Irritating Covid Phrases

[GoldenPenPot]

Now we’re about a year into the pandemic, we’re in a good position to assess what new phrases and words are the most irritating.

I’ll start with the obvious ones - “Covidiot” and “New Normal”. However, I also hate the “Stay safe” at the end of emails (suspect that’s just me).

"I CAN’T STAY THE FUCK HOME YOU PATRONISING TWAT SOME OF US HAVE HAD TO CONTINUE TO TRAVEL TO WORK THROUGHOUT."

This is annoying "throughout"

"I've worked all the way, throughout".

Sniffy misplaced superiority - sometimes written in capitals annoying.

My MIL is always reminding me to stay safe and keep my DC safe. Like I'm about to send them into ICU to lick door handles or something. Of course I'm keeping them safe!!

She does it in non-COVID times too though, especially if we are driving somewhere! I sometimes tease her by saying that I'm actually planning on driving blindfolded after a bottle pinot noir. Luckily we get on well and she can take a joke!

"I've corrected everyone who's suggested I've had long covid, I had (still not 100% many months later) post viral fatigue as confirmed by my GP."

Your GP wants some education on long covid then, well done for "correcting" everyone though

Covid Marshalls* (Thankfully aside from inciting incredulous belly laughs when first hearing the term, I’ve managed to bury it deep in my “Whaaaaaaaa!!!!” memory)

Unprecedented.

Every press conference, radio news show - it actually makes me roll my eyes, because it's so unnecessary. We know this is new and different and awful. It's been like that for a year now, so the word is pretty redundant. It's not like anyone has missed it.

Keyworker. Always used as an excuse to get away with things. Or used in topics thrown in to make a situation seem better when it has no relevance! I’m a nurse, not a keyworker, I’m a bloody nurse!!

Anything to do with bubbles.

The way “socially distanced” is used.

I've always hated the work lockdown. It
sounds like something off a TV game show.

Any talk of it ‘ripping through’ anything... schools, nursing homes. Why can they just say spreading?!

*word

Can’t believe I forgot keyworker

@DavidsSchitt

"I've corrected everyone who's suggested I've had long covid, I had (still not 100% many months later) post viral fatigue as confirmed by my GP."

Your GP wants some education on long covid then, well done for "correcting" everyone though

Yeah Long Covid annoys me. Irrationally so.

"Mask it or casket"
"If you hate X then you will hate being on a ventilator" used to beat down anyone moaning about anything aspect of the pandemic or lockdown whatsoever.

I can't BEAR "stay safe", but many people are now using it as their email closer. Makes my hackles rise.

I don't want to "stay safe"! I want to LIVE my sodding life in any way I see fit, and that means not being permanently "safe".

@Askinvillarblues

Any talk of it ‘ripping through’ anything... schools, nursing homes. Why can they just say spreading?!

Yeah, that one is very annoying, especially as it's usually phrased as a binary choice, as in "So you want to lift restrictions and let Covid rip through the population?" As though anyone were suggesting that we suddenly lift all restrictions overnight.

I don't read or see irritation in any of these obvious Covid related words and phases.

I believe as much as we all want to move on to the "post pandemic new normal" these words and phases are important to remind "Covidiots to be mindful of their potential Covid footprint by being masked, aware of their proximity to others and always on top of their hygiene game" and so be "a part of the solution and never the potential cause as prevention is the best cure."

Oh and "front line"

It's not the fucking trenches

Also, the smug, shoulder-shrugging 'Businesses will just have to adapt' invariably said by someone sitting at home in their naice secure job, and with no idea of what indefinite social distancing (another stupid expression) means to restaurants, hotels, gyms, theatres, cinemas, cafes etc.

People claiming they haven't had as they've been 'so careful' and 'don't go anywhere'... Unlike those morally deficient people who've gone to work in supermarkets or factories, sending their children to school so they can go to said jobs, and maybe having to pop into a shop as they can't get a delivery.

I believe as much as we all want to move on to the "post pandemic new normal"

I don't. I want the pre-pandemic old normal.

And do you seriously think that, almost a year on, those who haven't been persuaded by the 'stay safe' platitudes are going to suddenly change their mind because someone on MN told them to 'wear a fucking mask'?

"Breaking the rules"
Not following the rules
Superspreaders
selfish
conspiracy theorists
antivaxxers (used as a put down to anyone who doesn't shit glitter about the new-style vaccines at all times)

“The schools”. It’s the “the” word that bothers me for some reason. Schools vary so much across the country so there must be differing impacts on infection rates but everything seems to be about “the schools”.

Specifically from Mumsnet, people talking about "carrying out a risk assessment" when what they mean is they've decided to do a particular activity eg.

More widely, "staythefuckathome" (manages to be preachy, faux informal and obstreperous all at the same time) "necessary journey" - if you want to get essentialist about it, the only necessary journeys are those involving survival under imminent threat of death.

"Bubble", especially as it makes me think of a particularly twattish contestant on big brother 20 years ago who I hadn't thought about since until this year.

@PracticingPerson

‘Long covid’ - it’s post viral fatigue, I don’t know why the covid version is special

This is factually incorrect, the reason the medics have termed it long vivid is because it is completely different from stand post viral fatigue. Unfortunately the covid version is special.

Really? That's amazing because every medical professional I know (including myself) refer to it as Post Viral Syndrome - a condition common to many viruses and which manifests in many differing ways in individuals. Hence the reason why, for a long time, practitioners argued about whether it really existed (and some still do, although the majority now accept it as a valid condition). There is nothing special about any of the symptoms presented in "long Covid", all of which can be seen in CFS arising from other viral infections. The major problem with CFS is that it has no consistent presentation, making it difficult to map.

I don't. I want the pre-pandemic old normal

Me too. I want to cram into a packed pub, stand 5 deep at the bar waving my twenty at the servers. I want to huddle in the smoking area sharing an umbrella and talking pure shit with strangers. I want to go to my favourite restaurant and eat so much I have to undo my jeans.

Those desires make me SELFISH and evil in the new world