To think our new normal could be a better way of life?

[Wehttam]

Ok first of all, hear me out. Maybe this is hypothetical fantasy but I think it has merit.

As we are adjusting to Lockdown and both its benefits and disadvantages, I have started thinking about how civilisation may be able to use this as a starting point for a new way of life, accepting the previous 24/7 have it all lifestyle is fundamentally poisonous to our wellbeing.

I fully understand this is a global pandemic and is catastrophic for many people, losing loved ones, suffering illness and the fear of how this could potentially affect many people’s lives going forward economically is a worry no one wants or needs, I am not minimising this nor am I advocating for blanket suffering or pain before you come for me.

Environmentally this is momentarily allowing the planet to slowly recover from one of its biggest problems, Us. Look outside, the air is cleaner already, the noise we had so become used to has quietened, our frantic pace of living has slowed, for most of us this will have untold health benefits as well as benefits to nature we will see manifest further over the coming weeks.

I fully appreciate how for many people this is an uncertain time, those suffering DV or poverty are living in hell, the situation right now is unpeeling the veneer society generally paints over these problems though. What if our new reality was to help those who are vulnerable and suffering but still maintain this level of calm muted living.

Excessive commuting, over consumption of single use anything, traffic everywhere, takeaways, shops, bars clubs, restaurants catering for every niche or whim, flying everywhere incessantly, worrying about having he latest this or that, which all means sweet FA at the moment. What it all boils down to is all of that was needless to actually live and breathe properly wasn’t it?

Eventually once Lockdown starts to be lifted, are you willing to go back to that chaos the outside world had become? I’m not so sure I am and I dont think it will be any good for those who do. Thoughts?

Can some of these posters tell me their qualifications in economics?

You don’t need a qualification in economics, just half a brain and the ability to read a newspaper. Do you understand how much money this government has borrowed? All of which will have to be repaid.

Hoffi you know, like bars, clubs, coffee shops, theatres, cinemas. You think they’re reopening any time soon? 🤔

Am I the only one wondering why the hell people can not accept this is our reality right now?

It's TEMPORARY! 'Our' reality, you mind your own, others mind theirs, because everyone's reality is different; you're not their self-appointed arbiter of life. Am I the only one wondering why the hell the curtain-twitching Dementors cannot accept this?

"You don't need a qualification in economics "
Just read a newspaper

Yup
Marvellous

It's temporary
Personally I can't wait to get back to the pub, go out for dinner, do all the things I used to do.

The hospitality business is amazing in the uk - i can’t wait for it to come back!

I think flying will calm down and be more expensive though. Less business travel.

Hopefully business will be less focused on London with all this remote working.

Less single use stuff would be good.

We will really value schools and teachers after this I think ⭐️

Look on the bright side
More space in the pub for social distancing whilst the dementors stay locked up forever

I've reread your opening post op and I don't think you were making an outrageous statement. You acknowledged that the lockdown is horrendous for some people. But that the world might benefit from a little breathing space from us humans and that our new normal might be a little less chaotic. Nothing wrong with wishing for that.

I am delighted that flights are stopped /I always thought that budget airlines were a bad thing.
Would be good of if flights were charged at the real cost to the environment and people holidayed in this country.

Hobs - cheers!

I know what a ‘folly’ is. And no I don’t think that, I’ve never said I do. So you don’t need to use the fucking irritating 🤔 face, implying that you’re intelligent and we’re all stupid.
It was the phrase itself ‘previous follies’ I was questioning. Sounds like you’ve been reading too many Kitty O’Mear poems.

Our local is doing deliveries, hurray! They're doing a booming business. I've been buying loads of stuff online. Love it! Keeps people in jobs. I love nice shit! So do my kids. And good food, been ordering lots. Misery Minnies I delete from my life, CBA'd with Negative Nancies rubbing their hands in glee about how a pandemic that's killing tens of thousands and causing massive poverty is just such a good thing. Nope! Can't wait to go on another cruise. Those cocktails are going to taste even better.

I’ll ask again, are you planning to give up your job to receive a social payment for caring for others? Will the rest of your family be doing so? Or is it the case that other people should do so, but not you?

hobnobs Not sure why you are being so aggressive here. Going on about dementors, trying to derail a thread. Peppermint same with you too, please can you both calm down and stop with the passive aggressive name calling.

People are being aggressive because you’re being sanctimonious and twee.

I'm not trying to derail anything
I'm still waiting to hear when you plan to give up everything to work for free as a carer

The birds might well be bloody happier but my daughter who no longer has her much needed therapy as well as countless others that are ready to blow their brains out because of the impact of isolation on their mental health might beg to disagree with you .

It would be good if flights were the real cost (most are) and if the tax element and some profit went into carbon offset plans in all countries.

Business flights that aren't needed, they should be cut. People having 10 holidays a year should not be allowed but everyone should be allowed a foreign holiday of they want one.

It would not be good to have to holiday in the UK.

Of course we want and need to get past this deeply distressing and difficult period we are going through. Of course everyone should enjoy a decent standard of living and freedom to live life as they see fit. But to ignore what has brought us here and do fuck all to prevent this happening again in the future is utter lunacy. This isn’t spreading misery, it’s being realistic about facing a massive humanitarian and environmental disaster waiting to happen. Who wants to go through this again ?!?!

I saw a post somewhere about bringing back that shops close on Sundays to give that one day of rest. I would love that to come back. Just one day when you can kick back without feeling the cultural pressure. I did try and do that before lockdown anyway.

I expect life to return pretty much to what it was after all this over. Our economic stability depends on it and most people don't know any different than a hectic 24/7 culture.

Oh and my ds who has worked his butt off for three years to get a degree has zero chance of getting a job in three months time because of this shitty situation
He won't even get the joy of celebrating graduation any time soon
But hey he can go and wipe arses for free and live off fresh air in this beautiful new utopia

Hoffi🤔🤔🤔🤔 of course not we will not be giving any helping hand to the community, are you kidding? I’d rather let them starve, I earn a fortune so muc( money your eyes would water. Who gives a toss about the poor and vulnerable. Couldn’t care any less. What are you doing though? 🤔 🙄

I’m not sure where this vitriol has come from on a thread suggesting life may be better after all of this?

*Not just a more worthy one but a necessary one. You do realise that going forward the likelihood of us being able to go to bars, clubs, cinemas, shopping centres will be almost nonexistent? This virus until it is cured or has a vaccine is going to be a massive pain in our arses for the foreseeable future.

So the government will have to come up with ways to entice the general populace into understanding some sacrifices will have to made. Some of our previous follies will need to be curtailed and that those who worked in industries now redundant should consider other opportunities elsewhere on the basis they will receive an income from the authorities, a civil service incentive. Otherwise the socioeconomic impact could be very difficult to stomach.*

1. We don't live in a communist country so the government has no right to "redeploy" anyone into any job that they don't want
2. The government will not have the money to pay all these extra conscripted NHS employees, without private businesses paying taxes to them. Private businesses including coffee shops, theatres, cinemas, etc.
3. The lockdown is costing something like £2.4bn a day, so unless the government just print the money and cause hyperinflation - which will be a lot worse than any virus - then they will have to re-open the economy sooner rather than later.

I asked you if you were going to give up your job to care for others for no wage, just a minimal social service payment. Are you?
You know nothing about me and where I volunteer (and have done for years, not just because a pandemic has persuaded me to give up my ‘previous follies’ and embrace a new utopia).

Still haven't answered the question
But hey I'm sure all those frivolous plebs will be thrilled with their lot in the new world order