Parents being Brainwashed re: Covid 19

[superblondie28]

I'm happy to do my bit to stop covid spreading, I wear a mask, triple vaxxed, wash hands etc. I am really getting fed up with all the scaremongering on the news/internet regarding Covid 19.

It has literally turned my quite confident pensioner mother who has no real health problems into a paranoid, fearful person.

Everyday she's texting me that's she read this, read that about Covid 19. Some of it may be true like and some not. My hubby is reluctant to get the booster although he had the other 2 jabs. I'm not saying he'll never get it but she's under the impression that if you're triple vaxxed, you can't pass covid on or catch it which is total bollocks !!
But to get or not get the booster is purely HIS decision. He doesn't work with elderly people or work for the NHS.

The latest thing is, my mum has cancelled the christmas eve meal , which she and her hubby were going to. Its his birthday meal. Just the 2 of them, probably holed up in a quiet corner as its a daytime meal. This is down to scaremongering by the media.

I am started to get worried for her mental health. Stepdad doesn't bother with the internet. Doesn't even own a smartphone so he's a bit more less paranoid.

Any advice anyone please. Are your parents the same ? Thanks

Her fears might not even all be about her. She might worry about potentially giving it to your DP.

She's following the news and will therefore be aware that, a) Vaccines reduce but don't completely stop the risk of transmission, and b) ICU are currently full of young previously healthy unvaccinated. 9 out of 10 patients in some ICU.

Given that experts think two vaccines aren't enough protection against omicron (hence the need for a booster), she might be worrying for him. The risk of Long Covid disability, as much as hospitalisation and death.

I strongly believe that we can't keep hiding from the virus by lockdown. It doesn't work. It didn't work last year or this year.

^ this - can't believe some of the replies on this thread. We are nearly 2 years on now, it's time to get on with life.

*MarceyMc

I strongly believe that we can't keep hiding from the virus by lockdown. It doesn't work. It didn't work last year or this year.

^ this - can't believe some of the replies on this thread. We are nearly 2 years on now, it's time to get on with life*

Why would a 62 year old woman think like you?

I mean, OP, she's probably concerned about how you'd cope with the loss of his income - if he developed disabling Long Covid. A valid fear.

For all the “your mum is rational, your partner has been brainwashed” people: OP’s mum INCORRECTLY thinks that being triple jabbed prevents transmission of the virus. OP’s partner has had two vaccines…what part exactly indicates brainwashing?
I’d love to observe all the “ I do everything correctly because I actually care about people and I am not totally selfish insert virtue signalling anecdote “ people for a few days. For some reason I suspect they are not completely and entirely perfect themselves. Something to do with being human.

She and my stepdad have both had boosters. All I can say, until recently, she and stepdad were happy to have the Wednesday Curry special at Hungry Horse and not bothered at all. Until Omnicron or whatever its called was constantly being mentioned by the media.

It's being constantly mentioned by the media because it's ripping through the UK, the case numbers are the highest they've been since the pandemic began. Do you not think that's newsworthy?

It's really not that big a deal to skip the pub for a couple weeks until things cool down. People can keep 'living their lives' without hitting the pub.

I don't know why you're worried about your parents being brainwashed when it's your husband listening to anti vaxxers and refusing the booster.

I’d love to observe all the “ I do everything correctly because I actually care about people and I am not totally selfish insert virtue signalling anecdote “ people for a few days.

Where has anyone actually said this? Or anything even vaguely similar?

There is definitely a nasty, spiteful enjoyment that some people seem to get from criticising other people. The pandemic has been open season for them. It’s like a new religion. Gives me the same creepy vibes.

I think your parents have better judgment than your partner.

We are nearly 2 years on now, it's time to get on with life.

Indeed. Let's do as much of the rest of the world has done. Stop believing in magic wishing it all away. Time for (pro)action. Let's follow the lead of other countries (where they're 'getting on with life more than we are) and take sensible infection control mitigation measures.

It's getting a bit boring being one of the world's highest risk countries - the place that everywhere else has on their red list.

@Reallybadidea not specific to this thread, but any Covid related discussion with any nuance. It’s like they relish that chance to be the righteous ones.

They are not being brainwashed. They are being sensible and following Chris Whittys advise to chose where you socialise

@FFSFFSFFS

He doesn't bother listening to the factual news even

One of my favourite quotes ever. And you think your mother is reacting disproportionately.

You and your husband are showing very limited intelligence if that helps.

As for "hiding from the virus"....well its not hiding is it - its trying to take the most proportionate and effective response to a global public health emergency.

