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Original poster

How are they going to back pedal the fear?

85 replies

Heatheronthehill · 25/01/2021 22:41

They’ve upped it so much recently.
I understand what they’re doing and why they’re doing it,
But so many people are terrified to leave the house (currently working as they want it to) but what happens when they want to ease restrictions and bring some of the economy back?
I’m worried that they’ve ramped up the fear so much now that people don’t actually want restrictions to ease, don’t want to go back to their ‘real life’.

AIBU?

OP posts:
NoseinBook3 · 26/01/2021 00:29

No idea. I refuse to watch live tv, the news or the press conferences anymore. Other people bring up the highlights in conversation anyway.

tobee · 26/01/2021 00:36

Oh there is for me @LunaHeather as, although I live in London, I'm shielding my husband. So haven't seen it first hand.

ZenNudist · 26/01/2021 00:36

I certainly know many people IRL who have pretty much gone to ground and can't be coaxed out again.

I just bite my tongue.

MarshaBradyo · 26/01/2021 00:39

@Crumpetycrump

They did the same last year and then we had a pretty good summer out and about.
Yep it’ll pass more quickly than people think
Quaagars · 26/01/2021 00:42

@Heatheronthehill

They’ve upped it so much recently. I understand what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, But so many people are terrified to leave the house (currently working as they want it to) but what happens when they want to ease restrictions and bring some of the economy back? I’m worried that they’ve ramped up the fear so much now that people don’t actually want restrictions to ease, don’t want to go back to their ‘real life’.

AIBU?

I agree. I thought this right from the beginning of last year when it all started, said I thought there'd be a mental health pandemic. I know why it's happening, I know we need to stay at home and I have been mainly doing (apart from going to the shops as normal, DH been going to work), kids going to school before they shut) Life has to go on. So many posts on here lately seem to be people utterly terrified, don't want to step out of their home. Which also isn't healthy
bluebellscorner · 26/01/2021 00:52

110% agree. I think a lot of people feel safe(r) being locked in and are scared to go back to normal. Very concerning

MarshaBradyo · 26/01/2021 01:00

When the scare campaigns dial down and death rate finally falls people will be easy to manipulate back into the open. A few spending incentives to get us going but most will leap at chance. Some would now

LunaHeather · 26/01/2021 01:14

@tobee

Oh there is for me *@LunaHeather* as, although I live in London, I'm shielding my husband. So haven't seen it first hand.
Have you not had any friends go on UC etc?

Literally seeing it might be a surprise, I guess. Maybe if you live in a better area, it won't be so bad.

Of shielding friends and family, I have two friends who completely ignored their shielding letters and two who are absolutely rabid lockdowners, to the point I can't deal with them any more.

One of the ignorers has 4 DC, I have no idea how shielding would have worked if she had wanted to do it!

tobee · 26/01/2021 02:31

Well I suppose I mean seeing it on a wide scale, with my own eyes, rather than anecdotally.

Wandavision · 26/01/2021 02:53

Personally I think it'll all just naturally filter back if/when employers say it must? Nothing like the statement of 'of course it's your personal choice, but unfortunately we'll no longer be able to offer your job role if you feel unable to return?'. I'm pretty sure at that point most people will decide that yes they do prefer their wage vs staying at home and looking at Universal Credit? On the plus side for many it's become pretty apparent that many more jobs than previously believed can be conducted wfh, which in turn can save employers £xxx's, so presumably that's the way forward.

Monkeytennis97 · 26/01/2021 03:31

Yup. Anxiety through the roof. However as a teacher all I hear is 'schools need to go back' 'won't someone think of the children?!?!'. The cognitive dissonance is crushing me.

Monkeytennis97 · 26/01/2021 03:34

@bluebellscorner

110% agree. I think a lot of people feel safe(r) being locked in and are scared to go back to normal. Very concerning
Not scared of going back to normal. Would LOVE that.
BritWifeinUSA · 26/01/2021 03:59

We are desperate for the restrictions to end and to get back to normal. I want to see my mother (I’m in the US, she’s in the UK, neither of us can travel to the other’s country).

But there are so many people who have gone full Stockholm syndrome. It’s worrying.

echt · 26/01/2021 04:06

@BritWifeinUSA

We are desperate for the restrictions to end and to get back to normal. I want to see my mother (I’m in the US, she’s in the UK, neither of us can travel to the other’s country).

But there are so many people who have gone full Stockholm syndrome. It’s worrying.

