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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think some people are ‘enjoying’ the pandemic

956 replies

Flynnqwer · 14/01/2022 22:05

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?

OP posts:
peaceanddove · 15/01/2022 17:54

@Biggummyballs

YANBU

Some people who feel “small” in life compared to others are using it to feel bigger as it reduces other people’s worlds

Absolutely this. There were already plenty of people who were choosing to just exist, rather than live. Just Scared of Life, I guess?

Then Covid forced the rest of the population to live much smaller, restricted lives too. And the Scared of Lifers rather liked that because it dragged us all down to their level.

SkyDragon · 15/01/2022 17:56

I'm bewildered as to why so many people still think covid is a thing. I've literally just been living my life as normal since last summer(apart from being obliged to wear mask in shops (but not hospitality) and my husband working from home.

But YANBU OP. I think some people have a sort of covid Stockholm Syndrome where they like the rules and the doom etc. I know someone who isolated themselves alone for 10 days over Christmas because their friends mum had COVID. They'd seen the friend but had no contact with the mum. Sheer madness!

Original poster
Flynnqwer · 15/01/2022 18:01

This is a disgusting thread full of people whose real problem is that people were furloughed and they are jealous of it.

Envy is never a good look.

I, for one, had a ‘great’ lockdown. Worked from home (which consisted of very little for weeks and weeks due to systems needing to be set up to do so), sat in the garden in the sun, read books, played online quizzes, saved a fortune, no kids to worry about. I was very, very fortunate, and there are few people whose circumstances during lockdown were better than mine. I don’t envy anyone their furlough at all. (Despite everything I’ve said here I’d have taken being in the office every day to being locked in a sunny garden.)

I just cannot understand why those who want to sit in the house till the end of time can’t do so, and leave the rest of us to get on with our lives. They don’t want to leave the house, but they don’t want to miss out, so they want everyone to sit on Zoom with them. And people are mown saying no, so they’re longing for cases to rise so that restrictions are kept in place or made more severe.

Several people on this thread have said they’re secretly hoping cases get worse so they don’t need to go back to the office/socialise with people again. The problem is that it’s actually not a secret - it’s so obvious to those who talk to them in real life that they are desperate for the pandemic to take a bad turn.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 15/01/2022 18:03

@mathanxiety

Carry on thinking people love hysteria just because they don't agree with you.

This ^^

This is a disgusting thread full of people whose real problem is that people were furloughed and they are jealous of it.

Envy is never a good look.

Is it?

I can’t say envy of furlough has been front of mind

HarrietPierce · 15/01/2022 18:07

Obviously Covid is still a thing, you would have to be deluded to think otherwise. But apart from wearing a mask in shops, I just live my life as normal, as does everyone else I know.

peaceanddove · 15/01/2022 18:10

@SkyDragon

I'm bewildered as to why so many people still think covid is a thing. I've literally just been living my life as normal since last summer(apart from being obliged to wear mask in shops (but not hospitality) and my husband working from home.

But YANBU OP. I think some people have a sort of covid Stockholm Syndrome where they like the rules and the doom etc. I know someone who isolated themselves alone for 10 days over Christmas because their friends mum had COVID. They'd seen the friend but had no contact with the mum. Sheer madness!

Yes, I think a lot of people have actually really liked having to live under strict rules and follow set procedures. It made them feel safe.
HarrietPierce · 15/01/2022 18:16

"I can’t say envy of furlough has been front of mind"

But it seems to be for many posters on here . I was never on furlough but it didn't cross my mind to "froth at the mouth" concerning those who
were.

MarshaBradyo · 15/01/2022 18:23

@HarrietPierce

"I can’t say envy of furlough has been front of mind"

But it seems to be for many posters on here . I was never on furlough but it didn't cross my mind to "froth at the mouth" concerning those who
were.

Do you mean wfh? There’s a fair few posts re that

Imo wfh can be what pp have said but it can also be at huge detriment to mh for some

RunningFromInsanity · 15/01/2022 18:27

Honestly part of me would not mind another lockdown. I obviously don’t want it to happen because I know it affected so many people negatively, but personally I flipping enjoyed not having to go anywhere, do anything, just been able to stay at my house redecorating, gardening, chillout.
I actually enjoyed the forced relaxation!

However I know it was not practical for many many people and it’s not a sustainable way of life and obviously I don’t want anybody else to be ill or die.

mathanxiety · 15/01/2022 18:30

@Flynnqwer

I just cannot understand why those who want to sit in the house till the end of time can’t do so, and leave the rest of us to get on with our lives.
This is because the virus is contagious. People congregating together for long stretches in offices makes transmission likely. People using public transport to get to offices ditto.
People become ill with the virus and have to stay home from work. Workplaces affected include schools and hospitals. This has knock on effects on other workplaces, and on people with conditions requiring medical treatment, cancer patients, people waiting for operations on gallbladders, etc. When the virus is allowed to spread it mutates.
I am not sure what is so hard to understand about all that.