The "learning to live with Covid" line that so many idiots come up with fail to grasp (on the basis of the current state of the virus) would mean that the entire health system would collapse as indeed would a large number of essential services.

Covid may indeed be mild for most - but if a huge proportion of the population get it then the small number for whom it is not mild is actually quite a lot of people (mostly older and clinically vulnerable).

So I would say you and your husbands are basing your lack of fear on the fact that you don't understand that you actually are at risk (if essential services break down) and also that you are failing to acknowledge how selfish you both are.

But I think the chances of you and your husband understanding this are low. And that is why this will go on or longer than it needs to.

If we are being selfish, it's at a great distance, because we live a good 2 hrs drive away and that's one way. So I hardly see her, so I have to rely on what I hear from her over the phone or what I pick up from her texts. I have never told her what I think she should or shouldn't do,as regards protecting herself and stepdad from covid 19. I work in a highly regulated environmental health industry and go by government guidelines. I don't unnecessarily go out myself. I'm 46 and certainly aren't going night clubbing or pubbing. I hate the noise 😒 for one thing...

@Reallybadidea

Some examples of this holier than though talk:

You and your husband are showing very limited intelligence if that helps
Borderline abusive

As the vaccines were being developed they said the main aim was to reduce serious illness or death and some people misinterpreted that as ‘it doesn’t stop you getting it’. Is that where you’re getting confused?
Sarcastic and rude

I've drastically reduced my social contacts (and will test on Christmas morning) with a view to keeping my elderly parents safe
Virtue signalling

Your mum sounds sensible and well informed to be fair. Your emotive claim that lockdowns didn’t work in the past is incorrect. Tens of thousands of lives erte saved. You seem to view this in a very black and white way without the full information. She’s right about third jabs too. They aren’t foolproof but they make transmission less likely

It sounds like ur partner is more brainwashed than your parents

I've drastically reduced my social contacts (and will test on Christmas morning) with a view to keeping my elderly parents safe
Virtue signalling

Someone caring about their own parents is virtue signalling

Altruism and self interest don't have to be mutually exclusive.

I feel your frustration, OP. After having my dad go from being terrified to be near me and my kids, to getting vaccinated and living his life again. We are almost back at the point of him being scared of being around my kids mostly. Not as extreme as before, but just a few more fearful news stories and that will be it again.

I understand his fear, I do. But it is hard to watch.
In the summer he had got the mentality of wanting to live his life instead of hiding away. He was going to pubs for nights out, going on breaks away with his friends, traveling on coaches and trains for hours etc.

Now this and he is slowly heading back into hiding and he has had the booster.

He was annoyed at how much he had limited his life before. He was annoyed at how the fear had got to him, so to watch it all slowly unfold again is really hard. Because there is nothing I can do to help him feel better. It all depends on what the news stories say that dictate his fear levels.

An example. Poor and overcrowded housing is a socioeconomic risk factor for Covid.

Now, the public health housing and homelessness emergency costs the taxpayers billions and billions. Both direct costs (funding temporary accommodation for homeless families, housing benefits for high private rents) and indirect (knock on impact on social services, NHS including mental health care, criminal justice system, etc).

Dealing with the housing emergency would be 'virtue signalling'/altruism - but at the same time it would also be self interest (saving tax money).

My parents are the same - they are mid seventies and have not been to a shop since the start. During the summer they did come to a few things outside.

I think right now though it’s not a bad thing to not go to a dinner. I’ve cancelled all plans before charisma’s (more as I don’t want it ruined).

So your mum was in the hospital with a DVT. So she does have underlying health problems.

@echt

What scaremongering is the media doing?

🤔 I would have thought that was obvious. Daily death stats - which miraculous become daily infection rates when the death stats aren't scary enough. Never ever any context.

@aliceca

So your mum was in the hospital with a DVT. So she does have underlying health problems.

No... Not as such. Dr's think the immobility of being sat around at home last year during Lockdown, then broke her ankle tripping over a wonky paving slab, then more sitting around all contributed to the DVT. So the DVT was self inflicted in a way 😔 she's all recovered now. That October 2020.

Your mother sounds perfectly sensible.

She's adjusted her risk assessment in the face of a virulent wave that has many breakthrough infections.

When things were calmer, she was happy to socialize and take advantage of the protection of the vaccine and booster. With the new wave, she's decided to take a step back until it rips through.

It sounds the opposite of hysterical, irrational, or brainwashed.

Now, reading "non-factual news" about the dangers of the booster...that's another story.