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?

If you ever imply that some people enjoy restrictions, you will provoke a lot of angry denials ("Of COURSE that is not true! NOBODY enjoys this!")

However, the literature I've seen (I'm going to try and find the links; they were discussed on Twitter) suggests that the emotional impact of lockdown varies a lot: it's bad for most people, but a minority of people seem to see improvements in their mood. It seems to be commoner among people who were struggling with loneliness before COVID--suddenly there is no FOMO or sense of inferiority about being alone, as everyone is "in the same boat."

@SarahJinx

Ohhh it’s the ones that are terrified of going into the sparkling, sterile, empty offices but are happy to whizz around Tesco or eat in restaurants or go clubbing that boil my piss.

Oh yes! "My third cousin twice removed had type 1 diabetes so I'm vulnerable and need to carry on working from home" Fast forward to Friday evenings Facebook update "woohoo cocktails and my girls, living my best life"

@CharlotteGoldenblattYork

Yep! I've noticed on here some people seem to absolutely delight in being in the 'shielding category'

Of course, because people who are CEV are having a whale of a time. 🙄 You're clearly one of the selfish bastards who couldn't give a fuck about spreading it to people who apparently gloat over the fact they are shielding. Try and have a bit of humanity.

@greenteafiend

If you ever imply that some people enjoy restrictions, you will provoke a lot of angry denials ("Of COURSE that is not true! NOBODY enjoys this!")

However, the literature I've seen (I'm going to try and find the links; they were discussed on Twitter) suggests that the emotional impact of lockdown varies a lot: it's bad for most people, but a minority of people seem to see improvements in their mood. It seems to be commoner among people who were struggling with loneliness before COVID--suddenly there is no FOMO or sense of inferiority about being alone, as everyone is "in the same boat."

I think saying some people enjoyed the lockdown is very different from the type of comments on here. I know someone with autism who enjoyed the peace and lack of demands during the lockdown. But that does not mean they are hysterical, or revelling in the pandemic and hoping for another variant. It is that kind of language that obviously leads to angry denials.

My MIL enjoyed the second world war. She was a young woman and it gave her a lot more freedom than she would otherwise have had. But I am sure she would have been angry if accused of revelling in the war and hoping for another battle to prolong the war.

However, the literature I've seen (I'm going to try and find the links; they were discussed on Twitter) suggests that the emotional impact of lockdown varies a lot: it's bad for most people, but a minority of people seem to see improvements in their mood. It seems to be commoner among people who were struggling with loneliness before COVID--suddenly there is no FOMO or sense of inferiority about being alone, as everyone is "in the same boat."
Then I that, if there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that once the pandemic is over, maybe something should be done to try and improve the lives of lonely people.

But posters getting their pitchforks out because they’re angry that somebody else might be reasonably content with life during the pandemic is not helpful or healthy.

Ah, a spot of furlough bashing how predictable. Are you a key worker by any chance

Keyworker bashing is fine though? I'd have been quite happy to stay home and be furloughed.

@BitterTits

So ridiculous. If they're comfortable doing their 'hobby', socialising or going shopping, and if they're happy with school and public facing staff taking risks on their behalf, they should STFU. Personally I can't wait to be able to get hold of the service providers I need to speak to without waiting days on end for a response because they're protecting themselves and their loved ones. I can't do that.

Customers have said similar to my work. It isn't because we are WFH because there is only me that is! Plus we are so heavily monitored every minute that it's impossible to do less work if I wanted to

The reason for us is we are busier than we have ever been and then half the team has covid. But we can only do so much - my absolute maximum is around 200 calls a day, I can't physically take more even if we are busier
Before our department was affected, another department was and 75% of them were off with covid. It's like it's constantly busier than it ever has been for absolutely no reason and it never quietens down (and we aren't sure why)

I think that there will be a whole host of personal reasons for similar behaviour outputs, yes some people may have enjoyed it, but I do think a lot more will have anxiety coming out of this, it has been a very emotional time, deeply tragic in 150,000 cases, and those 150,000 people will have touched many lives themselves.

