To miss the first lockdown?

[TidyOchreReader]

I know it was a tough time for many but I genuinely loved that first lockdown. I think about it all the time. There was something strangely blissful about slowing down, having fewer obligations and just focusing on connecting with people - even though we couldn’t physically see them. And when you did see someone, the gratitude was immense. AIBU to feel nostalgic for that time?

Can you say this TWENTY TIMES LOUDER please!!!!!

2020 was the perfect demonstration of a government using the power of the media to “control” the public, with a drip drip drip method to manipulate the hive mind. The government imposed such a draconian regime on us, playing with our minds about when, or if, normality might resume, that many people were “grateful” for crumbs of freedom when they were tossed at us. It was the boiling frog analogy through and through. They gaslit us with the phrase “new normal”, threw fear porn at us every day (much more than other countries did), and leaked to the press things that “might” happen, to soften us up, or to test the public reaction. There “might” be an October lockdown; masks “might” become compulsory, after the health secretary had dismissed them as no good, and maybe even counter-productive. Vaccines “might” become compulsory to do ordinary things (and this came dangerously close to reality). And I do think if it hadn’t been for the anger caused by Partygate, we might even now be having seasonal mask mandates. And the massive anti-lockdown protests were memory-holed out of existence by the press. I know they happened, because I went on them, and saw hundreds of thousands of people doing likewise, instead of the “200 conspiracy theorists on speakers corner” that the BBC gaslit the public with.

But this thread wasn’t started to be positive it’s been started to provoke strong reactions. I’m not derailing the thread and I don’t see why I should feed into the highly inappropriate narrative that lockdown was positive.

But OP clearly posted for a bun fight

So, we're giving her what she wanted. 😁 she's probably thrilled.

that's nothing like the title of this thread, so I am not sure what your point is?

The title is just clear enough you know where it's going. If it's triggering, why do you bother reading it and getting all upset?

We all had such a different experience of Covid and lockdowns.

Some people were having a holiday at home, baking cakes, pottering in the garden, enjoying the break from all the noise and busyness of life.

Other people lived through a dystopian nightmare. It caused profound and lasting trauma.

I’m pleased you enjoyed that first, sunny lockdown.

why clearly?

Some people DO miss the lockdown. So what?

I don't, but I think I can see why they are like that.

After working in it, losing people, catching it myself several times. You’re entirely unreasonable.

I think you’re missing the point that lockdown “worked” for some people who find normal life and constant interaction challenging. They’re not being smug or callous - just pointing out there were elements of it that actually relieved day to day levels of stress for them.

I did like fewer cars on the roads, less pollution and quiet. I remember news reports about waterways improving, sea mammals being spotted in places they hadn't for ages and better air quality.
I liked not feeling forced to socialize.
My GP said her patients with social anxiety felt more positive about the lockdown. I'm one of them. Maybe OP is, too?

@Fannyannie You know, your “think tank” suggestion crossed my mind as well. It’s what the government did all the time, using the press (and probably social media) to sound out how the public would react. This is exactly why I think it is vital to denounce lockdowns, and never, ever to forget how horrible they were, so that “actually, they weren’t that bad” never takes hold. This is a hill I will die on. Our children and grandchildren will be paying for they “oh weren’t they blissful” lockdowns for the rest of their lives. 😡

It’s notable that ever since lockdown, there is a tacit agreement among all political parties never to mention it. It’s always “because of the pandemic”, not the government’s cruel, inhumane and unnecessarily protracted lockdowns that we are all in a huge financial and emotional mess.

I had 2 pre school children and I was pregnant, my husband was working all the hours under the sun, the parks were shut and even my mum couldn’t pop round. So it was fucking shit! I was so lonely and depressed. Can totally see why it was great for other people though…

Someone posted a photoshopped pic on my local FB group of a whale breaching in our local beauty spot.... and some people thought it was real 😂

“Waterways improving”. Those same waterways and oceans which now contain millions of masks.

To me, this post is very insensitive.
To those who lost loved ones
To those had to work and risk their lives

I sincerely hope you find the true meaning of life and do something rewarding rather than riding free on the pandemic where people lost loved ones and businesses

I hated it. I missed everyone terribly. Plus working full time and trying to care for a 3 year old was not super fun.

My life was great during the first lockdown. But I have enough people around me who had an absolutely hideous time to mean that I would never want to go back.

I've always WFH so no change. No kids. I was very overwhelmed with social responsibilities at the time, and lockdown took all of that away. It was literally illegal to be near people. I loved it.

Yes, you're right about that. We're hopeless. 😔

Your post isn't even insensitive, just downright nasty.

Oh,geez... 🙄

Yes exactly this. Why is everyone annoyed if we all didn't find it awful? OP was saying she didn't have a bad experience. That is ok to say. I liked it too. I didn't have kids, spent loads of time with my dog, quiet pace, it was so sunny, it didn't even rain for a month at one point. I was swimming in lakes, the local lake is still a swimming spot because of lockdown, it wasn't used much before.

Also, I know a few neuro diverse people who welcomed the pressure to socialise etc being taken away.

why do you think you should have a right to dictate the ways events are recorded, and you have a right to decide that your view is the only valid view?

Why does your point of view wins?

Even people who are against the lockdown and have negative memories have completely different views and different experience.

For you it was the worst thing that happened to human race, or something in that line. For others, it was a just a boring mess.

You are free to say it was "horrible" and your children and grand-children will be paying the price, I think you are ridiculously over-the-top on that one, and both our points of views are valid, so are the memories of the OP

I think it's a shame you're getting such a pasting for reflecting out loud on your own experiences, especially as you've acknowledged many times over that it was different for everyone. I'm really glad you appreciated the positive aspects of that weird time.

For me, COVID didn't make much difference in that I'd been WFH for almost 20 years (freelancing) and rarely went out anyway. The trouble is that I moved abroad, and then COVID hit. Lo and behold, suddenly my parents needed my support, and travel was not possible. I'd taken for granted that flights were cheap and easy. Every time restrictions were about to lift, another wave seemed to hit. Having spent half a lifetime preferring to connect with people virtually rather than in person (I suppose that makes me an introvert?!), I began to despair of ever being able to see the people I cared about in the real world.

Worse than that, the "race for space" meant that all those wild unspoilt places I'd always enjoyed living in the UK, because I didn't have to commute to work, suddenly doubled in price and became unattainable. Living abroad is one thing, but feeling exiled against your will is quite another. Plus, places seemed to change overnight - quiet areas were overrun with people who were quite naturally desperate for fresh air.

I remember watching this video, and although I didn't relate to it directly (since meeting up with pals to go clubbing etc wasn't my thing), I found it incredibly poignant. I'm just so glad that the dark cloud has lifted and we can go about our normal lives again.

It's really worth you considering what changes you can make in your current situation to replicate the things you enjoyed. Seriously, if you can, go freelance.

I'm lucky in that it didn't affect us negatively. We had just had 4th dc. Dh furloughed after paternity. Just moved so we got to do our house up and make it more homely .
But I feel for those who were affected by illness. Job losses and other factors.

Why?

YABU. I gave birth to my first child at the very start of lockdown. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.