Anyone want a perpetual lockdown

[beentoldcomputersaysno]

I often see posters accused of wanting continual lockdowns, despite their post not suggesting it. I often assume it's done to deflect or antagonise posters who suggest a health measure(s) to adapt to life post-2019. However, is there anyone who posts on this board that does want perpetual lockdowns?

People who mean different things when they say they've been socially distancing or that they've been very careful.
It tends to mean meeting less people than they usually do. Even when the rules are clearly stated.
Even the concept of bubble was abused.

And even lockdowns can be very different in different countries.

I think it's fair to ask for some specifics.

People DO mean...

It really does, though. I, in my turn, find it equally odd and frustrating that some of you claim it doesn't and then complain, even imply bad faith when people entirely reasonably ask you what you mean by it. I don't think most people who are vague about what measures they want and what they mean by them are being deliberately disingenuous but some of you just do not help. If you mean 2m in shop queues, limited numbers in venues so tables can be 2m apart, you can just say that so your meaning is quite clear.

I agree. I can't understand why people can't just spell out what exactly they mean. Social distancing is a range of measures, which can (and has meant at different times) mean anything from voluntary advice to stand 2m apart in venues up to fully banning contact outside the household by law.

It's now second nature to me at the supermarket

That isn't just what "social distancing" means. It's one part of it. Try googling the meaning in general public health terminology.

Here you go:

What is social distancing?
The practice of social distancing means staying home and away from others as much as possible to help prevent spread of COVID-19. The practice of social distancing encourages the use of things such as online video and phone communication instead of in-person contact.
As communities reopen and people are more often in public, the term “physical distancing” (instead of social distancing) is being used to reinforce the need to stay at least 6 feet from others, as well as wearing face masks. Historically, social distancing was also used interchangeably to indicate physical distancing which is defined below. However, social distancing is a strategy distinct from the physical distancing behavior.

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-social-distancing-and-self-quarantine

From the government in March 2020, a page called ‘What is social distancing?’: ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2020/03/04/coronavirus-covid-19-what-is-social-distancing

“The Government’s new Coronavirus action plan recognises that as we start to see more cases in the UK, and more widespread community transmission of the virus, further measures to reduce the contact people have with each other may be needed.”

“These measures, sometimes referred to as “social distancing”, could include things like temporarily reducing socialising in public places such as entertainment or sports events, reducing our use of non-essential public transport or recommending more home working.”

@applesandoranges221

In fairness, there have been a lot of posts to this effect - so saying that all Christmases would be on Zoom from now on, for example and suggesting people just needed to "get used" to never meeting up again.

I mean if that's what you want to do, fine... but don't expect everyone else to do so!

I've never seen posts like that, ever.

People might make jokes about never having to cope with their annoying relatives again, but that is not the same as wanting perpetual lockdown.

I agree with Johns Hopkins University that using "physical distancing" is better for describing standing apart from people in shops etc. Less confusion. Perhaps we could try that, given that vaguely throwing out that you want "social distancing" to continue isn't clear, because you and other posters are using the term to describe only a very small part of what it means and assuming everyone knows what you personally mean.

I've never seen posts like that, ever.

Then you didn't come across certain posters (possibly trolling, possibly one person name changing) who posted this frequently.

I've never seen posts like that, ever.

Sorry you missed that. It was really special.

Exactly - anyone who hasn’t seen posts like that definitely has not been on the coronavirus threads for long!

One gem (searchable) was when someone stated (not the usual suspect, at least not their usual name) in the “lives before economy!” trope, that it was too bad if the hospitality sector tanked, but the redundant workers could all be redeployed to work in healthcare or hand sanitiser factories….

I believe the top and bottom of it is people want what they want. If they don’t like pubs, then it’s ok to close them all. Same with nightclubs, theatres, museums, football grounds, beaches etc etc. The relative danger of these venues is irrelevant. The “Why can’t everyone just stay the f* at home “ refrain means they can stay happily at home, but just so long as they are still serviced by an arm’s length army of workers.

I believe the top and bottom of it is people want what they want. If they don’t like pubs, then it’s ok to close them all. Same with nightclubs, theatres, museums, football grounds, beaches etc etc. The relative danger of these venues is irrelevant. The “Why can’t everyone just stay the f* at home “ refrain means they can stay happily at home, but just so long as they are still serviced by an arm’s length army of workers.

Exactly.

@DottyHarmer

Exactly - anyone who hasn’t seen posts like that definitely has not been on the coronavirus threads for long!

One gem (searchable) was when someone stated (not the usual suspect, at least not their usual name) in the “lives before economy!” trope, that it was too bad if the hospitality sector tanked, but the redundant workers could all be redeployed to work in healthcare or hand sanitiser factories….

