Coronavirus Pandemic

[Cloudane]

I get the message. I feel like shit. Being one of those timid people who rarely puts my foot down has always been a problem and now it could be hazardous to others. Believe me, if it wasn't for the people it'd hurt, I'd do the world a favour.

I regret having mentioned it now.

To be clear, I was not telling you off in the slightest.

Indeed, the first half of my post was wholly in defence of your assessment that those "fake cough" kids were being twats, and it is not at all "dehumanising" to point this out. On the contrary, it's "special pleading" that they, unlike other human beings, are a special exception to basic behavioural standards and common human decency, who need their alleged feelings - and it is alleged, as we have zero evidence and it's pure speculation that they're remotely bothered by any of this - wrapped up in cotton wool. Bollocks.

Your father is his own autonomous being. He is the captain of his own ship. I don't - and wasn't - expecting you to physically police him, against his wishes.

But it was more a hint to impress upon him, if he's not already got it by now, that it really, really is a good idea to comply with the advice on self-isolation. As I would say to, frankly, absolutely everyone right now.

The "I suggest ruthless emotional blackmail and ceaseless nagging" was said tongue-in-cheek, fully recognising that I entirely know what it's like.

My mother - who is also in the vulnerable group - does various things with her church and, boy, did it require a lot of "emotional blackmail and ceaseless nagging" to get her to eventually accept that she should go nowhere and I'll deal with things. It was not remotely meant as any criticism, more of a "yeah, I know that one myself - but, really, right now, nag the old folks into compliance".

I get it. I really do. The generation that saw the war's end / lived in its immediate aftermath - because things continued to remain shit for a while after it ended - do tend to have a "mend and make do" attitude, to carry on regardless and never make a single complaint about anything. Oh, and they utterly refuse to see the doctor, even when their legs are half hanging off.

Anyway, you shouldn't feel bad because, statistically speaking, it's grossly unlikely that this incident will lead to anything at all.

I was only advising precaution - aimed more at your father than you, as I consider him to be his own autonomous being, because I have one exactly like that myself, so I do know the stress and frustration involved - but perhaps my empathy, as that really was the motivation, might have been phrased poorly in this instance.

As always a very thoughtful and detailed post that I feel a little guilty not to find the energy to respond to point by point at this time, but I know you come from a position of kindness and my remarks aren't aimed directly at you or any particular poster but a general feeling of "everyone is jumping on this one"

It may not seem like it with that one weakness but we are actually treating this seriously and he has actually reflected on the risks taken - we're pretty much in that situation a bit like when you saw a speed camera where you wait a couple of weeks to see if there are any consequences. Hopefully not. For what it's worth we're ALL had washing constantly, taking care not to touch anything unnecessarily when out (which I'll ask more sternly is just me from here on out if groceries are needed), using an alcohol based wipe on the handle of any baskets, hand sanitizer on entry and exit etc. Hopefully that will have helped.

Giving up the pub a week before everyone else was a pretty big move as we go as well... I know, it probably should have been two weeks before...

[KlaxonCow]

a general feeling of "everyone is jumping on this one"

That's specifically why I regret mentioning it, to have put it out there for everyone to jump on.

Unfortunately, this happens with the Internet. It's not that, individually, anyone in particular is being anything but well-meaning, but the sheer volume of it can become oppressive.

YouTube has, thankfully, changed their systems. But they did used to have a "top comment" system, where comments that got the best "up thumbs to down thumbs ratio" would be shown first.

There was a video, getting tens of millions of views, and I made a joke comment on it. Apparently, I must have hit the spot, as it became the top comment. But this meant that it was the first comment that those tens of millions of viewers would see scrolling down, and it got flooded with replies by those trying to one up me with a better joke (and, to be fair, I felt a few succeeded) or those who failed to grasp the joke wanting to engage me in serious discussion about it all.

The problem was that every thumbs up and reply was generating a notification in my email inbox. A massive stream of "someone liked your comment" and "someone replied to your comment" notifications that was blocking my ability to do anything useful, or find actual emails in amongst the mess. The sheer volume of notifications itself was oppressive and disabiling.

I had no choice but to delete the comment to stem the flow. And the point here is that, individually, not a single person was doing a single thing wrong. YouTube's "top comment" was just trying to reward - Reddit-style - the most liked comments to attempt to raise the standard of YouTube comments (a notorious cesspit of the Internet far too often). Most people were doing a positive thing in giving it a thumbs up. The folks making their own jokes on the back of mine were doing no less than what I originally did - trying to bring a smile with a little joke. Even with the replies from folks who weren't getting it was a joke, they weren't being abusive or anything.

Individually, no-one was doing anything wrong. But the sheer volume of it all - as the video I dropped the comment on, went on to become somewhat viral - was too much. Oppressive. Disabling. Totally impractical.

It certainly confirmed to me my feelings that, with the standard quest of "becoming rich and famous", I'll take "rich", obviously, but "famous" can fuck right off. Even good fame, for all the right reasons, and everyone being perfectly nice about it. It's still far too easy for this to become far too much in the blink of an eye. Fame, to me, feels like a very poor deal to make with the Devil. But I'll take the cash. That one's always pragmatically useful.

[tufty]

I had no choice but to delete the comment to stem the flow.

*ahem* you can turn off email notifications.

