“Look, David. I have my doubts”

Sort your head out and see a shrink. He’ll help you with your misinformation problem. Just remember to click on the links

Dave sighs and walks into the foyer. 

The receptionist waves him in and lets the psychotherapist know he’s arrived. 

Sitting at his desk, the light bounces off his head, bald, dome-like. So shiny, it even startles Dave a bit. 

“Forgive me,” he smiles, as he fiddles with his iPhone. “I’m just finishing up a little Twitter spat here. I shouldn’t get involved but it really hits a nerve when these people criticise the hard workers at the NHS. Heroes they are. Take a seat, David. I just want to say, you’ve done the right thing coming here. I think you’re really brave”. 

“It’s not really me to be honest,” says Dave. “But I’m obligated to come here. I just want to get this over with”. 

“Of course,” smiles the psychotherapist. “Looking at my notes here. So I’ve got you down as a COVID denier, is that right, David?” 

Dave shakes his head. “That word though, “denier”. It brings up all sorts of horrible stuff. But yes, that’s what I’ve been designated. I think it’s all crap”. 

The psychotherapist’s eyes brighten a little. “So, you're telling me that you think COVID is “crap”?” 

“That’s not what I said,” growls Dave. “I think the fact that I’ve been sent here because I think this, this whole thing, has gone too far”. 

“I see,” says the psychotherapist taking a few notes. “Many would say that is, how can I choose my words carefully here, that is selfish behaviour. What would you say?” 

“Look, I’m just here to tick a few boxes, then I want to leave”. 

“But what would you say, David?” 

“I’d say that I am not selfish”

“But if I reword it like this, David,” the psychotherapist lurches forward, this time closer to Dave’s face. “We’ve had many, many, deaths now because of COVID. If people go around saying the NHS has gone too far, many people would say that you are selfish. But we can come back to this. My notes say that you are here because of breaking misinformation laws, is that correct?”

Dave looks down at the floor. “Look, I sent a video to a “friend” who passed it onto authorities. It was the one where all the people in Wuhan were fainting everywhere from a few years ago. It was fine until those insane laws were passed”. 

The psychotherapist puts down the pad. “Look, David. I have my doubts”. 

Startled, Dave blinks. “You do? Dave rubs his hands nervously on his jeans. “You don’t know how it feels to hear someone say that. Especially from you. It just doesn’t make sense to me. It never did. I did a lot of my own research. I keep talking to people whose lives were so affected. I even spoke to a social worker who was haunted by the number of children she saw, violence towards babies in the lockdown, even. It’s all so demonic”. 

“David,” the psychotherapist laughs. “You’re mistaken. I have my doubts about you. I sense we have a lot to work to do here. You are very open with your misinformation but I’m here to help you, remember”. 

The psychotherapists’ iPhone pings and his eyes narrow. “Ah good. The police have found the owner of that Twitter account. Hopefully, I’ll be seeing him tomorrow. You’ve got to love the NHS,” he smiles.