Is no one even a little concerned about the intrusion and removal of freedoms?

[DoubleAction]

I know needs must and we're in a real crisis situation but it does make me a little uneasy to see how easy it has been to remove all freedoms.

The real shocker for me today was the text messages. I've spent the last year or so working on GDPR stuff and all the "threats" associated with that. Who gave the government all our numbers?!

I know it's insignificant in the scheme of things now but is it right that it's so easy?

Given the circumstances, I don't actually believe there's anything sinister going on, but as a social experiment it's certainly very interesting.

I know its necessary. I hope its temporary. I do have concerns about how we will recover financially. I have images of something like the great depression. I wish very much that 'austerity' hadnt happened and we were facing this with a healthier nhs and society in general. I dont feel like my liberty has been challenged as i wanted to stay in and keep safe. Im not sure how i will feel if if i cant even drop food to my elderely mother if things get tighter.

BeijingBikini

Also, all the people calling others "selfish".....isn't expecting other people to completely give up their life/freedom so YOUR husband doesn't get ill, a bit selfish? If you are vulnerable, self-isolate. But it's a bit entitled to expect the entire country to go into house arrest for your relatives. I wouldn't expect anybody to do that for my family.

I think this is the worst thing I've read.

Let's live first and then worry about our right to sit in the pub 14/7.

Seriously, we have to ensure we get out full rights back when this is over.

@LochJessMonster we are not a hive mind . Of course people are going to question things.

And if there is a virus - I am questioning the extreme reaction.

Donald Trump just said today"we don't shut the whole country for flu, and thousands die from that every year".

Of COURSE we are going to question what is going on - if we have been locked up for five weeks. Five weeks In ireland - I dont know what the exact amount of weeks is in the Uk.

@angell84 you’re actually quoting Donald Trump? In a none ironic way?

@angell84 ’if there is a virus’
Fuck me. We really are screwed. Does the tin foil itch?

Not now, but very, very concerned that we wont get all of our freedoms back.

Like Americans after 9/11.

This is fine just for now, but we absolutely get all of out freedoms back. No ifs, no buts.

You should read this article by the NY Times about why South Korea was so successful in curbing the virus without the massive economic hit that a lockdown entails. Part of the reason was the public's willingness to give up some of their liberties for a much greater, more important cause. I'd take a text message over job losses and economic meltdown any day!

www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/world/asia/coronavirus-south-korea-flatten-curve.html

I've just been reading an interesting thread on here about it all being a massive overreaction which got zapped while I was reading it.

So yes I am concerned about our loss of freedom which MN is obviously part of.

@angell84 yes because even though most of us dislike him, he is a world leader - and he is questioning the extreme reaction to this virus

Yes and no.

We are living through a world crisis and sadly it's needed to save lives. Not enough people were listening to the advice, but for too long it was rather vague. It does feel like we live in a totalitarian communist country now though and it's only been one day! Very weird to see the deputy CMO officer advising new couples to stay apart. Such an intrusion into people's lives. However, I do get it.

I worry about vulnerable people in isolation for 12 weeks getting extremely depressed and perhaps even suicidal. As well as the increase of domestic abuse with all these couples cooped up together.

There will always be unintended consequences.

No. Not concerned about what the government is doing at all. There is no alternative at present.

What concerns me is that some people on this thread appear to have taken leave of their senses.

I don't actually believe there's anything sinister going on
neither do I but.... well, a crisis is an opportunity for the opportunistic, it's a great time to make a power grab because the plausible deniability is high.
Over the long term we should be vigilant and always hold those in power to account
Lots if data about human behaviour will be gathered here.

I rest my case.

If the government cared about lives - why do they let homeless people die on the streets , why do the let children grow up in extreme poverty.

They have not exactly been caring in the past

My mum’s been on a coronavirus ward as a patient. It’s worth clarifying one thing:

Visitors are NOT allowed. If you die from this you die alone without your loved ones by your side. Of course I would give up my freedom in an effort to reduce the number of humans who suffer this fate. Anyone who says otherwise needs to take a serious look at themselves. If you want the government’s NHS care then you need to follow by their rules.

No I work in ICU. Go away and stay at home. If you want to whinge about a text message then fine but just stay inside. Please. I'm begging you

@LochJessMonster tin foil?

@LochJessMonster so sorry for your loss. This place has collectively lost its mind tonight. I’ve come to the conclusion that the reality is too much for some to process.

@YouAreTheEggManIAmTheWalrus if you tell the public to severely limit their freedom for five weeks:

They are going to question it.

@LochJessMonster I am so sorry for the loss of your step father, as a fellow diabetic I am petrified of this thing.

OP, these are exceptional circumstances and I find it hard to believe that people are currently opposed to it until we get things under control (of course you always get the conspiracy theorists who are pretty much wetting themselves at the moment)

I am someone that absolutely believes that we are doing the right thing AT THE MOMENT. But if we found ourselves in a situation where life has gone back to normal for everyone else and we are still 'giving up our freedom' you bet I would be up in arms about it as would many many other people. I just don't think you can use what is happening now as any kind of benchmark, especially as we are taking a more relaxed approach than many many other places (but maybe ALL governments got together in a giant conspiracy to make everyone in Europe tie the line 🤔) *sarcasm

I disagree with you that it’s been easy OP. It should have happened sooner. Freedom is the least of our worries, it will be irrelevant when we hit the peak.

Intrusion into what? Removal of what freedoms?

I want the government to intrude into the lives of the utter morons who are effectively spreading this virus like murderers. I want their freedoms curtailed. Otherwise they'll have a BBQ for 20, drive to the beach, invite the neighbours round, sit together in the park, visit relatives.

I'm a libertarian. Never had supermarket points cards, reward cards, completed surveys, allow my information to be shared if requested, block everything on my phone, devices etc. But this nightmare calls for drastic measures. We know why it's being done, it's not some stealth removal of our liberties for political reasons. And it's necessary because of the astonishing levels of selfishness and entitlement demonstrated all over the threads on MN.

It says a lot that people will give up everything to save their family member, but won’t stay inside for a few weeks to save millions of other peoples family members.