> The actual restrictions were quite reasonable in the vast majority of cases, weren't in place very long, and were only spottily enforced.

It's ok to think they were reasonable or unreasonable, and which side you fall on seems like it'd largely be determined by personal circumstances and lifestyle.

> Sorry you missed a couple nights at Applebees.

This kind of rhetoric gives off a deplorable sort of pompous vibe. While it's probably untrue to say that both sides are equally authoritarian, it would also be untrue to suggest one side isn't at all. Both COVID and the response to it caused a tremendous of damage for some and created ridiculous amounts of wealth and almost no damage for others.

99% of covid restriction whining on the internet is exactly that, whining. And tends to be very revisionist about what actually happened, what actually was restricted, and what actually was enforced.

I reject your slightly modified false equivalency.