When my car breaks down, I go to my nearby garage.
When I need medical assistance, I go to my Doctor.
If I had financial problems (which I don't), I would go to the bank.
So, why is it when the world is suffering from one of the worst ever pandemics, that so many people go to 'social media' for their information?
Of course no-one has a fool-proof answer to this global problem; this is exercising even the brainiest of brains. However, we are getting there; vaccines have been created, and advice given. Yet some think it best to scroll through Facebook in order to find some crank who supports their loony ideas, rather than accepting the words of experts.
I don't know any more about Covid than others around me, but I listen to those who do and try to follow their advice. I wear a mask when amongst crowds or in shops, I wash my hands on returning home, and I keep hand-sanitising gel in the car and at home. I also try to avoid places where there are crowds, and stay aware of danger situations. I'm not obsessive, but I do try to keep myself safe.
I honestly think that the most dangerous part of this whole nasty illness are the idiots who claim that it doesn't exist, and are doing their utmost to spread it around. My oldest son's partner has some very good friends who were staunch anti-vaxxers. The husband died of Covid last week, and the wife is now advising all who think as they did, to change their minds and get vaccinated a.s.a.p. It's too late for her poor husband, but at least his widow has now seen the folly of her ways.
Some are saying that Omicron is the most virulent strain yet of Covid; others say it is the least. Whoever is right, it's always best to take your own personal precautions. Don't let it rule your life, but do your damnest to avoid catching it. The fewer people who catch Covid, the less chance it has of spreading.
Stifle the virus, and it will die of 'unpopularity'.
Stay safe.
51 comments:
I found that the anti-vaxxers I know do all believe in homeopathy, send their children to Waldorf-schools and eat (or farm) not only organic, but bio-dynamically. Of course if you believe that a medicine gets more effective if you dilute it you will not use a product of the "bad pharmaceutical industry which only wants to make money".
Hilde in Germany
Well said. I keep as safe as I can by wearing a mask and staying home a lot. my niece is an anti-vaxxer and I worry for her young son.
Let's leave the hardcore anti-vaxxers and the cess pit (Facebook) aside, and I quote you, Cro, "Some are saying ..., others say ..." - and therein lies the crux. Who do you listen to when even scientists (and doctors) can't agree among themselves? I myself go with my guts.
To name but two examples: One moment pregnant women are advised against the vaccine, the next they are urged to get the jab. One moment the ideal time gap between jabs is (depending which country you live in) x number of weeks, months; then it's another. Yes, I know you might say, they learn as they go along. Exactly. See me later.
On a general note: I do think Covid has been whipped up out of all proportion. And you know what doesn't show in the statistics (or certainly doesn't make the front pages)? Because we now indulge in a spot of mass hysteria over an "epidemic" other people who need medical attention are neglected; are not seen in good time, given tests which arguably might prolong THEIR lives. Who cares? As long as you have Covid on your death certificate you are a hero. A bit of cancer - neglected? Bah, we all have to die of something, don't we. As long as it's not Covid. You've got to laugh.
U
Homeopathy is nonsense; I even heard the head of Paris's main Homeopathic Hospital saying as much. As with religion; one needs to have faith to gain benefit.
We mustn't become obsessed, just use common sense. I know quite a few anti-vaxxers, and can't help thinking of them as being at risk. They take no prevention whatsoever.
Cancer doesn't spread; Covid does. You can try to live a healthy life to avoid Cancer, and you can do much the same to avoid Covid. Practical means are within everyone's reach; wearing a mask, keeping a a tube of gel in your pocket, and avoiding crowds, might help. Doing nothing, won't.
Ursula, The backlog of people waiting for NHS Operations is quite unbelievable. And some of the stories which are strangely kept conveniently quiet by the media, are heartbreaking stories.
I must be one of the truly lucky ones as I reached full cancer remission in 2019, literally months before Covid arrived on our shores and everything went into full lockdown. Talk about a close shave!
I do as you and I expect as you, without being paranoid about it. While we should always keep an open mind about science and medicine, when the weight of evidence is apparent, only fools question the evidence. There are websites where people can pile on to those who have lost someone to Covid who was an anti vaxxer, non masker or non Covid believer. Not nice for the families, not nice at all, but I can certainly understand what is behind such sentiments.
Cro, I didn't advocate "doing nothing". I most certainly do.
I don't think you got one of the, to me important, points I was trying to make and Deejohn picked up on so succinctly.
