People who would like lockdown indefinitely

[PooRaulsRagDace]

Some of the threads on here have me thinking of my mother. She’s no longer with us but l know that if she were still alive then this pandemic would have been a gift from god.

Put bluntly she had no life, she never wanted to leave the house, go to work, learn to drive, she had no friends, no hobbies, no interest in anything at all except daytime TV and having a drink.

She knew that she was judged for her lifestyle and she knew she was very much in the minority and deep down it bothered her.

She loved snowy weather - snow days meant you couldn’t leave the house! No one judged you for staying in all day, you were fully expected to stay at home.

The pandemic has allowed people like this to relax and be safe in the knowledge that no one is expected to leave the home. All the people in my circle continually calling for further lockdown are people who don’t or don’t like working, never go anywhere, never do anything and have few friends and no outside interests.

People with young children who are not sending them back to school at all - I suspect so they don’t have to bother getting dressed to take them. It’s the same type of people!

No one that I know who is working, who has hobbies, friends, interests are calling for further lockdowns - only people with no lives anyway.

Anyone else notice this?

Well 1 plus has been not having to deal with judgey people so much in lockdown. I do like being at home, having my family around, having a bit of me time. But I have also really missed normal life and am looking forward to going dancing or to a gig one day. To be honest I would be much more comfortable around people if they were just a little less mean (hello office). I don’t want indefinite lockdowns happening in the immediate future, which is why I think we should be a bit more cautious.

I don't know anyone, not a single soul on facebook or irl who want to stay in lockdown and keep their dc at home because they are too lazy to change out of their pjs. What a weird suggestion.

That's a lot of judgement OP.

I agree to an extent.

What worries me is the effect lockdown will have had on people who are otherwise really looking forward to normal life returning. Some might find they now have mental health issues they previously didn't have. Being cooped up for so long and then being 'let back out' is going to be a head fuck for many I fear.

Oh YES I have definitely noticed this.

The ones I know are as an example: someone I know from facebook is constantly posting about wanting lockdown extended beyond what is necessary "just in case". Then she posts about how shes loving lockdown because shes an introvert and doesnt like mixing with others. She is a writer so is able to work cosily from home, still getting paid her usual monthly salary so its had no effect whatsoever on her livelihood or her finances. She has no kids so doesnt has to worry about them or home schooling etc Its basically the life of her dreams.

Now, thats fine- if she is enjoying it, so be it. BUT what pisses me off is her constant posts fretting about schools opening and shops opening and making out like her concern is about the common good. Its not. Its about the fact that she loves lockdown because it suits HER lifestyle and bugger anyone else who is struggling. She has no fcking clue what its like for kids at the moment and her constant hand wringing about them going back to school has caused me to block her. She has no bloody idea what its like for people who are struggling.

Its just the epitome of selfishness.

I know a few people who haven't been anywhere much for over a decade for health reasons , so the lockdowns haven't altered their lives that much.
A few I know are being cautious and probably going out to sit on a bench with someone else in the open air when we can, would still make them very anxious. Any talk of this being ' a light at the end of the tunnel' is turned into ' ah, that light is an oncoming train'
Others would have it all open up next few weeks and ' let's get on with it'
We're all different. It's changed people's relationships and mind sets and probably ruined a few friendships too :(

I don’t really think it’s ok to be judgey unless the person is baying for it to continue and is scaremongering. Although clearly some folks are doing that

There have been many threads on here from people who are living their best lives because of it. They get their partners full attention, don’t need to go out, don’t need to work, or commute or do the school run.

It is what it is, but I think it’s the minority, a vocal minority but still a minority,

OP that made me think of Les Dawson sketches where he'd be muttering about "er in number 17 .. no better than she ought to be"

I love going out. I used to go out a lot before all this business. I would make a point of never being at home at weekends - we had at least one day trip booked every weekend and would see family/friends on the other day.

I went to numerous socially distanced 6 person garden parties over the summer. We had trips away and days out last summer. I've got holidays booked for this year.

I still have weekly zoom catch ups with friends and these will be moved back to the pub in the future.

I have also been up, washed, dressed, hair and make up done every single day of lockdown. I'm still at work, so my kids are up and dressed and out of the door by 8am every weekday (going to their Nan's for childcare)

I still think the Government is unlocking too quickly and don't want kids in school full-time yet.

