To think society is on edge

[Shekinah1]

Maybe it’s just me or just in London. But it seems like all I’m seeing on social media is people getting into violent altercations. Last night for example my feed was full of youths in Hackney firing fireworks at police for no particular reason.

A lot of this was before the second lockdown but the lockdown seems to have exacerbated it.

In my deprived part of London I cannot describe the feeling but it feels like things are slowly breaking down. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have disorder by Xmas.

I didn’t feel this way in April/March.

I think people maybe seem angry and cross, I have noticed it in other ways. Not surprising really

The ways people would normally let off steam (football matches, nightclubs, gigs) have been closed off most of the year and thus they'll eventually let off steam in other ways. Particularly male aggression.

I think the problems with public disorder will occur next summer if a bunch of restrictions are still in place.

I agree. Not just in the UK. In most European countries and further afield.
People are worried and frightened and have lost faith in the authorities. Probably in many cases with more than a little justification.
The career agitators in all countries are on this disquiet like bees round a honeypot, using it for their own agenda.

Things just feel very on edge. I can see things losing control very quickly, I think all it will take is a trigger event.

The mood feels angry this time round. I don’t know if People on Mumsnet will be part of this demographic as it’s mostly female mostly middle class, however it’s certainly there.

They knew the risk of civil unrest was going to be high during lockdowns. It’s one of the reasons the BLM protests gained so much momentum. Low employment, disenfranchised youth, boredom, poverty, anger, hopelessness. It’s a melting pot.

It’s most likely hit incomes quite badly in those areas and they probably wernt working for the best of employers etc who would use furlough schemes etc. There’ll also be mass unemployment and this was cited as one of the reasons for the 2011 riots (although set off initially by the shooting of Mark Duggan.

This was always the risk with lockdowns. Not seeing any actual violence here (fairly middle class area of a London borough), but I am noticing subtle signs - people very quick to anger over small things; general intolerance of others (notice this a lot if I’m out and about with toddler DD and she moves too slowly or gets in someone’s way); increase in low level anti-social behaviour, road rage incidents etc. Even people’s basic body language as they go about their business - hunched posture, rushing in and out of shops, no one making eye contact or attempting any kind of social niceties (fairly pointless with masks on anyway). Little things like all my friends’ WhatsApp groups, which were constantly busy during the first lockdown and throughout the summer, now going quiet - feels like everyone is just hunkering down this time.

There’s little actual fear of the virus around here, but people are very worried about all the uncertainty, the long term impact of repeated lockdowns, and generally depressed and fed up. It does feel a bit like a tinder box, with the potential for worse unrest just bubbling away under the surface.

Even people’s basic body language as they go about their business - hunched posture, rushing in and out of shops, no one making eye contact or attempting any kind of social niceties (fairly pointless with masks on anyway).

This is the atmosphere I've noticed as well. It's horrible. It feels like nobody trusts anyone else, we're all becoming so isolated from one another, can't smile at each other, people getting twitchy if they think other people are too close. It's like misanthrophy is encouraged and normalised.

I try to smile at other people and look friendly as much as I can, but it's only possible outside now and even then so many people just look tense and mistrustful of others. It's not natural for humans to behave like this and I don't think it's good for us.

@Shekinah1

Things just feel very on edge. I can see things losing control very quickly, I think all it will take is a trigger event.

The mood feels angry this time round. I don’t know if People on Mumsnet will be part of this demographic as it’s mostly female mostly middle class, however it’s certainly there.

A lot of people are angry, maybe we all are, but it's still ultimately an impotent anger at this point.

Angry/upset because we're in the middle of a pandemic that's ravaged the globe? That goes for most of us

Angry because their hobbies are off limits? That goes most of us

Angry because they've lost their jobs and livelihoods/lost friends/family members to the virus? That's a lot of people and will only increase with more deaths and more job losses

It's the three things combined that are a powder keg, rather than not being able to go to the pub for a few weeks; but ultimately people in general, while being unhappy and fed up, accept we're in a pandemic and restrictions are just a reality of it. Covid doesn't care if they're fed up.

The support for lockdown has been consistently high in polling.

If we're still here in 6-12 months time then that's when you'll get high potential for some serious disorder, but in general I think people just accept this winter will be tough and the hospitals need protecting.

Here things are quite chill, but people are definitely more short tempered, quick to anger - generally pissed off/angry. It is an unusual thing to see here, as it is known to be friendly place.

I have always felt London was a tinder box, it was the same when I lived there for years, it always felt close to the wire. I can imagine it does feel even worse in a winter lockdown without the usual avenues to release tension like boxing clubs/gyms/clubs etc.

The quicker we can end this lockdown the better. Riots are happening elsewhere and I would not want to see that here.

I do make an effort to improve things, I let people out much more in the car, I am extra polite, I cut people slack when they are impatient and upset. I am trying to be nicer, because with a little luck kind deeds will help those already at the end of their tether feel that others do care. They are not alone in their anger. Anger is just another emotion of sadness, hurt and fear.

@FreezeFloodlit

Even people’s basic body language as they go about their business - hunched posture, rushing in and out of shops, no one making eye contact or attempting any kind of social niceties (fairly pointless with masks on anyway).

