Coronavirus prep
Replies
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Anyway, I legit needed toilet paper, so I grabbed some at Walmart (no shortage here BTW). But I felt like I wanted to tell everyone I walked past " I'm not hoarding it! I just ran out of toilet paper. Look, I'm getting eyeliner and a pint of Ben & Jerry's I'm going to eat right when I get home."
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Anyway, I legit needed toilet paper, so I grabbed some at Walmart (no shortage here BTW). But I felt like I wanted to tell everyone I walked past " I'm not hoarding it! I just ran out of toilet paper. Look, I'm getting eyeliner and a pint of Ben & Jerry's I'm going to eat right when I get home."
We legit need toilet paper too, and were at Costco getting gas so went in to see if they had any. Nope. Also, today I went with my husband to the doc, and the first question they asked is whether he’s been out of the country in the last 14 days or had interacted with anyone else who had. And I was tempted to swipe one of the two bottles of hand sanitizer they had out on the reception counter.
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Between arbitrary contractions and superfluous quotation marks this thread has turned into a mockery of basic grammatical good practice...29
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Since the ones that are dying seem to have had preexisting health issues it seems while a good stock of toilet paper and canned tuna are nice that working to improve general health is the best goal 24/7/365. The first case in KY and TN have been announced. Locally it is expected to arrive mid April so at least we will have winter behind us.
Maybe being old is a factor at our house but who does not have 24+ of toilet paper on hands at all times?5 -
I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.
I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.
What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?
I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.
But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.
I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.
https://www.facebook.com/abdu.sharkawy/posts/2809958409125474?__tn__=,dH-R-R&eid=ARBOWPj71gA1ObjfZlXOXyWThC52Mt6U38slWK3w0VkylOu5m39gyZVqWSJaqVPpIimUaGEaEddG7DxN38 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »Since the ones that are dying seem to have had preexisting health issues it seems while a good stock of toilet paper and canned tuna are nice that working to improve general health is the best goal 24/7/365. The first case in KY and TN have been announced. Locally it is expected to arrive mid April so at least we will have winter behind us.
Maybe being old is a factor at our house but who does not have 24+ of toilet paper on hands at all times?
I had only 2 rolls. Fortunately not a problem here, so now we have a big pack. But my mom reports she is unable to purchase incontinence products.
Looking at the progress in Australia, it doesn’t appear the end of winter is likely to help.1 -
The progress of coronavirus in Australia??
It is the end of summer here - not sure what you are saying?
Australia has had a ridiculous stampede on toilet paper for some reason that totally escapes me.
There have been 2 confirmed cases in my state and yet all the supermarkets in my regional town, far from the cases, have sold out of toilet paper - why do people need a years supply of toilet paper???
Hand sanitiser sold out too - but that makes bit more sense. But whole aisles totally bereft of toilet paper???1 -
I don't believe that it's appropriate to ask someone to change their lifestyle, over this.kshama2001 wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »While the main panic concerning daily necessities're customers, where I am via business & government here, causes it as well. Prior to the Blizzard of 1996, I took the bus to school whilst it was snowing. There were no delayed openings, ½ days, early release or snow days.
After we were coddled by many snow less winters, shovels & sleds, weren't sold here. Now I know better than to take the bus anywhere, unless I know that I'll be able to walk home because they'll cancel the buses & our government, orders vehicles off of the roads because of just a dusting, of snow.
Just out of curiosity, is the use of the apostrophe intentional here? necessities're
If so, what English word are you contracting with necesseties?
Yeah it's intentional, necessities're = necessities are. It's a habit to combine & shorten words because of low character limits elsewhere.
It makes your posts very difficult to read/understand.
I was going along the lines of how other words do, that everyone seems to be able to read & understand. They're = they are or I've = I have.
I can understand your posts, but only with a lot of extra effort. Since there is no character limit here, would you be willing to use only standard contractions?paperpudding wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »While the main panic concerning daily necessities're customers, where I am via business & government here, causes it as well. Prior to the Blizzard of 1996, I took the bus to school whilst it was snowing. There were no delayed openings, ½ days, early release or snow days.