Some people (a great number of people at that) have worked in conditions that have put them at direct risk of covid, and lost colleagues to it, we have all heard their stories, and anyone with any empathy can understand how traumatic that must have been, and in that understanding illicit an element of fear.

A great number of people have also worked to the bone, healthcare staff have been driven to the point of exhaustion.

A lot of people have lost businesses, jobs, had wages cut, been worried about whether there will be a job.

People have been isolated from friends and family, there very support.

Children and young people have lost out of 2 years, which as a percentage of their lives, at points of huge personal development, is massive.

The ways we work has changed dramatically. The way we socialise even. The way we understand illness.

People living through non-covid health crisis have been failed, people have gone through cancer treatments alone.

There is still a great deal of uncertainty about what will happen, we thought we were home and dry, getting back to normal, allowing ourselves to hope and then woosh - omicron, what will this bring, more uncertainty.

Even our cure, our vaccination, the magic bullet has caused division and anger, just look at the conspiracy craziness (and beyond just the vaccination and covid conspiracy theories).

And there is a ton more no doubt.

I think it is natural that people impacted by some or all of the above will mean that the nation will see a state of anxiety, and being angry at people for having difficulty shaking off that fear when we aren't actually home and dry yet is a bit shit.

Personally I am resilient, have not got major anxiety, but I can sure as hell understand why lots of people are still anxious, I also don't know how it can be mended. I would also look back at how people coped after the world wars, I imagine that there were a lot of scarred people even from the impact to domestic life, living with fear for a long period of time will leave an imprint.

@CharlotteGoldenblattYork what?!!!! Obviously you weren’t one of these people.

I am actually gobsmacked you would say that

@MaybeHeIsMyCat Yes my company are getting way more phone calls to our call centre than ever before, and nobody is sure why.

[quote AllThePogs]@MaybeHeIsMyCat Yes my company are getting way more phone calls to our call centre than ever before, and nobody is sure why.[/quote]
It's crazy
December we are usually twiddling our thumbs a bit, sometimes 20 mins between calls
December just gone? Queues every day

Same amount of staff, and even the 23rd December was bonkers

My friend is like "can you not answer more calls?" Er no? I can only talk so fast and 200 in 7hrs is pretty much my limit. I'm eating throat sweets like they're going out of fashion at the minute

There is a small cohort of people that like having a small world with firm boundaries.

This! It's the introvert army cry! Though rather a 'small cohort' it's probably 50% of our population!

As PPs have said, it gives introverts free reign to revel in doing not much guilt free. I'm probably one of them!

I hate all the things the pandemic has taken from me, I will never get back the missed moments with my one and only child.

But I am still wary of catching Covid or indeed any illnesses that cause coughs, because of the impact on our family. Doing tests on our child feels like child abuse...if she has to isolate we have to take unpaid leave from work...her being at nursery a few days a week is important to my mental health and Covid jepordises that.

I don't want more restrictions but I do want to continue to WFH to save us from the huge disruption and stress of one of us getting Covid. We have no family support and things are hard enough as it is. I do think that ending any need to isolate or test would in many ways make things easier for our family.

@Slowfoxfast

Being worried about catching Covid isn't the same as enjoying the pandemic. I don't know anyone who wants it to continue.

Neither do I.

@CharlotteGoldenblattYork

Yep! I've noticed on here some people seem to absolutely delight in being in the 'shielding category'

One of the lowest comments I have read on this site

I understand people wanting to work from home. The whole idea of driving for an hour to do something you could just as easily have done from home is ludicrous. Saving money, time, pollution, congestion.... all makes sense.

But having a restricted personal life - I guess there must be a lot of introverts who love the excuse not to have to interact.

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.

