AIBU to not be worried shitless about coronavirus like the vast majority?

[Thefaceofboe]

Am I....????

I had a horrific car crash two years ago. Owned my own business before then. It has left me disabled and with brain damage, plus an illness that means I am immuno suppressed.

Finally resigned myself to having to use the benefits system (had a very poor upbringing, previously took pride in being a 'social climber' and independent to chip on my shoulder level) because I had run out of savings and was absolutely unable to work due to being in hospital most weeks.

A month ago I excitedly told universal credit work coach I wanted to come off benefits as an old client had a project for me that was manageable and (just) enough for me to be earning to cover my bills.

So I'm now out of the system and would need to reapply. And now the projects are likely to be cancelled this week. Because they are related to events that are huge and are now being cancelled, yet to be announced in public but 100% cancelled to suppliers.

I'm fucked. Absolutely fucked.

Don't even know why I'm posting to be honest, nothing anyone can do.

I just think many people aren't realising the ramifications.

I'm very sorry that things are shit for you at the moment. You could do without the outside shittiness going on right now.

Thank you @bellinisurge

The worst thing is everyone told me not to come off UC until I had invoices in and paid and I said no I don't want to abuse the system if I know I'm going to be working.

What a fucking idiot eh?

@ThisSistineWontScreamAtItself That's really really shit. I suppose I haven't thought of the bigger picture for some people.

If you read the WHO data it is scary and we should worry

It’s massively hyped by the media.

I don’t understand why you have to be either:

Over the top panicking and stocking up on masks and 100 toilet rolls.

So blasé you are coughing in everyone’s faces and planning a trip to Lombardo followed by a cruise.

Surely there is a sensible in between?! And no smugness about just taking some precautions, washing hands, not touching your face, working from home if you can...

That people “prep” and panic buy. I’m sure they are lovely people but what the actual fuck. There are mumsnet threads for people to discuss “prepping”. What happens when the things they have prepped for doesn’t happen?!

If you read the WHO data it is scary and we should worry

I found the opposite, that the WHO website is an awful lot more reassuring than most of mumsnet.

The media has a lot to answer for. They actually want people to be worried.

Will out myself now but what the hell.

Yesterday I texted in to a radio breakfast programme re the virus. Stated that I have an underlying health condition and other than the precautions I would usually take I am not intending to put my life on hold. They called me back to ask if I’d speak to them on air. One of their experts said that as I have a heart condition I very much need to be worrying, to which I replied that there is a vast difference between awareness and panic.

So on to last night, another call from said radio station asking if I would go on to their late night programme as they have a GP on there to answer questions. Would I be interested in being on there to talk about and ask about the worries I have. Said happy to go on but I don’t have any worries and am very pragmatic. She then said “we can only put you online if you have a question to ask the GP, are you sure you wouldn’t like to ask a question? Are you sure there are no worries?

So, people like me who have no worries about this are being sifted out by the media hence creating the illusion that everyone is worried about it.

Personally I think that all the mass hysteria threads need deleting. The risk to the economy is far greater than the risk of the virus, and mn and other press/social media are responsible for spreading fear and hysteria and should be made accountable.

I don’t want to catch it, but if I do then I am at very real risk of complications. But how many things can you put your life on hold for? I could go out tomorrow and be hit by a bus, or I could lock myself up for the foreseeable and once the panic dies down could die of heart failure anyway.

That’s a real eye opener @AlternativePerspective. I agree with every word of your penultimate paragraph. I’m old with a lot more to fear than most here yet far less worried.

I found the opposite, that the WHO website is an awful lot more reassuring than most of mumsnet.

Snap.

Social media and rolling news has a lot to answer for. Maybe it was better back in the days when we had a few news bulletins and a daily paper and that was it.

I went to visit my mother in her dementia care home today. They are still open to visitors but keeping a close eye on NHS & government advice.
The carers are more worried about an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea. Life is going on as normal - if the carers don't come to work then the residents don't get looked after so at the moment they see no reason to restrict visitors.
I washed my hands a lot in the 2hrs I was there & kept my distance from residents other than my mother. Until I'm told otherwise, I will continue to visit.
They take bookings for a Mother's Day meal - normally it's packed. Mine was the only name down!

@ Alsohuman maybe there is money to be made in “I survived coronavirus” memorabilia. .

Ultimately we all have to die of something. If people spent their lives worrying about all the things they could die of they wouldn’t actually have time to live.

Hand washing and basic hygiene not hysteria and clearing the shelves of your local shop!

I think most people esp on mumsnet are in agreement. Although I do think the hand washing has to be drummed home, most people have not realized that it is not just washing hands after the toilet!

And most people have not got that restricting using public transport and going to work, washing hands after being on the tube etc - these are all very important.

I for one would like to feel that I have done my bit to alleviate the demand on critical care beds, whether I personally get the virus or not.

Jocasta2018* oh, but the people who are going to be self isolating and keeping their kids off school and demanding closures are saying that these things should apply to them, but obviously the NHS/police/carers should be going to work and special schools opened for their kids.

It’s a real “I’m alright jack” mentality which doesn’t take into account what could actually happen if we ended up in some kind of lockdown situation. *@

I'm not especially fearful of the virus itself, given that me and my immediate family are quite healthy and if we did get it we are much more likely to recover than not. I'm happy to admit I have bought some extra bits, but just enough to last us a couple of weeks if we needed to self isolate. I think having small children makes that feel more important to me. I don't care if I have to barely eat but they need to. I did that two weeks ago though, before shelves were emptying.

I'm a bit scared of a level of societal breakdown though. I don't know if people are panic buying or if the empty shelves are just what happens when everyone buys a little extra but either way if lots of people are scared they behave weirdly and that freaks me out. It's that fear that tempts me to want to 'prep' though don't know what I'm imagining. Chaos outside and needing to stay indoors? I'm aware that's a silly fear.

I'm also worried about DH having to be off work as he's self employed and we would be screwed.

Tldr; the virus doesn't really scare me but people kinda do.

I'm alright Jack, eh op?
The fact that you think it's ok to ridicule peoples genuine worries and fears doesn't show you in the best light.

The kind of worry and fear which causes people to panic buy toilet rolls and de-register their kids from school need ridiculing.

These people need to be told to get a fucking grip and stop being responsible for the damage they are doing to the economy.

She hasn’t ridiculed anyone.

And what is more worrying is the amount of prejudice this has shown. So, we have people beating up chinese people in the street
Talk of not visiting the elderly, and even the premier league talking about banning over 70’s from football matches.

What’s next? Isolate the disabled because many of them have underlying health conditions?

Society won't breakdown. Martial law would kick in first. Highly unlikely it's going that route anyway.

Society won't breakdown

I’m beginning to think that ship’s sailed.

What we need is for something else to happen which dominates the news and takes this reporting out of the headlines. After all there isn’t actually anything to report at this stage.

Then maybe if we stop hearing about it people will go back to discussing something else. Discussion is very much based on what’s in the media. After all, how long since we had a Brexit thread? .

Another one not at all worried.