Is Coronavirus the new Brexit? (Dividing opinion)

[mayoral]

So Brexit caused many arguments/debates amongst my family.

Now we argue about coronavirus. My mum is (quote) "shit scared" of coronavirus even though she's a fit and healthy 60yr old. She thinks schools shouldn't reopen till the new year and if they were open sooner and I was still a child she wouldn't send me in. She said she doesn't see herself travelling on a plane for a long time and is happy for lockdown to be extended until a vaccine is found because the mortality rate is "so high" and "worrying".

I, on the other hand, can't wait for schools to reopen and get on with my life. My DH is already planning some business trips to Asia over the summer to get his business moving again. We both think coronavirus is blown out of proportion and the mortality rate is tiny, and that far more people will suffer from financial issues, job losses, mental health problems etc. That's not to say we don't sympathise with lives lost or underestimate the need for the initial lockdown (to create spare capacity within the NHS).

We are having big arguments over C-19, throwing facts and figures at one another and it's dividing us. Just like the Brexit debate did.

AIBU to think coronavirus is the new Brexit in dividing opinion?

And then you get people like 7Days talking to you as if you don’t understand the concept of exponential growth.

Admittedly no one has tried that on me in real life 😂

Well you dont, do you? Otherwise youd understand how a small number becomes a big number very very quickly

Just to add, IMHO, its a new Project Fear!

I think that answers the OP's question in a nutshell.

I read an article today about a hospital doctor saying he had almost nothing to do - but would not appear on "television" because he is not hysterical-on-the-verge-of-breakdown. And thats all the media wants to see: complete fucking hysteria and breakdown 24/7.

When this crisis is over, I'll be leaving "civilisation" once and for all. People are going nuts, denouncing each other, reporting on each other (Mao would be proud) and banging on about shit constantly. Still,, it makes a change from Markle and the Royal Family. Thats about the gist of it.

I am amazed the British people have meekly accepted all the hysterical propaganda, knee jerk government reaction - and now even Boris Johnson blabbing endlessly on about he nearly died. (Yes, normal people understood the true gravity when you went into hospital, no need to s-p-e-l-l it out constantly, blabbing on and on about the bleeding obvious just makes you look like another sympathy/ attention-seeker.

While we have unprecedented attacks on civil liberties, mostly unsupported by science (no-one truly knows), the Government cannot get a few masks and protective gear together for NHS staff, a white elephant "hospital" is built in East London, and other NHS doctors and nurses twiddle their thumbs in empty wards of cancelled cancer and other serious operations.

I think some (healthy) people are using "fear" as an excuse to sit home, not have to work or do the school run. Not all, I'm not talking about those who are shielding, but some fit and well people are enjoying this all a bit much.

I think Covid has united the country after all the Brexit division. We are all sacred of it and its consequences, hence the difference in opinion of lockdown vs ending it. Unlike Brexit where some remainer would say they ended friendships with leavers, I doubt anyone will end a friendship over a difference in lockdown opinion.

ToPea - I don’t know what you mean by leaving civilisation but I think governments will make living off grid even harder to do.

its a new Project Fear

It does seem to be the same usual suspects.

PicInRed experts?

I think it is a divisive subject.

I am amazed the British people have meekly accepted all the hysterical propaganda, knee jerk government reaction
Britain has more reason to he 'hysterical' than most, it's one of the worst affected countries, even with the lockdown.

I think accusing the government of being 'knee-jerk' misses the mark. They were too slow to react, which is why things are as bad as they are, and why such draconian measures became necessary.

I suppose Lilac I mean leave civilisation - to not take ANY notice of the mainstream media anymore. Ignore public opinion completely, including my friends and family who talk shit more and more with their endless "rainbows" "stay safe" and we're all gonna die! Its a different bloody "slogan" every week; whats wrong with people? Live my own life as much as I can, off grid. But I recognise a truth in what you say - the State is making that harder and harder with every day.

Oga disagree, as I've said. You are not a medical expert, you are just citing so-called experts. There is no scientific evidence for what you say at all. Its just opinions. Some people believe that C-19 would run its course regardless of lockdown happening. I think the Swedes have been much more sensible and sensitive. The Brits more like a bull-in-a-china-shop, thickos in other words.

