[giraffe_lady]

> As if this isn't mostly because of the disruption to normal life caused by the pandemic?

If you're talking about NYT writers, or HN commenters, probably accurate on average yes but I wouldn't make too many assumptions.

It is a lot of deaths though. I personally am still carrying grief for people lost in that first year, and I know about a million other american families are too.

I don't know if you're lumping those deaths in with "disruption to normal life" because yes sure they are but they are definitely still impacting my happiness a lot more than wearing a mask at the gym or whatever!