WHO expect pandemic to be over in 2 years

[mummabear1967]

www.itv.com/news/2020-08-21/world-health-organization-chief-hopes-coronavirus-pandemic-will-be-over-in-two-years

Even if this pandemic does run into 2022, we won’t be stuck with restrictions until then, right? We will be back to normality to some extent? Not sure I could deal with another two years of this crap.

It's possible to have a bit of both. I'm fairly resilient but I was complaining to DH (you'd probably call it whining @eaglejulesk) that I'll probably never see my favourite singer and band live again. I'm not going to apologise for being sad about it!

Claiming that the only things people feel sad, sorry, are 'whining' about are foreign holidays and festivals is a wilful misreading of this thread from the 'resilient' brigade.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

There seems to be a serious lack of resilience on MN.

Along with a serious lack of empathy.

Definitely. A few posters, including me, have spoken on this thread about losing a loved one to covid. Not one person sympathised, the responses were "well everyone dies of something", "covid is no worse than other viruses" and "I'm entitled to feel upset about losing my holiday and don't need your approval."

People who have suffered the most due to this virus are simply asking people to stay the course to protect themselves and their loved ones, but in response they're accused of being condescending and virtue signalling. The insensitivity is staggering.

@Sakura7 I'm sorry you've lost a loved one to this awful disease 💐

@PinkSparklyPussyCat Thank you

Claiming that the only things people feel sad, sorry, are 'whining' about are foreign holidays and festivals is a wilful misreading of this thread from the 'resilient' brigade.

But literally nobody is saying that those are the only things people are sad about, are they? People are understandably very sad about all kinds of things - being ill, losing loved ones, losing their livelihoods, their children missing out on their education etc.

The 'resilient brigade' are suggesting that there's a hierarchy of needs and wants. Nobody is saying that food, clean water and a roof over our heads are the only things we should be allowed to comment on the lack of. They are suggesting that publicly moaning about a temporary suspension of leisure activities (which many people wouldn't even have access to in normal life), during a pandemic which is genuinely ending and ruining people's lives, comes across as a bit entitled and lacking in resilience.

Sakura7 - heartfelt condolences to you. I have been fortunate not to have lost anyone. But it baffles me that anyone, however fortunate, could fail to see how crass it is to whinge about missing their holiday in front of people who have had losses like yours.

But literally nobody is saying that those are the only things people are sad about, are they?

They literally are. Look just 2 posts above mine.

The 'resilient brigade' are suggesting that there's a hierarchy of needs and wants

Because nobody except them know this? We need random folk on MN to tell us that losing your job isn't as bad as living under siege in Bosnia a quarter of a century ago, as one poster suggested? Because we wouldn't have known that unless you told us?

They are suggesting that publicly moaning about a temporary suspension of leisure activities (which many people wouldn't even have access to in normal life), during a pandemic which is genuinely ending and ruining people's lives, comes across as a bit entitled and lacking in resilience.

You see. You're doing it yourself.

Your choice of the word 'moaning' belittles others' concerns, as does your tiresome suggestion that all people are concerned about is "a temporary suspension of leisure activities". I thought you said just a minute ago that 'literally nobody is saying that those are the only things people are sad about, are they?' A strange comment, when you're literally saying just that yourself.

@IcedPurple You're deliberately misinterpreting people's posts so you can have a go.

Nobody is saying it's not ok to feel sad about what's happening (and there's no need for another snarky comment about approval, people are simply clarifying their points in response to your wilful misrepresentation). But very few of the posters who are feeling sad about missing out are happy to continue with the restrictions in spite of that. There are far more posters railing against them, claiming they're ridiculous and that the virus should be left uncontrolled. That's what I, and others, have a problem with. I don't think that's an unreasonable view given the circumstances.

Thank you @lazylinguist

You seem to be under the impression that saying "People are moaning about missing festivals and holidays" somehow means the same as "The only things people are sad about are missing festivals and holidays*. I've made it pretty clear that I'm well aware that lots of people have plenty of things to be sad about and to complain about.

I don't think there's anything terribly controversial about pointing out that some things are essential, some are important but you can live without them and some things are luxuries. Ok there might be a slight variation in where different people would place certain things on the scale, but I think pretty much everyone would categorise foreign holidays and music festivals as luxuries. They are examples. They aren't the only things that people complain about missing.

Nobody is saying it's not ok to feel sad about what's happening

People are repeatedly saying precisely this.

But very few of the posters who are feeling sad about missing out are happy to continue with the restrictions in spite of that. There are far more posters railing against them, claiming they're ridiculous and that the virus should be left uncontrolled.

I think maybe one or two people said this several pages ago. It's certainly not the majority view here though and is unrelated to any of the discussions I myself have taken part in in this thread, which have been about people saying that we can't 'whine' about the circumstances (and not just 'leisure activities') because people had it worse during the Blitz.

