The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a “new normal” of working from home, remote learning and discovering a new appreciation for streaming entertainment. But it’s also added to our lexicon with terms like “covidiot”—defined by Urban Dictionary as “someone who ignores the warnings regarding public health or safety.” I personally favor a more expansive definition, one that would include all the odd or ridiculous behavior that some people have engaged in during these strange times.

To be fair, I’m not talking about those of us who adopted somewhat more relaxed approaches in these work-from-home times, like wearing shorts or pajama bottoms that your colleagues can’t see during those Zoom meetings or adopting a cute Zoom background. But “work from home” isn’t a license to throw all social conventions to the wind, like wearing pants when you go outside to the mailbox. Police in Taneytown, Maryland, had to publicly warn one offender (who was apparently rocking the full “Winnie the Pooh” bottomless look) by posting on the Taneytown Police Facebook page, “Please remember to put pants on before leaving the house to check your mailbox. You know who you are. This is your final warning.” And it’s not just ordinary citizens getting a little casual; in North Oaks, Minnesota, city council member Martin Long recently attended a videoconference council meeting while soaking shirtless in his hot tub. That’s pretty mild compared to the behavior of Vallejo, California, planning commissioner Chris Platzer who “livened up” a recent Zoom meeting of the planning commission for the northern California city by allegedly drinking a beer and throwing his cat (he was also allegedly heard by city staff making derogatory, profane remarks after the meeting but while still connected). Not surprisingly, the planning commission has now called for Platzer’s resignation.