Do people really think all will be ok in the next few years ?

[LemonSherbetFancies]

You've got people saying this will never end and then others who seem to think that it will all be over by July with no restrictions. I have been in both camps.
I am definitely of the belief that restrictions will be eased and we will have more freedom. But I also think that there is a going to be a huge knock on effect which will last for years as well as an ever widening divide between the rich and poor.
I think long term unemployment, mental health and economic fall out will be beyond what we realise.
I do think eventually we will recover as a country but it will take years. I am surprised at those who think this will all be done and dusted by the end of the year and into 2022. Maybe it's the middle classness of Mumsnet with many people working from home and saving money? Just think some are in for a shock.

@WanderingFruitWonderer

I've given up making predictions, as most of mine have been wrong so far! I honestly don't know what the future holds, and I'm just going with the flow now. The flow is all we have...

Completely agree.

Whilst I try to remain optimistic, I think the truth is we are going into a really tough period because tackling climate change will require a huge system change, which is never popular/peaceful and not tackling it is an even worse prospect.

WRT Covid, I feel the vaccines have shown what can be done, but I still think we could go either way, I am concerned many people don't seem to understand the issues around covid medically speaking and the fact that we could see a variant that fucks the vaccine is a real risk.

I try to stay hopeful...

Optimism is all we have. I do not think it is all we have, but it puts us in better stead.

A bit of realism is important because without it we cannot start to tackle Climate Change. Unless you go to the doctor and the doctor diagnoses cancer then how can you start treatment? Information is scary but it is vital.

Covid is showing us that we need to work as a team to survive. We do not seem to be listening quite yet.

The environmental issue is huge but what actually matters is so tied up in politics and the economy ie keeping an elderly 3l diesel car on the road is massively less damaging than manufacturing a new electric car but guess which we are being pushed towards.

See also smart metres. Does nothing for me, tells the power company when the peak times are. Which they know anyway. But they now also know when I’m away for a week.

I really don’t understand why people are saying that the world or the UK will “never recover” from this. Of course we will. It will take time but ffs WW1 and WW2 were far more horrific and went on for years and we recovered. The UK recovered from the plague and did Spanish flu etc..
I honestly think you are delusional if you see covid as a “world ending” scenario and it speaks of your vast privilege if you see this as being the worst thing you ever happen to the UK considering the horror of the Victorian era and the rest of history.

You'd certainly expect some longer term effects, but I've also seen predictions that the sudden freedom will cause a boost to the economy that will take us out of that hole.

Are they right? I have no idea and I'm pretty sure no one else does either. We've never been in a situation quite like it.

On the mental health thing quite a lot of the stuff we're hearing about that comes from facebook and the like. I wouldn't put any stock in any of that. A lot of it has already been debunked.

it's doesn't stop anyone catching or transmitting covid.

Why do people keep saying this?
Sir Patrick vallance said you don't get vaccines with these types off effectiveness without them having some kind of affect on transmission and data is showing us it is looking like it does prevent infections/transmission.
I don't understand why this is still being said every day on here

@LockdownCheeseToastie

See also smart metres. Does nothing for me, tells the power company when the peak times are. Which they know anyway. But they now also know when I’m away for a week.

One reason why I refuse to get one!

@Russellbrandshair

I really don’t understand why people are saying that the world or the UK will “never recover” from this. Of course we will. It will take time but ffs WW1 and WW2 were far more horrific and went on for years and we recovered. The UK recovered from the plague and did Spanish flu etc.. I honestly think you are delusional if you see covid as a “world ending” scenario and it speaks of your vast privilege if you see this as being the worst thing you ever happen to the UK considering the horror of the Victorian era and the rest of history.

Nah definitely not world ending. Spanish flu took 5 years to get over? I'm going with half of that for covid because we have more technology now, so 2.5 years takes us to the middle of 2022. If its earlier, yay, but I don't think so just yet as everyone else is far behind us.

