Sad that the pandemic didn't make us better

[Pennyforyourthoughtsplease]

Those first few weeks were terrifying, but we made it through. Many worse off. Isn't it sad that coming through a global pandemic, we didn't become kinder, more appreciative and less materialistic; realising what really matters. If anything, I've noticed a significant shift these last few years where people have become more selfish and entitled. What happened?!

Should that be seen as noble or just being courteous?

I do think something snapped when the news about Downing Street parties broke. It really felt that we’d be stupid following the rules. So many people damaged their finances, children’s education, mental and physical health to help others, and then found out those in charge were effectively laughing at us for it.

It’s hardly surprising the response was sod that, not putting anyone else first again.

And shovelling elderly people with covid form hospitals into care homes seeding it in them which I think it's the biggest scandal of the pandemic.

Re downing Street that's more complicated for me.
They were all immune to a degree because they all had it. Saying there were parties implies nightly raves when it was I believe one bday party sprung on Boris and one outdoor gathering with wine spread out.. Boris never wanted to shut us down and ironically shut us down too late which costs lives. He's a libertarian.

The point being he wasn't acting dictorially relishing locking us up whilst he went out gallavanting

😬

I feel that British people are quite self conscious people (generally), so mask wearing outside of a pamdemic is a bit uncomfortable.

It's a massive shame it didn't catch on, especially on public transport and in shops etc.

My surgery asks anyone with sniffles or a cold to wear a mask.

Lockdown and the Covid years were terrible for a lot of people, not because of the threat of Covid itself but because they were kept away from family and friends, kids missing out on school and university, losing their jobs/businesses - the list is endless. I will never forgive the various governments across the world who’s cumulative travel restrictions meant I couldn’t see my parents or brother and sister for over two years, that my newborn was a toddler before they could meet her, and that my aunt died completely alone (not from Covid but cancer), no chance for any of us to say goodbye. Yes, deep down it probably has made me more selfish rather than less, seeing how it all played out, and it actually did make me rethink friendships with people who were pro lockdown. Not to mention the devastating effect on the economy which we’ll all be paying for for years through higher taxes. Humans are inherently selfish to a greater or lesser extent, it’s how we survive, but there’s nothing about the pandemic that would make me suddenly want to become more altruistic, the whole thing just made me quite angry in the end, and I was thankful when it was over and life returned to normal.

I think people are the same post pandemic as they were before. 🤷‍♀️ It would take more than a few months of lockdowns and restrictions to mark a societal change.

The usual right wing media sources worked very hard to crush anything that looked like it might shift society away from the status quo. (Just look at how WFH was and still is demonised)
A happy contented population is not good for buisiness!

Sadly the lasting memory for many is that our leaders partied whilst we suffered. I think it would have been different it May was still in power, or sunak to be honest. Boris destroyed peoples faith.

I look at it as similar to the ‘Blitz spirit’ in that it was a response to the extraordinary circumstances, and thus not something that would be maintained when normal life resumed.

There is a strong aspect of self interest when it comes to practicing altruism, that is often overlooked.

Yes, I was quite vocal at the time saying that I thought it would make a kinder world, but Christ everyone has done a 180 and got even more selfish and with a "me me me" attitude.

This them?

Officially, we are still in the pandemic, just not the emergency phase (according to WHO and DHSC).

There were opportunities to do things better after lockdown. I think we were desperately unfortunate to have someone like Johnson at the helm. Sticking their fingers up at the country didn’t help - some will see that as reason to do the same, some will treat it like any other shitty behaviour and not want to be the same.

I’m one of too many with long covid after a mild infection - incidentally after covid was supposedly over. I’m lucky that I’m not one of the many parents with a child with long covid as that would be even worse.

I didn’t clap for the NHS during the pandemic. I did my bit by observing the rules so as not to burden the hospitals any further.

The clapping seemed like a twee attempt by Bojo to get a photo opportunity.

