AD's! Rishi needs you to Go Down For Your Town

[Ibake]

New thread. Do your civic duty.

A worldwide body well respected said honestly that covid had brought forward by a few months the death of many vulnerable people. We may find in that case that the deaths from our seasonal flu etc. are down this winter.

@justasking111

A worldwide body well respected said honestly that covid had brought forward by a few months the death of many vulnerable people. We may find in that case that the deaths from our seasonal flu etc. are down this winter.

Wouldn’t surprise me in the least

Reading about the black death at the moment. Approx a quarter of the global population died. We are overpopulated now. How much worse would things have been if that 'cull' hadn't happened.

How many years into the future before people are saying if 2020 had taken a few more people life wouldn't be on the brink now. Pretty sure it will happen but I won't be around to say I told you so.

(Also - middle ages - people were advised to get away from crowded spaces - worked for some but spread it for others. etc etc some of the parallels are tragic and some are funny [[the absolute funniest is being about being 'darked' on)

I've had a sucky, sucky day - my elderly mother fell twice today, the fall alert people rang twice and I had to go speeding over to pick her up and then this evening, put her to bed.

And I'm angry, so angry, that she won't compromise on anything- she lives in a small cottage with too much furniture, a downstairs bathroom and steep stairs. She has a raft of medical conditions, including possible Parkinson's and she refuses all suggestions that might help her keep her independence.

Then I get an email from ds2's school about live online lesson trials and it makes me feel that they're paving the way to bleating that getting kids back to school in September will be 'impossible'.

And it's all making me absolutely bloody furious that I may have to wear a mask any time I want to go into a shop. I can't explain why I hate the idea so much, I just know that the idea of it makes me miserable, and less positive about the future than I have been through this whole shitshow.

Sorry. I needed to rant or I'd cry.

Actually I may cry anyway.

I'm not anti-vax btw.

I had an horrific reaction to a medication three years ago which has left me with various damage, the worst being neurological. I now react extremely unpredictability to other medications. I'm also very traumatised by it.

The thought of being forced to have any medication makes me choke with fear.

Shodan I'm so sorry.

@justasking111

A worldwide body well respected said honestly that covid had brought forward by a few months the death of many vulnerable people. We may find in that case that the deaths from our seasonal flu etc. are down this winter.

I am sure this is true

The tragedy from this to me isn't the deaths but that CV meant that their relatives were not allowed to visit them in their final days.

I can't see it as a tragedy that someone with long term dementia is dead but there is a huge tragedy that their final days were spent feeling deserted and their relatives feeling they couldn't be there for them.

We've just had a mask wearing recommendation in Melbourne, but it's been stressed that it's not for children or young people under 18s, and only applies where you cannot socially distance 1.5m.

Given we're under restrictions, I'm not even sure where you'd wear one at the moment? Its not for school/childcare either. Seems very reasonable given the general mood here.

However, my ultra compliant Facebook feed went nuts with the VICTORIANS, WEAR A MASK! posts, helpful 'how to wear' charts etc.

It's so odd that the people most invested in this narrative never seem to read the actual advice.

I'm always going down and doing my bit 😉🤣

I supported a local cafe a few days ago and I'm going on a local 'leisure' train ride on Tuesday.

Last week I went to our local shopping centre and bought a few bits and bobs and my husband bought enough sushi to feed 4 ppl today from a shop near where he works.

I'm meant to be shielding, but I think I already caught it in April, and although I'm still not right, life has to get back to normal, and I'm fucked if I'm staying at home in isolation for the foreseeable.
Might as well shoot myself if I'm doing that. Z

It's not practical anyway with a husband that can't fully wfh and 2 teens.

I miss having the house to myself sometimes too and find that I can't stick to my usually routines with everyone always underfoot.

Apparently, me singing along loudly (and badly) to my Amazon music playlists whilst I do the housework isn't conducive to my teens doing schoolwork and my dh answering work calls, etc. 🙄

Shodan and MaxNormal

@Dowser I feel exactly the same.

