Scott Radley: In COVID lockdown world, would you snitch on a neighbour?

There's a lot to ponder as we work our way through the latest government stay-at-home rules. So let's throw one more question into the mix.

Would you snitch on your neighbour?

Would you call police or the bylaw department if you thought he or she was breaking the rules or would you decide what they do is their business and just go back to the latest episode of whatever you're watching on Netflix?

Take your time. We'll wait.

By now you've surely heard that the province has launched a stay-at-home order and state of emergency to try and prevent further spread of the virus. It's not a suggestion, it's the law. And you're no doubt aware that until numbers start dropping significantly, we're going to be stuck in this reality. Which could mean a month or two months or who knows how long.

The government has given power of enforcement to police and bylaw officers to deal with people who are out and about improperly. But we know there is no conceivable way they can do regular door-to-door checks of homes to ensure only the appropriate people are inside. Or that those that should be there, are. Nor, frankly would we ever want something that draconian.

This couldn't even be done with every business in town. It's impossible. So in many cases it'll be complaints that bring them out to investigate. And what does every complaint need? Correct, a complainer.

Most of the time, dropping a dime on a neighbour would be seen by many - most perhaps - as pretty low. There's a reason words like snitch, rat and tattletale don't exactly sound complimentary. People generally bristle at sanctimonious busybodies playing the role of neighbourhood cops. We've all experienced it or heard stories about them. And we've probably all thought unkind things about those folks.

But this is COVID time. Have the rules changed?

If you notice a bunch of cars in front of a neighbour's house, will you be peering through the curtains to see what's going on? If you observe your neighbour heading out with a bottle of wine or a case of beer, will your finger be poised over the phone ready to dial bylaw? If you see folks congregating on the back porch having a get-together, will you spring into action? In other words, will you become the person you'd otherwise despise?

Welcome to the conundrum that is 2021.

Complaining to the authorities in normal times that the noisy neighbourhood kids are playing road hockey and their ball landed in your begonias is unquestionably greasy. They're kids. Relax. Complaining that the neighbourhood adults are possibly spreading a virus that could seriously affect you and others on the other hand, well, that's something different. Isn't it?

In our current circumstances, many would say turning in such people would be the correct move. It would be the grown-up response to someone who doesn't care that they're putting people at risk and ensuring you - and all of the rest of us - remain locked in our homes for longer and longer times. It might even be your civic duty.

But snitching? Could you? What if there's a perfectly good explanation for their behaviour but you're now drawing suspicion to them for no good reason? What if your call lands them a $100,000 fine or a year in jail?

Remember, you're going to have to live near these people when this is over. Is it worth the hassles and bad feelings that could result? Are you ready for bylaw to be called on you down the road as payback?

But it's the virus. The numbers we're hearing are no joke. Nobody wants to imagine hospitals overflowing to the point people can't get treatment. Certainly none of us want anyone else dying because someone else decided they needed to have their friends over for a 90 Day Fiance watch party.

Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth.

Dealing with everyday life right now is a challenge. Managing our boredom as we live in a non-fictional Groundhog Day isn't easy. Keeping the kids engaged and ourselves sane with no social life is tough.

Now we're supposed to have to wrestle with issues of conscience, too? We're supposed to decide if the thing that might normally seem wrong is really the right thing. If mind-your-own-business or live-and-let-live no longer apply?

So would you?

Scott Radley is a Hamilton-based columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sradley@thespec.com