They don’t want to leave the house, but they don’t want to miss out, so they want everyone to sit on Zoom with them.
Is that true or is it something you have simply made up?

And people are mown saying no, so they’re longing for cases to rise so that restrictions are kept in place or made more severe.
Again, is that true or is it something you have made up?

HarrietPierce · 15/01/2022 18:30

Well if you were on furlough you weren't allowed to work. I just got on with my own work which was not at home for the most part, but I certainly did not "froth at the mouth" at those who were able to work from home.

mathanxiety · 15/01/2022 18:32

I can’t say envy of furlough has been front of mind

Denial, eh, @MarshaBradyo? You will find lots of snide remarks and side eye wrt furlough.

mathanxiety · 15/01/2022 18:32

..on this thread alone..

MarshaBradyo · 15/01/2022 18:33

@mathanxiety

I can’t say envy of furlough has been front of mind

Denial, eh, @MarshaBradyo? You will find lots of snide remarks and side eye wrt furlough.

There’s quite a lot re wfh do you mean that?

Not denial I really don’t see people talking about furlough as it has passed here now

I think it cost a lot but I can see the point re employment

HarrietPierce · 15/01/2022 18:41

But people on this thread seemed to be "frothing at the mouth" concerning those who went on furlough and those who were/are able to work from home.

HarrietPierce · 15/01/2022 18:44

There are also some disgusting comments concerning CEV people who had/have to shield.

user456727821 · 15/01/2022 18:47

If you want to go to work then go to work as much as you want no one cares but stop making choices for others, it’s none of your sodding business, imagine complaining about this on the internet lol

Original poster
Flynnqwer · 15/01/2022 18:50

Honestly part of me would not mind another lockdown. I obviously don’t want it to happen because I know it affected so many people negatively, but personally I flipping enjoyed not having to go anywhere, do anything, just been able to stay at my house redecorating, gardening, chillout. I actually enjoyed the forced relaxation!

But why can’t you just do this anyway? Why do you need a lockdown for the rest of us?

OP posts:
user456727821 · 15/01/2022 18:50

In my experience the only people complaining about this are the ones that waste time all day talking constantly at desks and not getting much work done anyway, maybe OP is missing that

HarrietPierce · 15/01/2022 18:51

It would certainly be nice if we could all mind our own business and stop condemning others for their choices.

Original poster
Flynnqwer · 15/01/2022 18:52

[quote mathanxiety]@Flynnqwer

I just cannot understand why those who want to sit in the house till the end of time can’t do so, and leave the rest of us to get on with our lives.
This is because the virus is contagious. People congregating together for long stretches in offices makes transmission likely. People using public transport to get to offices ditto.
People become ill with the virus and have to stay home from work. Workplaces affected include schools and hospitals. This has knock on effects on other workplaces, and on people with conditions requiring medical treatment, cancer patients, people waiting for operations on gallbladders, etc. When the virus is allowed to spread it mutates.
I am not sure what is so hard to understand about all that.

They don’t want to leave the house, but they don’t want to miss out, so they want everyone to sit on Zoom with them.
Is that true or is it something you have simply made up?

And people are mown saying no, so they’re longing for cases to rise so that restrictions are kept in place or made more severe.
Again, is that true or is it something you have made up?[/quote]
Okay, some reasonable points. How long does everyone stay at home for, then?

Both are true. Several people on this thread have admitted it is true of them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Flynnqwer · 15/01/2022 18:54

@user456727821

In my experience the only people complaining about this are the ones that waste time all day talking constantly at desks and not getting much work done anyway, maybe OP is missing that
I am, badly. Love a gossip, as do some of my colleagues. Those who don’t can, in the large part, continue to stay at home. But they don’t want anyone to go back to the office/hobby once we can.
OP posts:
Original poster
Flynnqwer · 15/01/2022 18:55

I also suspect, @user456727821, that you don’t live by yourself, like many of us do. There is nothing wrong with people not wanting to sit in solitary confinement for eight hours a day. Talking to colleagues is not a crime.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 15/01/2022 18:58

It would certainly be nice if we could all mind our own business and stop condemning others for their choices.

This I agree with. I welcome plan b ending and reverting to more choice - wfh or not, masks or not but no longer mandated or advised

Hopefully we’ll see fewer ‘selfish’ type posts

mathanxiety · 15/01/2022 19:05

Okay, some reasonable points. How long does everyone stay at home for, then?

@Flynnqwer
Until the virus turns into less of a threat to society? Until it loses its capacity to grind all workplaces to a halt?
How efficient is a workplace when half the workers are off sick?
What happens when that workplace is a school or hospital or a prison?

I've read the whole thread and I don't see what you are seeing in the comments.

You feel lonely stuck at home, you like a good natter. Fair enough. Join a walking club? Join a local outdoor yoga group? Join a zoom book club? Start some local club yourself?

Mocking the concerns of others because you have a problem with working form home is an entitled stance.

Don't make people risk their health taking the train to work or staying there unnecessarily so you can manage your feelings.