Then I that, if there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that once the pandemic is over, maybe something should be done to try and improve the lives of lonely people.

Totally agree, but it's hard to help people unless they meet you halfway and want to be helped, and that's not true of the people I'm thinking of!

I have huge sympathy for the people who have been honest and just said openly "I've struggled with loneliness for years, and lockdown has, to be honest, brought some feelings of relief that I'm no longer alone in this."

I have less patience with the ones who just come across as a bit gleeful about rising cases, deaths and restrictions without wanting to admit that their own personal issues might be part of the reason why they feel this way. And yes, some of these ones really have come across as gleeful at times. They have also stirred up and worsened anxiety in other people.

I know someone that ‘enjoys’ the pandemic. He’s an anti vaxxer though. He is so far down the rabbit hole with his mates talking vaguely about ‘something not being right’ and watching and sharing you tube videos He is completely against the government. He owns a small shop and actively spends time telling people not to bother with masks/ vaccines etc. He lurches from one misinformed idea to another with great pleasure.
He is also a prepper and has rampted up his prepping to the point of buying livestock and medical equipment and arming himself. Not because he thinks the pandemic is real cos he doesn’t, he does it because the new world order is coming. That or another catastrophic event that will affect society enough that he (and a group of friends) needs to hide out in the bush (Australia). His wife is double vaccinated but he says she is not getting the third one as that’s the one that is causing all the illness.

I feel unsafe at work as I know that if he gets Covid he will be in work with symptoms until the very last minute he can. I need to get a new job.

@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've hit the nail on the head here OP.

If people like wfh, find a job where you can.

If people don't like socialising - say no!

The socialising one is massive. So many people talking about being free of social obligations. The only person obliging you to socialise is yourself. If you're too embarrassed/weak to say no that's your problem - take some responsibility for yourself! Doesn't mean the rest of us should be locked up so you don't feel obliged to do something.

I have no problem with people who enjoyed the slower pace of life lockdown brought and want to continue that for themselves. The problem is the ones who want to continue it for everyone - who can't take personal responsibility for their own pace of life. They're gasping for restrictions just so they don't have any 'obligations' ever again.

@CalicoAnnie

Good point, the anti-vaxxers and other conspiracy types I know definitely seem to be the ones really revelling in it.

Some people may be more aware as they’re vulnerable. They may be more sensitive but believe me they want this to be over way more than you do!

You’re privileged to hold this view.

@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.

I don’t know anyone doing this. At all

@greenteafiend

Then I that, if there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that once the pandemic is over, maybe something should be done to try and improve the lives of lonely people.

Totally agree, but it's hard to help people unless they meet you halfway and want to be helped, and that's not true of the people I'm thinking of!

I have huge sympathy for the people who have been honest and just said openly "I've struggled with loneliness for years, and lockdown has, to be honest, brought some feelings of relief that I'm no longer alone in this."

I have less patience with the ones who just come across as a bit gleeful about rising cases, deaths and restrictions without wanting to admit that their own personal issues might be part of the reason why they feel this way. And yes, some of these ones really have come across as gleeful at times. They have also stirred up and worsened anxiety in other people.

I haven’t seen one person seen”gleeful” about deaths.

Proof?

There are people who legitimately like working from home, or prefer a quieter pace of life, or whose kids thrive away from in person school. But I find people like that are pretty aware that it's not about covid.

There are two, maybe three types of people I see doing the things described in the OP.

One group is just really fearful, and can't seem to get any perspective on it.The don't seem to be able to look ahead and see how to get out of it either. Their response is panic based.

The other group actually does like it. Some of them like it because they are drama queens. Some like to control other people.

But I think the suggestion up thread about lonely people is spot on. There are a lot of people who were lonely and felt their lives were kind of meaningless. Covid gives them a sense of working together with others to do good, honourable self-sacrifice, an enemy to face, even people to scapegoat (anti-vaxxers!) and that can feel very satisfying.