Click, click, scroll, scroll. With practically every news outlet in existence covering every aspect of the coronavirus, most of my clicking and scrolling activities have been of said coverage of COVID-19.

After a few weeks, I began to notice a pattern. Each newsource is choosing to take one of two views: First, that the corona virus is the next big social issue of the century, that social distancing must be upheld for a year or more, and that things will not go back to normal for quite some time. A rather grim outlook. The second standpoint takes a slightly more optimistic view, with the opinion being held that while COVID-19 is a serious issue, with the proper amounts of precautions such as "social distancing" and increased sanitary behaviors, we should be back to normal within a few months, with little to no effect on society as a whole.

Which facet of media most correctly predicts how this will play out? Should we be prepared for a subsequent year or more of very altered lifestyles, or is this a temporary three month setback? Is it wise to hunker down now and follow all the rules of social distance to the "t", or is that too extreme?

The answer is: We don't know. As with any dramatic catastrophe that our world has experienced, the best we can do is grope blindly for the metaphorical door that will open our connected world back up. In my opinion, we should all err on the side of caution, doing everything mandated by our state and local authorities, but at some point, the world must start spinning again. Viewing articles that take a pessimistic view can help remind us to be cautious and help end this catastrophe, while optimistic ones serve to lift our spirits.