MaxNormal

What does everyone think about the covid vaccine being made compulsory? I read a thread about that and felt sick with anxiety.

No one should be forced, & I wonder if those saying they should be compulsory are dementoring in a different way?

That said, I'm taking part in the vaccine trial. I may have been given it, I may have been given the "control" (a different vaccine for something else), won't know until they finish the trial.

I am doing the trial because I want to, because I felt compelled to do something that made me feel slightly less powerless about this crap. It's my choice, no one else's.

We have all been offered the anti-body tests at work- as I'm in the vaccine trial I'd already been tested so can't have another one outside of the trial. Lots of uptake though as people want to know.

What bothered me was the phrasing of the letter to all staff "inviting" us to have the test. There was nothing in it to say you must have it done, but nothing in there saying you could refuse if you wanted to.

I've noticed this with cancer screening letters - all inviting me to go for a smear or mammogram & lots of repetitions about how it will save my life, but nothing about how to decline.

It's the assumption that we will all obey that pisses me off, & the sly way that choice is not offered. I say this as someone who is pro-vac & screening in general - but I have turned things down too.

I always thought I'd be compliant and wear a mask, etc, but I haven't unless asked to by medics, eg, at Dr. surgery, and in some shops where it's been a condition of entering.

Can't really explain why I'm not either 🤷🏽‍♀️

I find it so hypocritical anyway.

Those around here shouting the loudest about non compliance with clapping, mask wearing, etc, haven't followed the SD rules from the start, but their houses are adjourned with rainbows and signs so that makes it ok.

That's me done on that zone for the night.
I've just been informed that 80 is young nowadays after commenting about average ages of death and life expectancy
It's too late to continue to battle with that mentality!

Talking of going down How is the mask thing going to work for sex workers and their clients.

Because thats a situation where someone comes into contact with a few people.

Found this old post of mine from last year. Ive just copied and pasted it elsewhere on another thread because someone brought up women being dunked in water in ye olden days. But reading this post back now its quite chilling.

HelenaDove Mon 01-Apr-19 18:32:16
Ive just finished reading Witchfinders A Seventeenth Century English Tragedy.

The "witches" tried and hanged were not all women. Some were men.

One accused was an eight year old boy.

What most of them had in common was that they were poor. Yes poor. A lot of them were widows who needed what was known then as parish money to live. Elizabeth Clarke was an 84 year old one legged widow who was hanged. Many more were elderly. Neighbour turned against neighbour. Many resented their rates and parish money going to help these "wretches"

See any parallels? Because i do.

At the end of the book (although he does allude to it throughout) the author mentions how lack of liberty and welfare and political and economic uncertainty leads to this kind of climate.

We wouldnt get people persecuted for practising witchcraft now (although this still goes on in parts of the developing world) but we still get people persecuted for being poor/disabled etc.
Matthew Hopkins John Stearne and Sir Harbottle Grimston etc are long dead But some of their ideals are still very much alive.

There are parallels and its chilling.

TheOrchidKiller I had a colonoscopy not long ago, and prominently displayed on the specialist's wall was a patient's charter of rights. Lots of assertions about respect and dignity etc.

But nowhere on the charter was it mentioned that we have the right to decline treatment. I read it over and over - nothing.

I found it a bizarre omission.

The bit when i ask about seeing parallels is from last year. That whole section is. I havent added it on now.

"Neighbour turned against neighbour" They would report someone for being a witch. Now its covert filming of people on buses.

how lack of liberty and welfare and political and economic uncertainty leads to this kind of climate

We are seeing the same thing play out for a different reason.

@DominaShantotto

I fear for dd2 with her speech problems if masks come in. They trigger massive anxiety in me anyway but I would have to suck it up - but the kids are hitting the edge of where they can no n longer be “oh you wouldn’t have to get one on a little kid” and we would be prisoners again for fear of public shaming, people having a go, or being refused admission somewhere.

I’m already hideously depressed because school have taken an hour off the school day for September which screws my uni course if I now have a 2pm school run.

