Stop posting fear mongering bullshit not based in fact

[orientalknife]

School closures until September
Restrictions permanently

None of this speculation is based in fact. All you are doing is making people fearful who are already struggling

Perhaps you are scared and want to project that onto others. Or you're a miserable cunt who wants others to be scared and miserable with you.

I don't know. But whatever your reason, think about the impact your factually inaccurate speculation might have on others.

Yeah, I had some real wobbles first time round with people posting scare headlines, I'm having a bit of a wobbly right now without even looking at doomy headlines. But yes, I'm not sure who people think it will 'help' to send speculation that they'll be locked in their homes for the next 18 months or whatever.

I'm perfectly calm and not scared by the bullshit in the slightest
But for some people the bullshit is really detrimental.
I'm not perpetuating the rumours, what nonsense. I need to reference what I'm talking about in order to point out that it's not factual.

Take school closure until September. Absolutely nowhere is this based in fact. It's a possibility I suppose but what is the point in spreading worry about it when it's not happened and there is no fact to suggest it will happen.

One doctor giving an opinion does not make an expert or factual analysis

I honestly think some people are enjoying lockdown. People who have no friends and a miserable life, didn't do much or go anywhere in the first place are particularly relishing it. It makes them feel good because everyone else is havkng a boring life too. They want it to go on forever thats why they keep posting this stuff. Very selfish

Most accurate post I've ever read on here

People thrive on it op

Typing it is provoking others and that’s their gig

Very annoying

I genuinely do think they want everyone to be miserable, yeah. If anyone dares share something positive (covid or lockdown related) one of these types will be there almost straightaway to remind people why they shouldn't be happy. Hence the 'dementors' thing.

@gingganggooleywotsit

I honestly think some people are enjoying lockdown. People who have no friends and a miserable life, didn't do much or go anywhere in the first place are particularly relishing it. It makes them feel good because everyone else is havkng a boring life too. They want it to go on forever thats why they keep posting this stuff. Very selfish

I have seen people actually post on Facebook that they are “glad” lockdown is happening because they are chronic introverts who are happy the world is now shutting itself in so they don’t have to go out.

Now, whilst I accept that it’s hard for them to put themselves out there, it’s completely unnecessary to be crowing about how great it is when people’s mental health is reaching crisis point and I personally know two people who have committed suicide during lockdown due to the crippling effects of social isolation.
So yeah- good for them that they are happy whilst millions are struggling with loneliness, financial worries and suicidal thoughts. It’s selfish and gross.

I can handle the pessimistic posts but the people making shit up drives me mad. It’s so irresponsible. There was some dick saying authoritatively that “all the NHS teams that I have spoken to are assuming a September school opening”. What does that mean? Complete nonsense.

NHS teams that I have spoken to are assuming a September school opening”. What does that mean? Complete nonsense

Yup. Thankfully they were corrected by multiple people actually working in the NHS who said it was rubbish and lies.

Yep, I’m on another thread where people are berating the OP for going on a socially distanced walk with her friend who has now tested positive and asking if she is likely to now get it too. Mostly things like:
OF COURSE YOU WILL GET IT NOW - HOW FUCKING STUPID!!
SERVES YOU RIGHT NOW IF YOU GET IT!!
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE STAYING THE FUCK HOME!!!!
THIS IS WHY WE ARE STILL IN THIS MESS!!!!
WHAT?! YOU DIDN’T WEAR MASKS???
YOU MUST NOW ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS YOU STUPID WOMAN!!!!
Etc.

Just tedious now. And scary that some people have this mindset.

Why the fuck is this in AIBU?

The solution to people upsetting others with their covid speculations has already been implemented, they are supposed to be penned in away from the rest of the herd over on the coronavirus board. Yet here you are OP, bringing the subject on to an unrelated board for what? The flimsy premise that you needed a poll for this won't wash, you're just spoiling for a fight but too much of a chicken to actually go and say this to the people that are pissing you off over on the appropriate board.

By posting this in a non covid board you're just as annoying as the people you're complaining about.

The threads that the op was talking about were on aibu!

YABU, why should people be infantalised. I have been on Mumsnet since 2006 and there has never been an active need for censoring stuff. I think people are quite capable of understanding fact versus scaremongering.

