To have to accept that many in this country just don’t give a shit about others?

[Fortheweekend]

I live in Essex which, like many areas has been heavily hit by Covid.
Just heard on the news that Essex Police have had to issue many, many fines last night to people having New Years Eve parties.
I really deeply saddens me that so many people just don’t give a toss about other people.
They can not see past their own noses. Can they not see or do they not give a shit about the long term costs of their actions? That this goes beyond the virus, that because the NHS is overwhelmed people with potential life threatening conditions such as cancer will be overlooked or diagnosis/treatments delayed as they will not be able to get appointments or appointments cancelled because of too many Covid cases in their hospitals.
That people such as those I work with who suffer from disabilities or people like my poor mum who has Alzheimer’s have been isolated for many, many months and many more to come because support groups open and they and their carers will and are suffering from terrible depression and mental health issues which cut deep and will probably never heal.
Do they not care that people like my 90 year old neighbour who is all alone is shit scared every single day because she feels that she will never be able to live out her last months/years with the freedom she had been used to and genuinely believes she will die alone, without help and never having the freedom to just pop to the shops for she fears she will get the virus.
It truly leaves me feeling nothing but despair as I don’t think we will ever control this virus if people don’t do as asked for the short while it would take.

I don't think people are responsible for others, and we do need to reign in the government - all the useless applications of Human Rights within the UK, but the government is allowed to stop normal people choosing who they meet and within their own homes.

Whilst it would be nice that people might choose to think of the wider context, and personally I have, I don't believe issuing fines of 10K for what should be universal rights that can never be taken away is right - and we need to address this to prevent any government being able to do this again. Voting consent every 3 months is now perfectly possible.

We don't have a duty to rescue in the UK - and I don't see why this is any different. Look after yourself, your friends and family - and let others do the same. Charity and compassion should not be enforced, but simply desired.

However, in line with this I'd also prioritise people in Hospital who have signed into mobile tracking and have demonstrated they have attempted to stay at home - i.e. reward especially good behaviour in preventing themselves catching Covid with priority treatment, not make normal behaviour a crime.

My elderly parents can't even work a mobile phone let alone one that would carry an app. I'm guessing they should be shunted down the list if they get covid then

I have followed the rules, I don't know anyone who has been ill with Covid and no one gives a shit about me or the difficulties I and my family are experiencing due to complete isolation and mental health problems.

We are ALL suffering from MH issues due to isolation. But, some of us are also dying. I currently have 3 family members suffering from long covid, 2 who have lost their jobs, 5 children in our family groups who are missing school, an elderly mum (91) who is otherwise healthy. I've lost at least 3 friends to covid, and am a vulnerable person myself who has been isolated since March. Just because you haven't personally seen the devastation of this pandemic, doesn't mean you shouldn't follow the rules and lose sympathy for others. This is what the op means about selfishness.

I don't think people are responsible for others

THIS is what society is - mutual support and caring for each other. Without this, human society is finished, kaput, over.

I think some people are in total denial about how serious the situation is.
Overall, I've actually seen more goodness than badness; more kindness than cruelty.
However, I have been shocked by a couple of friends. They say they have similar politics to me - left-wing, passionate about the NHS, very pro-society and caring for the vulnerable etc. But, they've consistently broken the rules, and have friends over etc. It's very strange. I can only put it down to denial of the seriousness of the situation? But it's shown me a side of them that I didn't know they had. It's disappointing to be honest...

I think most people are trying to obey the rules. I walked round my area last night at midnight and there were no parties going on. Overall the police have said it was quieter than expected and there was not that much rule breaking. Unless we live in a totalitarian regime there will never be 100 percent compliance.

I'm tired too of the constant judging and righteous indignation. We are all trying and many of us are suffering. Why not focus more on what we can positively do for others rather than on complaining about other people's selfishness - I'm sure it's better for our mental health and well-being. So many people just want someone else to blame.

@WanderingFruitWonderer

I think some people are in total denial about how serious the situation is. Overall, I've actually seen more goodness than badness; more kindness than cruelty. However, I have been shocked by a couple of friends. They say they have similar politics to me - left-wing, passionate about the NHS, very pro-society and caring for the vulnerable etc. But, they've consistently broken the rules, and have friends over etc. It's very strange. I can only put it down to denial of the seriousness of the situation? But it's shown me a side of them that I didn't know they had. It's disappointing to be honest...

Yes I have a couple of similar friends. In one breath they’re saying how awful it is and how people need to all be sensible, and in another they’re unwittingly admitting to breaking the rules on a number of occasions.

They’re intelligent, they know the rules. It’s like they don’t think they actually apply to them, or something.

Yes @Happychristmashohoho it's weird isn't it...
I think some people too are very good at compartmentalizing? I'm very bad at that. Everything is integrated in my world. So I couldn't intentionally partake of rule-breaking gatherings, even if I wanted to. I wouldn't be able to separate it from the NHS situation etc. I think somehow some people (otherwise essentially good people) are able to do what they like with a clear conscience, partly because they can separate their own life from the bigger picture. I would be too overwhelmed by guilt to be able to. Even times when things have happened outside my control (such as a mask less person getting really close to me in a shop) I feel guilty, which is illogical, as not my fault. But I guess fundamental differences in raw personality & personal psychology, have a big role to play in all this stuff?

@jaxhog you are proving my point, because in your eyes I have not suffered as much as your family you have no sympathy for my circumstances or difficulties (or have even asked what they are). People are quick to judge others on limited or no information and I have seen too much unkindness to others during a difficult time.

[quote Porcupineintherough]@SouthDownsLass yes and no. I'm sure there are selfish people everywhere but some cultures value community and family over self far more than ours and they notably have done far better than us in the current situation, ironically meaning individuals now have more freedom to persue normal life. Conversely, cultures where individual freedoms are prized above all else (looking at you USA) have done really badly, even though I'm sure that there are plenty of unselfish people there too.[/quote]
France isn't doing too well either, lots of selfish people there too, having illegal raves...