ADs, Corvids and the sequacious masses

[Mascotte]

New thread

I still follow a lot of US social media stuff from when we lived there, and I can see how the polarisation regarding masks is spreading over here. A problem seems to be liberal-minded folks so desperate to prove their anti-Trump stance that they end up being nonsensical, aggressive and ableist, which are rather Trumpian qualities really... For example, I saw a post ranting about how people in bars and restaurants who didn’t replace their masks straight after eating / drinking were selfish, stupid and putting themselves and others at risk. As if the virus waits politely for you to finish eating! And the willingness to throw those with hidden disabilities under a bus and expose already marginalised and vulnerable people to even more exclusion and aggression, just so people can prove how liberal and right-on they are, is pretty gruesome to watch.

I’m not anti mask. I cover my face on public transport, and even encourage my children to wear their masks, even though they’re both under 11 and exempt anyway. I’ve already started covering my face in shops. I’m genuinely disturbed by the tone of the debate surrounding the issue though.

@ISaySteadyOn

I know the thread has moved on but I wanted to thank everyone who engaged last night with your measured and reasonable views.

I was really upset at what I perceived as an invasion of a space where it was ok to be distressed about the mask thing and you all brought it back to being that space so thank you for that from a mostly lurker.

I lurked for ages before I had the courage to post, and I know how much these threads helped me.

To draw a very bad and extremely cheesy analogy, I felt like Rose from the Titanic, hit by the Covid iceberg, and being buffeted by the Atlantic (dementors)....and this thread was the door that saved me from drowning

I think Buttermecrumpets makes a powerful case for why masks are here to stay until 2021, sadly. To which I say, 'oh bollocks'.

ButterMeCrumpets
AnxiousElephant77 my own thinking about it being next year is that they are being driven by SM. Everyone is screaming of a second wave with things opening up. Now that hasn't happened it talk of it's going to be awful over winter with this on top of the flu season. So my thoughts are that they won't relax this guidance until we are over that period because they are placating those fears. If we get to next spring and the world hadn't ended because of Covid then I think they might have to concede that some of the guidance is over the top.

Hate to be mentioning this in July, but what are the people who are keen to keep restrictions in place going to do come Christmas? Some might be glad it gets them out of the obligations attached to the festive season. I find Christmas a bit stressful because of other people's expectations, but having had no social life and having seen no family for over 6 months now I'm going to be really miserable if we are still living like this at the darkest time of the year.

Cue SM anger in December when they realise : "My DD should've been Mary in the nativity but they've banned nativity plays at school and it's so unfair. Why can't the angels just wear masks?"

And "Santa: Stay the fuck in Lapland! We don't want you bringing your germs down our chimneys!"

And "Christmas isn't really essential, is it."

Sorry, as I say, it's July and I wouldn't usually be thinking about it now, but a whole year could go by without me seeing family if this goes on, and that sucks. Not to mention the effects on retail/ hospitality etc that need Christmas trade.

I know, how can I even think of Christmas when people are dying.

I know, how can I even think of Christmas when people are dying.

I think most of us will be sadly dead by Christmas with the massive second wave so probably not worth worrying about.

@ButterMeCrumpets
Oh shit. You're right.

So will they be willing to push entire sectors and industries into the abyss to placate Twitter?
What am I saying, of course they are.

Fuxake. What I wouldn't give for some actual leadership right about now

Christmas!
Christmas without nativities, choirs, church masses, family get togethers etc etc etc.

All this because BoJo doesn't have the guts to say that the crisis is over, and we're good to go now with lots and lots of hand washing.
Fuck this shit

I went up the town very few masks but it's wales and it's only on public transport they'll be compulsory.

I thought mask wearing was now being recommended by WHO - not sure what that was based on but was why Wales changed it's stance towards them.

Evey bank had a queue outside - did mange to bypass as I just needed the machine.

In other shops there were awful lot of people completely ignoring all the carfully placed arrows showing way around but shop staff were helpful and other shoped polite and tyring to keep out of everyone else's way.

Just had seconday school reports complete waste of time.

One table with subject and attitide towards learing no GCSE grades for DD1 or information - and form tutor saying she a good student.

DS same table basicly good to excellent next to subject in table no futher information or indication of ablity or grades and form tutor says he an adequate student - I suspect no idea who he is but not on her shit list.

Nothing on how well they've done on-line learning or not and nothing personal about them or information of how they're doing.

I don't think many theaters will survive with no panto season.

Saw this on BBC - I can't remember which poster it was at minute but I know someone's DS was studying in US and hit by this.
Foreign students in US: Trump administration drops deportation plans In US international students to attend their classes virtually if necessary and remain legally in the country on student visas.

