To think some people are ‘enjoying’ the pandemic

[Flynnqwer]

I’ve noticed an attitude amongst some people where they’re nothing short of praying for a new, more lethal, variant.

I’ve noticed it amongst people I work with and people I do a hobby with. Any discussion about going back to our workplace (we can work from home but not easily or particularly effectively) once the Government ends the restrictions on waiting from home, or back to our hobby in real life instead of on Zoom (the hobby is controlled by a central board who are following the WFH advice until it is lifted) are met with cries of ‘No! We can’t do that! It’s dangerous!’ and it anyone points out that, thankfully, it looks like the vaccination programme is working and Omicron is less severe, they come back with ‘but what if there’s a more lethal strain that appears and kills millions?’

My workplace has one element which has legally got to be done in person. I have had emails today from managers begging us to cancel said work thing and do it online. We cannot do it on line lawfully (it’s along the lines of witnessing signatures). We have told them no, we must go into the building for an hour to fulfil this function. They are saying that that is breaking the working from home directive, that it’s unsafe, and what if a deadly variant is discovered? Then we’d have to find a way around the law.

AIBU that some people are actively hoping that the situation worsens and we are locked back down? Why would anyone want this to happen?

@Flynnqwer

It’s not people liking working from home or not socialising that irritates me. It’s those who want to stop others doing anything in real life too. And they can’t give any good reason for it other than desperate cries of a looming ultra lethal variant which may be discovered.

You must know some really weird people!

YANBU

Some are loving the drama

Many have happily changed some of their ways and don’t feel under so much pressure to do things they don’t really want to I include myself and all my friends

[quote CalicoAnnie]@Aimeehedge the people who frequent sorryanitvaxxer.com seem gleeful about deaths[/quote]
That’s a bit disingenuous. That site is vile. It has nothing to do with what the poster was trying to convey.

@Pippa12

‘If I never have to hear “I’m a key worker” ever again I’ll be happy’

100% and I’m a icu nurse! Bloody grates me to the core that phrase! Absolutely embarrassing watching nhs staff March to the front of supermarket queues gripping there ID badges for ‘priority entry’… clearly on your day off!!!

People wanted to show their gratitude in any small way they could. Don't throw it back in their faces.

It's a damn sight better than the useless clapping at 8pm - now I am glad to see the end of that!

People do seem to get inordinately excited when restrictions or lockdowns are hinted at.

Furries read some of the threads were someone mentions they forgot to wear a mask for a few minutes in the supermarket or took their mask off for a short while the drama is ridiculous

@Flynnqwer

then you have to manage them. I don't understand why you are whining about this when legally you can make someone come into the office to do tasks that can not be done from home.

I am not a manager. I told them we would be going into the building and that is that.

What I cannot abide is the ‘but what if there’s a new variant and we die? We’ll have to never go back to work just in case.’ Particularly grating from one who was on holiday abroad in November and August 2020 (which I fully support). She isn’t scared of the virus. She just wants to stop having to commute to work to do the job. She can work from home some of the time, but must come in for certain things. She doesn’t want to, so is hiding behind Covid. She is always pleased when numbers begin to rise and the exciting prospect of more restrictions is back on the table.

I work in a large team and we were at home for 18 months. We came back in hybrid in October. There was some that didn't go back. Most of them were CEV and that was agreed via risk assessment. The others were pretty much 'anxiety'.

Out of those I know a couple were genuinely shot in terms of their anxiety and I felt sorry for them, one of them was on the verge of a breakdown over the thought of having to go in. One or two others were perhaps just laying it on thick - i.e. a small minority overall as most staff went back - but they'll have been at home for just under two years now and it'll make it harder for them if and when they do have to go back. I say that as a huge introvert who loves WFH, but i'm happy to be in the office at least some of the time.

Being cooped up at home all the time isn't healthy, so I don't envy these people. I feel sorry for the CEV people on the team who are climbing the walls at home. I feel sorry for those that crippled with anxiety that they're afraid to leave the house.

Yep i I agree. I remember when the shielding letter came out, my mum was devastated to get one and I had a friend who was equally devastated that she hadn't got one (she had mild asthma). It really made me think about their different reactions. Since then friend has just seemed OBSESSED with covid, desperate for bad news and unhappy that she has to go back to work. I think wfh for so long but being paid has really ticked up a lot of people's mindsets.

@FrasierCraneDay

Yes I agree, and the majority of those enjoying the pandemic are the ones that benefitted from furlough and spent lock down relaxing in the garden while the rest of us worked liked dogs.

Exactly this. Two main groups of people who have enjoyed the pandemic.

The first are the ones who were furloughed, or weren't working to start with, or who had a lengthy commute and were asked to start working from the kitchen table. People with grown up children who had left home, or pre-schoolers/toddlers who weren't in school or nursery and who were content with trips to the parks to feed the ducks or run around the grass. People who didn't feel the financial impact, or who weren't the sort to want to travel, or go to the theatre, or be out meeting friends for lunch. Their lifestyle was not impacted by covid, they were better off, had more time at home. What's not to like.

There is another group which hangs out on the Covid board mostly who are enjoying it in a different way. The drama, the "ooooh, isn't it AWFUL", relishing the people getting stopped by the police for travelling too far, the constant posting graphs of doom or dire predictions.

It’s just very sad, I think that either some people are genuinely scared and suffer anxiety and just can’t rationalise the risk, and others having everyone locked down or restricted Inc themselves improves their quality of life, but that was always going to be the case and they are a minority in real life. It also doesn’t change anything.

Maybe it will drive those people though to reassess or maybe get help, so possibly something positive will come from it.