Tbh it’s not that unexpected. It was a time when individualism and othering was highly encouraged and promoted. Spying and reporting on neighbours, calls of “bring in the army”, “save granny you murderous cunt!” and the flip side of “I don’t wanna… stay home/wear a mask/deal with my kids “. With millions caught in the middle , stuck in poverty, misery, mental health crisis , abuse etc. Those millions also being shut down by either side , “I’m alright Jack”.

The performative clapping and pot banging was just circus for the masses . Extra added entertainment for performative clapping, judging her next door for not clapping, and him three doors down thinking he’s so righteous and not clapping on principle, while the kid across the street died in the night.

What exactly about the pandemic was supposed to bring us together or make us better people?

So much time was spent on line. People went down conspiracy rabbit holes and didnt come back.

The government broke the law and their actions were excused and minimised by their supporters. They really didnt get why the "ambushed by a cake" and "eye tests 100s of miles away" shite was so insulting and painful to a public suffering illness and bereavement alone.

The Tories lied, lied, and lied again and bankrupted the country. They broke the social contract.

I think it exposed a lot of lies and made us question those in authority - the video of those actors (people) falling down dead in the streets from a deadly virus, told crap about masks and stupid rules like 'you can swim in the sea as long as you're at least two metres away from the next person', the Conservatives holding parties, when no one else could, etc.

The doubt is always there now. We don't know who to trust, so we've gone into a kind of survival mode.

That in my view is manslaughter or even murder, hence my comment about Boris Johnson and why if I accepted the death penalty (I don't and never have) I would be happy to see him hang.

Absolutely agree with this.

Hmm... maybe but the lockdowns were a result of them responding to public demand surely? They didn't sincerely believe they were needed so of course they didn't think twice about flauting them. I think it's a double standard to the public to them complain

I don’t understand why you would think that people would become better.

The people in power did what they wanted (partied etc) and did terrible things like give away billions to their mates who didn’t have to deliver because pandemics are emergency circumstances and us muggins taxpayers will be paying for it for decades while the people who made those decisions will never be held accountable.

People only care about themselves and their loved ones. Some will extend that care to people outside their circle and that’s the best that we can hope for.

I don't know why you would expect any different. Hardship, isolation and fear generally do not make people behave better. Material comfort, security and physical connection, that's what your population needs if you want them to be nice to each other. Locking them in their houses and taking all their money off them when they do finally come out isn't going to cut it.

After a fuckwit on here told me that my child, who was in an absolute mental health mess, had a "good chance to learn resilience" from this - my tolerance for being "good" and doing the "right thing" broke. It's not come back because I've seen how quickly people will throw my kids' futures under the bus and I don't like it one bit.

Oh yeah and the hate directed against those who struggled massively wearing masks - people would have tied those up to burn them at the stake quite willingly, removed provision for healthcare from them, banned them from ever leaving their houses and quite probably taken their houses away as well.

So yeah - the pandemic showed me exactly how fucking evil the performative good guys really were and how rotten at the core the pan banging, rainbows and "thank you NHS" shite was.

The economic consequences have made life a lot worse for a lot of people. Tax rises, inflation, cost of living crisis, crap customer service everywhere. Also having to pre-book everything, later check in and earlier check out times remaining in hotels/holiday lets, etc., So much of the crap stuff arising from Covid lockdowns has remained with us.

👏
also it exposed how utterly un prepared we were, if LA public health departments hadn’t been decimated we would have had a much more effective test&trace local systems in place, we also had I believe one of the lowest numbers of intensive care beds in Europe which was another fallout of from the austerity implemented purely for ideological reasons by the conservative government combined with having a Prime Minister who was lazy incompetent grifting shyster fuckwit along with a lot of the cabinet, so many people suffered such immeasurable harm so many of those in supposed charge should be in fucking prison & held responsible for the billions of public money wasted.
im sad that the country seems so fragmented & support for Reform really does frighten me not helped by being aided & abetted by what appears to be a lot of the media & the hatred of the Labour government, so little of the good things they have done appears to be ignored although I’m disappointed in the handling of the proposed benefit cuts.
Am also shocked at times at the sheer bile & viciousness of the threads on MN bashing benefit claimants/social housing etc etc.