Aibu to ask why we should bother?

[Blossomspring]

Lots of threads on here about people not taking CV seriously and I’m just not sure I get it.

How can you expect people to take it seriously when the government does not impose a proper lockdown?

Also lots of people sitting in judgement of those still trying to work, keep businesses open who haven’t been covered by the government’s income protection. How can you sit in judgement of people who might lose everything, who are being forced to choose between their health and their families as well as others and earning a wage to survive? Another sign the gov aren’t taking it seriously or allowing people to take it seriously.

If you want people to self isolate to protect themselves and others then you need to provide them with the income to do that and also force people to stay at home.

Im self employed and have now lost 6 months worth of work. Most people in my sector saying there won’t be work now for months. None of us covered by the measures announced yesterday. My death and even that Of my family’s is of less concern to me than not being able to survive and losing everything. It might be an unpopular view to publicly say but it’s not an unreal view.

You can only die once even if it is miserable and sometimes life is worse than death.

As long as my income isn’t protected and I’m forced to choose I will keep going out to try and find work and move around.

Not money or possessions but peace of mind, shelter and stability yes. I would not go back to living hand to mouth and wondering how to survive week to week.

This is dark but I have often thanked my lucky stars I don’t have children because if I thought I would be made homeless again with children I have often thought I would not subject them or myself to it. It’s a very difficult thing to admit even online and anonymously. But I absolutely would not go through real poverty or otherwise again and the benefits system does not cushion against poverty although yes many do survive on it.

I completely get your point OP. The government should order a lock down if it genuinely wants all people to stay at home for the next few weeks/months. And in doing so they should compensate everyone on a means tested basis. They are not doing so because they are attempting to save as much money as they can. And it’s not right.

I also agree that it’s quite easy for people to sit back in their houses and judge others if they themselves don’t have to worry financially, or are going to be compensated by the government for the duration. It’s one thing to judge someone for going out and socialising unnecessarily. But it’s not fair to judge someone for putting food on the table for their families and keep a roof over their heads.

You would rather have your children sleeping on the streets and eating out of bins?

I've also noticed that the OP isn't interested in the posts offering to help her find solutions to her situation. She isn't interested in any solutions other than what she wants, for the government to pay her like they do those with paid jobs. (I think they will do this, just wait to see what they're prepared to do before moaning about it.)

Just think what you're actually doing as well. It's not just the people you're potentially infecting, it's their family members as well. Thankfully, I think I'm going to be okay now, but last weekend when I wasn't sure of this, I was afraid for my 2 adopted DDs, who both had attachment issues. My DD2 (8) was terrified about me dying. I reassured her, but she knows that people do die of COVID-19.

You would rather have your children sleeping on the streets and eating out of bins?

Than see them die? Why would you even question that. I’d endure any form of poverty to save my daughters life.

Your children would likely die from malnutrition, food poisoning, hypothermia or a number of other things if they were living on the streets and eating out of bins, before they would die from coronavirus.

So, you'd rather your loved ones die than you go through the above temporarily?

You're turning it into a black and white catastrophe question. It's not. It's not as simple as every time you venture out to a cafe, your Grandma drops dead. Everytime you venture out there is a small risk you'll infect someone, who may get badly ill. For some people, and probably much more than would admit on here, they'd rather do that than lose their job, house and livelihood.

Also, not all family are "loved ones". I'd miss my mum/dad and husband if they went. No-one else really, I'm not that close to them - they're just people I see once a year.

Apologies this is very dark but I’d definitely kill myself if my children die from this

Honestly your children are far more likely to die from sleeping on the streets and eating out of bin than from Coronavirus so you would probably do better to keep your finances in check and a roof over your head.

Newborn babies don’t have immune systems and for all I know she could be born with a health condition. We haven’t yet been updated on the progress of the diagnosed newborn in this country. 4yo DD is extremely unwell at the moment and has asthma. I would rather protect them than go to work. I also have asthma and have had pneumonia twice in the past 2 years. If I die, baby dies with me unless they can get her out quick enough. By then it would probably be too late as they aren’t testing until the last minute and prefer people to self isolate for as long as possible.

What I said is a figure of speech, obviously. I have plenty of family that would be able to house and feed us if we survive and don’t have anything left on the other side.

I have often thought I would not subject them or myself to it. It’s a very difficult thing to admit even online and anonymously

Wait - what?

Are you saying you would murder any theoretical children you have rather than have them poor?

I've changed my mind/hardened my stance. Crack on. You aren't going to be handed more money than anybody else. It's not fair in your mind, you're obviously sooo much better than the rest of us that you're too good to claim benefits, so cut the ridiculous emotional blackmail and posturing in the hope that somebody will say 'there, there, you ARE better than those vile benefit claimants, so have five grand a month (or whatever you pay yourself that means it's Simply Impossible To Live on UC), please don't hurt yourself'.

