'No reason to think Covid will become more virulent’/'It could be like common cold by Spring'

[GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr]

Some positive news from people who know what they're talking about this morning.

As far as the common cold claim is concerned, there was the caveat that we have to get through winter first (wouldn't fit on my screenshot but that's all that it said, no predictions of catastrophe or anything).

Yes I know there are still vulnerable people whom covid could affect badly (I'm one of them), but this is good news. Although I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell me it's not

No it’s not necessary to bite, but I often think of an anxious poster coming across these posts without any context and what that might to their mental state, so that’s often what prompts me to reply.

And I strongly agree MNHQ should be tackling this at their end.

There have been a number of posters over the past 18+ months who have seemed to get something out of making other people anxious, and/or have other people shout at them. At least one got told to rein it in by MNHQ and grumbled about it later.

I was watching a programme about the Blitz a while ago (Lucy Worsley thing, so as per usual good stuff if a bit heavy on the dressing up) that has excerpts of diaries from people living through the Blitz. One man’s diary talked about the declaration of war with Germany, and how one of his workmates came walking into the room saying “That’s it then! We’re done for!” or something similar, and how odd the diary-writer found it that he seemed to be taking some sort of joy in telling people that. So whatever is behind that kind of behaviour, it at least has precedent.

Heartily agree that some people - from whatever era - get a bit of a kick out of scaring others, or bringing them back down to earth. They position it as being “truthful” or “helpful”. Even my own dsis, when I said dd was looking forward to going to university, hrrrmphed “I highly doubt she’ll be going anywhere - we’ll all be locked down again soon.”

Incidentally none of the Covid Crew on here ever post about anything else. Do they have dogs, or chickens, or dcs, or employment issues, or even anything to be unreasonable about? No, they just crouch like toads praying that covid lasts for all time.

It's those suffering with anxiety which I think of too, TheKeatingFive. It doesn't worry me personally, but I'm not the only person on here and yes, it's a worry - especially considering MN's stated aim is to "make parents' lives easier" and misleading posts and deliberately inflammory behaviour are supposedly against talk guidelines

However I respect that it's their website to run as they see fit, so personally I just try not to give this sort of thing oxygen

@TheKeatingFive

No it’s not necessary to bite, but I often think of an anxious poster coming across these posts without any context and what that might to their mental state, so that’s often what prompts me to reply.

And I strongly agree MNHQ should be tackling this at their end.

I do agree with this.

However, for me personally, when I see those posts and see the tone they’ve taken I immediately look at the username and it usually always is the people we are discussing. And then I immediately think “phew, I was about to take that seriously”

And therein lies their issue. Nobody takes them seriously anymore so it is completely pointless them even posting!

If we're doing confession time, I hadn't picked up that some posters write mainly - or even only - on the Covid threads

Inevitable I guess, but interesting all the same

If they truly wanted to properly spread the doom agenda far and wide they should namechange for each thread surely? Seems odd to keep the same one especially when nobody is taking them seriously anyway.

[quote Stasiland]**@MarshaBradyo* I don't necessarily agree with nanny whatever her name but she has the right to express her opinions as freely as anyone else. Thought that was the idea of mumsnet. There was an op a while ago who received the same treatment because some* posters thought she was lying about being critically ill with covid. Same kind of sneery pile on by the same reoccurring posters who seem equally as obsessed with covid not being serious as the sensationalist granny killing ones.[/quote]
She can express her opinions but when she's spreading misinformation and being downright rude the why shouldn't she be called out on it?

I'm confused as the poster is being accused of lying because they commented about being in lockdowm last Christmas. People are saying this is a lie but my recollection was that it felt very much like a lockdown in my area of the country. Non essential shops and restaurants/pubs had to shut the week before Christmas here. There was a limit on how many could meet in public. No indoor household mixing. I understand other areas didn't have this but millions of people in England did and it was shit!

@mrshoho

I'm confused as the poster is being accused of lying because they commented about being in lockdowm last Christmas. People are saying this is a lie but my recollection was that it felt very much like a lockdown in my area of the country. Non essential shops and restaurants/pubs had to shut the week before Christmas here. There was a limit on how many could meet in public. No indoor household mixing. I understand other areas didn't have this but millions of people in England did and it was shit!

That's been acknowledged on this thread.

The fact remains that we weren't in a lockdown at Christmas. A lot of the country wasn't even under the strict restrictions of tiers 3 or 4. The poster who made that claim knows this - she's very informed when it comes to Covid.

These things are posted to cause alarm, and have no basis in truth.

Aaaanyway... More good news re England figures. That's with the schools being back for a couple of weeks, too. Good to see things seem to be levelling off in Scotland, too. Let's hope this is the shape of things to come!