I think it is difficult for managers who have to deal with those who are either living their best life and want it to continue or are mentally struggling, difficult to differentiate and manage.

Yanbu. If you can wfh on full pay on a nice iPad ordering m and s food, relaxing with your firepit and a cold glass of something, it's been a dream. I do know of someone unvaccinated who keeps getting pinged and having to isolate irritating for those carrying on working etc

@Flynnqwer

It’s the ‘but what if a new, more dangerous variant is discovered and kills millions in the UK in a week?’ attitude. Life cannot be based around what ifs.

That doesn't sound like "enjoyment". More like anxiety.

I think wfh for so long but being paid has really ticked up a lot of people's mindsets

But it's not doing them any good.

My Uncle got made redundant at 50 (he's now nearly 65). Rather than get another job he stayed at home for a year and then after that just got used to being at home and has never worked since because he couldn't be bothered. He had a house paid off, some savings and a decent redundancy package so could manage and lives modestly which is fine for him. He never does anything.

WFH full time though is giving younger people this kind of mindset. Depends on the job as well. Some jobs can be all go and very challenging from home, whereas others you can pretty much phone it in every day with a bullshit job. It works for some people but it's also taken the structure, purpose and work ethic away from many.

YABU - everyone hates covid restrictions. I've not encountered a single person who's enjoyed the drama or been gleeful or frothed with excitement at the prospect of lockdowns or similar. Some people have felt it's the right thing to do, which isn't the same as welcoming the prospect.

I do know people who remain very anxious and cautious. As far as I know, being permanently anxious is not very enjoyable either.

It's all very well for Middle Aged middle class people wfh but what about young people starting out in life? I have a cousin who is 18 and doing an apprenticeship in the civil service. Her experience of the workplace is sitting on her bed in her underwear looking at a screen. No face to face mentoring, personal development, drinks after work or chance to form friendships and other relationships.

Teachers (and doctors, nurses, shop workers etc etc) reading this and pissing themselves laughing at the thought that a small number of adults doing a small amount of work in an office could be seen as dangerous 🤣🤣🤣

@remindmewhyidothis

YABU - everyone hates covid restrictions. I've not encountered a single person who's enjoyed the drama or been gleeful or frothed with excitement at the prospect of lockdowns or similar. Some people have felt it's the right thing to do, which isn't the same as welcoming the prospect.

I do know people who remain very anxious and cautious. As far as I know, being permanently anxious is not very enjoyable either.

What one might deem as someone "loving all the drama" or "gleeful for lockdown" another might see them as "ravaged by anxiety".

It's hardly healthy regardless.

Ontana "I think wfh for so long but being paid has really ticked up a lot of people's mindsets."

I've mostly worked at home since 2018. If you're working, of course you get paid? I don't know what "ticked up" means though.

I understand people still want wfh or hybrid working but there's a difference between that and loving the drama.

@ViceLikeBlip exactly. I have a friend who was terrified to come to our house in august and stayed in the garden when it was raining last summer rather than eat inside. He has been wfh from the start whereas I spend my working days in poorly ventilated classrooms with 30 mostly unvaccinated teenagers. My mental health is in a far better state than his, he is borderline agoraphobic.

absolutely op , there are loads of them , and its the ones that have benefited from it as well , like the office workers that dont want to have to go back to the office and commuting
of course they want this cushy number to continue and lets not forget the ones who were practically hermits or didnt like having to go out and encounter lots of people when they did ,
they love it now , its hardly affected them at all and my best friend is one of these people !! he actually said to me last year , iv hardly noticed its made any differnce to me

im a keyworker by my companys definition as in i work as a sales assiatant for a large beauty store that has a pharmacy and no i dont consider myself one at all , be glad not to hear the phrase

and some of the threads on here make it clear that there are ones loving all the rules and regulations , i only had to read through the replies to a thread from an op who said she took her mask off breifly on the tube whilst breast feeding the baby , oh god the santimonious lecturing replies , fucking hell it drives me mad ,
and all now for a varient thats proving to be really really mild , but cant say that on here as you get ripped a new arse ,

@EmmaH2022 sorry it autocorrected "fucked up" and I meant being furloughed not wfh. Apologies!

Yes there are negatives to home working for some. Feel especially for young people starting out like @ontana ‘s cousin.

But this…

My Uncle got made redundant at 50 (he's now nearly 65). Rather than get another job he stayed at home for a year and then after that just got used to being at home and has never worked since because he couldn't be bothered. He had a house paid off, some savings and a decent redundancy package so could manage and lives modestly which is fine for him. He never does anything.

He doesn’t need the money and he’s an adult. He’s contributed in the past. Surely he can live his life as he wishes. And for all you know he could be volunteering. I have a friend like this. She doesn’t appear to do much. Because I know her well I know she gives many hours to supporting vulnerable people online.

I work in a GP surgery and the amount of patients who rang to be coded as a 'carer' to move up the vaccine category was unreal. Obviously there are genuine carers but shopping for your great auntie Maud once a week does not constitute being a carer.
Also the patients who would ring to see if they could be coded as asthmatic cos they had a bad chest infection in 1986 and were given a one off inhaler.
Patients wanting blood tests to see if they had diabetes.... I could go on but it's like people actually wanted to have a chronic illness.
This was at a detriment to genuine carers and CEV patients who needed our help to stay safe.

@FrasierCraneDay

Yes I agree, and the majority of those enjoying the pandemic are the ones that benefitted from furlough and spent lock down relaxing in the garden while the rest of us worked liked dogs.

Yeah I agree