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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:
rainbowmash · 15/01/2022 19:57

[quote AllThePogs]@Toanewstart22 no she is a shit friend. If friends are over-anxious, I worry about their mental health. I don't dismiss them by saying they are being hysterical.
The friends I have who I think are the most over-anxious are those who are saying the whole thing is a hoax great reset, etc. I think some of them are really affected mentally. But I don't dismiss them, I am concerned about them.
All this talk about how we should support friends with poor mental health is just that, talk. As soon as some people start showing signs of poor mental health, their friends are there ready to put the boot in by calling them names.[/quote]
I don't really think I'm a shit friend.

I work in mental health, if you must know. Not everyone needs Mental Health First Aid at the first sign of negative feelings. Some do! Many don't.

I still think that lots of people I encounter use the pandemic to indulge their desire to stir up panic in their close circles and cultivate their post-apocalyptic escapist fantasies. It was a good opportunity for me to reassess my social priorities.

Am I a bad person for not responding to every one of these dozens of acquaintances with a referral to Talking Therapy and a soothing chat? Or, perhaps, is it not my job to fix people when I'm off the clock?

Gwenhwyfar · 15/01/2022 19:57

"But he cares more about the free furlough than he does about having a job in the long run."

Maybe he just thinks he has the ability to get another job if he does lose his current job.

Gwenhwyfar · 15/01/2022 19:58

@AllThePogs

Many of us don't care about work social life. It is bosses that push that.
Not true for 'many' other people!
AllThePogs · 15/01/2022 19:59

I am not saying it is your job to fix acquaintances, but maybe not mocking and judging them might be a start?

MarshaBradyo · 15/01/2022 20:00

Wfh isn’t beneficial to everyone, for some it comes at a cost to their mh

So with any introduction of policy the downside should be considered

A new way of working may emerge with more hybrid and choice which I think is good

AllThePogs · 15/01/2022 20:01

@Gwenhwyfar it is for a lot of people. If people value work social life they wont want to wfh.

Gwenhwyfar · 15/01/2022 20:02

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

Mental AND physical health.

Gwenhwyfar · 15/01/2022 20:04

@Flynnqwer

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.
Thank you! My work doesn't allow me to go and work in a cafe. I must be at the address I have supplied to them 'for insurance reasons'.
MarshaBradyo · 15/01/2022 20:11

There are many posts on here from people struggling with wfh, for various reasons.

I think if you are that’s really hard. Not sure why it’s bad to care about that.

AllThePogs · 15/01/2022 20:13

People should have a choice.

flashy44 · 15/01/2022 20:14

I cant think why anyone would enjoy having their life turned upside down as we have had done in the last two years

Toanewstart22 · 15/01/2022 20:15

@flashy44

I cant think why anyone would enjoy having their life turned upside down as we have had done in the last two years
Unless they had a shit life before
Lifeisnteasy · 15/01/2022 20:19

I loved working in an office. I enjoyed the company of my colleagues, enjoyed going for spontaneous lunches out, enjoyed chatting over coffee, enjoyed pub trips after work on a Friday, enjoyed the banter, enjoyed having a reason to get a bit dressed up every day, then enjoyed closing the door when I got home and appreciating the silence.

I miss my old life desperately.

chocolateorangeinhaler · 15/01/2022 20:20

@Alexandra2001

And could well not happen (and given the nature of viruses is to develop weaker, more contagious variants probably won’t.)

I can't wait to get back to normal again...... but i take issue with the above.
what viruses become weaker over time?

Most of them that survive long term. A virus that kills its host doesn't last long at all.
Closebrackets · 15/01/2022 20:21

@Lifeisnteasy

I loved working in an office. I enjoyed the company of my colleagues, enjoyed going for spontaneous lunches out, enjoyed chatting over coffee, enjoyed pub trips after work on a Friday, enjoyed the banter, enjoyed having a reason to get a bit dressed up every day, then enjoyed closing the door when I got home and appreciating the silence.

I miss my old life desperately.

Me too, I'm a huge fan of being in the office, I even like the commute as its time to myself! I miss my colleagues as well, it's not the same doing catch ups on teams or via chat, and yep being able to leave work for the day and have some separation. I'd hate to do it forever and would absolutely look to move jobs.
AllThePogs · 15/01/2022 20:44

Maybe you are all young? Everyone just rushes home from the office to collect their kids. No one has time for after-work drinks, and our lunchtime is half an hour.

Lifeisnteasy · 15/01/2022 20:54

On the contrary most of the bar hopping fun lovers in my office are in their 50s or 60s with older teen kids!

Gwenhwyfar · 15/01/2022 21:14

@AllThePogs

Maybe you are all young? Everyone just rushes home from the office to collect their kids. No one has time for after-work drinks, and our lunchtime is half an hour.
I'm in my forties. Nobody where I work does after work drinks either, but we socialise during the office day and get an hour for lunch.
AllThePogs · 15/01/2022 21:17

I don't know anyone who still gets an hour. Do you work for the public sector?

Gwenhwyfar · 15/01/2022 21:35

@AllThePogs

I don't know anyone who still gets an hour. Do you work for the public sector?
Have had an hour all my life - some jobs had flexi time so some people chose to have less. Non-profit now, but have worked in the private sector as well. Been working in offices for twenty years.
AllThePogs · 15/01/2022 21:49

Okay, I could work late and take an hour. I don't, I want to get home.
In my teenage years and early twenties, over thirty years ago, people had an hour lunch and we went out sometimes after work. But it stopped years ago.
The only people I know who go out after work are either very young, or it is work enforced.

Mickarooni · 15/01/2022 22:12

@AllThePogs

Okay, I could work late and take an hour. I don't, I want to get home. In my teenage years and early twenties, over thirty years ago, people had an hour lunch and we went out sometimes after work. But it stopped years ago. The only people I know who go out after work are either very young, or it is work enforced.
It’s not fair on the younger people though. I’m not “old” but I’m not young either. I had my fun - the flexibility for after work drinks if I chose. Why should today’s young people not be afforded the same opportunities I have?

Hybrid working is far fairer and more flexible.

user1471538283 · 15/01/2022 22:20

My horrid ex neighbors loved the first lockdown. Furlough pay, long sunny days, loud music, hot tub. Never giving a shit about me working 12 hour days at home solidly throughout.

I dont know of anyone now who is enjoying it.

AllThePogs · 15/01/2022 22:44

@Mickarooni they can go and get a job that provides that. Its not my job to make sure young people have a social life.

Original poster
Flynnqwer · 15/01/2022 22:57

[quote AllThePogs]@Mickarooni they can go and get a job that provides that. Its not my job to make sure young people have a social life.[/quote]
It’s not young people’s responsibility to humour you not wanting one.

OP posts:
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