[quote Stasiland]@Bordois you're oblivious to it then. There's a sneery mocking tone to certain posts.
Like the posters who are all doom and gloom, there are always the ones who are the complete opposite but paint themselves as eminently sensible and declare any diversion from tory right think as sensationalist.. Goes both ways. Nowt wrong with being cautious.[/quote]
This. As for 'fact' I was essentially locked down last Christmas (weren't allowed to mix with other households) in my area. There was also a similar article to that mentioned in the OP - it was before vaccines. To say it's all made up and not based in any fact is not true. Instead of saying "not everyone was locked down", it was made to look like an outright lie. It is a pile on. It's not nice.

Thanks for sharing this

@beentoldcomputersaysno what Nanny actually said was Johnson makes a 'habit of plunging us into lockdown' just before Santa arrives or something.

1. some of the country were still able to socialise last Christmas
2. it's not a 'habit' if something has occurred only once, ever.

The choice of tone and language is sensationalist and gleeful. The poster you are defended once revisited a thread weeks later, gleeful that deaths had increased as they'd predicted.

Its not nice to tell people who are struggling mentally and are looking for support that "we are all fucked".

Its not nice to tell people that "anyone can work from home on a laptop" when they are struggling with work obligations and looking for advice.

Its not nice to tell people who are on the edge financially and emotionally that we will be back in lockdown soon.

Its not nice to tell people they just want to 'let the bodies pile up' when they are engaged in a (up to that point) balanced discussion about releasing restrictions.

Its not nice to tell people that they 'have their heads in the sand' when discussing anything remotely positive.

It's not nice to go on the positivity threads and call them the head in the sand threads or similar.

It's not nice to say that those of us without space to work from home are living in squalor.

It's not nice to care so little about people that you think anyone can work from home as long as they have a laptop - sod their welfare eh?!

It's not nice to dismiss people struggling through lack of contact and support and think that Zoom is enough for everyone.

Basically this particular poster is not nice. The reason I bite is because I'd hate someone who is in a really bad place to see the posts and no one challenging them.

Instead of saying "not everyone was locked down", it was made to look like an outright lie

It's absolutely been acknowledged that some people were subject to restrictions last Christmas and some were not. As @isthisok22 pointed out, the comment we're referring to mentions BJ's 'habit of plunging us into lockdown' at Christmas. Which has never happened. So why isn't it ok to say that it never happened, or that it's a false statement?

It's not a pile on. It's a majority of people who use this board pointing out that lies, insensitive/cruel comments and misinformation shouldn't be tolerated. I agree that nobody has the right to be personally insulting or to target people, whatever their stance on covid or lockdowns or any of it. But - and I'll say it again - neither should posters who post only to cause alarm and distress be allowed to do so, particularly when MN claims to be a supportive environment.

It's the 'no basis in fact' comments when there is some basis. There is also a sneery, gleeful tone in some of the pile ons. As for the good news thread, I didn't see the post that was referred to, but yes, of course people should exercise caution posting stuff on that thread as it's meant to be a safe space.

@beentoldcomputersaysno

It's the 'no basis in fact' comments when there is some basis. There is also a sneery, gleeful tone in some of the pile ons. As for the good news thread, I didn't see the post that was referred to, but yes, of course people should exercise caution posting stuff on that thread as it's meant to be a safe space.

This was a thread about some welcome good news, and look his it's turned out. Only thread that poster posted on yesterday, too.

Majority of the people who are bothered enough to post I think you mean. To suggest certain people haven't been targeted is ludicrous. Look at the earlier pile on with the snide remarks between certain posters. The nudge nudge wink wink comments.
Did it occur to you that the minimizing of peoples' concerns is equally bad and causes distress ? Hardly supportive. You can't create posts where only posters of a certain opinion can contribute. Now that is an echo chamber. And I don't see you moaning about the keating five who always turns up and spouts forth their opinions but funnily enough you ain't got a problem with that

This was a thread about some welcome good news, and look his it's turned out. Only thread that poster posted on yesterday, too.

It still is welcome good news and a positive thing -- Prof. Dame Sarah Gilbert's comments haven't gone away, she still said those things. And she obviously has major credibility in this space, so there is considerable weight to her viewpoint.

@Stasiland are you saying no one should call out Nanny when she posts wrong information, goes back onto old posts to gleefully point out she was right, spreads misery on a good news thread, is rude about peoples' living arrangements?

@BIoodyStupidJohnson

This was a thread about some welcome good news, and look his it's turned out. Only thread that poster posted on yesterday, too.

It still is welcome good news and a positive thing -- Prof. Dame Sarah Gilbert's comments haven't gone away, she still said those things. And she obviously has major credibility in this space, so there is considerable weight to her viewpoint.

Indeed. If anyones comments should hold some weight it should be the woman who has spent most of her time studying the make-up and evolution of this particular virus.