Only on mumsnet do people prep.

[Notlong20]

There is not one person I know in real life that is prepping for a coronavirus outbreak. In fact, no one I speak to even mentions the threat of the virus.

Of course we know of it as the hysteria surrounding it is all over the news / social media, but aibu to think preppers only exist on mumsnet?

@userxx , you are having a lovely time sneering at everyone. Perhaps you can offer helpful reassurance to people like me who are immunocompromised and over 50. Or are we in the "other " category that don't count.

I think all the hysteria comment will die down soon....when SHTF

How in the world are tinned hotdogs weird? They’re the only type we ate during our childhood! When you buy a fancy German Bockwurst at a Christmas fair they’re always out of a massive tin or jar anyway.

some people believe in the extinction of the species on mn, breaking in to steal food ?
i'm waitting for a '28 days' scenario to happen, then everyone can be smug towards me and say 'told you so isles

A two week lockdown is nothing to a general prepper in terms of bad things that you can think of happening. Being poorly in that time is pretty unpleasant to consider.
But I don't see it as The Apocalypse. However, people who don't have any idea of what such a thing might be it probably does feel dreadful and scary. The kind of people who whine when the WiFi goes down.
Most people are in between those two things, are generally sensible and are making plans that suit them best.

Michael, I have never hear of them before so to me they seem weird I have never had that thing you just mentioned either. I would personally rather survive on baked beans and biscuits then try tinned/jarred hotdogs I find it a bit weird stocking up on things unless you regularly eat them anyway.

@MrsStrangerThing , I think shaving pubes is weird. Shocker alert: people have different tastes and opinions.

My kids love tinned hotdogs!

Well, here we have it. Some people just think anything they personally haven’t heard of or wouldn’t do is “weird”.

Maybe let’s just all let each other get on with what they want to do without judging? The prepping threads are actually massive non-judgemental and I never see criticism of anyone who chooses not to. It’s not like everyone there is crowing “ahhh, non-preppers are idiots and deserve to die!” so why some people have to be so sniffy about other people buying loo roll and tinned food I don’t know.

If you are sneering maybe just examine why you feel the need to? Actually ask yourself how it’s affecting you? And of the supermarkets do run empty will be you happy that there are fewer people competing for food because some of the potential customers won’t be there thanks to having planned ahead? The more people who do prep, the easier life will be for them AND for people who don’t prep. It’s really win-win.

@bellinisurge How am I sneering? I'm entitled to my opinion, I think people are getting hysterical. Surely you will take the same precautions as you do when there is a flu outbreak. Both my parents are mid 70's, mum has breathing problems and uses an inhaler. They are not worried either.

some people believe in the extinction of the species on mn, breaking in to steal food ?

Well considering some people believe that they have every right to expect food from anyone who has prepared for a couple of weeks where they might have to hunker down for any of the formentioned reasons, while they were too busy scoffing at them, stealing their food isnt that hard to imagine.

I think some people's reaction to crisis is a bit like a bereavement sequence.
Shock,denial anger...etc

Especially in naturally laid back people who always assume things will be fine. The situation is upsetting their world view and it feels bad to think or talk about it.

For natural born worriers, horizon-scanners we always prepare for things going wrong, it's less of a shift to start accepting the fact that there is an unknown threat.

To be fair we need happy go lucky types and worriers. That's how we survived all sorts of major events in the past.

So let's just accept our differences.

I doubt whether my mum's ever heard of MN but she has been living in a state of perpetual preparation since she was newly married in 1969. She wouldn't call it prepping, just sensible precautions for bad weather,shortages,being ill. There have always been cereal boxes and loo rolls under the spare bed!

I perhaps don't routinely go to the same lengths but I always have enough in to last a weeks or two (although meals might be a bit dull as the days went on). Situations like the current one make me check and top up stock levels.

To be fair, we also need people who address problems and get shit done.
Save your criticism of people's reactions to journalists grabbing a byline by writing scare stories. On here people are sensible and practical and not afraid to discuss this for fear of being criticised or derided.

i find it hard to believe that shops would have not food or supplies at all, there will always be something to eat even if it's a cabbage. a few empty shelves does not mean the world is ending. we have far too much choice anyway.
i still don't go with the desperation to steal food from others homes either unless we were in a 'mad max' / '28 days' scenario.
still everyone to their own.

i find it hard to believe that shops would have not food or supplies at all, there will always be something to eat even if it's a cabbage

That’s the privilege of having grown up in a prosperous nation. We are used to being able to buy what we want, when we want, but there are things which could credibly disrupt that.

I don’t think we will see the breakdown of civilisation and raiding people’s houses over coronavirus but it’s not impossible that lockdown or some such could disrupt supply chains resulting in temporary shortages. Enough food for a few weeks is sensible, even if it turns out not to be needed.

If we were quarantined for a fortnight we'd be fine, mainly because I am obsessed with Costco and now have a garage filled with racking. DH wanders about in there like it's a supermarket, telling me "I've found some olives and some bake-at-home ciabatta, I'm making italian tonight" like I don't know it's all in there.

I agree iheartislesofwight no one will starve but a bit of preparation will make things more comfortable. E.g there could be a short term shortage of over the counter painkillers. It won't make any difference to the prognosis but it might make people outside at risk groups more comfortable to have them.

If we ended up with a situation where large areas were locked down, or where we weren't accepting incoming transport from some countries there could be severe shortages for some items. If it's announced today that there's lockdown in your town from midnight, the supermarkets will be bedlam!

I'm sure you'd survive but 2 weeks in isolation isn't going to be fun, some chocolate and wine might help!

If we did get to a situation where shortages were prolonged and severe (I'm certain we won't) I think society would break down very quickly and you would have to protect your stash with your life.

I have never prepped for anything in my life but after seeing pictures of completely empty supermarkets in Italy I am going to get a good supply of basic items

Any links? I haven't seen them.

Shops probably will have food. That said I personally dont want to be under pressure to stock up when I am Ill or if I am caring for someone. I live rural so it's far easier to prep.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8045987/Shoppers-fight-food-supermarket-Italys-red-zone.html Apologies for the Daily Mail link. As always.

Do any of the people rolling their eyes at the mention of buckets and commodes live in a house with one toilet and 4 people?
Can you imagine how that might play out if all members of the household go down with D&V?
Doubt it would be pretty 😂
Or could that never happen?

Commodes are something for those "other people ". You know, elderly people or people with underlying health problems. [shakes head]

Where/how are you going to empty the comodes if you can't be in the same room as the sick person and they can't leave?

If that's a serious question, one person in the house has to nurse the sick person and deal with all the things that go with them being poorly and bedbound.
If everyone is poorly in the house, you work something out.