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?

I think the pandemic released the crazy in some people (it was probably lurking there pre pandemic) the competitive suffering was one of the things I noticed, everyone claiming they were having it worse then the next person, calling people selfish for voicing out loud they were struggling when obviously they couldn’t possibly be having as bad a time as anyone else as they were so much better off. It brought out the best in some people and the worst in others. There are definitely some that have enjoyed the martyrdom and misery of the situation and would love it to last a bit longer but they are probably glass half full people anyway. I’m another one who’s sick of the “I’m a key worker” thing as well, I’ve even seen car stickers with it on!

Agree with BlueFlavour and also whether you have loved ones who now have long COVID. I still hear people talk about it just being a cold. Well for some people it isn’t and catching it has been life-changing. I’m genuinely scared. I hate lock downs and all the other restrictions but I have watched friends lives be destroyed by long COVID.

Or if someone mentions that they have some random symptom which is not linked to Covid in any way all the "THAT WAS MY ONLY SYMPTOM YOU NEED TO TESSSSSSSTTTTTT" posts.

Someone could say their arsehole was hanging off and you'd be called selfish for not getting a PCR immediately.

People definitely are loving the drama and having something to constantly think/worry/berate others about.

And then there are those that aren't loving it but definitely are over the top with their fear and anxiety about it. Which is understandable given all the media attention but not logical either.

I hate threads like this. We're still in the middle of a pandemic and people are scared. They've lost confidence, they're anxious. Stop judging.

No one cares I think the pandemic has legitimised a pretty grim 'I don't give a shit about anyone who is not me' vibe too.

There has also been an epidemic of wilful stupidity. I have heard/read people saying so often 'we don't lock down for flu' etc. - are these people really that ill-informed that they can not read a single proper article explaining why covid has caused so much illness and disruption?

I have no doubt I have got blind spots and distorted thinking at times, but the certainty from some that they are completely rational makes me .

The whole premise of this thread is superior and unpleasant - sneering at people who think covid is a concern. Yet governments across the world continue to take covid very seriously, as do scientists and medics (i.e. those who know most about it).

I think the fact the UK government (operating in England) has mishandled covid has probably contrbuted to the general polarisation.

Mumsnet is full of it.

No one cares I think the pandemic has legitimised a pretty grim 'I don't give a shit about anyone who is not me' vibe too

My no one cares comment was about posters on here who constantly bring up the fact they have Covid in a completely irrelevant discussion.

If I'm on a thread about bath salts I don't care if you have Covid. You don't need to tell everyone.

100% agree, some seem to love it and have accepted the new normal. Absolutely no idea why, I find it very strange.

@Mumofsend

Mumsnet is full of it.

I think this is just perceoption. To me Mumsnet is full of people who love moaning about people loving the pandemic - but in real life all the people I speak to are quite middle ground, they are being varied levels of cautious depending on their circs.

In real life I have never heard a single cunt person say to a person with health concerns that they just have to 'crack on'.

Sorry, you lost me a few posts on when you quoted and agreed with the now deleted post re “shielding”.

Fair enough, I get that just about everyone is fed up to the back teeth with the varying degrees of shut. But liking a post with shielding in inverted commas is pretty blooming shitty.

You are perfectly within your rights to feel frustrated - as is most of the country - but don’t minimise those shielding so flippantly.

Hopefully, it’s not too long before things head back to being more normal for everyone. But at least be mindful of those who don’t have a choice re being careful - or those with conditions that limit their interactions even without Covid.

In real life I have never heard a single cunt person say to a person with health concerns that they just have to 'crack on'

It's hardly outside the realms of possible that some of those people are thinking that we should "crack on" but are just being polite to your face. People will always be more honest on an anonymous forum. Hardly news.

@GroollyBaby

No one cares I think the pandemic has legitimised a pretty grim 'I don't give a shit about anyone who is not me' vibe too

My no one cares comment was about posters on here who constantly bring up the fact they have Covid in a completely irrelevant discussion.

If I'm on a thread about bath salts I don't care if you have Covid. You don't need to tell everyone.

Why does it bother you though? Are you this restrictive about every topic or just covid?

A lot of the people who can't bear to hear any mention of covid are the ones with the bigger emotional issues around covid IMO. They crave no mention of it so they can pretend it doesn't exist. Sadly it does exist and we have high likelihood waves of it for years to come whilst the drugs and treatments improve.

If you're not intereted, just ignore, surely? The mention of covid is not going to go anywhere.