After we were coddled by many snow less winters, shovels & sleds, weren't sold here. Now I know better than to take the bus anywhere, unless I know that I'll be able to walk home because they'll cancel the buses & our government, orders vehicles off of the roads because of just a dusting, of snow.
Just out of curiosity, is the use of the apostrophe intentional here? necessities're
If so, what English word are you contracting with necesseties?
Yeah it's intentional, necessities're = necessities are. It's a habit to combine & shorten words because of low character limits elsewhere.
It makes your posts very difficult to read/understand.
I was going along the lines of how other words do, that everyone seems to be able to read & understand. They're = they are or I've = I have.
yes but they do that because it is contractions they are used to seeing, not because they are thinking through the apostrophe contraction rule every time they see it.
I know we all make accidental typo's ( I am one of the worse culprits for this) but probably best not to make up our own intentional rules for changing standard written language usage.
It makes posts harder to understand and breaks up the flow of easy reading and leaves one guessing was that a typo? what was it suppossed to say?
The English language isn't absolute. It even changes annually, when new words that're created by random people're chosen to be added to the dictionary.paperpudding wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »While the main panic concerning daily necessities're customers, where I am via business & government here, causes it as well. Prior to the Blizzard of 1996, I took the bus to school whilst it was snowing. There were no delayed openings, ½ days, early release or snow days.
After we were coddled by many snow less winters, shovels & sleds, weren't sold here. Now I know better than to take the bus anywhere, unless I know that I'll be able to walk home because they'll cancel the buses & our government, orders vehicles off of the roads because of just a dusting, of snow.
Just out of curiosity, is the use of the apostrophe intentional here? necessities're
If so, what English word are you contracting with necesseties?
Yeah it's intentional, necessities're = necessities are. It's a habit to combine & shorten words because of low character limits elsewhere.
It makes your posts very difficult to read/understand.
I was going along the lines of how other words do, that everyone seems to be able to read & understand. They're = they are or I've = I have.
yes but they do that because it is contractions they are used to seeing, not because they are thinking through the apostrophe contraction rule every time they see it.
I know we all make accidental typo's ( I am one of the worse culprits for this) but probably best not to make up our own intentional rules for changing standard written language usage.
It makes posts harder to understand and breaks up the flow of easy reading and leaves one guessing was that a typo? what was it suppossed to say?
It calls to mind an admonishment of one of my professors when I was in college, "If my thoughts are not worth my effort to state clearly, they're not worth the reader's time to understand".
I'd have never entertained answering your question, if my belief was that your intent was to derail this thread & not a genuine misunderstanding.WinoGelato wrote: »Between arbitrary contractions and superfluous quotation marks this thread has turned into a mockery of basic grammatical good practice...
Being regulars it's nonsensical to risk {especially, an imperative thread} being shuttered because of your being, holier than thou. How about conforming to the rules here, as you do so well with grammar?8 -
paperpudding wrote: »The progress of coronavirus in Australia??
It is the end of summer here - not sure what you are saying?
Australia has had a ridiculous stampede on toilet paper for some reason that totally escapes me.
There have been 2 confirmed cases in my state and yet all the supermarkets in my regional town, far from the cases, have sold out of toilet paper - why do people need a years supply of toilet paper???
Hand sanitiser sold out too - but that makes bit more sense. But whole aisles totally bereft of toilet paper???
Yeah, it's a little extreme!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/120097737/women-fight-over-toilet-paper-in-australian-supermarket
Still plenty of loo paper on the shelves in my little town in New Zealand, though it was being restocked the other day. The hilarious thing is the both Aus and NZ manufacture toilet paper. We're not going to run out.
But yeah, hand sanitiser has been out for weeks.1 -
It’s become a bizarre phenomenon. They interrupted television programming here yesterday, for a half hour announcement that the first case in my state has been reported. NOTHING was said (except that the unidentified individual had been on a cruise with confirmed coronavirus case) that we haven’t heard many times. IE: good hand washing techniques, coughing/sneezing into elbow etc.