Do you know what Stockholm syndrome means?

How would you apply it to what's happening?

FoolsAssassin · 26/01/2021 04:38

I think it’s a bit ridiculous to conclude that people won’t be prepared to come back out when community transmission has been so high plus people are having to be taken miles to hospital, army personnel are in hospital filling the staffing gaps , police are driving ambulances and people are being seen in a tent outside hospital. Given all this it’s not exactly an irrational reaction to stick to what we are being told.

Most people I know locally are being cautious for now and doing as told because of the above but looking forward to getting out and about once things have improved, which they are gradually starting to.

Yes some people will struggle and need support but I think most people will gradually get back to things .

Waxonwaxoff0 · 26/01/2021 05:05

I don't have "the fear" and never have to be fair. For those of us who still have to leave the house to work not much has changed day to day.

PhilCornwall1 · 26/01/2021 05:07

I’m worried that they’ve ramped up the fear so much now that people don’t actually want restrictions to ease, don’t want to go back to their ‘real life’.

The majority will be out as soon as this third effort is over. Look at the summer, plenty out and about. The ones that are terminally terrified will simply have a choice, stay as you are or go back to normal.

You can bet as soon as the restrictions are lifted and people do go out, the media will whip up a frenzy and report "look at this, beaches and cities rammed with people!". There will be a section of society who will subscribe to this and be shouting about the "selfish murderers", but they simply need to be ignored, if people don't bite, they will stop in the end, as nobody will be listening to them.

The end of this can't come soon enough.

Bluntness100 · 26/01/2021 05:50

I agree it’s peer pressure that will do it, last summer the overwhelming majority were out, and it will be the same this summer, even more so due to the vaccine.

When everyone else is out and about, and the media stops heavily reporting it, cases low and deaths low, then those still hiding out will start to feel like they are being silly.

Schools, employers, unless you quit your job, and withdraw your child will force normality.

I do think it will be a bit weird at first, but we adapted quickly to the new measures and we will adapt back again.

Kokeshi123 · 26/01/2021 05:55

The great majority of people are itching to get out.

I do worry about the immune compromised who cannot be vaccinated. They will have no alternative other than to continue being very careful for a long time. I don't have any alternative though---we can't keep everyone locked up forever.

PhilCornwall1 · 26/01/2021 06:09

I do worry about the immune compromised who cannot be vaccinated. They will have no alternative other than to continue being very careful for a long time.

To be fair the immunocompromised have got to be careful all the time (I am immunocompromised), it's part of life, so this will be no different.

SoFranCisco · 26/01/2021 06:11

I think the scary adverts are especially tough for those of us who work in jobs where we cannot follow the safety advice - me and my colleagues have commented on how exhausting it is trying to carry on as normal when they are trying to terrify everyone into staying home. We can’t stay home and the stress caused by trying to keep your own fear levels in check in order to protect your own mental health in the face of the scare campaign is huge. I understand why they are currently needed - but it isn’t really helpful for the large numbers who are still out in the world doing their work more or less as normal!

CarlottaValdez · 26/01/2021 06:15

My worry is that we’ve set a precedent of shutting things down when the NHS gets overwhelmed, this happens pretty often. The answer is big investment so they can cope with a bad flu season but let’s see.

Coldwinterahead1 · 26/01/2021 06:21

I don't think I will ever go to restaurants or pubs again. Days out will be in the countryside etc away from people. I don't fly so not worried about travelling. I will still do the kids activities, but if I was just me I'd just stay home. This isn't anything to do with fear,ice just realised I like a simple life.

ChocOrange1 · 26/01/2021 06:41

Once restrictions start to lift, a lot of people will go out as soon and as much as they can. This was evident in the Summer with plenty of people going to restaurants, beaches, theme parks etc. Once you start doing "normal" things its quickly easy to forget the fear. For a minority they won't want to go out and that will be their choice but I imagine that FOMO will kick in eventually!

Hapixmas · 26/01/2021 06:42

The government can't have it both ways. I turn on my TV and see scary stay home adverts, I look on social media and see scary stay home messages, scaremongering left right and centre. Yet that same government aren't putting anything in place to help protect me in my job where social distancing is not able to happen.
Luckily I don't worry for myself but they can't have it both ways.

As for getting back to normal, things will be so much better when rates drop and the elderly/ vulnerable are vaccinated. I can't wait to eat out again and hug my friends.