/dogpile

[Harlequin]

[Deckard]

I am interested to see if these rules stay in place to summer how the police will police beaches as I surf and swim so what will they do as its my main form of exercise and its less than 5 minutes to the beach. I can surf / swim for hours some days so will I get a fine ? My gut feeling is unless there is a total ban on going out then the local (understaffed) force will turn a blind eye unless it goes mad. Plus there are loads of out of the way beaches down here that never have anyone on them in "normal" times anyway.

[Barney]

https://twitter.com/YesMissMurphy/statu ... 6365211648

Jesus fucking christ.

[rowan]

After finding home deliveries weren't available [actually, supermarket website itself was down/overloaded] I decided it may be a better idea to visit today.
Very few people, most observing social distancing and besides other items on my list, I was able to get [previously unavailable] bulk pack of beer, eggs and bog roll.
Everyone getting out of my way was the icing on the cake but I aim to minimise visits.
Flour & yeast still nowhere to be seen.

A few coppers about with masks, presumably enforcing lockdown measures.

Whilst I'm on work-from-home, my actual employer is still staying operational for foreseeable future.
Neighbour went on holiday yesterday. Today's he's back because they shut his caravan park.

[Cloudane]

No worries @Klaxon you couldn't have predicted the subject would go viral, so to speak :p

Bit better mood today.

We had a good chat about things last night. Consensus is

a) I will do any shopping for us alone for the foreseeable future (sure there is the small risk of "bringing something home" but better the risk with 1 person than 2, and they know I'd be very careful and avoid any situation of getting within 2m of anyone.)

b) My presence in the household is considered a net benefit despite any slight risks it adds during what is hopefully a one off pandemic (risks I try my best to minimise) (I brought up "it might not be a good idea that I live here in the long term because of risks like this" and told they wouldn't have it any other way)

c) we have enough food in for at least a few weeks however I might venture out for the odd thing as occasionally as possible based on a joint decision weighing up the risk. If only to keep the reserves topped up for if/when the lockdown extends to food shopping. (Okay and not gonna lie, the odd treat for mental health. Not to sound like alcoholics but a bit of booze is a big help right now)

d) In the unfortunate event I somehow do pick it up I'll isolate in my room and let them put food/drink outside the door. Would have to nip to the loo occasionally of course but in theory if they know to sanitise all touch points and wash their hands afterwards any risk of spreading it should be minimised.

e) they do in fact have brains and autonomy and are aware of the risks taken and the risks not to take going forward, and I'm under orders not to self-blame in the even more unfortunate event anything happens to either of them. (Can't promise this but will try)

I know: "about b, your parents are probably too kind to let you think you're a burden" - I like to think not but maybe. There's no need to have this argument with me as I have it with myself on a regular basis
And I also know: "about c, no you fucktard just stay at home no exceptions no excuses, manage with what's left, ration if you have to, don't be that guy going to a supermarket" - well, we'll see. It's not a decision that would be taken lightly or frequently

Hope that eases some minds

Going into work is completely off the table now until at least 15th April when the situation is due for review. Working from home until the 1st unless ordered to take some of next year's holiday allowance instead (they're allowing this) and then 1st-15th on that special status where you don't work at all but get 80% of your salary which is an arrangement I'm quite happy with.

[KlaxonCow]

So, Boris's "millions" now has a stated number: the UK government has purchased 3.5 million of the antibody tests.

These will be used, in the first instance, to "clear" key workers and NHS staff, of course, to return to the front line / keep shit running. But it'll also be further used to better quantify spread, get more accurate data modelling and, at the same time, as you're sampling around the country, implicitly "clearing" other people too.

To be honest, I'm mentioning this often because, with this new virus, we essentially have no useful tools in the toolbox against it. Save social distancing and lockdowns. So anything that helps is welcome. Unfortunately, this is a diagnostic rather than a treatment - and the vaccine is still distant - but diagnostics are still very good.

[Cloudane]

Nice to have a glimmer of hope from the testing kits. It's just what we need, if there's anything we've all learned from South Korea: test test test.

Any optimism is of course extremely cautious! Post 2016 "we live in that universe where things all go to shit". But fingers crossed for a bit of a break forthcoming.

Perhaps it'd be a bit TOO optimistic to hope that a vaccine would be fast-tracked under the circumstances rather than having to sit through several months of extremely tentative trials.

[merman]

I have to self-isolate for twelve weeks, due to the medications I am on for Crohns.

My wife Alison is in a hospital in Nottingham recovering from major surgery.

Don't know when I will see her again

[rowan]

Another vaguely sort-of positive thing, I was talking to a colleague in China this morning. I'm not sure exactly where he's located actually but he told me they've been at normality & working from the office for the last month.

[F-ZeroOne]

I would say people in Lagos should know that chloroquine has some dangerous side effects specially in hugh dosages. They have to take it for malaria down there.

Last year before to go to Brazil I had the full 20 days course of Malarone .. does this make me more protected ??? ( anti-malaria vaccine ).

As Tufty explained so well no. Malarone is quite different from chloroquine. It appeared more recently, i think 20 years ago, has a lot less side effects than chloroquine. It's not from my time in the tropics. Chloroquine is, it was the new thing at the time, better than the old quinine.

This tragedy may well settle the matter:

https://www.bbc.com/news/52012242

[tufty]

Trump spouting his gob off based on anecdotal "evidence"? Colour me surprised.

[snaff]

Police got invovled it seems :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-52003543

Well maybe if they get scared ( by police ) they'll learn NOT to do it ...