How typical is MN of real life when it comes to Covid?

[Warhertisuff]

I'm thinking the average poster generally a lot more concerned and anxious than the average person, but that might just be my biases at play.

I think you’re right. Most people I know are just getting on with things now.

I think people who are worried are more likely to post about it, so you end up with a skewed view just from that.

Nobody’s going to start a thread saying “I was out today and I bought some satsumas and a new iron, and probably somebody walked near me on a pavement but I can’t remember because I wasn’t really noticing and I haven’t really thought about covid at all.”

Whereas: “I went out today for some essential shopping and the place was RAMMED, no respect for social distancing at all! Three people nearly stepped on my feet while I was walking to the shop they were that close. AIBU to be in utter despair at what a selfish country we are??” is more posting material!

Very true

I think Mumsnet is generally more "uptight" (for want of a better word) than people I know in real life and this is also true in attitudes towards covid.

I think MN is a place to put forward views anonymously that someone may not irl.

Compared to my wide circle of colleagues from different industries and organisations (including health and social care) & my friends and my family, MN posters (on this topic anyway) seem hugely concerned in a way that’s not translating now into real life. Pleased to see loud choruses of ‘delete the app’ when posters across AIBU & chat consider cancelling long held plans because they’ve had a sodding ping.

People I know in real life are much more anxious than on MN. Almost nobody is just getting on with things (which I’m go find a bit frustrating).

Don't know anyone IRL who has actually had lasting side effects from the vaccine. Probably, because , as a PP said, nobody posts " I had the vaccine and I am fine and dandy". Don't know anyone who doesn't want to take the vaccine either. I have 2 friends who haven't taken it yet, but that is because of health anxiety, and they have booked appointments now.

I’m also not convinced all posters are contributing to these threads in good faith.

I agree. Most of my friends don't realise you need to isolate and test with a temperature, they think close contact with a positive case is fine if you do a lateral flow test afterwards, and they aren't getting vaccinated simply because they aren't fussed. They just aren't glued to MN or the news so are just carrying on with life.

I’ve been genuinely taken aback over the past eighteen months at the poor health of MNers - every other MNer seems to be CEV or has a partner or child (or all three!) who is; in real life, I don’t know a single person with any kind of health problem (bar a couple of people with mild asthma) let alone people who’ve had to genuinely fear Covid because of being so unwell. I don’t think I even know anyone who’s overweight, whilst a significant proportion of posters here have been terrified because of their high BMI.

So I can see why from that perspective a lot of MNers are still afraid and posting about their fear: whereas in my social group everyone has been raring to go out and hug strangers and lick doorknobs for months now, with very little concern that they might become infected.

People are way more anxious on MN. I don't know a single person in real life who has followed all rules throughout.

Agree that people are far more anxious on here. In real life, across all my friends, family and acquaintances, people are just quietly being cautious but getting on with things. No particular angst or drama. No one bothered if someone gets too close to them in a supermarket for example. Most are just trying to salvage what they can from life.

I'm not sure because it's become a bit like Brexit where you don't really mention it other than in passing because it's so contentious. I know of one acquaintance who is a nervous wreck and another who thinks it's all a conspiracy theory to control the population, so I think everyone else is somewhere in between. But most people are playing their cards course to their chest about what they really really think, including me. My views aren't radical but the topic is just so emotive for many at any point on the spectrum of views

It's like a weird parallel universe

I don’t know anyone IRL who is anywhere near as sanctimonious, judgemental and anxious as the average MNer.

@Warhertisuff

I'm thinking the average poster generally a lot more concerned and anxious than the average person, but that might just be my biases at play.

100%. I also don't know anyone who would immediately isolate and test for a vague sniffle which is rife on MN.

It feels very skewed but some groups of posters tend to entrench anxieties

@Warhertisuff

I'm thinking the average poster generally a lot more concerned and anxious than the average person, but that might just be my biases at play.

Nope you're right. There are people on here who claim not to have left the house in 18 months. In that time I've been working, shopping, to the pub and on holiday. And not caught covid either.

I’m surprised on Mn how many posters don’t understand when to get a test and when to isolate.
In rl, everyone I know has either had both vaccinations or waiting for the second and no one has had anything more than minor discomfort after the vaccination.
I don’t know anyone who has refused the vaccination.

People who are CEV or have a CEV person in their household are probably spending a lot of time online as the total lifting of restrictions has made the outside world considerably less safe whilst infections continue to grow so rapidly.

But MN is also I think pretty unrepresentative about the idea of continuing to wear masks on public transport, in healthcare settings and in some retail. In RL, most people I know are still wearing them, and whilst not exactly over the moon about it, think it's reasonable and proportionate. They want case numbers to fall, not keep rising.

Problem is, wearing masks has never caused cases to fall to date.

I don’t feel it’s a true reflection of life in any way, shape or form. Most people I know are kinder, less worried about all aspects of life, more assertive, easier going, less prejudiced and well over Covid. People seem to remember-hash the same old stuff on here and seem determined to divide everyone into two distinct camps. You’re pro-Brexit, Racist, Anti-Mask, Anti-Vax, Covid denying, Anti the Sussexes or the opposite with no mutual ground in the middle. It’s the same with the media, they glory in setting people up against each other and regularly change sides. I’m a vaccinated, Covid believing, anti mask wearing, Sussex- sceptic of French ancestry who dislikes the EU. I like and don’t look down on people who aren’t vaccinated, want to wear masks, love the EU and are big fans of the Sussesxes. Each to their own really. Live and let live.

MN is light years away from any reality especially regarding covid.
Some MNers, I suspect live very sheltered lives despite average household incomes of £200k+
some MNers have extremely overactive imaginations and come across as batshit, rubber necking, ambulance chasing, elevenarifes tbh.

I think MN is miles away from my RL where Covid is concerned. I don't know anyone in RL with a Covid agenda that bangs on like a broken record even though nobody is listening.

I have never heard the following in RL thankfully-

Let it Rip
Locked in the house
Killing grannies
Baked in deaths
Face nappy/muzzle
Sheeple

And other ridiculous phrases.