Funny how the people who plan to isolate themselves expect everyone else to keep working.

[LucheroTena]

This.

People on here prepping to isolate themselves and their families. Taking kids out of school, not working. For how long, 18 months until a vaccine is available??

The same people expect others in the service sectors to keep working - supermarket workers, NHS staff and so on. Going on about getting all their shopping delivered and so on.

Some of the preppers / self isolators on other threads were berating NHS retirees for being worried about being asked return to work, and telling NHS nurses who were voicing worries about isolation and childcare that they should lose their jobs.

Selfish irrational weirdos. I don’t know anyone in real life like this but seems like there are dozens hiding away on here.

@bellinisurge but then this thread isn’t about you or other moderate types. It’s aimed at the extremists who insist their families must remain safe while others who serve the community are mere cannon fodder.

@IheartNiles you are very bitter, and illogical.

Preppers aren't necessarily expecting online deliveries to continue indefinitely, that's why they've prepped?! A lot of us also have water purifiers and generators too you know, so you're pointing your fingers about expecting everyone to carry on providing services at the wrong group of people.

If someone wants to homeschool their children for the duration of this and can do so...why shouldn't they?

It sounds like you are very frightened of this virus OP because you are extremely resentful of those who are able to prepare for it.

at being called frightened by a mad preppier.

DominicCummingsForehead

Well , that's the question: can they?

In my book, the answer to that question consists of a more in-depth analysis of personal strengths and weaknesses than "am I available between 9am and 3:30pm?"

Again with the "mad prepper " nonsense. There are people like me and other general preppers for whom this is just another thing-not a nice one but something we generally have stuff in for. And there's people who have no idea what to do. And people who have a good idea of what suits them and how to do it. And people waving their willies (actual or metaphorical) around saying that everyone who isn't them is mad.
Who do you think is more helpful?

Why not accept that people have different feelings about the threat of CV, OP? I can't stop working or pull my own DCs out of school until it becomes compulsory, but I will gladly do whatever it takes when that time comes. I will also very gladly do whatever I can to help vulnerable people and healthcare workers.

There's no need to be so bloody unkind about people who are worried about an unprecedented risk to health. Why not love by the current popular mantra, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?

I do find those who want to shut out society to protect themselves, as opposed to protect others because they've been exposed, a bit irritating.

We don't have that choice. DH and I are both frontline NHS staff and will work until we are sick ourselves or a risk to our patients because of exposure. We have young children who attend school and nursery but can manage childcare between us should settings close so we can still work if able.

We've made (what we think are) sensible provisions for having to be at home because of illness or exposure.

I wonder if this episode will highlight the bullshit jobs society can do without though. And it would be nice if we learnt some respect for people who work in vital services like street cleaning and hospital porters that society grossly undervalues.

Well the extreme preppers are generally being unkind to anyone other than their precious nuclear family so I’m quite happy to tell them a few truths.

Preppers seem to think that if the worst came to the worst and services stopped running they could hunker down with their stockpiles having emptied the shelves and wait it out. In reality break ins would be through the roof. Unless you live in a bunker with a gun you’d be vulnerable. There is a good reason rationing took place during world wars.

Totally get the idea that our economy includes zero hours contracts etc and so we, as a society, owe it to each other to make it relatively easy to self isolate and certainly not have money as the reason not to.
Write to your MP don't whinge at MNetters. www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/

Why not self isolate if you can, surely that's helping to contain the virus.
I've not heard one person on any of the threads you mention or in rl state they expect others to carry on working, you made that up

Carry on or isolate, the choice is yours. You are no better than anyone else for carrying on, unless you are vital services.

@IheartNiles I'm what you call an extreme prepper because I am set up, if necessary, to manage without electricity or other utilities for a bit. I don't think it's necessary to do that at all with this virus spread. I have knowledge and advice for people to get their homes ready in a low key way. I don't predict power cuts or water shortages or that kind of thing. I haven't seen any one on here really doing that.
In what way are you being helpful? Other than criticising people who aren't you

Why do you think it's the preppers who will have emptied shelves, they have their stock, have done for ages and weren't responsible for emptying shelves.
If it comes to empty shelves it would be the ones who hadn't prepped and were panicking, surely?

Why are you picking on those who will help to contain the virus, I'd make all those coming into the country, quarantine, that's how it's spreading, by expecting folk to self isolate, it's not going to happen.

Preppers seem to think that if the worst came to the worst and services stopped running they could hunker down having cleared the shelves and wait it out.

To a point, this is true (except the clear the shelves part - Preppers don't clear shelves as they buy a little over time). I was a bit at all the people I saw buying bottled water this week. Town water will be the last service to go, if society has broken down to the point that we have lost that, a six pack of 500ml bottles isn't going to help you.

But does it matter? Who cares if people feel more comfortable with full cupboards and working from home, it's completely understandable.

Yes, not all jobs can be done from home. It will be each person's own decision whether to keep working a particular job. I see no moral conflict in continuing to use a service as long as it is offered.

I'm a nurse, so I can't work from home and may be exposed to the virus. This sucks, but currently I'm free to quit if I like.

Other people chose different jobs, lucky them. But in a different situation, I'd be the lucky one. If the situation was fires or floods, I'm safe while fire-fighters aren't. If the situation was a recession, my job is safe while many wfh jobs wouldn't be.

Every job has pros and cons - I don't expect people to expose themselves just to make it "fair" to me.

Preppers seem to think that if the worst came to the worst and services stopped running they could hunker down with their stockpiles having emptied the shelves and wait it out.

You are still banging on about preppers emptying the shelves.
They dont.
I doubt anyone even noticed that people havve been prepping for years in some instances due to disabilities, rural living, health issues, but now suddenly its all the prepppers fault for emptying the shelves.

