To be fed up of hearing 'just get on with it'?

[glitterpaperchain]

This kind of 'just get on with it' RE the heat is all over Facebook. People talking about the heat in 1976 and saying 'we just got on with it' or 'we muddled through' (as if people didn't die as a result of that heatwave)

My issue is - shouldn't we as a society be aiming higher than just getting on with things and muddling through? We should be campaigning for better infrastructure, better working practices.

I just think we have all this technology, we're supposed to be a rich country, let's fight to make things better rather than just managing. What happened to the spirit of the first union workers who demanded better conditions and rights? I want to see that spirit back.

I am hopeful that this time people won't just get on with it, that people will look for solutions and ways to make things like this better and easier for everyone.

Judging by this thread though, I feel my hope is probably misplaced.

The 76 one wasn't similar conditions though though because dry rather than humid. This meant the heat more tolerable but had the worry of the drought. Didn't have to worry about global warming though.

I am hopeful for change too. I posted on another thread that site staff were recording room temps at my school at 10am and I had an urgent message for re-rooming as my room had recorded 35 degrees. We need change beyond 'wear a PE kit and drink water' as 35 degrees at 10am is ridiculous. I had Year 10, so I'm supposed to be teaching GCSE content, but I doubt any learning was happening.

But previous posters will say those young minds needs to toughen up - as they're being fried.

Getting on with it is easier now because we know how to prepare and can do this with iced water, neck fans, mini fans, avoid sunbathing etc.

While this all helps I must admit being in a sauna of a classroom is unbearable even with above! I know it's more to age with me though as 20 years ago I really wouldn't have been as bothered.

I guess my generation (X) has generally got on with it, there was no other option and hydration wasn't a thing, as for sun screen...

So I think I do verge on the side of get on with it, but with preparations and common sense, slow the pace, know at some point you're going home and can lay naked in front of a blasting fan!

Working in environments such as kitchens, wards, care homes, farms, not to mention fire fighting uniform etc is even harder in the heat compared to jobs in AC buildings.

It would be ideal to have AC or even windows which opened more than a crack in schools and I do become incensed, along with the students. However the possibility of AC being installed is sadly a joke.

That's the point, ideally. But is the government going to fund AC in all schools? Lol as if!

Oh dear you have VASTLY misunderstood my post and my opinions. I don't have 'firm non-negotiable opinions on previous generations' and certainly not a debate about 'who had it worst'. In fact that's literally the opposite of what I'm looking for. It's almost impressive how wrong you've got it.

Will they though? I don't think that so please don't generalise. I'm sorry but none of us are in any position to change your immediate circumstances. What would you want us to do? This thread has turned into having a go at the oldies, with one charmer clearly referring to the older generation when talking about people today being "plain cunty" and another poster agreeing. And now you being flippant and saying some posters won't care if young minds are fried! Again, what do you want others to do?

This thread has not turned into that. There have been one or two posts saying this kind of thing.

I disagree.

There was an advert telling you how much water to put in the bath (just to the top of your ankle). The baths were extremely shallow that year!

I remember the day it rained- the whole junior school went out onto the yard and danced around in it.

Oh, give it a rest, OP.

First, how is it “rubbish”.

First, the birth rate currently in the UK is 1.39 children per women. On the basis that there are broadly the same number of men as women, that means that the descendants of the current generation will by c.30% fewer in number. If that repeats in the following generation then the population of the grandchildren will be c.50% of their grandparents.

Second, life expectancy is 79 for men and 83 for women in the UK, so the majority do live to 80 (just about). I’ve no idea where you got the idea that the “vast majority” don’t…

So yes, it is reasonable to think we’ll have more 80 year olds than 20 year olds before long!

Well sorry, Boomers win hands down, because . . . blah blah blah blah blah

😄Loved your response to this post OP:
It's almost impressive how wrong you've got it.