Cancer doesn't spread? It does. In your body. But you are right it's not infectious.
U
Deejohn, yes, the backlog is shameful, not to say horrifying. And for many people far more worrying than the relatively small chance of dying from Covid.
It may sound, to some ears, overdramatic but I dare say it: Lives that could have been saved - or at least prolonged - were and are being sacrificed on the Altar of Covid.
So happy for you that your cancer's timing was "perfect". I'd never thought I'd have reason to say that. Still, in the midst of adversity it's good to recognize and count our lucky stars.
All the best,
U
Who do I have faith in?
No one except myself
Thanks Ursula. And to think that I got the very best care from our NHS during my long 7 year journey. Something patients are not all getting now.
Wearing a face mask in public places and frequent hand washing does not cause me an inconvenience and I shall have my vaccination(s) when offered. I may be considered a naive fool by some but I don't want to catch a virus that may exacerbate my asthma, or spread it to anyone else.
Many of the experts are still feeling about in the dark; it will probably be years before they come to a consensus. I try not to listen to too many of them; it only causes confusion.
Quite right, we are our own best judges.
Pressure is put upon the government by hysterical media doctors like Fergus Walsh saying the omicron variant is the worst yet without knowing what he is talking about - symptoms appear to be a common cold and the N Norfolk person who tested positive with it flew in from and back to S Africa within two days (very odd behaviour in itself and makes one wonder but that is another story). Common or garden flu will lay you low enough to prevent you driving to Norwich from N Norfolk let alone Heathrow and flying onward to Durban. Some grip on reality is needed before the scaremongers start spooking everybody, including it would seem the British Government. I think the ordinary man on the street, the man on the Clapham Omnibus, is doing a fine job at looking after himself and should be left alone.
I am lucky not to know anyone who has died of Covid, but a friend died of cancer because the operation he was due to have at the beginning of the pandemic was cancelled. There must be many people that this has happened to.We are not given those statistics.
The simple preventions that we should all be taking, are far less time-consuming than going around with nonsensical placards. I do wish that Corbyn's brother, and his minions, would now try to help fight the virus rather than allow its spread. Unfortunately it will take some high-profile person (such as Piers C) to die from Covid for all the others to come to their senses.
The man on the Clapham Omnibus, who looks after himself (as do most of us) is fine, but it's the screaming mobs of anti-vaxxers that annoy me. It's time to lay down their banners and get vaxxed.
My neighbour 'mad cat woman' is a nonbeliever, she post rubbish on facebook, items from all over the world to back her crackpot belief, has never worn a mask and is horrible to anyone who tries to stop her going into local shops. She is well know here, and most people avoid her.
Well said Cro, common sense as usual. I never believe anything on social media, there are so many nutters on there. I've had all my jabs, always wear my mask unless in open air and I just look after myself as you do.
I'm afraid there are lots like her, and they are dangerous. I do wish they'd 'grow-up'!
That's the best we can do; other than crossing our fingers. But it's amazing how many there are who refuse to protect themselves, and others.
I've seen some good jokes about this. The most knowledgeable person on the covid problem is Mabel Knowitall who regularly updates the public on her YouTube channel.
The whole family is fully vaccinated and we don't live in a metropolis so we follow the rules and get on with life
On Tuesday and Wednesday I rode on four tube trains in London. They were not overcrowded as all journeys were in the middle of the day. It was nice to see that 90%/95% of travellers were wearing masks but the few who weren't wearing them annoyed the hell out of me. Who do they think they are? Incidentally, nobody seemed to be challenging these numpties.
Very common sense. I listen to people catastrophizing and minimizing. I live in a very politically conservative area and there is a huge back lash about kids wearing masks in school. It's craziness.
Here is the way that I look at it. You've got a stranger standing at the door. He could be harmless. He might be a homicidal maniac. Depends on who you listen to. So. Do you invite him in for tea?
I wouldn't.
Well said Cro. We must have been listening to the same radio programme as I heard someone say exactly this (car=mechanic) the other day.
I too get very annoyed with these “free thinkers” who reckon their “research” on the web trumps years of study and experience in the field. Having said that, some bits are quite amusing…for example did you know..
“ It creates a kind of force field, or one could say like a concrete firewall, that suppresses the human's natural forcefield, or god force, and reverses all that is godlike and natural about a human - truth, survival instincts, parental instincts and such. This is confirmed to me by a psychic/spiritualist friend of mine who said when she tried to contact the persons souls she hit's concrete and can't connnect.”