I believe the top and bottom of it is people want what they want. If they don’t like pubs, then it’s ok to close them all. Same with nightclubs, theatres, museums, football grounds, beaches etc etc. The relative danger of these venues is irrelevant. The “Why can’t everyone just stay the f* at home “ refrain means they can stay happily at home, but just so long as they are still serviced by an arm’s length army of workers.

It was really bad wasn’t it.

Thankfully passing now and the more extreme have gone quiet but so much scare mongering and close it all down etc forget young people and jobs all that to feel ‘safe’.

I cannot believe Harriet didn't know about social distancing. The concept has been in our faces (and ears) for the last two years! It's now second nature to me at the supermarket

I know, its almost as if they want to be unable to read the clear, very clear guidance at the time that was so simple.
I mean come on at the time is was everywhere telling you very clearly exactly what it meant.

If people are using the term incorrectly its on them to explain their meaning, not those who are using it in the correct way.

Thankfully people are not getting as ill and dying like they were in the first wave and thanks to the majority of our wonderful people in society, we are seeing some sort of normal come back.

So a big thsnks to all who played their part and lets hope it continues to be something we can deal with, for everyone's sake

Thankfully people are not getting as ill and dying like they were in the first wave

I can certainly drink to that.

Some of the medical advancements have been extraordinary. It has blown my mind, some of it.

I am deeply sorry for all those who suffered terribly for obedience. And, tbh, just a little angry with the snivelling shits who were so frenziedly snitching on and surveilling the behaviour of their neighbouts because WAA COVID WAA when it was obvious (and widely known) that many of the rules were stupid and arbitrary and should probably have been more widely disobeyed at the time.

To be fair, we knew very little at the beginning. I was manically washing my shopping, fretting about pets’ paws and fearfully dodging joggers’ breath (mind you, the latter is gross covid or no covid…).

But there have been people, irl as well as on here who refuse to move on from 2020. In fact my local council is one of the chief offenders. The offices still taped up, everyone wfh, a message saying they are not answering the phones and many services still suspended “due to covid”. It’s not a stretch to believe that people there think covid definitely had its upsides.

Some of the medical advancements have been extraordinary. It has blown my mind, some of it

I know it truly has been amazing in part.

And to see how some of society all pulled together, especially in our community, all helping eachother out, checking in on our elderly and vulnerable, front line staff putting themselves second, it really did bring out the best in some which was amazing to see

I had a big lump in throat at the vaccination centre at everyone doing their absolute best in a super-cheerful fashion. Even teen dd said she felt emotional at the good spirit when she went to be vaccinated.

@VikingOnTheFridge

It really does, though. I, in my turn, find it equally odd and frustrating that some of you claim it doesn't and then complain, even imply bad faith when people entirely reasonably ask you what you mean by it. I don't think most people who are vague about what measures they want and what they mean by them are being deliberately disingenuous but some of you just do not help. If you mean 2m in shop queues, limited numbers in venues so tables can be 2m apart, you can just say that so your meaning is quite clear.

Okay. What I mean by 'social distancing' is the practice of keeping a distance between yourself and others (who you don't know) of 1.5m in public spaces. Where I live, that's always been the definition and nothing else. The practice of keeping tables apart, etc. is termed 'physical distancing' here and is quite separate.

I know, its almost as if they want to be unable to read the clear, very clear guidance at the time that was so simple.
I mean come on at the time is was everywhere telling you very clearly exactly what it meant.

If people are using the term incorrectly its on them to explain their meaning, not those who are using it in the correct way.

It's clear who is using the term incorrectly, as has been clearly shown by the links I and others posted. Social distancing is an umbrella term for a range of measures, some of which highly restrict people's lives. The guidance has frequently changed during the period since March 2020.

That's why I'm not going to engage with posters who aren't engaging in a grown up discussion. All very tedious, but I suppose it's a hobby for some.

Okay. What I mean by 'social distancing' is the practice of keeping a distance between yourself and others (who you don't know) of 1.5m in public spaces. Where I live, that's always been the definition and nothing else.

That isn't the sole definition of "social distancing" and never has been anywhere, Pandora, so clearly you need to be more precise if you want to actually have a reasonable conversation with people about measures. Hope that's helpful going forwards.

Some of the medical advancements have been extraordinary. It has blown my mind, some of it

Yes, it's been an amazing time to live through, in many ways!

@HarrietteNightingale

That isn't the sole definition of "social distancing" and never has been anywhere, Pandora, so clearly you need to be more precise if you want to actually have a reasonable conversation with people about measures. Hope that's helpful going forwards.

Excuse me? Do you live everywhere? I don't live in England, or in the UK, if that helps you at all.

You need to be more polite if you want a reasonable conversation going forwards.