Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Covid-19 and purity spirals

684 replies

DreadPirateLuna · 09/04/2020 13:54

Covid-19 is a very serious illness which threatens our most vulnerable and risks overwhelming the NHS. We should all do what we can to flatten the curve and save lives. People whose behaviour risks lives (e.g. urban residents traveling out to holiday homes in rural communities) should face criticism and sanctions.

However, I can't help feeling that some of the outrage at some behaviours is less about reducing the spread and more about getting caught in a "purity spiral".

Take all the outrage about people in parks. Fresh air and sunshine is good for physical and mental health, it improves the immune system which is particularly important during an epidemic! Many urban residents have no other source of open space except the local park. The ability to get outside can be lifesaving for victims of DV. Risks of contracting disease are very low if you keep your distance from others outside your household.

Yet I've seen photos of walkers and family groups in parks, keeping far away from others, but accused of selfishness and killing the elderly and disrespecting the NHS. Parks in London have been closed, meaning more congestion of other areas and residents confined to homes, which is damaging for reasons outlined above.

And it's usually (though not exclusively) women and esp mothers who get blamed. Those selfish Karens and their broods.

A more sensible solution would be to allow restricted access to the parks. Maybe allow only locals in nearby flats without gardens. But it seems we're not doing sensible these days.

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/04/2020 00:28

Make it too hard to buy stuff and people will find ways round, borrowing from friends, buying second hand etc whicj will end up increasing social contact.

This. And I'm sure the government realise this. People aren't going to all sit around in sackcloth and ashes drinking water and staring at the wall just because some people think everyone should be miserable.

StatisticallyChallenged · 11/04/2020 00:25

The PPE situation is shocking (and clearly the reason they're not recommending masks for the public, cos they wouldn't have enough!

What people buy in a shop that is open is nobody else's sodding business (hoarding excluded). On other threads folk are berated for shopping online. So we can't win frankly. Make it too hard to buy stuff and people will find ways round, borrowing from friends, buying second hand etc whicj will end up increasing social contact.

FloralBunting · 11/04/2020 00:12

Yes, I walked the dog today and the grass verge was studded with random blue gloves in amongst the odd cluster of bluebells. Makes a change from the crisp packets to go with the heady scent of weed.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 11/04/2020 00:06

Like tumbleweeds in a Spaghetti Western, it's ridiculous.

Mrsfrumble · 11/04/2020 00:04

Yes! Abandoned gloves all the place here. Reminds me of the people who pick up their dog’s crap, bag it, than leave the bags on the path or hanging in a tree.

FloralBunting · 11/04/2020 00:03

I keep trying to explain to people who are 'keeping their shopping gloves in the car for when they go out'. Not surprising, really, glove hygiene isn't part of every day life. We are wiping every high touch area down with appropriate sprays and single use cloths frequently, so it's as germ free as it can be. And obvs the contactless limit has gone up so touching is as minimal as possible.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 11/04/2020 00:02

Mine are

Dont know about anyone elses

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 11/04/2020 00:01

In the bin at home...

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 11/04/2020 00:00

Also when disposing of disposable gloves please do so in an actual bin. People have been just dropping them on the ground where I live and I'm worried dogs will end up swallowing them.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 10/04/2020 23:59

Get in 🙄

Fucks sake

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 23:58

DJLippy

I am very much campaigning for proper PPE. It's scandalous how ill prepared the NHS is.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 10/04/2020 23:58

Yeah ive been binning mine floral

Obviously wash my hands when i get it

FloralBunting · 10/04/2020 23:56

Although I would like to mention the glove thing - please don't keep the one pair on for your entire shopping trip and then save them for the next one. Genuinely no point. Gloves give you a false sense of security if you don't use them as single use items.

FloralBunting · 10/04/2020 23:53

isabelle, it's very thoughtful of you, ta. As long as you're socially distancing around the store, and give staff who are restocking time to move if you need something from where they are working, it's all good.

DJLippy · 10/04/2020 23:52

Just to say. We have people following all the government sanctioned rules and monitoring everyone else. But on the other hand the lack of PPE is endangering the NHS. If people spend all this energy on social distancing but the medical staff are not properly protected in their jobs it will be pointless. We want to 'flatten the curve' but because medics are neglected it wont work. It will all be for naught. Save your breath to fight the government not your neightbours

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 10/04/2020 23:51

If someone can figure out a way of getting food to me without going in a shop I’m all ears

Really don’t like shopping at the moment

isabellerossignol · 10/04/2020 23:51

I have been doing self scanning at the supermarket, I feel that minimises contact with staff. Do I get added purity points for that?

Mind you, I always do self scan anyway because I like the way it adds it up for me on the way round and I don't get a nasty shock when I go to pay.

FloralBunting · 10/04/2020 23:50

I think, given that I'm putting myself and my family at risk by continuing to work in a risky environment, I'll be coping with that by being cheery and personable to all customers, not scowling at them because they are spending their money in the shop I work in. Basic part of working in the service industry, really. Tbh, the only customers we're not enjoying are the ones who are rude and unpleasant, same as normal.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 23:49

Sounds like half workplace half cult - we ARE Marks.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 10/04/2020 23:48

In marks

She isn’t marks

She was working in marks

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 10/04/2020 23:46

Most of us working on supermarket tills are exchanging pleasant, stress-relieving comments

The lady is marks was very helpful today, I couldn’t figure out how to make it back out of the store

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 23:45

First trip to a shop post panic buying I stepped into the bread aisle, took a look, and went "what the fuck?"

At which point the person who worked there walking past said "mad, isn't it?", and then we commiserated. You know, like normal reasonable people do rather than pointing fingers and screaming "it's all your fault!"

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 23:44

FloralBunting

How unusual. A regular from FWR posting the exact opposite to what every other supermarket worker is currently saying.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 10/04/2020 23:43

I'm reading a thread about scented loo roll

Marks do those...never seen the point

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 23:42

I'm glad it's so funny. I'm sure Titiana and colleagues would be thrilled to hear so many people determined to keep on shopping.