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Original poster

If there was another pandemic in your lifetime...

259 replies

GoodChat · 07/04/2023 16:05

Would you follow all the rules as stringently as you did the first time around?

I was thinking about this today. I was completely law abiding the first time round - followed every single rule and guideline they put in place.

I had a 9 month old at the start of lockdown so it was nice to spend more time with her as I'd just come off maternity leave and then got furloughed. We were basically living in a little bubble and it was lovely.

I was made redundant which was crap, but it also opened up new opportunities for me and now I'm in a completely new industry, with a far better work life balance and better pay for a more relaxed life.

But... I now have an 18 month old and an almost 4 year old. I can't imagine only leaving the house for an hour a day and not being able to take them to parks etc. I don't know how people managed it. I think those who did are incredible. My mental health was battered by the end and I still get wary of groups in enclosed spaces without masks - even though I'm not scared of catching anything.

I also think any kind of lockdown/furlough scheme etc would destroy the economy beyond repair if it were to happen in the next 50 years or so. I imagine more people would die from poverty than die from infection next time.

I don't think id cope with a pandemic being managed as it was last time, and I don't think I could trust the government with the complete mockery they made of us before.

I think I'd approach it the next time with a stiff British upper lip of "keep calm and carry on".

What do you think? What did you do before and what would you do again? Would you be as fearful as you were at the start of covid?

OP posts:
AbsoIutelyLovely · 07/04/2023 16:06

I think it’s fair to say that most people wouldn’t even engage with it

I know I won’t.

Mumped · 07/04/2023 16:08

It depends on what the disease was.

If there a some sort of flesh eating ebola horror doing the rounds, I guarantee you WILL be staying indoors.

CreationNat1on · 07/04/2023 16:08

I ld abide by the rules, again,but maybe do more exercise and less drinking!!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Covid-19
blondieminx · 07/04/2023 16:08

I’d like to see old age.

if we do suffer another pandemic, I will try to remain uninfected as long as possible so that the amazing scientist have a chance to develop vaccines and treatments.

I would be rational and cautious not “fearful”.

swg1 · 07/04/2023 16:10

Welp, the last one mainly affected the elderly and vulnerable which makes it easier for most people to say "not my problem".

If the next one mainly affects under tens and most adults come through it fine, but kids have a high chance of death or permanent disability I suspect you would suddenly find outings less important.

Geneticsbunny · 07/04/2023 16:11

If there is another pandemic, it is likely to be as dangerous for young children as COVID was for the elderly. COVID was really unusual in that kids were relatively fine. I don't think I could ignore restrictions if babies were at risk.

Lifeisgood1 · 07/04/2023 16:11

I think people are going to die of poverty anyway

GalileoHumpkins · 07/04/2023 16:12

Surely it would depend on what kind of disease it was. It might not be possible to go all stiff upper lip and carry on.

SnottyLottie · 07/04/2023 16:12

I think it depends on what it was. If it was something like Ebola/monkey pox I definitely would abide.

Divisionoflabour89 · 07/04/2023 16:13

Yes I would until more was known about the disease.

Twinedpeaks · 07/04/2023 16:13

Geneticsbunny · 07/04/2023 16:11

If there is another pandemic, it is likely to be as dangerous for young children as COVID was for the elderly. COVID was really unusual in that kids were relatively fine. I don't think I could ignore restrictions if babies were at risk.

Based on what?

MajorCarolDanvers · 07/04/2023 16:15

It would depend on the virus

KohlaParasaurus · 07/04/2023 16:17

Yes, firstly because I'm quite law abiding and secondly because if the world closes down around me I won't have any choice. It's not as if you can just say, "Sod it, I'm going to the theatre/to Benidorm/out for dinner," if the infrastructure isn't there.

Bettyboop3 · 07/04/2023 16:18

Twinedpeaks · 07/04/2023 16:13

Based on what?

Show quote history

I too am wondering this.

Avarua2 · 07/04/2023 16:20

All of you saying "it would depend on the virus" ... One of the sun justifications for knockdowns at the time was that not much was known about the virus. It was buying time till the scientists knew more.

Original poster
GoodChat · 07/04/2023 16:21

It's a very good point about it depending on the impact it has physically. I hadn't thought about that. But there was a lot of scaremongering about monkey pox and that quickly disappeared.

I think people would be less likely to accept its a real threat the next time.

OP posts:
Avarua2 · 07/04/2023 16:22

Fwiw, I would follow the rules if the virus was awful and affected children or dogs. Otherwise, nope, I'm not taking instructions again.

Original poster
GoodChat · 07/04/2023 16:23

Avarua2 · 07/04/2023 16:22

Fwiw, I would follow the rules if the virus was awful and affected children or dogs. Otherwise, nope, I'm not taking instructions again.

I think this is my question. Would you believe it if you were told it would affect children and dogs?

At the start of covid we were told nobody was safe and it could be transmitted by animals.

OP posts:
shivawn · 07/04/2023 16:24

Mumped · 07/04/2023 16:08

It depends on what the disease was.

If there a some sort of flesh eating ebola horror doing the rounds, I guarantee you WILL be staying indoors.

This, exactly. Of course you're going to assess it based on what the risk level is.

Mariposista · 07/04/2023 16:27

Nope. Wasted enough of life on the last one.

Geneticsbunny · 07/04/2023 16:30

Most viruses affect those with weaker immune systems more i.e. the young, old and immunocompromised. For examples see all previous flu pandemics and "plagues". The next pandemic has a reasonable chance of being a flu which has jumped from animal sources eg bird flu. Obviously I am not psychic but it isn't unreasonable to say that the next pandemic is likely to have a bigger impact on kids in terms of their health than the last one did.

LlynTegid · 07/04/2023 16:30

I think it would depend on what the pandemic was and how the disease or virus spreads.

At least if it were to happen you can be certain of a better government response than from the one of Mr Johnson. I hope that justice for the families of those who needlessly died because of his inactions and actions in March 2020 does not take as long as some form of justice took for the families of the 97 who died at Hillsborough.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 07/04/2023 16:33

Yes of course. Why wouldn't I!!

CabbageKale · 07/04/2023 16:40

Of course I would because it would be for my good and the common good.

Just because fucking liars like Boris broke the rules doesn't mean the rest of us have to follow his broken moral code.

defi · 07/04/2023 16:41

I followed them around 80% last time. Would meet friends for walks. Didn't have a strict bubble. Met friends for coffee and we'd sit and chat to each other in cars. Didn't always wear a mask. Doubt I'd follow the rules at all next time around

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