Getting a few things extra a week isnt emptying shelves. I work in a supermarket and there have been shortages of certain things due to the supply chain, production issues etc etc including painkillers, for months but nobody has been blaming anyone else for it till now because they suddenly realise how precarious the ordering system in supermarkets is and they need a scapegoat. Shops work on a J.I.T ordering system and do not over order, if more people are buying something like hand gel than they normally sell then they will run out thats it.

Yes some people are selfish and trying to buy as much as they can but many shops are limiting how much hand gel you can buy now and have been for about 2 weeks, they should all be doing that not allowing people to take boxes and boxes of things at once.

Those people are not preppers of any kind just selfish panickers.

BTW mny preppers could do just that s they have the resources to do it. The rest of us dont so we just make sure we have enough in to last us a few weeks till the worst is over.
Nobody knows how the supply chain will be hit if factories broad close, ports are on lockdown, cities are on lockdown, staff get ill or need to self isolate, etc so all the people sneering and hurling insults at preppers may be in for a shock that despite shops increasing their orders in line with demand they just might not get through quick enough.
Many things we use daily and take for granted are imported. Ingredients for paracetamol are imported from China to India. The supply has decreased so India has reduced its exports of many drug components or finished products. Medical suppllies also come from Germany and Turkey both who have decreased exports. If we cant import the products there wont be any on the shelves. People think we are pretty self sufficient in the UK we are not. We should be for many things but industries and farming have been decimated by successive governments and are not adequate any more.

I've "prepped" in that I've brought a bit extra of what I usually buy but I'm not planning to voluntarily self-isolate merely preparing for a situation where I am advised/in structed by the authorities to do so.

*Well the extreme preppers are generally being unkind to anyone other than their precious nuclear family so I’m quite happy to tell them a few truths.
*
I don't know if I'm an"extreme" prepper but I've had water filtering tablets and a water filter bottle in my house for many years. One of the reasons that I bought my house is because it's near a forest and near a fresh water source. I also always have a little stockpile of food (2 months usually, now it's upped to 3 months). I can make my own clothes, I have a veggie patch in the garden and I can smith knives. I know which wild plants are edible. I can catch fish, small birds and rabbits and know how to skin and prepare them. If I wasn't dependent on medicin I would be fine indefinately whatever happens. I have also done different martial arts and can hold my own against an ordinary male burglar.

I have always lived like this. There is a very good reason for it that has to do with traumatic events in my past when I lived in a few different countries. I need this to feel safe. I have actually not been safe in the past. I haven't suddenly much upped my game because I have actually done this for over twenty years. I also still go out, still meet people and still go to the stores or my hobbyclass or whatever. I carry on as normal and if you don't live with me you don't know that I'm a prepper (just that I have a veggie plot). I have put a lot of money and time in this and will feed my own becore someone else. Just like now when I pay my own bills before I give to charity. Surely that's normal?

Please tell my the few truths that you have for me? My existence hasn't bothered you in the past 22 years, what is wrong now all of a sudden?

If you’re not an extreme prepper then this criticism isn’t aimed at you. Not sure how I can make that any clearer really. Having said that we produce goods according to usual need. If stocks run low (as envisioned) then everyone hoarding a bit more than they need now will lead to shortages for others. Mostly those without the means to hoard. But apparently that’s not selfish behaviour.

"this thread isn’t about you or other moderate types. It’s aimed at the extremists who insist their families must remain safe while others who serve the community are mere cannon fodder."

Well, the "extremists" are sometimes annoying/crazy people, but I don't think they are the real target when it comes to shelf-emptying---as others have said, they will have stocked up long ago.

Why the fuck does anyone need to catch small birds? Completely illegal here in the UK.

Preppers aren’t the ones emptying the shelves, they don’t need to panic buy because they have prepared!

I’ve been prepping for a no deal brexit, so I already have three months of essentials if I need to self isolate due to catching coronavirus. I’ve not emptied the shelves of bog roll. Don’t need to I have three months worth!

I don’t understand those not getting a few weeks essentials should they catch this virus. What are they going to do if they can’t get deliveries as the drivers are off sick. They are going to go out and about to shops and pharmacies spreading the virus further, that’s what they are going to do!! Yet the well prepared are selfish??!

Plus, I’m fully expecting to get this as my OH is an nhs employee, so we are bound to be exposed. But those who can work from home and isolate themselves are doing the doing the community a favour as they are not out catching and spreading the disease around.

I don’t think ‘extreme’ preppers are the issue, they are the ones who have been managing their stock piles effectively for years and won’t be having any impact on the supply chain. I also don’t think extreme preppers are the people you were talking about in your OP (as I understood it), more the panickers who have knee jerk reactions to situations like this.
I said upthread that I completely agree about those who are saying they’re happy to self isolate while other people continue to provide them with the services they desire (food, water, electricity etc), but I don’t think extreme preppers fall under that banner, in general.

How about just sorting out those that apply to you, like your own family?
You can do the same as the preppers if you want to, there's nothing stopping you.
Why are you jealous of those who chose different to you and can stay at home?
Do what you can to protect your own and that will stop you carrying the virus to others.

I'm a mild prepper because people in my family have health problems and special diets and it makes me feel reassured to know I've got the basics to keep them going for a couple of months if needed.

I'm lucky in that I can work from home and I have a garage and a chest freezer. Not everyone is in that situation but I don't think I am harming anyone else by taking reasonable precautions. I've had a stockpile for a while due to Brexit.

It's possible that if things get really bad I could be asked to help on the frontline, and if so I will.

I really dont get the bitterness around this subject, clearly some unpleasant things were said on the nurse thread which I haven't read, but most people don't think that way. Most of us are just doing the best for our families but that doesn't mean we are totally selfish and uncaring about others.