Equally, I haven't read the threads but is the poster who posted about the 'Doctor' the one on this thread who suggested they were referencing from a programme on Radio 4? If so it does have a reputation for high quality journalism. IMO more people should listen to radio 4 for information than believing hyperbole disseminated on Facebook or equivalent! That people don't care about quality journalism anymore is a huge problem for society!

I don't like the way you use the 'C' word, Instant respect lost for me when people use that in an argument.

@gingganggooleywotsit

The threads that the op was talking about were on aibu!

Ah yes. The old two wrongs make a right argument, can't beat it.

@gingangoolywotsit has it absolutely right. Some people are absolutely loving this. At last their pointless little lives have some meaning if they can squawk 'STAY HOME! WHAT PART OF 'PEOPLE ARE DYING' DON'T YOU GET??' And they are likely the people bitching at anyone not wearing a mask, or snitching on their neighbours for some imagined infraction. I've made the decision to avoid the news, I'm very selective about what I read on Facebook, and avoid all other social media (apart from here, obs.) I can't help thinking that every year for years now the headlines have been 'NHS in crisis! Medics say hospitals overwhelmed! This years flu worst for decades!'
And you know what? It all calmed down again. Please don't pile on telling me covid isn't flu, I'm aware of that. But there has been so much fucking scaremongering and utter bullshit put about by so-called reputable media, not just half-wits on Facebook.
Respiratory viruses peak in the population at this time surely? Could it possibly be that some of these covid cases are actually flu or things like bronchitis as well? I mean, who ever heard of politicians and the media lying to anyone...
Sorry, going off at a tangent. OP, you are absolutely right. Just reading your post and responses on here made me feel better. Thank you.

@ChestnutStuffing

It's not great to try and create panic, but I don't think you will stop people thinking and speculating about this stuff. They were initially told that the covid project would be two months, at the outside, and then it would be under control. It's clear now it will be much longer and people are worried about how long it will be.

They are also worried about the extent to which long term restrictions may become accepted as normal or just never go away again.

None of this can be discussed in terms of fact or non-fact, because it involves the future. But people will worry about the future.

Yeah I agree with this. People are discussing their worries, not claiming that this or that will definitely happen. If someone had started a thread a year ago saying we were facing at least a full year of restriction from March they'd have been called all sorts.

Having said that I do think we're on the final big surge now and after this one we're on the home straight. I hope so anyway.

I have awful mental health problems - my anorexia and anxiety is spiralling at the moment and some of the threads on here are awful for increasing panic and anxiety.

It's just wrong to state worst case scenarios and present them as fact

I agree OP. No basis in fact, but hard to ignore when everyone piles in and agrees with one another on here. I guess my best option is not to read those threads!

I agree OP, there's also the other end of the spectrum Covid Minimizers/Deniers, who spread just as much disinformation and encourages people to take risks. They're just as bad IMO.

Totally agree with you, OP; some worry is natural because it's a worrying time, but the competitive doom-mongering on this site gets ridiculous sometimes

I have to say, though, that HQ are being pretty good at handling it - just in the last 24 hours two of the more demented threads have been zapped, and they're also hot on deleting the filthier insults and personal attacks being thrown around

Ha at the notion that I'm chicken and avoiding posting in Covid thread. Will do so right now.

Calling out bullshit is different to spoiling for a fight. I genuinely care about people and judging by some responses on here this has helped some a bit.

Yes complete deniers just as bad

Balance, reason, intelligence and fact

What makes you think that you have to exercise those things for people. I am an adult, I don't need someone on the internet censoring things for me. I decide if I want to read it.

There's also the other end of the spectrum Covid Minimizers/Deniers, who spread just as much disinformation and encourages people to take risks

Very true, but happily HQ are good at deleting those too

Not that my opinion matters, but FWIW I'm really impressed with how they're dealing with things this time - and it can't be easy with the number of threads on the subject

@orientalknife

Ha at the notion that I'm chicken and avoiding posting in Covid thread. Will do so right now.

Calling out bullshit is different to spoiling for a fight. I genuinely care about people and judging by some responses on here this has helped some a bit.

Great, in that case go and ask the mods to move your thread to the appropriate place then.

If you genuinely cared about people becoming anxious about Covid threads then you wouldn't have posted this in an unrelated section thereby forcing people to see more of the stuff they're trying to avoid.