Exactly how much are our youngsters expected to give up?

[StayAGhost]

So after not been able to do her GCSE's, been locked down for 18 months, not able to grow and develop as a teenager should, no concerts, no Meeting with friends, no shopping or general hanging round, no holidays, no seeing grandparents the NCS have now CANCELLED their camp
For a virus that does NOT affect the young

Exactly when us enough enough??

DD sobbing in bedroom, this was what got her thru 14 assessments in 3 weeks

To take from her is cruel

And SO UNNECESSARY

People need to realise that even if you say "fuck the elderly", the situation for young people would still be no better and would probably have been even worse.

It got them off the hook of having to do anything difficult themselves (decent track and trace systems, bolstering of the health service, manning borders properly). The immense implications of lockdown are obvious and becoming more so, but their true impact won’t be felt for years, so not this government’s problem.

And this is true of every single government all over the world then, yes?

@FatCatThinCat I love that graduation tradition! Think we should copy it for the UK, looks such fun! May need a different song though...

And this is true of every single government all over the world then, yes?

I think you’ll find some governments did manage to use T&T and tight border controls to minimise impact on their populations and avoid lockdowns.

I think you’ll find some governments did manage to use T&T and tight border controls to minimise impact on their populations and avoid lockdowns.

Yes of course! I wasn't disagreeing with that!

@poshme

Residential youth activities are currently limited to a maximum of 6 (including leaders) for the duration of the residential. No mixing with other groups.

They are saying (the NYA) that this MIGHT be increased to 30, but might be limited to 15. The group includes young people and leaders.

That why lots are cancelling.
The rules are different for schools.

There were 160 girls on DD’s DofE trip!

Our government are almost astoundingly incompetent and have been at every stage. That's why we've had lockdown as much as we had. Because they failed to keep the virus under control.

But many here seem to be saying "well fuck the virus, let's go ahead and live our lives now" and I'm afraid while we have the clusterfuck in the cabinet that we do - no chance of that.

'So we must move away from covid kills teenagers as the data tells us thats untrue. Motor vehicle accidents kill more children/teenagers in the uk than Covid does.'

Oh it's mn denier bingo! Cars kill people but we still get in them .

Covid may not kill teenagers but they transmit it which leads to increased numbers and pre vaccines that led to increased hospital admissions y'see, which in turn put massive pressure on critical care. So, therefore routine nhs stuff was paused. Which then has an impact on everyone else. Try to join the dots a bit.

The problem is that we’ve come to regard this peaceful luxurious life that we’ve had in western countries for the last 70 years as normal, when actually it’s extremely abnormal and it’s surprising it lasted as long as it did

This ^^

We’ve all struggled. Everyone’s lost important bits of their lives. But for me the worst thing is the whingeing about it.

It’s a pandemic. Life sucks. But we can’t change it. My term dd’s had a shit time. They all have. But what else should we have done? Opened up everything and let it rip?

We’ve had the longest era of stability ever. A pandemic burst upon us, and people moan about stuff like proms or camps.

First world problems.

I don't think people can psychologically cope with the reality of the situation we are in TBH, so they need to believe that there is a viable alternative.

That ship pretty much sailed in January 2020, and then again in March 2021!

But what else should we have done? Opened up everything and let it rip?

I mean I agree with your post but there's quite a lot more the government could have done and didn't.

The people on here who shoot you down the second you express some sympathy for young people absolutely do my head in. Read Anne Frank FFS!!

Prom on the verge of being cancelled here, school finished at half term with nothing offered after. Luckily DD didn't go in for NCS as we had a bad feeling about it. And i totally agree, schools and businesses will use the pandemic to reduce trips, work experience and other enrichment that they find a pain in the arse to organise. Kids have absolutely given up enough at this stage. What's the reason why NCS couldn't have gone ahead- perhaps with testing?

@JaniieJones

'There's no point Janiie, you might as well be shouting into a black hole'.

True. It is depressing to still, even now see folk spout the ' but me civil liberties! and the average age death is 82!!' bollocks.

Just go and talk to an icu nurse and try to educate yourself.

