“Together we can defeat this virus”

[IfIHadAHeart]

From Boris’s press conference.

I really don’t think this is a helpful message. A virus cannot be “defeated”. Not to mention that the strategy is completely impossible to understand due to being different across different nations/areas, and the measures themselves seem contradictory and pointless.

Somebody somewhere is gathering fascinating data on all this as a study of social compliance (not a conspiracy theorist, but I’m sure this is all useful information for future governments).

They don't want to/can't afford to bail more businesses out, so it's a case of saying to the public, comply or we'll have to lockdown and if we do you're all fucked.

But even if everyone complies with all the rules it's not going to go away. It's here to stay.

The rules are a guessing game. There is very little actual science about them. And yes psy-ops are a huge part of this.

I agree OP.

Ifihadaheart Did you see the Sage document from earlier in the year with advice on how to increase compliance? All about increasing feeing of personal risk, responsibility for others, advertising patterns etc etc

I agree with you OP.

The virus is not an enemy. This is not a war which can be fought and won, with enough sacrifice and pulling together and Blitz spirit. It's such bullshit.

I do not think Boris looks well at all

I’m not sure Boris is capable of giving speeches these days without some sort of war like rhetoric. Unfortunately, viruses can’t be fought on beaches or landing grounds and I don’t know if we can count on the rest of the Empire coming to our aid.

Totally agree op. We can't defeat the virus without a vaccine.

Boris looks utterly defeated himself.

What was that Trees. Sounds a little scary

It is so annoying. I really don’t believe there is a plan.

In the absence of other advice, I am doing the hands/face/space - but truly, my instinct is that they are guessing, overly cautious about the virus and under cautious about mental health and the economy.

Poor words but lots of people like drama and fights

Principal is however correct, we can get to the stage where we can act mostly as normal, revive the economy and save lives if we do enough of the little things now

Personally, I think if it was up to the government they'd just go more back to normal now and try and contain outbreaks as well as they can and keeping social distancing.

But the two problems they have:

1. They've made a complete pigs ear of testing, even now. This is where Germany have been able to keep a hold on the virus a lot better.

2. Polling. The majority still want further lockdown measures in the polls, whereas easing things back is in the minority. Furthermore, the main demographic affected is the older generation - basically the core Tory vote.

@midgebabe

Poor words but lots of people like drama and fights

Principal is however correct, we can get to the stage where we can act mostly as normal, revive the economy and save lives if we do enough of the little things now

But how will this happen? Because as soon as anything “normal” resumes, infections increase. Because the virus cannot be defeated.

"Together we can defeat this virus."
Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Remember "we can turn this virus around in twelve weeks"?

Did he actually tell us anything today that we haven't already?

Agree... I want to know.. what is the end goal? Because it’s a virus, we can’t fight it, we will not win. It will just come back each time measures are lifted, very worrying that this may really be our new normal. I don’t agree with any of it.

I’m sure this is all useful information for future governments.

Can we say this TEN TIMES LOUDER? The Oliver Cromwells in waiting are watching very closely indeed, and they saw the terrified docile resigned obedience of the public earlier this year. This is why I think we should be scrutinising the government fiercely indeed, and questioning the hell out of them, instead of meekly accepting things.

Iyou test, trace, squash and repeat

It's like housework, never done but you can keep on top of it

I did say back to the radio er no at that point

It’s a bit worn as a phrase

2) Polling. The majority still want further lockdown measures in the polls, whereas easing things back is in the minority. Furthermore, the main demographic affected is the older generation - basically the core Tory vote.

And this is because of the deliberate policy of "scare the shit out of everyone and make them think it's their fault" when they realised they had lost control back in the spring, both of the situation and the message.

Would you prefer it if he threw up his hands and said we give up, come and get us?!

Has anyone seriously considered how difficult it must be to be the PM at the moment, putting aside your own personal feelings about Johnson, what a horrendous, exhausting quite frankly terrifying responsibility! All the while trying to beat off a hostile media circus and managing the responsibilities of a new baby.

I know for certain that we should be making an effort to show some support to the government and PM regardless of the politics for now. It is a huge crisis, and we have to try and support each other. I hate how divided we have become as a nation. Thank fuck we don't have a war now is all I am saying. We would have no chance. I hate what we have become, and it is amplified on forums.

Friends I agree the pressure would be huge. For all the decision makers. There’s no easy path in the U.K., at all.

I think the together part is good but defeat might be a bit off. But I’m probably being too picky about phrases that have meaning. It did stand out to me I will admit.

I know for certain that we should be making an effort to show some support to the government and PM regardless of the politics for now

They're incompetent liars. To show support for this shitshower would mean we are complicit in their actions. No. I'll show support when they do something worthy of it. Anything at all.

It's nothing to do with politics! They government had the support of the majority at the start of this, across the political spectrum. They squandered it with their utter incompetence.

Leaders should be in the position they are in because of an ability to lead.

I don't give a monkey's if Johnson has a new baby. Presumably he chose to father one, while being PM.

But I don’t think a new baby is here nor there.

I’d hate to think that was having an effect. It’s a pretty crucial time.