I definitely think some people have really benefited from Covid and they understandably don't want that particular benefit to end. Whether it's saving money or having more free time because they're working from home, or furlough, I don't blame anyone for being happy about that. There are however lots of people who should be rewarded for their efforts during Covid, who've really gone the extra mile and put their lives at risk (think nurses, bus drivers etc), who have not benefited in any way, and in fact their lives are demonstrably worse, and the unfairness of that grates on me. There has, in most cases, been no reward at all (bar a few claps), and after so many have benefitted financially, it's just wrong. The thought of people voting Tory because they're happy that they benefitted from furlough, makes me feel a bit cross. I know furlough had to happen, but as a result we've got no money for a pay rise for nurses, and that's just crap. The rise of wfh doesn't help recruitment in lots of essential public services that can't WFH, because alternative jobs are now much more attractive to most people. Many jobs that were 💯 WFH during Covid are now WFH a few days a week, and that scenario is quite attractive (at least all the people I know returning to the office are quite happy with that). Why would a graduate train to be a nurse or a teachers, when the professional office job is now even more attractive. And When you're short staffed in a hospital or a school because you can't recruit, that just makes working conditions crap for those who are there. Covid seems like it's been quite good for some people, and very very rubbish for others (without even including those who have lost lives ones), and in lots of cases that rubbishness will continue. I nievely thought at the beginning of the pandemic, when we were all out clapping, that this was a turning point, and things would be better afterwards, for NHS staff, and carers particularly. That it was bad for them then, whilst they were all out working in horrific conditions whilst those safe at home clapped for them in thanks. I don't think it is better though, or that it's going to get better, the claps were it. I don't know what the answer is really, it's not possible to tax those who have benefited more or anything like that. But if you have benefited, please don't vote Tory. That's what my nurse cousin said to me when I asked her what she thought of the clapping. She said he didn't mind the clapping, at first it was quite nice to feel appreciated, but she was indifferent to it after a while. But what she really wanted, as a show of thanks and appreciation after all this, is for people to stop voting Tory.

I think part of the problem is that normal life - movies, celebs marrying/divorcing/dying, inventing, sport, award ceremonies etc etc etc have been put on hold and so the media is short of gossip and events.

Hence we get Covid morning noon and night and certain events which have happened eg Prince Andrew, PH and MM, Boris are NEVER out of the news.

So life is ever depressing, annoying and booooring, compared to previously.

@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe

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

Totally and my DH is a key worker! My NDN uses it as an excuse for her to be allowed to do everything!

@GroollyBaby

In real life I have never heard a single cunt person say to a person with health concerns that they just have to 'crack on'

It's hardly outside the realms of possible that some of those people are thinking that we should "crack on" but are just being polite to your face. People will always be more honest on an anonymous forum. Hardly news.

Well yes quite, but that cuts both ways.

In real life many people are thinking those who are harsh/dismissive about covid are massive twats.

In some ways I have actually enjoyed aspects of the pandemic tbh. I'm lucky in that no one close to me has suffered terribly and ironically until now I haven't been that ill when I had covid before-I've got it for the second time and I'm currently on day 18 and still feel rough. I realise I've been very fortunate. I'd say I actively embraced the lockdown we were in this time last year. I was used to it by then so didnt find it as hard as previous ones.I had just changed job after an obviously very exhausting period managing a care home, and being able to wfh was tbh a welcome relief. DP and I had started dating the previous July and we deffo made the most of lock down-lots of time just us together, lovely day time bunk ups, lots of effort to make weekends special even when they were just us. We both actually look back on the time fondly as it was in lots of ways less stressful than normal life and we were very loved up. We still are but it's much tougher when life gets in the way.

Do I want it to continue though? No not at all... I like being out and about and seeing people and things-but the trouble is I'm not sure what normal life looks like entirely anymore...it's a bit discombobulating so I can understand why some people want to stay cocooned in their homes and bubbles for a bit longer.

I guess what I am trying to say is - you are no more likely to be right than anyone else, so whilst you can have a good debate about covid, be caerful of assuming it is your approach that is the sensible one.

Every one is flawed and a bit of a mess at times like this, whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not.

It has been a period of huge stress for everyone and almost no one is happy (excepting IMO those who got massive PPE contracts etc )

I’m very jealous of those that can wfh. I’m in school so there’s no chance of that. I’m sick of the pandemic but I’m still very aware and take precautions. Personally I’m sick of those that keep saying “ We’ve just got to get on with our lives!” because they’ve had enough.

I wouldn't say I enjoy it, but it's interesting living through something that will go down in history as a major global event.

Yes absolutely. I've noticed what you're describing among my hardline socialist friends. It has created a sort of bizarre socialist utopia which some people seem to revel in.

I think people are moving at different speeds. I teach and recently we needed the teaching staff to meet with the school governors over an operational matter. The governors were scared of Covid transmission and insisted we must meet in small groups, socially distanced. They hold all their meetings on Zoom. We teaching staff found this really bizarre when we ate in the classroom all day every day (our students are decent and all wearing masks as currently required and trying to toman about the open windows etc).

At the same time, my elderly PIL didn't really grasp that us all being in a room together for hours at a time over Xmas was a little risky, but MIL won't go to the hairdresser or physio (she really needs to do the latter) because of Covid.

GPs also seem to have no intention of good back to in person appointments.

Are! Not ate!

And 'not to moan'.

Honestly, you'd think one pandemic benefit would be Mumsnet getting an edit function....