Concern, yes, but as with so many things, the media is creating a frenzy, and some people may be overreacting.
I do my weekly shopping on Saturday, and hopefully, I’ll find things I normally purchase available. I won’t be hoarding anything, just my normal, every week shopping trip, and I’m in an at risk group, elderly (68).4 -
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I'm wondering why is everyone stockpiling toilet paper?!?! That is selling out as quick as water around here!
Funny, I work at Wegmans (East Coast). Toilet paper is flying off the shelves. What are people doing with this? It‘s ridiculous. And then these facial mask shoppers.... ong! I feel like I am in the middle of a science fiction movie 😀3 -
New CDC guidance is for those over 60 and those with severe chronic medical conditions to stay home as much as possible, including avoiding shopping and crowds. An adviser to the CDC recommends avoiding things like air travel, movie theaters, family events, malls, and weekly religious services.
Like everything else, some will and some won't. I do see more people doing online grocery ordering and not going to as many movies or concerts but humans are social creatures and self imposed quarantine is difficult for many.
Not to mention that location is very relevant. Not everyone has access to grocery delivery. And those who do will still be exposed to delivery workers.
In fact, I was just talking to a co-worker about a big pizza order for a large workplace recently. I mentioned that in my last lovation, I once pucked up the pizza and had to roll my windows down to see since the steam was fogging up my windows (88 pizzas in a Toyota Yaris hatchback...). So then she says, "I would have just had them delivered like I'm doing with these." (Talking about the upcoming order at my current location.) This person has always disliked me and I got the hint that there was an implied "You are stupid not to get delivery." So I explained that delivery is great and all, but that town did not have any food delivery available until from anywhere until after 4pm. Some people really have no clue how little access there is to stores, restaurants, services in rural areas...6 -
DD I don't particularly conform to grammar rules, at least I don't make any conscious effort to do so.
But I would consider adjusting my writing style if it were causing confusion and people politely informed me of this.
I did my regular grocery shopping today, as I do every Saturday.
As far as I could tell, everything else was available as usual, at least there were no huge gaps in the aisles.
Hand sanitiser doesn't take much space, I believe it is sold out, but I didn't notice.
But entire aisle totally bereft of toilet paper in every supermarket in a town with zero cases of coronavirus.
And, yes, a locally made product, it isn't imported from China or anything.
Just bizarre.
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T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »New CDC guidance is for those over 60 and those with severe chronic medical conditions to stay home as much as possible, including avoiding shopping and crowds. An adviser to the CDC recommends avoiding things like air travel, movie theaters, family events, malls, and weekly religious services.
Like everything else, some will and some won't. I do see more people doing online grocery ordering and not going to as many movies or concerts but humans are social creatures and self imposed quarantine is difficult for many.
Not to mention that location is very relevant. Not everyone has access to grocery delivery. And those who do will still be exposed to delivery workers.
I live 12 miles from town. No rural delivery at all, other than USPS, UPS, Fed Ex etc.
No matter how you receive your goods, you still have the human element involved. Who touched it last. Coughed on it, sneezed on it or whatever. Touching the keypad when paying. The shopping carts, items you pick off shelves. Who touched them before you?
I’ll restate this from previous posts, the best thing each of us can do is practice good hand washing, coughing/sneezing techniques and encourage our families to do the same. Panicking, and/or hoarding are not a solutions to avoiding the virus.5 -
Exactly @missysippy930 Hand hygiene and cough etiquette is imperative! For people who may think they have the virus they aren’t leper’s, which in my line of work I have found people feel they are. I also do hope people who are worried and have travelled to high risk countries and are symptomatic think of others before running to supermarkets, going out and about, rocking up to a large doctors clinic without putting a mask on ect I’m a nurse and have found that unfortunately people DONT adhere to instructions from health departments and put public at risk by not following instructions. I definitely won’t start buying millions of rolls of toilet paper, but I will be conscious of clean hands and real news from reputable sources, not face book. Still, it’s scary times2
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paperpudding wrote: »DD I don't particularly conform to grammar rules, at least I don't make any conscious effort to do so.