Concrete firewalls! Who would have thunk it.
I shall have to have a look at Mabel. Back in France we hardly took much notice of Covid, unless we went out somewhere. Here it's a bit different.
I thought it was obligatory to wear masks on the tube. They should be barred from entry without one.
Children are the most efficient spreaders of viruses. It may not affect them too badly, but it will affect their parents or grandparents. They have to take precautions; or live away from home!
It is Cro unless you are “exempt”. Unfortunately in this country anyone can decide they are exempt - you can print a label declaring your exempt status.
There was a move some time ago, to make all Psychics, Spiritualists, etc, add 'For Entertainment Only' to their publicity, and to have it in full view of any clients. I think it should be made obligatory, it might stop some of their nonsense.
You say "the fewer people who catch Covid, the less chance it has of spreading." Although of prime importance, the other top priority should be to get the whole world vaccinated, especially those in the third world, otherwise it will continue to mutate.
In my area, Midwest USA, we have what I consider dangerous people who have been preached to and convinced at their churches that they are so special they are protected by Jesus and will not get Covid. So Christian of them to infer that all of the people who have been sick from or died from Covid must not have been special enough to have been protected, whether they were Christian or not! They sure think they are above others as they go about their business maskless and unvaccinated having spread Covid to others, when it turns out that they were not as protected by Jesus as they thought they were, and come down with Covid.
It's ok, YP, to raise an eyebrow here or there, but "annoyed the hell out of [you]"? Why so easily angered, as evidenced by your own last blog post? Save your energies for more worthy causes. And keep your distance. Or, like me, don't use the tube or any other public transport.
Boris, please don't spread the not substantiated. Or rather, pray tell, which country do you live in?
Cro, and everyone else, you might like to know - oh dear, I myself am in knots this lunchtime: "You can actually TRAP the virus in the mask and start breathing it in" (Dr Jenny Harris, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency).
U
Home run, Cro - and I seen it on the interwebs!!! Seriously, we're experiencing a giant sociology experiment, with dire consequences. Science from scientists is great advice. Cheers
That is completing the circle. Those who are vaccinated are probably less likely to catch Covid, and therefor less likely to pass it on. At least, I hope that's how it works!
I'm not a religious person, but I tend to think that these fundamentalist Christians are a true menace. I'm just amazed they get anyone to fill the pews.
I would rather trust a top university professor than that Alex Jones fellow on the Radio.
For the third time (that I know of) a student at the school where I work recently lost a parent to Covid. My dad, who has many other health problems, would have died from his breakthrough Covid infection last week. The vaccine he got back in March is the only reason he didn't. Or so the doctors say.
Dear Ursula, I apologize for not being clearer. It is Cro’s blog, he is currently in the Uk - so it was the UK to which I referred by saying “this”
Quote from gov uk website
If you wish to use an exemption card or badge, you can download exemption card templates. You can then print these yourself or show them on a mobile device. Please note that the government is not able to provide physical exemption cards or badges
Cro, you said it perfectly... and I agree. I choose to trust science and my own doctors than things researched or said on social media. And common sense tells you to take 'precautions' to protect yourself and others. It's such a simple thing. I don't get angry at those who are against the vaccine, or don't mask, etc. I do stay away from them, but actually feel sorry for them as they are most likely to get sick. And as for those who think they are protected by religious beliefs... (and I will admit that I'm not terribly religious) but isn't there something about 'God helps those who help themselves'?
PS Ursula, should have said I was not spreading the unsubstantiated rather I did not substantiate what I wrote. I do hope I have now rectified that.
The governments arguement of using “ your own common sense” doesn’t hold with me
If there was a fog bank on the motorway , the government wouldn’t say use your common sense when driving
No they would employ a speeding limit
Too bloody right
I agree entirely with everything you say and am living my life similarly. Another point: Anti-vaxxers believe that their personal freedom outweighs others personal safety. Until someone close to them dies, this is their position. (Sadly, exactly as the woman you speak about in this post.)
others'
It's not that difficult to either understand or comply; we should all be cautious, without being fanatical.
I do believe in people using common sense; unfortunately not all people were blessed with any!
I sometimes listen to their arguments, and can hardly believe what I'm hearing. It's as if they exist in some strange parallel universe.
I work in a hospital and have watched people die of Covid. It's a nasty death made worst by dying alone without your loved ones there.
Taking the vaccine is easy and safe and wearing a mask is not much of a sacrifice.
Julie
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