If they were being driven by science then I don't think masks would have been introduced in the first place for shops. For work and travel then yes. How can they justify shoppers needing them but not the workers .

Unfortunately I think they are now being driven by the vocal fear that SM generates. Look at the media, sensible articles and headlines don't attract masses. My DH used to read me the headlines and I would make him read the actual text which at the bottom used to be more balanced but most people don't and as we have seen the people expressing the most fear and anxiety want that validated by others and state that on SM.

The consensus does seem to be that these measures will be in place until there is a vaccine. I don't understand why masks are essential all of a sudden when social distancing is still in place and in places where you aren't in for a long period of time. I don't often pass the same person in the supermarket more than once and when I do it's for seconds and at a sensible distance although granted perhaps not 2m. In a restaurant I don't have to wear anything, I'm sat just 2m away for potentially an hour or more with staff coming up to the table albeit wearing face coverings. I just don't get it.

I've been back at work nearly 2 weeks now and it's deathly quiet. I'm worried how much longer they will be willing to top up our wages and keep us on long term, we just aren't making any money. I really hope the new scheme pushes people out and we can start to hold parties larger than 6. If things carry on there is going to be a whole load of unemployment from the hospitality industry alone. As a site we are unlikely to close but we will need less staff so that's a handful gone from us. There are a lot of places out there that won't be able to stay open so they lose all of their staff.

Is this all genuinely worth it? I don't think it is, I don't see how the government can think it is so what aren't they telling us? Why do they still feel the need to instill fear into people?

So many questions yet I just don't have the answers.

Yes I saw the unis took the government ICE to court over this which is why they retreated in USA.

OH says a combined legal suit in this country is not possible unfortunately. What a bugger that is.

Wales - good news 0.5% of people around 4k a day are testing positive for covid, I think that is keeping the mask wearing everywhere at bay. But he did allude to the winter when things may change. I can see his point which imo. is valid but I have always thought that the winter would bring different issues for us all.

No panto season is a real worry. Most theatres make enough money from six to eight weeks of panto to prop them up for the rest of the year.

I have to admit I think there will be a winter resurgence -more modest models are suggesting a smaller peak in January.

I assume they'll be doing some mass flu vaccination campaign to help stop NHS being overwhelmed - though last year GP made it really hard to get our vaccinations - DS and I get them because of our asthma. Yougest is oldest year to get them in school here- so perhaps they could expand that to all schools.

to all pupils in schools - as think all school do a program.

Back to Christmas stuff (I know, sorry).

Who is going to pay over the odds to attend the work Christmas do which involves eating a lukewarm turkey dinner eaten with plastic cutlery? And absolutely no belting out the words to Mr. Brightside at the socially-distanced disco unless you wear a mask.

I mean, I pay over the odds to do the lukewarm turkey dinner Christmas do most years because it's a laugh. But who's going to do it if it results in a track and trace phone call on Christmas Eve, telling you to self-isolate and cancel anything nice you might have arranged?

My mood is quite black today. I have something stressful to do tomorrow (can't say what it is on here) & it's making everything 100 times worse. Can't get motivated to go out and do something distracting.

@Mascotte

Now I want aubergines... would it be bad to deep fry some bits in batter tomorrow, to cheer myself up...?

No Aubergines are always right. And now I need to go and get some too!!!

Coronavirus: 'No physical distancing' needed for school pupils www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53423453

Is this all genuinely worth it? I don't think it is, I don't see how the government can think it is so what aren't they telling us? Why do they still feel the need to instill fear into people?

Sums it up for me very nicely.

@Allflightscancelled

Is this all genuinely worth it? I don't think it is, I don't see how the government can think it is so what aren't they telling us? Why do they still feel the need to instill fear into people?

Sums it up for me very nicely.

Me too

OH says a combined legal suit in this country is not possible unfortunately. What a bugger that is.

I have been pondering this for some time. I currently am a conservative voter (please don't hold that against me if you aren't as I have been labour in the past). Just saying as I am not anti this government.

BUT they were taken to court when they closed parliament down which was found to be unlawful. They have now closed big parts of the economy down and are stopping them open up but I don't hear anyone challenging them? Any legal experts around that can explain that?

Woman on the door at M&S just very gently admonishing a lady who was wheezing heavily in her mask. She was scared not to wear it.

@ButterMeCrumpets follow Simon Dolan and Francis Hoar on Twitter. They tried to do exactly that and the case wasn't heard because lockdown had eased a bit by the time the case was going to be heard. I think they're going to appeal though.

PinkFondantFancy thanks I'll go and take a look.