So, what has the lastest pandemic taught you about....

[souphound]

Strangely, when I look back over the last couple of years, I quickly see that I have learned lots in that time.  I'll come back with a list in a bit but I'm interested to see if you have learned anything (useful to you) in terms of:

• People you know
• People you didn't/don't know
• Politicians (I know, some politicians fall in one of the two categories above.  I know.)
• Food & drink
• Your job
• Special skills
• The effects of various restrictions on you and yours
• Hobbies
• Your love/hate of shopping
• Anything else

I'm sure there are lots of areas not covered in that list.  Feel free to meander.  In my view, we have all had plenty of opportunity to learn from this episode.  

Oh, maybe throw in a song that you had forgotten all about until it came back to hit you if you like.

[rayge]

A couple of years ago, just as the first wave hit, and lockdowns, Purell and facemasks started to become reality, I posted here and elsewhere that it made ittle difference to me, as I tend to the asocial, dislike large gatherings, especially indoors, hadn't been to a cinema, theatre, concert or pub (apart from forntnightly quiz nights at The Rose & Crown in Sandford) for more than a decade, and so on. I also thought it would be here for a while). But it has had an effect, quite profound effects, in other ways than interfering with a non-existent nightlife.

In the past two years, three people - my son and two old friends - have visited our new house (moved in August 2019) for a total of maybe six or seven hours. I have not ventured on to public transport, and, apart from a rather horrible dash to London and back with one of those two friends to get Essential Supplies in September 2020, haven't left Taunton and its environs. I'm no world traveller, as most who read this will know, but I've always enjoyed jollying around the island I was born on, visiting people and places. Nothing happened with my job, because I don't have one, but as I'd been working largely from home for three decades before I retired, I don't suppose it would have made any difference.

My preferred mode of shopping has for decades been to ferret out local tradespeople - greengrocer, baker, maybe a deli, and butcher/fishmonger back in the day - where I can get fresh food every couple of days and build up a relationship with the people who own or serve in the store, and to supplement that with things like dairy and eggs from local farms or shops, and other stuff from chain grocers - especially the Co-operative society - and occasional visits to supermarkets or hypermarkets (if I must - most are just too large and over-peopled for my liking) every month or so for branded stuff, store cupboard goods, and so on. All that now out of the window. I've been fortunate in that Taunton has an open-fronted greengrocers that has remained open and relatively safe, if masked, through the lockdowns, but neither of us is prepared, even now, to enter a large store, so we are reliant on click and collect, which, while necessary, chops out the personal element of shopping that was so important to me. And that's just food. Apart from my annual visit to a gent's outfitters in Crediton for new undies and socks, the only clothing I will ever buy new, I have had no new (to me) clothes at all for the duration and no new shoes, even though all four pairs of stout boots that I own (I easily walk 20 miles or so a week) let water. The whole idea of buying clothes and shoes fills me with apprehension, and buying them on-line, without a fitting or any element of carefully considered choice, fills me with dread.

And the combination of Covid and Brexit has FUBARed the UK trade in cannabis products, partly due to the new customs checks that have made it far more difficult to bring over the odd 50K of prime material in the back of a lorry or container, and partly due to the streets being cleared and people going about their business being more likely to be stopped. A supply line has been re-established, but prices have risen by 60-120% after hardly moving at all for nearly three decades. First world, or Raygeworld problems, I know, but very significant for me.

Of course, none of this is particularly about learning, except that it has demonstrated to me how important to my general sense of wellbeing, and even my sense of identity, were things that I had simply taken for granted.

[Deleted]

I thought people were strange and I was a stranger. People are cunts.

[sloopjohnc]

--People you know
I haven't really seen anybody or talked to them very much during this whole thing. Here and there, but I used to meet up with friends for the occasional lunch now and again. But now I'm not where I used to be.

---People you didn't/don't know
If I don't see or talk to people I do know, it's even less for people I don't.

Politicians (I know, some politicians fall in one of the two categories above. I know.)
During the last three years, they really seem to be followers, and not leaders very much.

---Food & drink
Can't afford Doordash anymore and I've become way more self sufficient.

I've been up and down as far as drinking. When the pandemic started, I went almost a whole year without drinking. My move and after, I drank more than usual because of the stress. Now, I vaccilate.

---Your job
Couldn't have been better. Given more responsibility and execs at the top of the company now know what I do and appreciate it.

Got a raise last year, but I am now the only full-time marcom person for a $400 million company. This week, I've been working 6:30 am to nearly 6 pm and I have a flight to the Bay Area tomorrow for work where I have to be at airport by 6:15 am and I land at 9:30 back home tomorrow night. I told my boss not to expect too much on Friday.

--Special skills
I'm a veritable pro at masturbation now. I was semi-pro, pre COVID. Luckily, I had sex right before, with another person, so I've been able to live off that for a few years.

---The effects of various restrictions on you and yours Hobbies
None really. Hiking, kayaking, gardening and playing guitar are pretty anti-social, or the way I do them anyway.

---Your love/hate of shopping
No love lost.

---Anything else
Did I mention masturbation?

[cousinlou]

If I learned anything, it's I have become more wary of my fellow citizens.

It's telling that a lot of the anti vac crowd are now pro Russia.

[Sneelock]

I don't care who's wrong or right, I don't really want to fight no more.
that's right - I've learned to stop worrying and dress like Tina Turner.

seriously, believe any cockamamie shit you want just keep the spittle out of my face or I'll have to turn my amazing wig towards you.

