Is it just me or is this board getting a bit quieter?

[bumbleymummy]

That’s a good sign, right? :)

@Tealightsandd

Life goes on - it's been around 18 months and I think people have moved on a bit.

And there you go. The willingness to look the other way whilst terrible things are being done. Hundreds a week are being killed - life very much not going on - but people happily look the other way.

It's one of many risks out there.

I'm asthmatic - flu has potentail to be deadly every winter and I've been really ill some winters - I get the flu jab and try and stay healthy and get on with life. Every winter flu is a huge killer.

We're still washing hands more than previously - probably a good habit - and wearing masks but we're back in workplaces, in school and at college on public transport and in shops because life has to go on - we follow the rules and do the tests.

I'm not ignoring the threat - we have all got the vaccinations we are eligible for I'm aware of the symptoms to watch for and when to test and isolate.

I do wonder if posts like this though also explain why the board is quieter.

So come on then, @Tealightsandd, do share your ideal scenario. Given that Covid is quite clearly going nowhere, even NZ and Australia have abandoned that pipe dream.

We have 2? 3? really effective vaccines. We're doing well getting those vaccines into people. The figures clearly show that the vaccines are very effective in keeping people out of hospital.

On the flip side, you lock the country down again and the knock-on effects of companies going bankrupt, job losses and consequences of the deepest recession any of us have ever known will have even greater effects - albeit different ones - from carrying on as we are currently. Or schools closing, another cohort of children missing out on exams, uni students stranded...

It's a balance. You are wholly focused on Covid numbers/deaths and nothing but Covid, but the people making the decisions have to think about hundreds of other factors too. Of course they don't always get it right but come on, but nobody does. And there's no point going on about what should or shouldn't have happened in March 2020 as that was 19 months ago and nobody has a time machine.

At the moment, the balance in England feels to me about right. In Scotland, we're still being way too cautious with the masks in school and the passports thing.

It's definitely not just you.

This board has been quiet for a while, and that's definitely a good thing.

The two most 'popular' doom and gloom merchants are lying low, no doubt waiting for some bad news in order to inflict themselves on us again. One of the others is here talking to herself, but most people have moved on. It's not even 3rd item in the news most days, when a few months ago, it dominated the headlines.

Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Not wanting to discuss it 24/7 on Mumsnet when theres nothing new to say anyway doesn’t mean you are in denial or looking the other way.
It’s still here but you have to get on with things now.
I assume some of the scaremongering dramatic people on here have been banned especially the ones who were spouting spurious facts.

Yes I do feel this area of MN has become quieter over the past few weeks. I haven't been on nearly as often, and when I am here often just have a brief look at the topics and go again. I realise I've been reclaiming part of my old life back and that's been great! I don't even mean going out/away as I am housebound, but just doing other things and growing new interests, without worrying any longer about Covid and the ins and outs of it. I think I had become worn out with the topic and can't summon up any more of my energy to think about it, I have other health issues to keep me busy! Plus was terribly fed up with the constant bickering between people.

It's a balance.

Indeed. One which most other countries around the world have managed. Including our closest neighbours in western Europe.

Like I said, they're getting on with their lives without hundreds being killed every week. Because, mitigation measures.

It's one of many risks out there.

Yep. Which we usually mitigate against. Eg. Still drive but use seat belts and have speeding limits.

@sleepwouldbenice and doom monger / scaremongering

Is that hundreds WITHIN 28 days of a positive test?

Good point. Many die after 28 days. And remember that research a while back, that noted a significant proportion - about 1/3 - of apparently recovered patients went on to die in the next few months. Of course because most. no longer tested positive, the Covid damage deaths were recorded as heart attacks, strokes, etc.

I'm confident we'll have a bad flu season this year. In the UK. Even if levels are low elsewhere in the world. The next 'not covid cold'. Lots of pneumonia, sepsis, 'general' respiratory infections, heart attacks and strokes too.

The Long Covid scandal is yet to come. Several years in the future, I would say.

But it doesn't matter. It's only The Others. The UK attitude anyway. British exceptionalism at it's most genocidal.

[quote beentoldcomputersaysno]@sleepwouldbenice and doom monger / scaremongering[/quote]
There was rather a lot of that about the vaccines, wasn't there. This board was full of it at one point.

There is a majority on here that seems to advocate carrying on as if nothing is happening. Anyone who thinks otherwise is branded a doom monger etc. I’ve always thought masks and working from home, where possible, would be sensible this winter, although a lockdown would be undesirable due to the economic and psychological effects. That probably makes me a doom monger. Yet, looking at You Gov, it seems I’m in the majority. Very strange.

But the vaccines are mitigations..... they are mitigating really well against very sick.

There has to be an end point to it all, social distancing and mask wearing and sanitising and limited capacity and contact tracing - it can't just go on forever.

Chucking in terms like "genocidal" also just makes you sound like a crackpot.

Chucking in terms like "genocidal" also just makes you sound like a crackpot.

How else would you describe 'let the bodies pile up'?

Have you seen today's news reports on the UK's response?

Look at our western European neighbours. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc.

UK (specifically, England) went for vaccines just, they opted for vaccines plus (simple and easy mitigation measures).

Guess who is getting on with life better (without hundreds a week being killed)?

But what is a discussion on here about those mitigation measures @Tealightsandd going to achieve.

This is about why this board is quiet and it is quiet because there is nothing more to debate that hasnt been debated already.