I literally cannot take much more, the kids had friends over tonight and the deterioration in these kids was terrifying- sallow faced, obsessed with screens, ballooned in weight and much less confident in their communication- it was heartbreaking.

Why have they taken an hour off? If it's to stagger the guidance says they shouldn't do that. It's not a mustn't unfortunately but probably still worth quoting at them.

Not sleeping here. No idea why but going to fuck up my weekend

As in they shouldn't reduce teaching time. If it's just them starting an hour earlier then they can. Guessing wraparound isn't an option

@Shodan I’m sorry you had a rough day. I know you said you’d exploded all options, but just in case - age concern were fantastic with my mum. From an era where they don’t accept help - I arranged an age concern visit for her when I was living abroad and they were fantastic. They must speak in a way and give help which doesn’t feel like giving help! But arranged all sorts from an easy-pour kettle through a stairlift.

A nod to the over-population- I think we’re well overdue a “population correction”, but covid is not it.

@ImOnTheWrongPlanet

Looks like I've found my people on this thread. What a relief.

I went to a local small shop today only to be stopped at the entrance by a member of staff and told I couldn't go inside without taking a trolley. I said 'I don't need a trolley thanks', she said 'You have to take a trolley'. I said I only want a scotch egg, thanks, I don't need a trolley'. She got arsey and said 'It's compulsory'. I said ' I'll shop somewhere else then' and left

All I had to do was pick up a scotch egg walk to the till and tap my card, not having to touch anything but the scotch egg. But no she wanted me to push a trolley around for no reason.

Worlds gone bonkers. People aren't engaging their brains any more.

😂 funny.

Not sleeping either. Have been feeling hopeless and isolated. Dtwins toddlers are hard work atm. Toddler groups were lifelines as I'm a sahm. I need somewhere with 4 walls as they walk in different directions when out and about.

Keep telling people that this isn't really living and I'd take my chances as this life is painful. Dd told me to grow up and that it's to save the nhs. Dh is the same but milder. Dm told me I need to go and see a doctor if I'm this angry and upset - for antidepressants. I'm not depressed, I know exactly what's wrong with me. I need to feel the forward momentum of life again. I hardly have time to brush my teeth sometimes.

Friends don't have kids and are teachers. They're glad Wales is more cautious. I told them how life was for me. They're also the beach judgey type. "People are crazy 🙄". Told them they were probably desperate to see the sea 😢💔.

@chocolatesweets for you. Having toddler twins must be exhausting at the best of times. I completely understand how you feel as have felt very similar myself. I liked my old life - it was hectic and exhausting but I liked having a full diary and people to see at the weekends etc. Do you know anyone from the toddler groups welll enough to meet up for a picnic or something?

@TheOrchidKiller

MaxNormal

What does everyone think about the covid vaccine being made compulsory? I read a thread about that and felt sick with anxiety.

No one should be forced, & I wonder if those saying they should be compulsory are dementoring in a different way?

That said, I'm taking part in the vaccine trial. I may have been given it, I may have been given the "control" (a different vaccine for something else), won't know until they finish the trial.

I am doing the trial because I want to, because I felt compelled to do something that made me feel slightly less powerless about this crap. It's my choice, no one else's.

We have all been offered the anti-body tests at work- as I'm in the vaccine trial I'd already been tested so can't have another one outside of the trial. Lots of uptake though as people want to know.

What bothered me was the phrasing of the letter to all staff "inviting" us to have the test. There was nothing in it to say you must have it done, but nothing in there saying you could refuse if you wanted to.

I've noticed this with cancer screening letters - all inviting me to go for a smear or mammogram & lots of repetitions about how it will save my life, but nothing about how to decline.

It's the assumption that we will all obey that pisses me off, & the sly way that choice is not offered. I say this as someone who is pro-vac & screening in general - but I have turned things down too.

I totally agree. Compulsory vaccination is an absolutely awful idea. It's the thin end of a terrible wedge. Where there's risk there must always be choice, and the one right I can't have violated is my right to bodily autonomy.