Another day, another scary Ebola headline.
The news that New York has its first case of Ebola hit the night of Oct. 24, and most of the Interwebs promptly freaked out. Soon, reports of where Ebola patient Craig Spencer had traveled in the city while under "self-quarantine," debates on whether or not you can catch the virus on the subway and discussions on how a city of more than eight million people will try to contain the disease flooded our newsfeeds.
But as most of the country got out their HazMat suits, New Yorkers were a little bit more blasé and had a sense of humor about the whole thing, at least on Twitter. Nothing fazes New Yorkers, not even the threat of a deadly viral outbreak.
New Yorkers have a love/hate relationship with the city that never sleeps, and by love, I mean that they love to complain about it. The news of the first Ebola patient in New York encouraged them to take the opportunity to air their other grievances with the city.
I always said New York would get Ebola before it got a 2nd Avenue subway line.
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 24, 2014
Thank GOD I don't subscribe to Time Warner Cable. NY1 anchor advises us "don't eat poop" #EbolaInNYC pic.twitter.com/X7KRHv9PPW — CatsPolitics (@CatsPolitics) October 24, 2014
I'm a lot more afraid of what may be on the subway pole than Ebola.
— Jason Hirschhorn (@JasonHirschhorn) October 24, 2014
After hearing that Spencer visited The Gutter bowling alley in Williamsburg, Brooklyn the night before his Ebola symptoms appeared, New Yorkers poked fun at the borough. They were probably Manhattanites.
Welp, at least now I have a strong reason to avoid Brooklyn. #EbolainNYC — Kavitha A. Davidson (@kavithadavidson) October 24, 2014
Like every other annoying and unwanted trend, New York's first case of #Ebola comes from Williamsburg. #EbolaInNYC
— Marco D. Minpin (@MarcoDMinpin) October 24, 2014
Ebola hits Williamsburg. Even deadly diseases hate gentrification. #EbolaInNYC — Brandon (@JealousCloud) October 24, 2014
Many were impressed that Spencer was able to do so much while technically being infected by the virus. No New Yorker is that active.
This Ebola doctor apparently did more in New York in one day than I've done in the past 3 years. Is the virus anti Seamless and Netflix?
— Ethel Mertz (@theivornovello) October 24, 2014
How did the Ebola-infected doctor go everywhere in NY in the last two days? Is it perverse that my takeaway is "I need to get out more"? — Jessica K. (@Jessicist) October 24, 2014
The Harlem doctor with Ebola attempted to "self-isolate", yet did more in a few days then I do in several months. https://t.co/4Rbk49J9ML
— Chipper (@19jms) October 24, 2014
New Yorkers don't like having their fast-paced, busy lives interrupted, and Ebola is such an inconvenience, isn't it? Now that the virus is in the city, New Yorkers are unfortunately going to have to alter their lifestyles a bit.
Well Billy on the Street will be a lot of fun to shoot now. #Ebola — billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 24, 2014
Changing my Tinder bio to "Ebola Free". #EbolaInNYC
— Ron Podovich (@RonPodovich) October 24, 2014
Whatever you do, do NOT lick the interior of your @Uber. #EbolaInNYC — D (@dschorrnyc) October 24, 2014
Did he have pizza? Did he have fucking pizza?!? Good God QUARANTINE ALL PIZZA #EbolaInNYC
— Scott Friedstein (@ScottFriedstein) October 24, 2014
Who cares about bowling? Now I can't play with random human street poop!! #EbolaInNYC — Rory Albanese (@RoryAlbanese) October 24, 2014
Taylor Swift released a new song off of her upcoming album 1989 earler this week called "Welcome to New York." And then Ebola came to New York. Coincidence?
Ughgh Taylor totally jinxed us with her new song @taylorswift13 #WelcomeToNewYork #EbolaInNYC
— Tuck Speedman (@HyIander323) October 24, 2014
Let's just hope this doesn't come true.
Ebola officially made it in new york. You know what frank sinatra said about making it in new york? #EbolaInNYC — ChrisVill (@ChrisVills) October 24, 2014
It's up to you, New York, New York.