Some people are more optimistic than others.
Some people I know are very down about it and think it'll go on for years. Even if you mention the vaccines or lifting restrictions you would think I was talking rubbish and they are ' oh no, it'll be ages yet ..'
a few do seem to be reveling in it I think.
Maybe they are right to be so cautious? I don't know really.
It is a subject that causes division.

Well I guess we are all going to die then.

@Donoteatthekittens

Well I guess we are all going to die then.

That's one prediction I'll make confidently

Couldn't agree more. We're on the brink of a very deep recession that will impact for years, decades. Even just in terms of mental health, the numbers of people affected, directly and indirectly, are going to be sky high. It's not only about covid transmission rates coming down but some people can't see the bigger picture and life beyond their ivory towers.

hester “I'm not really sure exactly what point I'm making here so please don't dissect my post”.

That made me laugh. Such candour !

Think I might use that in the intro for my next uni essay Hester 😂

I might say that to a judge this week it’s kind of unanswerable really.
Well a judge would tell me to stop moving my mouth if I do not know what I’m saying and possibly report me to the Bar standards professional conduct committee, so maybe not.

Let us know how your tutor views it beebityboo

I think Mumsnet is very middle class so the answers will be swayed somewhat towards 'Everything will be ok by 2022 if not by the summer.' Many wfh in stable jobs so everything will be OK for them. Not so for others who have lost their livelihoods or whose jobs are unstable.
Don't get me wrong, I do think we will recover from this but certainly not anytime soon.

I think the truth is we are going into a really tough period because tackling climate change will require a huge system change, which is never popular/peaceful and not tackling it is an even worse prospect

We are too late to anything about climate change, its set, we can't change anything at all, perhaps the rate of global warming.

Nah definitely not world ending. Spanish flu took 5 years to get over? I'm going with half of that for covid because we have more technology now, so 2.5 years takes us to the middle of 2022. If its earlier, yay, but I don't think so just yet as everyone else is far behind us

Spanish flu killed the young, 50 to 100m and just after WW1, CV kills the elderly, the two pandemics are not comparable.

Incidentally, SF led to the great depression, which led to WW2.... so lots to look forward too :)

I feel as if us humans dont stop with our arrogant misuse of nature and animals then yes we are onto self distruct.
For example our selfish use of natural resources .. they need to be respected. It is not ok to feel entitled to fly to far away places of you want a world for your dc s dc .. be' entitled' to that but realise the cost ?
Similarly .. have we not noticed that our illnessess and pandamic s have been linked to our unatural mistreatment of animals .. messing with nature.. well sorry humans.. its our choices . .. my real hope out of all this wd be for us humans to be grateful for what we do have and be kinder to our world and creatures amd ultimately our grandchildren
. Worth not fyling to hotclimes for ..? Treating our natural world better for .

There have been wars, famines, earth quakes, disasters and pandemics since the world more or less began. We will get over this and life will get back to some sort of normality. Harder times may well be on the way, who knows? But, I truly believe that life will continue and we will look back at this period of our lives and grateful it's over and hopefully happy that we survived.

Well, this was a depressing thread to read before bed

Wasn't meant to be depressing.
As I said, I do think we will recover but I think it will take a long time before that happens.

All I want, is to be able to go abroad again. I love my holidays. I work for my holidays. I spend most of my year planning holidays. I love to travel. I love to be away from this fucking country with its 18 degree summers and grey drizzle. There is no way on this planet I will ever grow to appreciate that.
I don’t care if my flight prices double, or triple. I WILL go abroad and it will not be in five years time.

@Whatnow100

I feel as if us humans dont stop with our arrogant misuse of nature and animals then yes we are onto self distruct. For example our selfish use of natural resources .. they need to be respected. It is not ok to feel entitled to fly to far away places of you want a world for your dc s dc .. be' entitled' to that but realise the cost ? Similarly .. have we not noticed that our illnessess and pandamic s have been linked to our unatural mistreatment of animals .. messing with nature.. well sorry humans.. its our choices . .. my real hope out of all this wd be for us humans to be grateful for what we do have and be kinder to our world and creatures amd ultimately our grandchildren . Worth not fyling to hotclimes for ..? Treating our natural world better for .

Agree.