But I would consider adjusting my writing style if it were causing confusion and people politely informed me of this.
I did my regular grocery shopping today, as I do every Saturday.
As far as I could tell, everything else was available as usual, at least there were no huge gaps in the aisles.
Hand sanitiser doesn't take much space, I believe it is sold out, but I didn't notice.
But entire aisle totally bereft of toilet paper in every supermarket in a town with zero cases of coronavirus.
And, yes, a locally made product, it isn't imported from China or anything.
Just bizarre.
No 1 pleases everyone, thereby my posts're meant for those that don't mind them as they're.7 -
There was earlier posting about the mental health of seniors and/or others who are practicing self-imposed Social Distancing. I am older and live alone and this week has been a challenge already because I'm just a couple miles from the hospital where the 11 patients have died. It's pretty tense around here. The senior center in my neighborhood is the largest in the country and it is the social hub for seniors. It has been closed all week along with a lot of other businesses. Too much time in my head is not a good thing. I'm still getting out and walking but every non-essential trip out in public is being deferred/delayed.
If you have seniors in your life, give 'em a call. They would love to hear from you. Heck, if you're a senior, the phone works both ways! You know wireless long-distance is free, right??!
https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4894.pdf
*edit to say, the above pdf is about mental health and social distancing and our need for human contact/what our crazy brains do under this particular type of "threat."17 -
kshama2001 wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »DecadeDuchess wrote: »While the main panic concerning daily necessities're customers, where I am via business & government here, causes it as well. Prior to the Blizzard of 1996, I took the bus to school whilst it was snowing. There were no delayed openings, ½ days, early release or snow days.
After we were coddled by many snow less winters, shovels & sleds, weren't sold here. Now I know better than to take the bus anywhere, unless I know that I'll be able to walk home because they'll cancel the buses & our government, orders vehicles off of the roads because of just a dusting, of snow.
Just out of curiosity, is the use of the apostrophe intentional here? necessities're
If so, what English word are you contracting with necesseties?
Yeah it's intentional, necessities're = necessities are. It's a habit to combine & shorten words because of low character limits elsewhere.
It makes your posts very difficult to read/understand.
I was going along the lines of how other words do, that everyone seems to be able to read & understand. They're = they are or I've = I have.
I can understand your posts, but only with a lot of extra effort. Since there is no character limit here, would you be willing to use only standard contractions?
I just skip over posts like that which are too difficult to read. I do make the effort for someone for whom it's apparent that English is their second language, but when it's done deliberately? Nope.29 -
Exactly @missysippy930 Hand hygiene and cough etiquette is imperative! For people who may think they have the virus they aren’t leper’s, which in my line of work I have found people feel they are. I also do hope people who are worried and have travelled to high risk countries and are symptomatic think of others before running to supermarkets, going out and about, rocking up to a large doctors clinic without putting a mask on ect I’m a nurse and have found that unfortunately people DONT adhere to instructions from health departments and put public at risk by not following instructions. I definitely won’t start buying millions of rolls of toilet paper, but I will be conscious of clean hands and real news from reputable sources, not face book. Still, it’s scary times
I really wish that doctor's office waiting areas, wouldn't have toys because healthy children just there for their routine visit then play with the same toys, that the children that're there because they're sick then also play with.6 -
Lillymoo01 wrote: »I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.
I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.
What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?
I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.
But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.
I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.
https://www.facebook.com/abdu.sharkawy/posts/2809958409125474?__tn__=,dH-R-R&eid=ARBOWPj71gA1ObjfZlXOXyWThC52Mt6U38slWK3w0VkylOu5m39gyZVqWSJaqVPpIimUaGEaEddG7DxN
I can't like this post enough. Thanks!
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snickerscharlie wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.
I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.
What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?
I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.
But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.
I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.
https://www.facebook.com/abdu.sharkawy/posts/2809958409125474?__tn__=,dH-R-R&eid=ARBOWPj71gA1ObjfZlXOXyWThC52Mt6U38slWK3w0VkylOu5m39gyZVqWSJaqVPpIimUaGEaEddG7DxN
I can't like this post enough. Thanks!
