Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

If this virus affected children more than elderly...

53 replies

Sunshinesky1981 · 15/03/2020 20:37

If this virus affected Children more than the elderly, do you think that people' s opinion on self isolation would change?

I know a lot of people have major concerns about having to self isolate, especially financially and mentally(I'm not talking about these -but there are also people who are saying they would still need to go for a walk/jog/bikeride/ go to the shop etc

Do you think people in general would be more willing or take it more seriously if the at risk group was different ?

OP posts:

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 15/03/2020 20:40

Yes. My friend lost her child. Losing a child is absolutely tragic and something no parent should go through.

Everyone loses their parents eventually- its the natural way of things. Of course its sad when an elderly person dies but its not tragic. An 89 year old person dying is not the same as a 5 year old dying, it doesnt matter how you twist it, its just not.

Original poster

Sunshinesky1981 · 15/03/2020 20:46

That is true, I know my mum will never get over it.
But I wonder if the people who are currently saying things like oh well I'm not in a risk group so will just carry on as normal, as they are not elderly or have a health condition would still feel the same if they weren't parents themselves (therefore still not being in the risk group) if you see what I mean?

OP posts:

MorrisZapp · 15/03/2020 20:50

Yes of course it would. It's horrific to think of a child dying from a communicable disease. Old people with health conditions are a different matter entirely.

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 15/03/2020 20:51

I think a virus that is killing off children as well would be incredibly frightening for everyone. That generation is our future- the ones who will grow up to be doctors and nurses to treat us in our old age. I would be horrified if people's kids were dying off - those people would be mentally scarred for life. You dont get over the death of a child. You get over losing your parents (even though its hard) but the global effects of losing thousands of children would be absolutely horrific- even if you didnt have kids yourself, your friends have kids, nieces, nephews etc
I think it would be absolutely terrifying- even for people who weren't parents.

TabbyStar · 15/03/2020 20:56

Yes of course it would. It's horrific to think of a child dying from a communicable disease. Old people with health conditions are a different matter entirely.

You do realise that there are actual "old people with health conditions" who are part of Mumsnet, don't you? How do you think they feel reading this?

mollymoggs · 15/03/2020 21:04

Of course. I'm not seeing my parents as I don't want to pass anything to them I may have picked up through my kids. I'm still going about my life although more cautiously.

If this was a virus where children were the main casualty I wouldn't leave the house and they wouldn't be either.

Russellbrandshair · 15/03/2020 21:05

You do realise that there are actual "old people with health conditions" who are part of Mumsnet, don't you? How do you think they feel reading this

I donot know of any person over 70 who would think their death would be sadder than that of their grandchild - it’s not remotely the same

AnneLovesGilbert · 15/03/2020 21:07

I think it was more dangerous to any group other than than the elderly or people with existing health conditions. The way it’s being talked about stinks of I’m alright jack/only a matter of time anyway/who needs the weak and it’s understandable in a way that people want to “other” the vulnerable but it’s really heartbreaking.

YgritteSnow · 15/03/2020 21:07

Yes of course it would. It's horrific to think of a child dying from a communicable disease. Old people with health conditions are a different matter entirely

You do realise that there are actual "old people with health conditions" who are part of Mumsnet, don't you? How do you think they feel reading this?

I think many would agree actually. I know my Mum does. She is in her seventies and far more worried about her children and grandchildren than herself. She says her grandchildren have had no life at all compared to her and my Dad and is scared for them.

IkeaSlave · 15/03/2020 21:08

Many old people are not narcissistic arseholes and would also agree that the death of large numbers of children would be infinitely more tragic than the death of elderly people who have led full and active lives, most of them in times of peace and plenty. I like to think that most of the people I know would agree with that, no matter their age. Thank God this pandemic appears to be sparing the young.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/03/2020 21:10

You do realise that there are actual "old people with health conditions" who are part of Mumsnet, don't you? How do you think they feel reading this?

My elderly mum heard that the virus only affected the elderly and her first thought, without a seconds pause, was "good". I am very worried about her and dad. But they care about DD first, as do I.

Russellbrandshair · 15/03/2020 21:10

@IkeaSlave

Totally agree. Anyone suggesting that a child dying is the same as a 90 year old dying is seriously unhinged

FlockofGulls · 15/03/2020 21:10

Everyone loses their parents eventually- its the natural way of things

What a totally callous way of thinking about a whole section of your fellow human beings.

People over 60 are still people. Some of us are highly skilled and productive professionals.

But good old MN ageism, as per.

Quartz2208 · 15/03/2020 21:11

Yes schools would be shut etc. I would rather it hit my age (40+ than children)

Loppy10 · 15/03/2020 21:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MadamePewter · 15/03/2020 21:12

Yes, I would think differently. I remember when the swine flu was about snd particularly affected young people: horrible. Not that I want anyone to die, but kids are different

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 15/03/2020 21:14

What a totally callous way of thinking about a whole section of your fellow human beings

Rubbish. I HAVE lost both of my parents and whilst it was devastating, I managed and carried on. If I lost one of my children, I honestly think I would kill myself. I couldn't go on.

It IS natural to lose older generations- its not natural to bury a child.

inselfisolationnow · 15/03/2020 21:15

Of course large numbers of children dying is more tragic than older people with health conditions dying.

My dad who was in his 60s died of lung cancer very recently and I know he would have agreed.

Most grandparents would give their life for their grandchild's if it came down to it. (Obviously I know not all older people are grandparents)

I am very worried about my mum though, mid 60s and will be limiting her contact with my DC and myself. I can't lose her too.

Atla · 15/03/2020 21:17

I would be devastated to lose my mum, dad or any of my older relatives. It would be infinitely worse to lose a child.

inselfisolationnow · 15/03/2020 21:17

What a totally callous way of thinking about a whole section of your fellow human beings

Rubbish. I have lost both of my beloved grandparents and my Dad in the past 2 years. It's been hard but I've gone on.
Losing a child would be devastating in a way that I can't comprehend.

Quartz2208 · 15/03/2020 21:24

Donald Trump literally just said the same thing in his speech

UnaCorda · 15/03/2020 21:25

Everyone loses their parents eventually - its the natural way of things

What a totally callous way of thinking about a whole section of your fellow human beings.

Completely disagree. It's not callous, it's just a fact of life that in most cases people experience the death of their parents. (And if they don't it's likely because they've died prematurely themselves.)

There's nothing remotely callous about saying, for example, that someone in their nineties is statistically more likely to die than someone in their teens.

Russellbrandshair · 15/03/2020 21:26

Urgh can’t stand Donald Trump. But it is correct that someone losing their life at 80 after a full, well lived life is not nearly as tragic as a child dying who hasn’t even had the chance at life

formerbabe · 15/03/2020 21:27

If it affected children rather than elderly people, I predict elderly people wouldn't really care. Just as they didn't care that child benefit was means tested and capped and that surestart centres were closed but we're up in arms over the TV licence.

ivykaty44 · 15/03/2020 21:32

The Spanish flu hit the 20s badly but didn’t hit the older generation, I wonder what attitudes were like then?

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread