?

Shivaun Lindsey 13:02
To COVID-19 sickness?

Camden Bailey 13:05
I think to like….

Shivaun Lindsey 13:06
Sickness in general?

Camden Bailey 13:07
It doesn't specify like if sick with COVID or are just sick.

Shivaun Lindsey 13:13
No one got COVID that I know of. Um, normal sickness, I didn't get anything that required going to the doctor, so just kinda dealt with it like normal.

Camden Bailey 13:25
And what ways do you think COVID-19 is affecting people's mental and or physical health?

Shivaun Lindsey 13:31
Probably hard for, I know I've gotten fatter. Mentally, I'm sure it's hard for some people. It's pretty easy for me to stay home though.

Camden Bailey 13:43
So questions about the government.

Shivaun Lindsey 13:45
Oh boy.

Camden Bailey 13:49
How have municipal leaders and government officials in your community responded to the outbreak?

Shivaun Lindsey 13:54
I don't know.

Camden Bailey 13:56
Well, think about like- like what is like the state of Ohio done?

Shivaun Lindsey 14:02
I don't know. What have they done? [laughs] I stay at home. I’m doing my part.

Camden Bailey 14:10
Okay.

Shivaun Lindsey 14:11
We either die or we don't.

Camden Bailey 14:13
Oh my god. [laughs] Um, do you have any thoughts on how local, state, or federal leaders are responding to the crisis differently?

Shivaun Lindsey 14:23
Well, I think large scale has been pretty bad, pretty poor response. I don't know about local ones, though. Or the state ones.

Camden Bailey 14:33
Like could you maybe elaborate on like what you think like, I guess the national government has done wrong, like poorly.

Shivaun Lindsey 14:42
It just feels like things aren't being taken seriously enough. And it feels like there's a lot of people who don't take it seriously enough probably because people in power don't seem to be taking it seriously enough kind of sets a poor example. A lot of lack of timely response is kind of what’s an issue.

Camden Bailey 15:06
Alright, here's some questions about the future. Has your experience transformed how you think about your family, friends and community?

Shivaun Lindsey 15:16
No, not really. [laughs]

Camden Bailey 15:22
How does this pandemic compare to other big events that have happened in your lifetime?

Shivaun Lindsey 15:32
I guess the only other like, big thing was 9/11. And I don't remember that because I was seven, very young.

Camden Bailey 15:42
Okay.

Shivaun Lindsey 15:44
I know it had lots of impact, but I was too young to have any idea really.

Camden Bailey 15:49
Well, like, I guess do you like remember like any of the aftermath of like, 9/11?

Shivaun Lindsey 15:56
I remember people talking about it, but it never had any impact on me.

Camden Bailey 16:01
Okay, like, um, okay, that's fine. Um, what do you imagine your life being like, in a year?

Shivaun Lindsey 16:13
Hopefully not still in quarantine. But I wouldn't be surprised at all. I would like to be able to go out and see people. But I kinda would not be surprised at all if it's the same thing. So…

Camden Bailey 16:28
I guess you pretty much answered the next question, which is what do you hope your life is like, in a year?

Shivaun Lindsey 16:32
[laughs] Not in quarantine anymore.

Camden Bailey 16:35
Um, knowing what you know now, what do you think that individuals, communities, or governments need to keep in mind for the future?

Shivaun Lindsey 16:48
People should be more flexible with like, trying to prevent these types of things and be more willing to quickly respond to them and potentially, like, isolate. I don't know.

Camden Bailey 17:09
Like, okay, I guess like, let me like, I guess like, rephrase it. So what if you're like a decrepit old lady right in a nursing home?

Shivaun Lindsey 17:19
Oh my gosh.

Camden Bailey 17:19
And like, the president or whatever comes in, and is like, “You were alive during Coronavirus. What should we do because we have this plague coming?”

Shivaun Lindsey 17:33
Oh, God, I don't know. I think I would just like, probably ask them why they're coming to talk to me, because they've already screwed up.

Camden Bailey 17:49
[laughs]

Shivaun Lindsey 17:53
They're already doing the wrong thing. They should go ask someone else. To say listen to the people who really know what they're doing and talking about pandemic, like, biologists and stuff. Because they take the science very seriously.

Camden Bailey 18:10
Okeydokes, well that looks like that's all the questions. Um, did you have anything else like you wanted to say or anything else you want to share?

Shivaun Lindsey 18:23
No.

Camden Bailey 18:24
All right, well, that's a wrap.

Shivaun Lindsey 18:28
Alright.