While I agree we don't need luxuries, and festivals, theatre, holidays etc are luxuries, its the fun things we do that are beyond needs that make life nice and enjoyable.

Lots of people have had all the things they enjoy removed as an option. They can still work and cope, but there's nothing fun and nothing to look forward to.

Personally I feel like I'm just getting by and waiting to start living again. 2 years is a long time to just survive without feeling like there's anything joyous going on and no fun plans.

I'll do it because I have to. But I hate how dull life is.

I agree @DisgruntledGuineaPig, I feel the same. I also think it's perfectly possible to feel sympathy for people who have been directly affected by Covid and feel sad for the way our lives have changed if we can no longer do the things we enjoy.

@BluebellsGreenbells so did most peoples grandparents

@DisgruntledGuineaPig

While I agree we don't need luxuries, and festivals, theatre, holidays etc are luxuries, its the fun things we do that are beyond needs that make life nice and enjoyable.

Lots of people have had all the things they enjoy removed as an option. They can still work and cope, but there's nothing fun and nothing to look forward to.

Personally I feel like I'm just getting by and waiting to start living again. 2 years is a long time to just survive without feeling like there's anything joyous going on and no fun plans.

I'll do it because I have to. But I hate how dull life is.

This you feel like existing and not living

It is shit, there's no doubt about it, but it's where we're at right now. I think most people accept that even though they do feel sadness about their normal lives being put on hold. My concern is about the people who have decided they just want to ignore the virus and flout the restrictions, because they are putting the safety of others at risk.

I don't believe it's impossible to have any fun though, we just need to adapt for a while. Most of us are not living in lockdown anymore and can still go out, go for a meal, meet friends, etc. I've missed my usual holiday abroad this year but did a staycation instead. No it's not quite the same but we'll get back to normal in time.

Was this pandemic inevitable? If it wasn’t for those wet markets in Wuhan, would we even be in a pandemic right now?

@mummabear1967

Was this pandemic inevitable? If it wasn’t for those wet markets in Wuhan, would we even be in a pandemic right now?

The abuse of animals is exactly why we'll keep seeing this. It's tragic that at the crux of this pandemic is a cause that we could campaign to make very real change. Where are all the pretend vegans now?

It's possible to have a bit of both. I'm fairly resilient but I was complaining to DH (you'd probably call it whining @eaglejulesk) that I'll probably never see my favourite singer and band live again. I'm not going to apologise for being sad about it!

We all complain to our partners, friends etc. when we are disappointed - I have no problem with that, I've done it myself. However, that is rather a different thing to proclaiming on a forum, to a bunch of people you don't even know, that not being able to take part in an activity has 'destroyed your life'

However, that is rather a different thing to proclaiming on a forum, to a bunch of people you don't even know, that not being able to take part in an activity has 'destroyed your life'

Has anyone actually 'proclaimed' that?

And even if they have, who made you the judge of what people may and may not discuss, here or anywhere else?

It’s a public forum, people can discuss what they like despite what the thread police might think. What it is with the competitive misery on here since this bloody pandemic started.

They are suggesting that publicly moaning about a temporary suspension of leisure activities (which many people wouldn't even have access to in normal life), during a pandemic which is genuinely ending and ruining people's lives, comes across as a bit entitled and lacking in resilience.

Well said @azylinguist. Coming from an area where people have suffered from severe earthquakes and a terrorist attack, as well as covid related misery, I'm afraid I find it hard to feel sorry for someone who can't attend a festival or go abroad for a holiday.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

It’s a public forum, people can discuss what they like despite what the thread police might think. What it is with the competitive misery on here since this bloody pandemic started.

Yeah, not sure why some posters here are getting so whiny about what other people choose to post.

Don't they know that people had it much worse duing the Black Death and the Mongol invasions? It seems strange for them to whinge so much about what people write on the internet, when millions of people around the world don't even have access to the internet. I really think they should be just a tad more resilient and get a bit of perspective, don't you?

I do find it annoying when so many say its close as before - day to day is, but all the big things I look forward to are gone.

I don't go to the theatre weekly, but there's a couple of visits a year, comedy tour tickets, a concert etc. I tend to have a couple of holidays a year booked in. Beauty treatments with masks and restrictions aren't relaxing "me time" but "maintenance". Shopping without being able to try things on and following arrows is not fun, it's acquiring things you need.

I can cope and I get get by. But I hate that we probably won't have a Father Christmas visit this year. Or ice skating. Or panto. Or trip to the west end for a treat. Or a wedding/christening etc.

Normally, each month theres a thing in the calendar we're looking forward to. There's been nothing since March, and that got cancelled.

I'll do it all, but I hate living this way. Its left all the day to day crap and taken all the things to be excited about.

There had been no "new dress" event in half a year and the idea of there being another 18 months- 2 years of no new dress events is shit. (Disclaimer- i will often wear an old dress to a "new dress event", its just event level description)