It's the abhorrent ageism that makes me sick. As can be seen throughout this thread, the seed has been sown and taken root that the elderly who were half dead anyway should have been left to die rather than Junior miss out on his prom. What the fuck have we come to? And I have a 17 year old. One who thankfully understands that no man is an island.

It’s completely shit for most people tbf. I would have hated for this to have happened during my teen years and really empathise with their frustrations.

But I do think it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of perspective. In the pandemic of 1918, young people were massively affected by the flu virus. Young people have basically been cannon fodder in all wars and until the recent past, the vast majority of young people (the non rich) didn’t have proper childhoods or educations. As a pp said, western/wealthy societies have had it really good for long enough that people forget they are living in a time of immense privilege.

Hopefully things will get back to normal soon and the young will be able to salvage their youth. As a society, we need to look at support systems and helping people develop resilience. I think this has been a shocking reminder that life can change very fundamentally and very quickly and that complaining and self-pity (which I also feel!) gets us nowhere.

I don’t think anyone here is saying there should have been no restrictions? What I’m personally questioning is the inconsistency of what’s currently going ahead and what isn’t. We’re all muddling through and doing our best but some things are extremely frustrating and it’s not wrong to feel sorry and upset for the kids. That’s all.

@FatCatThinCat that is absolutely amazing! What a celebration, made me rather emotional watching it

‘ As can be seen throughout this thread, the seed has been sown and taken root that the elderly who were half dead anyway should have been left to die rather than Junior miss out on his prom.’

I can’t see anyone saying that at all.

[quote Schulte]@FatCatThinCat I love that graduation tradition! Think we should copy it for the UK, looks such fun! May need a different song though...[/quote]

I DO think there is a dearth of understanding about kids who don't fit the "normal" mould. There are plenty of kids who go through hell at school, plenty of kids who would genuinely rather be pottering around at home, plenty of students who don't enjoy clubbing and drinking and large groups of friends.

I'm obviously not saying there's anything wrong with being the opposite way, but I do think the ALL KIDS ARE SUFFERING narrative is not necessarily reflective of all children. The adults seem to be suffering more on behalf of the children if you ask me.

Life throws curve balls all the time. Instead of being devastated for what they have missed, acknowledge their upset and move on. Previous generations lived through world wars, our kids have lived through the pandemic. It's not easy, ideal or fun, but it is what it is.

@Faffinator

The people on here who shoot you down the second you express some sympathy for young people absolutely do my head in. Read Anne Frank FFS!!

Prom on the verge of being cancelled here, school finished at half term with nothing offered after. Luckily DD didn't go in for NCS as we had a bad feeling about it. And i totally agree, schools and businesses will use the pandemic to reduce trips, work experience and other enrichment that they find a pain in the arse to organise. Kids have absolutely given up enough at this stage. What's the reason why NCS couldn't have gone ahead- perhaps with testing?

I agree on this

I’d prefer to think yeh that’s tough at your stage of life, than do the Anne Frank, 1st world issues etc

Not that teen is unhappy atm but still I feel for all of them as a group

'It's the abhorrent ageism that makes me sick.As can be seen throughout this thread, the seed has been sown and taken root that the elderly who were half dead anyway should have been left to die rather than Junior miss out on his prom. What the fuck have we come to?And I have a 17 year old. One who thankfully understands that no man is an island.'

I know! and the utter ignorance too. It was never about saving 90yr olds, it was about saving 50 and 60 year olds and many younger. It was on the telly all the time younger people requiring respiratory support yet some have this weird 'our teens lives are ruined all for a few old people'.

Our dc haven't had a great time but they've made the most of every bit of freedom that has been returned, they are intelligent to understand the situation and if they miss a prom well what can they do instead.

I can’t see anyone saying that at all.

It's been heavily implied multiple times.

But as I've already said it's neither here nor there anyway. After the government didn't do what it ought to have done, early last year, it was too late for any alternative anyway.

Also I feel for children very much (and has made me more emotional than a lot of other stuff going on) but also the care home isolations really got to me, so not just young

I also find it quite galling that suddenly everyone is so concerned about the mental health and general wellbeing of children when it is well known this has been completely shit for many years.