When I expressed skepticism to close ones about the vaccine I was labeled a conspiracy theorist. 

I, like you. Didn’t consider myself obliged to either side. But that moment changed me. 

Not to say I went more right. But I certainly changed my viewpoint on normies and it really woke me up to the hive mind. 

In a way the lockdowns made me more resilient and knowledgeable. 

Just have to take the good with the bad. Even though friendships changed along the way. It opened doors for new relations to form.