It isnt about whether we should have mitigations in place - but nothing is going to change that. Those who wear masks will wear them others will not.

@Brindle88

There is a majority on here that seems to advocate carrying on as if nothing is happening. Anyone who thinks otherwise is branded a doom monger etc. I’ve always thought masks and working from home, where possible, would be sensible this winter, although a lockdown would be undesirable due to the economic and psychological effects. That probably makes me a doom monger. Yet, looking at You Gov, it seems I’m in the majority. Very strange.

Yes you're right. Simple and easy mitigation measures, as is being done in many other countries including our near neighbours, is how to get on with living life (without losing life, health, or economy).

@Quartz2208

But what is a discussion on here about those mitigation measures *@Tealightsandd* going to achieve.

This is about why this board is quiet and it is quiet because there is nothing more to debate that hasnt been debated already.

It isnt about whether we should have mitigations in place - but nothing is going to change that. Those who wear masks will wear them others will not.

People asked questions and/or made statements. I responded.

What is any discussion on any MN board going to achieve?

The UK response is currently a major topic of news. It's all over the telly, radio, newspapers, and online media today. It's not surprising that some of us might talk about it here.

If you don't want to see any of the discussions, mute or scroll past, surely.

I’ve always thought masks and working from home, where possible, would be sensible this winter, although a lockdown would be undesirable due to the economic and psychological effects. That probably makes me a doom monger. Yet, looking at You Gov, it seems I’m in the majority. Very strange.

Wearing masks is entirely within the control of the individual, so if people think it's sensible then they're absolutely free to continue to do so.

WFH was never law and companies are free to continue with it if they wish.

What people tell YouGov isn't neccessarily what they actually believe. At least not when it comes to their own lives.

Scotland still has some? Iirc

People are wearing masks here. But not always. I’ve noticed it’s quite social eg if staff aren’t or a few aren’t then people won’t bother v going into a space where everyone is

Maybe that’s why we didn’t change it post vaccination as US did

I have also been pondering on fact that Ds has had Covid and Pfizer his ability to spread in next few months is really not likely, so LFT and masks seem stranger

I’ve always thought masks and working from home, where possible, would be sensible this winter

Perhaps, but what's bugged me from very early on is that there is no cost/benefit analysis of measures like these. I appreciate it's difficult to do, but the onus should be on government to justify measures taken.

So many people don't have any issues themselves with masks/wfh so assume the costs are minimal to society. I personally don't think that's the case.

Wearing masks is entirely within the control of the individual, so if people think it's sensible then they're absolutely free to continue to do so.

Right. Except that, just like smoking in an enclosed indoor space or speeding, an individual's choice affects other unwilling people. Masks can protect the wearer - but their key role as public health infection control is to protect others. Like with speeding limits.

@MarshaBradyo Yes Scotland and Wales maintained some sensible mitigation measures. I think NI too.

@Tealightsandd

Wearing masks is entirely within the control of the individual, so if people think it's sensible then they're absolutely free to continue to do so.

Right. Except that, just like smoking in an enclosed indoor space or speeding, an individual's choice affects other unwilling people. Masks can protect the wearer - but their key role as public health infection control is to protect others. Like with speeding limits.

No need to reheat last year's stale talking points, but I undersand that some find it hard to move on.

My point is that if the 'majority' think mask wearing is a good thing - as they like to tell YouGov - then the 'majority' will continue to wear them. Nobody stopping them.

No need to reheat last year's stale talking points, but I undersand that some find it hard to move on.

Is that your farewell to this board? Enjoy whatever pastures new you go to

We can see the difference between the UK (particularly England) and western Europe.

UK has high numbers being killed everyday. Our neighbours are getting on with life but without the massacre. Thanks to mitigations including mask mandates.

Mandates because, as with speeding, a minority (in the case of masks in some areas, a significant number) can kill or disable others.

@ilovesooty

Perhaps people are tired of having the same circular arguments.

This.

Plus a lot of people are unaccepting of where we are in the scheme of things.

There are far too many people who still want to be working from home, have closed borders, have schools closed, endlessly test even though they have no reason to etc.

The reality is cases are remaining relatively constant, hospitalisations are higher than anyone would like but also aren't through the roof, lateral flows are costing the equivalent of a penny on income tax and frankly it just has to pass through now because everyone has been offered a vaccine.

Those who are vulnerable or can not be vaccinated will just have to protect themselves because the alternative is standing on the beach flapping your arms at the sea telling it not to come in.

We are not in a position to do differently. Zero covid has even been abandoned by NZ.

So its pretty a case of getting the fuck on with things even if you don't want to. Because the nature of this is we've done as much as we can and further measures will do harm in their own right at this point.

So yeah. What the fuck is the point in getting into arguements with people who don't get that weve reached the limit of what can realistically be done without causing other problems.

Yep sucks if you are clinically vulnerable. Also sucks if you are on a waiting list for something else. Or you can't see your GP and you don't have a clue why you are feeling unwell.

Tbh, just about everything sucks right now.

We could all do with jobs, supply chains working and things stabilising. They won't if we don't actively start to return to normality.

You don't have to be happy or like this, to understand we don't have an alternative choice right now.

Even masks to an extent... I am sticking with mine, but am also aware that we need exposure to other viruses otherwise we end up more ill if we don't have repeated exposure. My son hasn't had chicken pox yet either. Stuff like that...

Everything sucks

I was feeling quite positive to I’ve today ;

I really feel we’re coming out of this

Hospitalisation is not rising