Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Covid-19 and purity spirals

684 replies

DreadPirateLuna · 09/04/2020 13:54

Covid-19 is a very serious illness which threatens our most vulnerable and risks overwhelming the NHS. We should all do what we can to flatten the curve and save lives. People whose behaviour risks lives (e.g. urban residents traveling out to holiday homes in rural communities) should face criticism and sanctions.

However, I can't help feeling that some of the outrage at some behaviours is less about reducing the spread and more about getting caught in a "purity spiral".

Take all the outrage about people in parks. Fresh air and sunshine is good for physical and mental health, it improves the immune system which is particularly important during an epidemic! Many urban residents have no other source of open space except the local park. The ability to get outside can be lifesaving for victims of DV. Risks of contracting disease are very low if you keep your distance from others outside your household.

Yet I've seen photos of walkers and family groups in parks, keeping far away from others, but accused of selfishness and killing the elderly and disrespecting the NHS. Parks in London have been closed, meaning more congestion of other areas and residents confined to homes, which is damaging for reasons outlined above.

And it's usually (though not exclusively) women and esp mothers who get blamed. Those selfish Karens and their broods.

A more sensible solution would be to allow restricted access to the parks. Maybe allow only locals in nearby flats without gardens. But it seems we're not doing sensible these days.

OP posts:
Dances · 10/04/2020 12:35

It really is Kittens
I'm horrified by the social scolding going on and the willingness to allow police the right unlimited powers by posters on here.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 12:38

I saw someone suggest that the army be sent in to deal with people buying non essential items last week. Perhaps martial law/police states sound more appealing to those who've never lived under one.

Binterested · 10/04/2020 12:40

Totally agree. I always wondered how the stasi etc operated. Now I see how willing people are to put others in the wrong. My children have basically been told off every time they’ve stepped outside without me - each time they were either cycling up and down an empty street for exercise, playing football in an empty park for exercise or cycling through a park for exercise.

It’s scary. It also explains why people love the trans agenda. It’s a way to put women in the wrong with zero effort.

Binterested · 10/04/2020 12:41

And the police have handled this really badly. Threatening to search shopping baskets ffs.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 12:43

It seems like each force is making up its own rules as it goes along. Is there no centralised authority that could offer them some guidance after actually reading the law?

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 12:55

We have been given plenty of opportunities to police our own behaviour. The fact that some people seem to think that this is the right time to make a strike for.individual freedoms is the reason why stricter rules will be introduced, not because the police are power mad or because your next door neighbour secretly fancies living in North Korea.

Many of us want to have a life back - to see our children or parents, to go back to work, to continue with our hospital treatment that has been suspended. Why does your desire to sit on a park bench or sunbathe trump someone else's need to start chemotherapy or have a life changing operation?

You might be open mouthed in shock at how some.people like to stick to rules? Me, I'm open mouthed at just how selfish some people are.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 12:58

3/10, needs more threats about martial law being imposed.

Dances · 10/04/2020 12:58

The suggestion that shopping baskets are policed is horrifying. But I suppose we can refuse. They cant jail us all..... That would be one big covid nightmare. Would be a good way of dealing with the dissenters right enough...

Dances · 10/04/2020 12:59

More finger wagging.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 13:00

TheProdigalKittensReturn

Can you explain then why a person's want to sit in a park is more important than my need to re start my medical treatment?

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 13:02

1/10, inventing statements the person didn't make is generally considered bad form.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 10/04/2020 13:03

Realistically I don't think the lockdown will be tightened further by law to Spanish etc levels as they surely would have done it before this sunny bank holiday weekend.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 13:03

I'm asking you to explain your thinking. Do you think that an individual's right to sit in a park trump's another's right to hospital treatment?

Dances · 10/04/2020 13:04

For a start, they might be sitting on a park bench because they are elderly, and need a little rest for a moment.

Why is your need to emotionally blackmail posters on the internet more important than an old person getting a little exercise and fresh air, or to

Dances · 10/04/2020 13:05

"Explain your thinking" Holy Jesus

AutumnLeavesSeptember · 10/04/2020 13:06

YANBU! Critical thinking about the actual risk is going out the window. People are saying if the parks re-open there'll be blood on the council's hands. They need to get a grip.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 10/04/2020 13:06

We need to check your thinking. And your shopping.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 13:07

Why is your need to emotionally blackmail posters on the internet more important than

That is rather the ongoing question, isn't it? Don't expect that it will ever be answered.

Given the current level of pushback I don't see the lockdown in the UK getting much stricter. I think it will last for at least another month or two and then be phased out gradually, and possibly reintroduced again at a later date if there's another spike in cases. Realistically the level of lockdown a given culture will tolerate will vary quite a bit.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 13:08

A visit from PC Gul! In spirit anyway.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 13:09

It doesn't matter why they are out. If they are doing something that increases the risk of transmission then it should be discouraged. What about elderly people who don't live near a park? What if they are isolated and just want to be able to see their friends and family again? The longer this goes on, the longer they are in isolation.

Do you think these rules were just made up? No scientific basis for them, the ministers just sat in the COBR meeting and plucked random rules out of the air for a laugh?

Dances · 10/04/2020 13:09

Jesus, it's just tedious

Ereshkigalangcleg · 10/04/2020 13:10

I agree with you, Kittens. I can't see them bringing in at this late stage that you have to have papers to leave the house for food shopping and can only take your dog outside to toilet it.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 10/04/2020 13:11

TheProdigalKittensReturn

How do you think they will manage the level of infection then, if lockdown is ended just because people won't accept it? So, not because clinically and scientifically it's the right time to ease it but just because the public don't fancy doing it anymore?

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 10/04/2020 13:11

We need to check your thinking. And your shopping.

When I went out to buy essentials last week (don't panic, thinking checkers, I haven't been to the shops since) I also bought chocolate, mochi, and a selection of green tea. I also added extra treats to my cat's online food order because she fell and hurt her leg and has been feeling a bit sorry for herself. My basket has failed the test.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 10/04/2020 13:12

Do you think these rules were just made up? No scientific basis for them, the ministers just sat in the COBR meeting and plucked random rules out of the air for a laugh?

Why do you think we are still allowed to take exercise and leave the house without papers then, Hooves?