I'm worried about vaccine escape, maybe I'm wrong to worry but after the year we've had I don't know up from down anymore!

So I'm not sure it's fair to call me a slob because I'm scared of getting life back and then having it taken away again.

I prefer wfh, and I certainly haven't missed certain social pressures (looking at you, ILs extended family get togethers where I get nagged about having kids by people I don't give a stuff about).

On the other hand on balance of all the people in my work, I'm definitively the most confident about getting out and sensibly enjoying whatever the rule changes have been - work, social, travel.

The rest more innately sociable but also more nervous and keen to prolong lockdown and overdo the rules, despite not really understanding them.

(Though maybe they're scared because I have long covid and they know it affects me - but I know that however bad it is it's not the end of the world! Maybe the speed awareness course I did just before lockdown helped me contextualise risks better - and there was a similar mix of personal reactions to the data shown.)

@Bluntness100

I don’t really think it’s ok to be judgey unless the person is baying for it to continue and is scaremongering. Although clearly some folks are doing that

There have been many threads on here from people who are living their best lives because of it. They get their partners full attention, don’t need to go out, don’t need to work, or commute or do the school run.

It is what it is, but I think it’s the minority, a vocal minority but still a minority,

I would hope that it doesn't have to be either or.

I'm keen for the option to wfh to continue - back in the summer we operated a rotation of meeting and shared planning days with time alone in between, and it was really effective.

Discuss and agree a set of objectives, crack on with delivering them, share the work the next session and move on.

And I note that even the extroverts in our office enjoyed the fact that being at home left them more time for enjoying themselves with their friends and family.

I don't see it as binary, and I'd hope that the "new normal" gets the most out of everyone by acknowledging that people are different.

(as a night owl and introvert who's lived her life at the mercy of larks and extroverts it feels like a big step forward!)

You only have to look back at the threads at the beginning of lockdowns to see the smuggery smug posters who were advocating hunkering down for as long as it takes .

Rarely did they admit that they had secure jobs, or were on a generous pension, had nice homes with big gardens and either small children or no children. There was lots of baying about staying home - with the exception of delivery people who were a covid-infested necessary evil.

I agree that if lockdown suits you - own it. Don't dress it up as faux concern.

@IrmaFayLear

You only have to look back at the threads at the beginning of lockdowns to see the smuggery smug posters who were advocating hunkering down for as long as it takes .

Rarely did they admit that they had secure jobs, or were on a generous pension, had nice homes with big gardens and either small children or no children. There was lots of baying about staying home - with the exception of delivery people who were a covid-infested necessary evil.

I agree that if lockdown suits you - own it. Don't dress it up as faux concern.

Yes, there are a lot of people on MN who basically have their lives all figured out - or so they think.

Secure jobs that they can do from home (so productively!), good Wifi connection for Tobias and Ella to do their Zoom lessons, comfortable homes with big gardens and no great interest in socialising outside their family circle. These people will have saved thousands on commuting, takeaway coffee and childcare and while they may not love every aspect of lockdown, are in no great hurry for it to end.

And that's fine. They didn't ask for this situation and if it suits them, great. But as you say, just don't pretend that you want it to continue 'for the greater good' or 'because I'm not a selfish idiot'. We're all selfish. It's just that some of us have different needs and circumstances.

I agree with the school parents who don't work and can't be bothered to do the school run. I know of two families who are happy, chillin, relaxing and prefer for their children to do home learning.

I do agree with you op, these people are annoying.

The ones who annoy me even more though are people who keep going on about it not being safe to send children back to school in one breath, but in another are booking flights /holiday abroad!

I have a friend who is like this and I just do not understand her logic at all!

@missymoomoomoomoomoo

Do you know what I get annoyed with? Idiots who post about missing their holidays/gym/all the other stuff without a second thought to people who couldn't afford such things. Idiots.

And then follow it up with, well its a loss of freedom. Just take a moment

Why should I care if other people can't afford holidays or to go to the gym? There will always be that, pandemic or no pandemic. There's plenty of people both above and below me in what they earn, I'm not about to pretend I don't miss normal things like that plus a whole host of others, just because someone somewhere out there, can't afford it.

I think there a variety of reasons for people to want lockdown to continue.

