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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

It has not been 2 years

108 replies

maddening · 28/07/2021 14:16

Aibu to find that people are naturally over exaggerating the length of pandemic. I noticed in March that there was a lot of reference to "the last 18 months" when obviously it had only been 12-13 at most, and now people seem to refer to "the last 2 years" when it has been been 16 months - we aren't even at 18 months yet. I know it probably feels that long but aibu to think that people are often skewing the Time frames of the pandemic?

OP posts:
Monday26July · 28/07/2021 14:19

The first outbreak was in November 2019 in Wuhan. It was in the news from the end of 2019, so even if the effects didn’t hit the UK directly until March people are likely referring to the pandemic as a whole. It’s been 20m.

People also tend not to be overly specific unless it’s relevant, and it feels a long time if you’ve struggled. They’re just rounding up. YABU.

Somethingsnappy · 28/07/2021 14:20

I think your maths is lacking somewhat....

NuffSaidSam · 28/07/2021 14:20

It feels longer than it actually was for lots of people. It doesn't really matter though does it? If people exaggerate a bit in casual conversation?

CrouchEndTiger12 · 28/07/2021 14:20

Well it is really.

This mess kicked off in February 2020. We knew it lockdown was coming. That is all of 2020 gone.

It is nearly August and people are rubbing their hands with glee on here at the thought of more restrictions. So that is nearly all if 2021 too.

How does it affect you if people feel as if all of 2020 and 2021 have or are going to be written off?

Why does it bother you that much how people perceive it?

CrouchEndTiger12 · 28/07/2021 14:22

Also people who started uni in Oct 2019 got locked down in March 2020 after only 4-5 months of a normal uni life.

They are now graduating next year!!! So that is nearly all of their 3 year degree messed up.

Do you want to split hairs with them over it and say it was only a 16 months

vodkaredbullgirl · 28/07/2021 14:24

Does it really matter.

Nerfelite · 28/07/2021 14:26

Well, I had some pretty shitty stuff happen to me in September 2019, the aftermath of which carried on well into 2020. So for me personally, I do talk about the last two years because I've had an eventful two years.

Also, if you believe conspiracy theories, then covid was already rife in China by summer 2019.

Cocomade · 28/07/2021 14:27

I wouldn't loose sleep over it but for the record I say 2 years 😂

Original poster
maddening · 28/07/2021 14:29

Crouch - it doesn't particularly bother me, more of a thought really after seeing it happen a lot.

WHO did not declare pandemic till March 2020, even saying that the Feb 2020.while we watched parts of Italy go down to it Feb 2020 then in March 2021 then it is only 13 months, so closest rounding is a year. While there are indications of illness in Wuhan in the 3 months prior this.really had.no impacts on our lives at that point.

Feb 2020 - July 2021 is 17 months, rounding to 2 years is an exaggeration, rounding would be 18 months surely.

So no somethingsnappy, I don't think my maths is off.

I just found it odd that in March at the 12 month point people were frequently saying "the last 18 months" and now it is often "the last 2 years", just thought it was odd.

OP posts:
Maggiesfarm · 28/07/2021 14:30

@Monday26July

The first outbreak was in November 2019 in Wuhan. It was in the news from the end of 2019, so even if the effects didn’t hit the UK directly until March people are likely referring to the pandemic as a whole. It’s been 20m.

People also tend not to be overly specific unless it’s relevant, and it feels a long time if you’ve struggled. They’re just rounding up. YABU.

Quite. Though it was end of January/beginning of February last year that it started to be a 'big thing' here. I know some people who were working abroad at that time and were sent home (to UK), sharpish. They've been at home ever since, a couple of them had covid back then and it was awful.

I think eighteen months is about right now, definitely not two years.

Original poster
maddening · 28/07/2021 14:30

And no, don't actually care and don't expect people to change what they think or do - that would be odd. It is just a musing.

OP posts:
burnoutbabe · 28/07/2021 14:31

@CrouchEndTiger12

Also people who started uni in Oct 2019 got locked down in March 2020 after only 4-5 months of a normal uni life.

They are now graduating next year!!! So that is nearly all of their 3 year degree messed up.

Do you want to split hairs with them over it and say it was only a 16 months

Mine was a 2 year degree, Started Oct 2019, we then had strikes in that term and then in March 2020, then we went into lockdown.

I am just about to do a virtual graduation from my sofa! So thats pretty much my entire degree at home bar 1 term. (luckily i am a mature student so suited me okay).

CrouchEndTiger12 · 28/07/2021 14:31

It has been the last 2 years...2020 and 2021.

The pandemic has happened over the last 2 years.

What is incorrect about that???

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/07/2021 14:32

Its two academic years of messed up education
2 summers of messed up holidays
For people with family in other countries 2 years since they've seen them if the summer is the only time they can travel

Its not two calender years.

Shapesorted · 28/07/2021 14:33

For children we're heading in to the third school year of covid hassle.

Original poster
maddening · 28/07/2021 14:34

The only deeper thought I could have about it is whether it is better for one's processing of their experience of the pandemic to consider it to be longer than it has been in reality? But how that works for each person is probably such an individual thing.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 28/07/2021 14:35

Tbf we are in the 2nd year I do think you are being slightly pedantic about it. No it hasn't been 2, exact years but...

Original poster
maddening · 28/07/2021 14:36

Crouch- so if I start a job in November 2021 and apply for a new job in June 2022 I can say I have been in my role for 2 years?

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 28/07/2021 14:37

Well it has been 21 months, since I saw my parents in person. They live 200 miles away and I've been working ever since.

Original poster
maddening · 28/07/2021 14:41

But that is not the length of the pandemic? Just because you did not see your parents between July 2019 and March 2020 when we went to lockdown, or because someone had a bad time before March 2020 it does not mean that the pandemic started sooner?

OP posts:
CrouchEndTiger12 · 28/07/2021 14:45

I'd really love to have nothing else to bother me.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 28/07/2021 14:49

My manager had covid in Dec 2019. UK.

Sapnupuas · 28/07/2021 14:49

It feels like it's been about 100 years...

isseys4xmastinselcats · 28/07/2021 14:52

we are going to a motorbike rally this weekend and as they are always in the summer months it has been two years since we last went to one as they all got cancelled last year so for some things it has been two years and holidays abroad if people didnt go on thier normal holidays in summer last year then for some people thats two years so no two years isnt exagerating in some cases

WasThisSexist · 28/07/2021 14:53

Covid was identified in China by at least early Nov 19 and parts of the world impacted well before March 20. It’s almost August 21 so we are at 21 months and counting with clear evidence that it will be with us for some time yet. I think people are rounding up, but not by much. And they are right to.

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