To wonder ..

[wishedforchild2016]

If everything was in reverse and covid-19 only affected say the population of school age only ( primary & high school ). Would the generation primarly affected by covid 19, make the same sacrifices the uk population and its children have all done to protect them if tables turned if they they v low risk/didn’t affect them ?.

This is genuine question . Would that generation show care and sacrifice within there lives for the young as we have for them ?Yes I know there are exceptions and younger have unfortunately died etc , but im talking the main age range that promoted to be at risk. I’m 30s btw.

[AnneLovesGilbert]

Yes they would.

[ProseccoandPizza]

No they wouldn’t. Monday I witnessed literally 20+ over 70’s sat in a local city centre square.

[Frozenfan2019]

But @proseccoandpizza surely those people were taking risks with their own lives far more than with others. Plus there are plenty of younger people who are not following rules even though the majority are, those twenty you witnessed are not necessarily representative.

[CalmYoBadSelf]

I think older people, on the whole, have more concern for the young than they have for themselves.

[Smallsteps88]

Would the generation primarly affected by covid 19, make the same sacrifices the uk population and its children have all done to protect them if tables turned if they they v low risk/didn’t affect them ?

They’re not even making the sacrifices now when the risk for themselves is high.

[Boulshired]

It wouldn’t work as not everyone would need to self isolate just those who have contact with children. Children would still be out of school and working single parents would still be screwed.

[ProseccoandPizza]

@Frozenfan2019 I’m not saying the young are doing great at social distancing however, in my experience the elderly I see in public spaces are somewhat the worst at social distancing.

I’ve personally fallen out with family members who refuse to stop going to the supermarket daily in their 80’s yet my nine year old is very aware of social distancing and doesn’t want to leave the house.

I honestly don’t believe if the situation was reversed the elderly would be making the same sacrifices the younger generations have.

[TheSmallAssassin]

It would be the same, some people would, some people wouldn't. Being older doesn't make you that different. It does make you care less about what other people think (not care less about other people)

[Tillygetsit]

Oh great. Another age bashing thread. I'm early 40s and round here it's young men not social distancing.

[Boulshired]

If the virus was only dangerous to children the country would not close parts of the economy. As whilst education is important, it would be better for a delay in education but a functional economy than children missing school and being in a financial depression. It would be tackled differently.

[shiningstar2]

Over 70s who are fit and therefore have no need to shield are allowed out in groups of 6 like everyone else from Monday. You would only need 3 groups of 6 and a couple in the town to see that many older people in the town centre. I was at the beach on Monday and walking along the promenade I saw many young familes enoying the sunshine and many of them were in bigger groups than 6. This does not mean they were breaking the law. If they were a family of 4 they could meet 6 others. That's ten in only one group. There was certainly more than 20...I estimate a couple of hundred. Most people were keeping within the rules and I wouldn't assume that because I saw about 20 who seemed to not be keeping to the rules, that this was typical of their age group. I am reliably informed by police in my area that teens and early 20s are the ones who most often congregate in big groups and have to be moved on. Most people of most age groups are invested in seeing off this virus. Most of us have younger and older loved ones we want to protect from it and have willingly complied to protect the whole community.

AnneLovesGilbert is right. Of course the old would isolate to protect the young. They are mostly heavily invested in the interests of their own children and grandchildren. In fact I know many older people who are getting ready to risk their own health, even though they are very vulnerable to the virus, in order to provide childcare when their adult children return to work. Some have been meticulous in shielding because of very serious health problems but are putting themselves at risk because their families have no other childcare.

When it comes to helping their families, the old are often extremely unselfish, putting themselves last to help the younger generations as many on these boards will testify. We are not in an us and them situation and we shouldn't make it so.