Sometimes I wonder why so much of our society has an pathetic outlook to life in the UK - this concept of getting on with it / accept how things are.
For a few days here and there - yes I there is a need to just do your best with whatever situation you're in.
However, I think it's more about how to deal with this as it's likely to be happening more often / at greater intensity - it's unusual we've had 2 very hot periods within a month this year and it does create unbearable conditions for many people. But if it's going to keep happening, it's very odd to think the answer to that is just toughen up / get used to it / get a grip. It's much more reasonable to think - it's unbearable for many people, what solutions can be created.
Even then it's - well the government hasn't got any money. Well it's their job to generate enough money to look after the population properly - so they need to look at increasing the.money - tax big corporations etc.
Then take action - swiftly - building regulations - white roofs, solar panels, more greenery, shutters. Creat shade in the streets. Have cool shelters like in Spain.
Plus alterations to routines - start work/school earlier & finish earlier. Alter school holidays if it's hotter earlier in the year. Allow people to work from home where it is possible.
People should expect solutions / adaptations - not have to toughen up.

Yes, we didn't even have that many baths/washes in those days compared with now and still had to ration the water!

You have certainly made me work hard to discover if your reply to me
"that I have misunderstood your post and opinions", were warranted.
And with a strong portion of "humble pie", I apologise.
I have scrolled and reread all your comments, and decided that I was hasty, mixing up other postings with yours.

The only ambiguous reply you made, I certainly interpreted wrongly.
"Note to everyone: Unless you personally help many elderly people, you are not allowed to imply that they should be entitled to live with dignity!"

What I will say about this thread though, is that you, me, and many others are stating what we should do, what we need to do, etc., and we should just not shrug and moan and get on with it.
That's fine, but all these discussions aren't making any difference, because it's not happening, and we as individuals however passionate we are, are not changing anything. We moan and demand, and want change, but it ain't happening.
So in my final swansong I am just going to have to get on with it.

I'd forgotten the bath thing! We had a shallow bath once a week and the rest of the time used flannels for a wash. No shower.

Apparently I just squeeze into the 'boomer' category but I can't remember the summer of 1976. The only reason I can think of is that back then if the sun was out then the sun was out, if it rained it rained and if it snowed it was bloody deep - not just a few inches but at least a couple of feet - bad enough to take cars & buses off the road & everyone walked to work & back - people did 'just get on with it'. The common phrase these days 'it is what it is' is the simplest explanation of how people dealt with things back then - acceptance of everyday situations was just that 'acceptance'. The 2 things that went against the flow were the steel and pit strikes - I'd just started work in the steel industry in 1980 and the strikes meant nothing to me because it didn't affect me. My boyfriend was a miner & subsequently he was on strike but again it didn't affect me because I still lived at home - oblivious to what it all meant even though both my parents worked for steel firms. Fast forward 40 years and only now do I realise and understand what damage was caused to this country, it's workers and the families who were affected. For me, this country was a better place then rather than this treadmill to nowhere that we live in now but you have to have lived through it to recognise the difference. It makes me sad for my daughter, just left Uni along with thousands of others, she's got her whole life in front of her & I wonder what the positives are.

For me, this country was a better place then rather than this treadmill to nowhere that we live in now but you have to have lived through it to recognise the difference

It is like a different world entirely and some of it can't be quantified. Much , much less consumerism. My mother smoothing out wrapping paper to re use. The first time I had a bought cake ( rather than home made) I was 10 years old.

I’m not so sure we did just ‘get on with it’. I remember snow in the 80s when I was at school which shut the school for a whole week.

I very much appreciate this post, I have a lot of respect for someone who can admit they were wrong.

On reflection I was wrong to use the current heatwave/1976 as an example of the 'just get on with it' attitude, as I've been noticing that as a trend for a few years and I did mean to start a more general discussion. But see now that my example was too divisive.

However I do think discussions do make a difference, collective action always starts with open discussion. I have to say though that I'm finding it hard to take the step after that. I've started volunteering with the local branch of a party I support. It does feel that generally there's a lack of enthusiasm and energy for collective action, but maybe there are others like me and we're all just being too quiet.

Same here, and I, too, know it wasn't like this. How do I know? Because I have never been good in heat. I don't know how people go to Greece/Spain, etc in August. I can just about manage May or September.
But I could always cope with the great British summer. I can't cope with what we have now.