OP I think you and your Mum are creating a rift where a rift doesn't need to be - both of your opinions are too extreme. Not going out until there's a vaccine is unrealistic but business trips (plural) to Asia - given the leaps and bounds in communications technology, do they really still need to happen?

In real life I don't actually know anyone who feels as strongly as either of you. So no. I don't think it's the new Brexit.

ToPea - I pay minimal attention to MSM and joined MN because of this.
As long as you have interests, it’s easy to do that.

But if you wanted to be out of reach of government physically, that’s pretty much impossible.

I don’t know about slogans but if it’s a Facebook thing, I wouldn’t know anyway.

It’s a bit like Brexit in that people think the batshit hot take they read online makes them a fucking expert in infectious disease, behavioural economics or healthcare procurement.

While we have unprecedented attacks on civil liberties, mostly unsupported by science (no-one truly knows), the Government cannot get a few masks and protective gear together for NHS staff, a white elephant "hospital" is built in East London, and other NHS doctors and nurses twiddle their thumbs in empty wards of cancelled cancer and other serious operations.

“Attacks on civil liberties mostly unsupported by science...” No, it’s entirely uncontroversial that lockdown prevents runaway spread.

“No-one truly knows...” No, many people know how to deal with the virus. That why nations like South Korea and New Zealand have been successful in controlling it. (If only we’d done the same.”

“A few masks and protective gear...” No. Millions and millions of items are needed.

“A “white elephant” hospital is built...” No. In order to avoid the catastrophes seen in the Italian health system. We don’t want to see it full to breaking point. That’s the point.

Facts and what's best for the people of this country vs "What I want." Yes. It's Brexit all over again.

Well I can see both sides of this Corona thing (though my idea would be for the at risk to just go into self isolation with everyone else carrying on)

Didn't feel the same way about Brexit

Dollydone Usual hysteria. Deliberately missing the real points I am making. Scientists do disagree actually. You just haven't read anything outside government propaganda. Nor have you looked at the wider issues - people denied other (serious and urgent) medical treatment in empty hospital wards, people's personal lives being trashed, the economy being totally trashed, and so forth.

It makes no (common) sense, but I'm just used to this one-sided gibberish now.

cannot get a few masks and protective gear together I was making a point for positive action there Dollydone, but you can't see it as you are in your virtue-signalling bubble, furiously virtue signalling.

One big difference is that people are more likely to change their views on CV over time. As more data comes out about how dangerous (or not) the virus is, more people know people who've survived or died from it, and everyone gets fed up with not being able to do normal life stuff, that's all going to influence how worried they are and what they think we should be doing about it. Over time as lockdown drags on, more people are going to shift from thinking we need to do everything we can to stop the virus to thinking we should all just take our chances if it means they can see their friends and family again. With Brexit most people probably had their opinion and stuck to it, especially as for most practical purposes the effects haven't properly kicked in yet.

You just haven't read anything outside government propaganda.

Er, yes. Yes I have.

Of course, you haven’t got the slightest idea what I’ve been reading, who I am or what my expertise is in any of these subjects. But your claim to know what I’ve read or what I think isn’t a good look for someone claiming to be driven by evidence.

ToPea - I’ve started a separate thread

But this is the “civilisation” I want to opt out of.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/03/coronavirus-health-passports-for-uk-possible-in-months

I'm not (at all) scared of me getting covid although I'd rather not give it to anyone.
I feel like I'm in a weird minority who wants to question if all this is necessary but reckon I'll be shouted down. Me saying my real opinions would achieve nothing but grief for asking a simple question. Thus, for me, it's all very divisive, yes.

I find myself rebelling against the idea of ever being vaccinated because declining the jab might be the only autonomy I would have left.

I agree that it a new Project fear and media is responsible for scaring people.
But the government are not giving people any hope either. I doubt they understand lives of ordinary people as they have job security, none of them having a pay cut. It seems to me that they think more about their political career rather than the future of the country.