[Sneelock]

here's the main thing I learned. (please stand by)
the idea that we can all pull together for the greater good is a dated concept.
I'm not saying it's impossible - I'm just saying we always figured that if Will Smith needed to kick outer space alien butt that we'd all pitch in to help him. I'm not so sure about that anymore.

[Deleted]

It taught me that people cannot think for themselves.

That our trusted institutions are no longer fit for purpose and have been corrupted by rich men with weird ideas about hygiene and birth rates.

Humans love to scapegoat....it was a the anti-maskers fault....it was the anti-vaxxers fault....no love sometimes in life things move at a pace beyond our control.

In a godless world people are unable to accept that death comes to us all no matter what we do.

Boomers are the biggest snowflakes around.

Piers Morgan is a wrong un so is Dr Hillary....so is Laurence Fox.....so is ..<<<<<.insert name>>>>

In fact it taught that people just ain't no good!!!!

[sloopjohnc]

Mar 11, 2022 16:13:47 GMT Sneelock said:

here's the main thing I learned. (please stand by)
the idea that we can all pull together for the greater good is a dated concept.
I'm not saying it's impossible - I'm just saying we always figured that if Will Smith needed to kick outer space alien butt that we'd all pitch in to help him. I'm not so sure about that anymore.

Ukraine is a good example of that, I think.

Jeff Greenfield wrote a good column today on best intentions and actual actions of Americans: www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/03/12/biden-polling-bump-ukraine-war-00016691

[Sneelock]

What I did on my COVID Vacation


People you know I ‘ve long believed that everyone is entitled to an opinion. I’ve had to strengthen my resolve in this. Yes’ even if that opinion came out of a fortune cookie. I lost my temper with a couple of loved ones & I wish I hadn’t. Sometimes they forget that I’m one of the people they say should be lined up and shot. I guess I’ll shut up and stop taking offense at this to the extent that it’s practical.

People you didn't/don't know this has gone better than expected. Yesterday a mean old man in a little red hat demanded I take off my mask. I waved, said "fine, thanks" and went about my business. Most people were pretty pleasant most of the time even when we were recently getting real mixed signals about what precautions were required. I had the misfortune of needing to tell people to wear masks at my job. Most were willing. I think that’s because I asked nice. Not everybody did.

Politicians (I know, some politicians fall in one of the two categories above. I know.)
Everything I needed to learn about politics I learned from the Harlem Globetrotters. This is more noticeable than ever, the Washington Generals aren’t really trying to win. They are just trying to put on a good show. Am I really that jaded? Only on even numbered days.


Food & drink when GRUBHUB takes over the world - you have me to blame. I spent WAY too much money on food delivery. That money would be coming in handy right about now.



Your job me and my wife both were told we were heroic members of the team. We are both facing downward “wage adjustments” I mean, i’m Grateful. I’m lucky to have a job. I’m glad they kept me on but being a valuable team member won’t buy you a cup of coffee let alone a gallon of gas.

Special skills I can tie my shoes and wave bye-bye

The effects of various restrictions on you and yours looking back on it now - it was fun. It looks fun because we got through it. There were health issues that sort of thing but we plugged away. Hopefully that’s in the past for now. We never had a breakout in the household and most in the extended fam who got it were rugged youngsters. Lots were affected with this last variant but it only really kicked their asses for a day or two. Knock wood.


Hobbies tying shoes / waving bye-bye.

Your love/hate of shopping for about a year I only went to one supermarket on a regular basis. Every time I went to one that was more convenient I would have a lousy stress filled time. I had a store that seemed pleasant even when monster busy. It was easy to prefer them but then the gas prices went nuts.


Anything else if you don’t shop anywhere that’s owned and operated by greed-heads - this is seriously going to limit your options as a consumer. I was shopping in one of those stressed out places and somebody inside the market started freaking the fuck out. He was screaming “what the fuck!!” “I’ve had enough of this shit!” Things like that . About three minutes of this then came the voice of somebody who worked at the store “what can I do for you? What seems to be the problem? How can I help?”two minutes later everything was back to normal. Or so it seemed. Maybe we’ll never be entirely back to normal but there are people willing to pitch in to help this happen. I’m grateful to those people.

[sloopjohnc]

Saturday, was Oregon's official mask off day, but I wasn't keeping track. Seems I was the only one who wasn't. I went to the hardware store and supermarket, and man, everyone had their masks off except for a couple of us. I brought one so I wore it.

My neighbor helped jump start my truck yesterday and I mentioned my observations. He said he and his wife had gone out and if they went into a store that required a mask, they were leaving.

Seems pretty suddenly indignant for two years of patiently enduring the things.

[Reactionary Rage]

I've learned a lot in the last 2 years but not necessarily all related to the pandemic.

Frankly watching this monumental shitshow unfold has been simultaneously terrifying, hilarious, maddening and surreal.

[sloopjohnc]

Mar 14, 2022 19:45:44 GMT Reactionary Rage said:

I've learned a lot in the last 2 years but not necessarily all related to the pandemic.

Frankly watching this monumental shitshow unfold has been simultaneously terrifying, hilarious, maddening and surreal.

It's not the worst thread in the world.

[A.R. Parsons]

The last few years have just further solidified some thoughts/ feelings I was previously having. Mainly that I am perfectly happy not traveling far from my home. Call me a shut-in or crank if you want, but the thought of people flying around the world simply for their amusement or their oh-so important j-o-b sickens me a little.

Some friends are flying to France this month. I'm trying not to judge too much. Hopefully I won't be asked to look at their holiday photos.

[DayoRemix]

Learned that there are people living the DK axiom, 'Give me convenience or Give me Death'..