This is the atmosphere I've noticed as well. It's horrible. It feels like nobody trusts anyone else, we're all becoming so isolated from one another, can't smile at each other, people getting twitchy if they think other people are too close. It's like misanthrophy is encouraged and normalised.

I try to smile at other people and look friendly as much as I can, but it's only possible outside now and even then so many people just look tense and mistrustful of others. It's not natural for humans to behave like this and I don't think it's good for us.

I've noticed this too. When I used to take my first daughter out as a baby, people would stop and chat, ask about her, smile and talk to her. I took my second baby to the supermarket yesterday and she was waving at every passer by but they either ignored or didnt see and nobody so much as made eye contact with either of us.

Youths have fired fireworks at the police on bonfire night for years. This is sadly something that is not new.

It's not natural for humans to behave like this and I don't think it's good for us.

This 100%

It's so horrible. We can't allow this to become normalised.

Temps really interesting you mention WhatsApp. My actually friends are still chatting but the school one which used to have a few little flurries of conversation each week has been dead since March. I occasionally write something, get a couple of replies but that's it. Before anyone asks people do still chat to me (at a distance) at school pick up, so it's not me, but there's less to say it seems.

No one asks about homework, sports kit, own clothes days. Obviously there are no trips and as the children don't get changed anymore there isn't such a need for "has anyone brought x's hoodie home by accident?" type stuff

I haven’t noticed that at all. Everything is quite relaxed where I am (London). Have not seen any aggression at all. If anything people are more chilled out.

To be honest I don't blame people for being on edge and angry. These restrictions have been in place for too long.

I’m feeling very very angry and completely despondent about life, and we’re comfortable and middle class.

Before this is suppose I was naive that, in a crisis, the government would come through and would protect people as best they could. That we would all pull together as a nation like you hear about during the war.

None of this has happened and I have seen that people generally do not give a fuck about each other as long as they are ok themselves. And neither does the government who expect me to send my vulnerable children to school to bring Covid back to my extremely vulnerable family. And will fine me if I don’t toe the line.

I have completely given up on people and society. Before this I used to do lots of volunteer work, donate to a lot of charities and food banks, help out in schools etc. Well no more. No one has given a fuck about us during all this. I will never help anyone out again. I will never vote again - they are all as bad as each other. I will do what I want during this lockdown - although as I’m not stupid we will see grandparents outside on their smallholding. I will never donate anything again, I will put myself and my own first without a care for anyone else. If I have to screw someone over to benefit us I will have no qualms about doing it.

I have a 2% chance of dying if I get this. I’ve made peace with this now as no one is bothered about protecting me and won’t let me protect myself. If my vulnerable child dies then I can just kill myself, job done. My will is done. Everything left to the children. If I die their life will be screwed but nothing I can do about that.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

I think it depends what you look at. Not denying that altercations etc are going on, but also in my neck of the woods (north London) my favourite local shop-owners are as sweet and courteous as ever; neighbours and acquaintances are still waving to each other across the street; people are saying thank you with a smile as we all flatten ourselves against walls to maintain distance...

I certainly don't feel that London is a 'tinder box' as someone on here says. In my neighbourhood at least, we generally tend to look out for each other or at least be polite and thoughtful.

@Shekinah1

Things just feel very on edge. I can see things losing control very quickly, I think all it will take is a trigger event.

The mood feels angry this time round. I don’t know if People on Mumsnet will be part of this demographic as it’s mostly female mostly middle class, however it’s certainly there.

Yeah, all females and all middle class people live in exactly the same places and have the same views, you're so right.

Actually, people chick fireworks at the police (and fire engines, and attack ambulances too) every bonfire night where I live.

@FreezeFloodlit

Even people’s basic body language as they go about their business - hunched posture, rushing in and out of shops, no one making eye contact or attempting any kind of social niceties (fairly pointless with masks on anyway).

This is the atmosphere I've noticed as well. It's horrible. It feels like nobody trusts anyone else, we're all becoming so isolated from one another, can't smile at each other, people getting twitchy if they think other people are too close. It's like misanthrophy is encouraged and normalised.

I try to smile at other people and look friendly as much as I can, but it's only possible outside now and even then so many people just look tense and mistrustful of others. It's not natural for humans to behave like this and I don't think it's good for us.

I've noticed recently as well people crossing the road to avoid walking past people again. Admittedly I do this myself at times if it's a narrow pavement.

@Cocklepops

Youths have fired fireworks at the police on bonfire night for years. This is sadly something that is not new.

And the police do fuck all about these yobs. A 70 year old woman bringing home her 97 year old mother and they can't arrest her quick enough.

Is it any wonder the police are losing respect?

I've noticed recently as well people crossing the road to avoid walking past people again. Admittedly I do this myself at times if it's a narrow pavement
That's what you're supposed to do, in order to keep your distance. I totally agree that it's unnatural for human beings.
The irony of possible civil unrest is that it will only exacerbate the very situation the people are protesting against.

I don't know what you are on about. When I am out, everything is just the same as it has been since March - everyone just going about their business (just masked and socially-distanced).

The only anger I sense is on some MN posts and when I see protests on the news. I don't see any of this in the large city I live in.