Exactly mement0mori I think people need to apply a bit of common sense.

Society is very selfish as a whole so it is silly for me to assume people would love and care about their own family members. Clearly I'm one of the few that actually does

Stop virtue signalling. You're not better than other people because you have a great relationship with your entire family.

Apologies this is very dark but I’d definitely kill myself if my children die from this

That really is most unlikely, as children are at very low risk from COVID-19. They're much more likely to lose me, or were last weekend. I'm also more likely to lose my 80 year old DM or my DH, who has asthma.

mement0mori it was clearly a figure of speech to highlight how important my family’s lives are to me.

I’m allowed to feel that way and also allowed the choice to end my life if I lose my children who I love more than anything. Money really means nothing in times like this. I honestly couldn’t care less if we got evicted and had to live off of our other family members. The people who are dear to me mean more to me than bits of paper with the queen’s face on it.

@blossomspring
I feel for everyone right now and everyone will be affected by this and anyone who doesn't see that is wrong. It's sad that all us normal ass people are arguing and judging each other. However I do think we need to pay attention the the NHS workers saying please just stay at home this isn't forever it's just to slow this down a bit. I'm also not saying I won't be going out again to work ect when I have to (key worker role) when my partner looses his income (That will happen for everyone all help offered so far won't be set up straight away for any of us) also if you are self employed you will get a 25 grand grant? Anyone self employed basically is a business aren't they ? Correct if I'm wrong also worked for someone else not myself.

OP would you consider a key worker role ? You have not answered anyone asking this question. I'm gathering the situation You have come from you would be willing do to any kind of work? If you would rather die than loose money ? Sorry I just think it's a really good solution that you are not acknowledging. People are trying to be helpful to your situation by saying maybe try a key worker role so you know that your income won't be affected. As if Boris puts everyone on lockdown then you would have no choice.

Mittens030869 are you a scientist or qualified medic trained in this field? Can you also predict the future?

Both my 4yo DD and I are very high risk. Both asthmatic and I have had pneumonia twice in the past 2 years. As I said above. She is deeply unwell at the moment and cannot get a GP appointment so may well be at risk of dying of something else if not the virus.

Did I say as a direct result of the virus? No. There is a knock on affect to all of this. People will die of other things unnecessarily because there will be no beds or staff free to care for them. There’s a very informative video on the channel ‘Vox’ on YouTube. I suggest those who think going out to earn money when you’re not a key worker or socialising etc is more important than social distancing and self isolation. I’m not a key worker, wouldn’t be able to work due to my field (photographer, graphic designer and so on) and cannot work anymore anyway as I am almost due. DH isn’t either. He will not be working unless he is providing a vital contractual service like fixing heating and water supplies.

What I said is a figure of speech, obviously. I have plenty of family that would be able to house and feed us if we survive and don’t have anything left on the other side

No it wasn't obviously a "figure of speech". Although along with other posters on this thread it your post was obviously trying to portray OP as some awful person who would chose income over the safety of their loved ones.

And so you wouldn't rather be on the streets because that would clearly put your family at risk. So maybe you do have some understanding that people at risk of losing their livelihoods and therefore their homes are going to attempt to keep working to keep a roof over their heads and actually by doing so will be protecting their families in the long run.

This is ridiculous. Why are people assuming it has to be either or. Destitution on the streets or risking infecting yourself and others with Covid. There's another option that we all should be calling for rather than fighting over which is worse out of the first two. Universal Basic Income, which would mean people could protect themselves and others but still have enough money for the essentials. OP I absolutely understand you not wanting poverty again. I don't, however, share your lack of concern for others. Why should you care about infecting others? Just because it's the moral and right thing to care.

starrysimon

Well it will probably be much harder to self isolate when you are living on the streets, or in amongst countless other family member while you are sofa surfing. Good luck with that.

Oh and while you are sofa surfing, you will be putting your other family members at a much higher risk too. Sure they will be really happy about that.

I honestly couldn’t care less if we got evicted and had to live off of our other family members

Not everyone has "other family members". Have a bit of compassion for people who are all alone in the world and are trying to keep their heads above water.

I can’t believe I’m actually being shot down for putting the lives of my children before money, socialising etc We’ll see what the state of the country is in a week or two as we are going the same rate as Italy. Soon people will be dying from things that could be fixed with a simple operation because there simply aren’t any beds. People will not be receiving their chemo (already happening in my area) which means they will also be more likely to die. I’m not just talking about the virus here. Please search for Vox on YouTube if you think it’s not going to happen and that everyone is invincible. It’s an incredibly educational video with very real and important information.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=tQD4B_hmdvo

Listen to this!

You've just said you would not let yourself or kids if you had them suffer this. My god we could all bloody live in Syria right now I'm sure you havent been subjected to what those poor people have been.

You didn't say the lives of your children it your initial post. You said you would rather be on the streets than have your loved ones die. That could mean anyone you love.