For some people they are afraid of going back into the world so to speak after such a long period of sedentary existence. For some it feels like being expected to suddenly emerge rubbing their eyes thinking what the hell do I do now. Its fear after restrictions have made them forget how they coped with the rush and expectations they had previously (irrelevant that lockdown is gradual it's the feeling they get)

Some people like to simply be doom monger because they are emotional vampires and can't bear the idea of anyone being happy.

Some like the OP says enjoyed the fact half the world was living their existence and legitimized it.

Some are genuinely afraid and have lost perspective.

Honestly I think everyone will feel differently and that is fine. Its bizarre where I've seen comments degrading then for their feelings.

The key here is people trying to prevent lockdown lifting (the insane petitions that I have seen posted) or trying to shame others for emerging back into the world (yes I know some people have worked through but we aren't discussing g that group)

My dm is an internal doom monger (she doesn't say it to others ) but it's because she is scared of the world and is coping with it by hoping it won't come back.

Honestly people can feel negative ,positive or any mix but it's an interesting signal for who they are as a person if they seek to prevent others from doing what they wish ...that's about trying to actively make others suffer and that's the bot that makes me cross.

I don't think everyone who embraces lockdown can be tarred with the same brush, but yes I do know some people who are as you describe. Definitely three who I can think of easily! The excuse of lockdown saves them having to go to work or even go out.

Totally disagree OP. Of course I understand that lockdown should end as soon as possible so that the economy can recover and so that children can go to see their friends and socialise. In fact the reasons why lockdown should end are endless. But for me personally I have found that this last year has suited me quite well. In fact I have enjoyed a lot of it, Just me though, I know it's a disaster for most other people.

I have a job I can do from home. I'm also a student and I am studying easily at home. I live with a family I get on with. I see colleagues and fellow students several times a day on zoom. I see friends for a walk several times a week. I do exercise classes online. I'm not anti social or lacking in interests or drive in fact I have been busier and more productive than I ever have been before because I don't have to commute.

OP it sounds like you just really disliked your mother.

Ime the people who want lockdown to continue are cautious and risk averse.

The ones who want it to end are more bold and are risk takers.

However the latter seem to think it’s fine to accuse the former of ‘loving lockdown’ or being lazy.

People are just different. I don’t know anyone who likes lockdown, everyone’s going mad.

I have to admit your probably right, but there is a larger group of people who love lockdown because they love rules, reporting rule breakers and being sanctimonious. They are the same group of people who went to crowded beaches and took loads of photos of how it was so crowded and how awful it all is to post on SM.

No, I don't know anyone who actually wants lockdown to last for the rest of their lives. Do you? Really? Literally the world in lockdown till the day I die people?

@Crimeismymiddlename

I have to admit your probably right, but there is a larger group of people who love lockdown because they love rules, reporting rule breakers and being sanctimonious. They are the same group of people who went to crowded beaches and took loads of photos of how it was so crowded and how awful it all is to post on SM.

I agree with the point on rule keepers - and those include people who do or don't enjoy lockdown, but LOVE the rule keeping.

One of the guys at work is terrible for this. He told me with the most ridiculous sulky pout how he'd told his five year old son that they couldn't play in the park in the snow because it was against the rules.

I mean, what rules? Larking about with a sledge is serious exercise!

He's an extrovert socialiser, but he's insisted on over applying the rules for months. I'm an introvert reader but I happily cracked on with some sneaky hugs with my parents last summer and went to Turkey in September.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Ime the people who want lockdown to continue are cautious and risk averse.

The ones who want it to end are more bold and are risk takers.

However the latter seem to think it’s fine to accuse the former of ‘loving lockdown’ or being lazy.

People are just different. I don’t know anyone who likes lockdown, everyone’s going mad.

But this analysis assumes that the only risk worth considering is Covid.

For very many people, the risk of being seriously ill even if they were to catch Covid - which itself is usually quite a small risk - is tiny. However, the risk which prolonged lockdown poses to their livelihoods, their children's education, their and their family's mental and even physical health, might be very significant. Others simply aren't that bothered by lockdown.

So I don't think it's a question of being 'risk averse' or otherwise. It's more a question of balancing different risks and priorities, rather than assuming Covid is the only game in town.

But risk averse people will be more scared of Covid, so that will be their main consideration.

It’s a sliding scale. At one end I’d fear of Covid, at the other is no fear of anything at all. Everyone else falls somewhere in between.