General Politics Discussion VII [ARCHIVED] • Page 293

I love how accurate this is as a software engineer

 

I had to make a run out because my wife needed shampoo/conditioner/body wash and we needed milk. So I went to Rite Aid and WaWa, wore gloves...Now I don't usually go to places this late on a sunday night lol so I can't really compare, but...there seemed to be more people out than I would have imagined, and none of them seemed as concerned as I was with my gloves. Hmmpf.

 

that's not nice

 

I've been doing weird shit at stores like using my pinky to open fridge doors or to enter my pin number, and then just trying to use my other fingers and thumb to grab my keys out of my pocket, using my sleeve to open doors if I can, etc. The first part probably makes no difference lol but it makes me feel like I'm putting at least some effort

 

I don't have a lot of food in the house and I'm dreading the trip to the grocery store...I'm also worried because I know food aisles are being completely wiped out...

 

Yeah I mean it always ends up being moot because I’ll grab my keys (or phone..!!!!!!!) with my gloved hand after handling shit, but I’ve been good about not touching my face until I get home and wash my hands

 

The phone thing is a real problem for me, too.

Being too lazy to clean my glasses on anything but my shirt has proven beneficial now because I have a near-full 100 pack of alcohol lens wipes that I can now use on my phone when I get home heh.

 

speaking of locusts...

Cicada Brood X will be coming to the surface next year. Since life will likely still be hell, Trump in office, etc, there is a silver lining where for some brief moment we might share a laugh at a few swarming at his head.



Is it a bad sign that I look forward to a small moment of comic relief a year away?

 

Saw someone make the point that it's because if you have symptoms, they want you to get medical attention immediately rather than wait to schedule an appointment and await test results

Edit

No idea wtf other criteria they'd ask for from there, though

 

another reason internet should be a public utility

now to see what they do about rents and mortgage payments

 

Yeah kinda weird to say they're waiving all household fees without including rent

 

Does anyone else feel very ethically conflicted with the COVID-19 outbreak? (I live in the UK by the way)

On one hand I completely understand the fear factor, especially those among at risk groups with regards to the spread. I have grandparents, my best friend has MS, my mom has smoked a pack of cigarettes a day since she was 10. I can't fathom the idea of any of them coming into contact with it and the worry that would bring on.

However, I feel like I haven't seen a viable action plan that convinces me we can prevent the majority of the population contacting this disease, whether that be in the next month or the next 12 months.

I've seen some data regarding lock down measures and the positive impact they seem to have in reducing the growth, but looking past the bias in all data published, the fact is the virus is still moving in those areas, and since the virus is so new the results from those samples are so short term.

So with that, I can't help but wonder if continuing to venture down the path of self isolation we are headed, which likely results in crippling the the global economy for years (the industries most hit are self explanatory) and putting millions out of work is actually worth protecting that vulnerable 1.5%? (A significant portion of those being very fragile and at risk to any sort of illness they catch anyways)

The facts are that the global ecosystem and climate have never been more disrupted by a single species in the history of the planet, and to think this doesn't happen again and again in the future with potentially more harmful virus's are foolish. There's 8 billion of us and growing and nature will continue to retaliate.

So would we not be better off letting the vulnerable self isolate (if they choose) and use government spend to set up viable programs and support to allow them to do so effectively, while the rest of us just carry on, likely catching it and being ill for a few days but building up that group tolerance and immunity you get with exposure (like what has happened with the flu) so it can't spread like it currently does?

I don't know the answer, I'm not a scientist, but the idea of living in total lock down and my freedom to be outside being taken away for a prolonged period of time scares me way more than having a cough for a few days.

 

I know 1.5% sounds tiny, but globally that's millions upon millions of people. Are you suggesting that we just say "fuck you" to all those people because it's a bit of a disruption to your life?

Framing it as "having your freedom taken away" is frankly self-entitled bullshit as far as I'm concerned. No one is taking away your liberty, we're just saying the responsible thing to do for all those vulnerable people is to stay inside your comfy home with your internet and tv and video games and books and ride it out for a few weeks until we understand things better.

I appreciate a lot of people will be hurt financially by this. And honestly I don't know what to do about that, other than show kindness and empathy, help each other out as much as possible, and pressure those in power to do what is right by working people.

 

you, a dumb american: "hey, come on, the brits aren't that bad"

the brits:

 

you are a dumb motherfucker

 

"my mom and best friend are at risk. but I'm starting to think we should just let them die" piece of shit asshole

 

if I had the power to do so I would ban that guy until he sent me a video of him saying or writing "I am not smarter than every single expert" 1000 times like Bart Simpson

 

if we don't take measures to protect that 1.5% it's going to be a lot more than 1.5% and will have a much bigger effect on the economy! but let em die fuck do I know

 

I’ve been doing grocery trips around my block for old people and risk groups. It’s pretty nice. Everyone is very thankful and it’s a good way to get cardio in.

 

We aren't all like that. Don't bring that into it.