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?

it’s not dictating a way of life, to go back to how things were would be a trade off for the lives of the vulnerable and those with underlying medical issues

But that’s exactly what’s going to happen anyway. As soon as the NHS won’t be overwhelmed with cases this is what will happen. You don’t honestly think the Tories give more of a fuck about the lives of the vulnerable more than the ability of people to make money? They’ll probably just be told to stay indoors even longer

It’s a tragedy of proportions we can not yet fathom, but I would reconsider your inability to look on the bright side, because after all, out of the Darkness comes the light.

You know that's just a saying and not a fact, right? I've never known any light coming from darkness personally.

OP knows exactly what she’s doing.

OP knows exactly what she’s doing.

Are we certain about the she?

absolutely agree, we needed a reset like never before

See, now I know you are being deliberately goady or deliberately obtuse.

It doesn't matter how many times people tell you that they are working harder and tougher and more stressed in lockdown than before, or how they see less of their kids or have less quality time with them, or how many people are going through terrible mental suffering with anxiety or loneliness or living with abuse - you keep on telling yourself that nearly all of us are having a lovely rest, because that fits the argument you would like to make.

It' a pretty despicable deceit though because it so offensively ignores so many people's' reality.

Just read page 18 - yup, OP is totally made up character to be a deliberate goady fucker.

It's just the other side of collateral damage. Except this one is wrapped up in faux positivity, concern for the environment and spiritual,so called uplifting bullshit in an attempt to make it more palatable.

@EmpressLangClegInChair having looked at this again I think you’re right

because you come across as being very bitter and selfish and all the rest. That really is just goady. I don’t know if people are just starting internet fights as entertainment while little else is on, but it makes me feel like banging heads together again. It’s an increasingly familiar feeling. I guess that’s a bright side.

I don’t know why people can’t grasp that the environment is necessary for life on earth, we have no survival capacity outside it. Those who are struggling now, do you really think you’ll outlive an environmental collapse?

*EmpressLangClegInChair having looked at this again I think you’re right8

It might just be coincidence that the OP's username is Matthew backwards.

Probably just a coincidence...

I expect so. The OP might have been going for 'wet ham' or something and their fingers slipped.

The article is about people gaslighting us into thinking that we didn't see massive failure from the US government.

COVID19 will change the way we operate as a society hopefully for the short term but potentially for a long while until a vaccine is developed.

I don't have a crystal ball, but I don't believe COVID19 will change the way we operate as a society in the long term even without a vaccine.

C19 is new so these deaths cause outrage now, but if we don't get a vaccine then eventually it will be just the way things are.

My evidence for that is that we already accept so many preventable deaths as just the way things are, so there is no way the world will accept long term restrictions on movement and economic activity for a disease that the majority recover from.

The controls at the minute are not about stopping C19 deaths from ever happening, they are about slowing the rate down so services are not overwhelmed.

If we don't get a vaccine quickly (and I think it's fairly likely we never get one), this is how I see it playing out:

We will have a spike in deaths driven by the people who were in at risk groups when C19 emerged. To put it in very blunt terms, this spike is the virus grabbing all the easy wins in the pre-C19 population. Once all those people have caught C19 and either died or recovered the spike will tail off. The height and length of that initial spike will depend on how effective we are at controlling the speed of infection and treating those who are seriously ill.

Over time we will get much better at separating "died from" and "died with", making the death rate look less alarming, and we will understand more about the way it's transmitted so precautions can be taken with at risk people rather than across the population as a whole.

Eventually C19 deaths will stabilise at a lower level, probably with a seasonal cycle. Most of the deaths from then on will be people moving into the at risk group over time through ageing or ill health.

At that point C19 becomes just another one of the infectious diseases that most people recover from but old, ill or unlucky people can die from. How significant it is amongst those illness will depend on whether people build immunity or can be infected multiple times.

And that's what the real new normal will be.

so those 100000 don’t die in vain

Let me tell you about 1 of those shall I OP?

She lived her life to the full. She enjoyed going out, socialising, being with people. When this lockdown ends I intend to honour her memory by doing exactly what she (my Mum), would want me to do and that's enjoy life to the max. I shall (hopefully) be back at work making stuff that is not essential but lovely. I shall go to pubs,bars,restaurants gigs and all the other things I did that she would listen to me talk about, with a smile on her lips and her squeals of laughter at some anecdote.
What I shall not be doing is sitting at home, trotting out twee passive aggressive comments* and gaslighting every single person that has a different opinion to mine (and hers). In other words OP you dream for your utopia if you want, good luck to you,but don't you dare dismiss mine.

*I may have lied about the PA comments.

trapped she will be very proud I’m sure. Very Sorry for your loss. I hope you are able to fulfill your desire for doing all of those things you said. Stay strong and safe.

@TheVanguardSix I think you’re close..

I hope, @Wehttam that you’re feeling pleased with yourself. Though I think that’s a given.

@Blibbyblobby I think everyone here would agree with you that is the best case scenario without a vaccine. The only problem is how highly contagious it is and how it doesn’t seem to be affected by seasonal shifts. I suppose people will have to make the decision to either risk their wellbeing and that of those they love by simply carrying on in a pseudo normal state or accepting a more confined way of life.

Once we understand whether or not those who recover have any long term damage that manifests later on will also be a factor in how we deal with this don’t you think? I’m concerned at the neurological damage being reported by some outlets of those who suffer badly from this.

Op you must be seriously bored. That’s sad. I expect most on here could think of more productive things to do.

I suppose people will have to make the decision to either risk their wellbeing and that of those they love by simply carrying on in a pseudo normal state or accepting a more confined way of life.

Well given that people are happy to drive their aging relatives and young children around despite knowing that road accidents happen, or live in cities despite air pollution, or take part in sports despite the risk of injury, or visit less developed countries despite the risk of disease, I’m pretty sure they will. As I said, in the new normal C19 is just one more risk alongside the hundreds we already live with, just a few more deaths alongside the thousands we already accept.

Interesting that the only posts deleted on here is the op