Agreed, thanks @Lillymoo01 for your insightful, thought provoking and logic grounding words.
I would love to share some of them on other social media channels as I think your advice could really resonate with a lot of people but obviously would share it as “quoted from a doctor specializing in infectious diseases on another social media forum” but would only do so with your blessing.
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Lillymoo01 wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »"The American people don't believe anything until they see it on television."
Richard Nixon
Propaganda is amazing. People can be led to believe anything.
Alice Walker
"If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly."
Thomas Sowell
"All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume."
Noam Chomsky
“Whatever of social importance is done today, whether in politics, finance, manufacture, agriculture, charity, education, or other fields, must be done with the help of propaganda.”
― Edward L. Bernays, Propaganda
"Art and mass entertainment and propaganda, they can all be plotted on the same graph, but there is a difference".
David Mamet
ETA:
Thesaurus.com
SYNONYMS
propaganda
[ prop-uh-gan-duh ]
SEE DEFINITION OF propaganda
noun information that is designed to mislead or persuade
Synonyms for propaganda
disinformation
hype
indoctrination
publicity
advertising
agitprop
announcement
brainwashing
doctrine
evangelism
handout
hogwash
implantation
inculcation
newspeak
promotion
promulgation
proselytism
publication
Soooo, you think the whole thing is made up, @NewLIFEstyle4ME? Overstated? What exactly is your point here?
I'd say that the media are building a panic to create more sensational stories. A story that gets a reaction is one that sells. Coronavirus is not made up, coronavirus can kill. However, the world won't end, more people are affected by and die from the flu. There is no need to go out and buy a year's supply of non-perishables because of it. There is no reason to avoid all social contact because 1 person in your state has a confirmed diagnosis. Simply take all precautions you should already be taking to improve personal hygiene and stop the spread of all infections.
To the bolded: What I don't get is people buying massive quantities of bottled water. Do they think the virus can be spread through the taps?
My thoughts on the panic hoarding of stuff is this:
Yes, it might be a good idea to make sure you have things like meds and non-perishable food on hand for at least 2 weeks in case you have to go into quarantine. I get that. But the rest? The panic buying of stuff like toilet paper with people getting more than the average family could possibly go through in more than a year?
What I think we're seeing is humanity at a pretty primal level. This virus is, for obvious reasons, scaring people badly. Whether or not that is warranted is a very moot point. But bottom line, people are feeling helpless, powerless and desperately afraid. And seeing that they can't do anything about it on a large scale, the primal instinct is to control what they can control. Circle the wagons, so to speak. They see on the news and social media that people are panic-buying water, toilet paper, hand wipes, sanitizer, masks, food, etc. Without stopping to rationalize to what degree this is needed, (if at all!) their immediate response is, "I gotta go get this stuff!" because to *not* do so means that they have failed to provide for themselves and their families. And if 3 months worth of toilet paper is good, isn't 2 year's worth better?
Bottom line, I think it's more of a psychological comfort than an actual physical necessity.
Our family lived through a SARS quarantine. Twice!
This was back in the day before grocery stores routinely had a home delivery service. We were fine. The water out of the tap was plentiful. I always keep a well-stocked pantry, and although depleted after a month in isolation, we certainly didn't starve. It was a *very* long month psychologically, but we certainly didn't suffer any deprivation. And, thankfully, we were all SARS-free.7 -
snickerscharlie wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.
I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.
What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?
I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.
But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.
I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.
https://www.facebook.com/abdu.sharkawy/posts/2809958409125474?__tn__=,dH-R-R&eid=ARBOWPj71gA1ObjfZlXOXyWThC52Mt6U38slWK3w0VkylOu5m39gyZVqWSJaqVPpIimUaGEaEddG7DxN
I can't like this post enough. Thanks!
Wow! Who can possibly disagree with this?
Trolling.1 -
It’s my understanding that the toilet paper shortage scare came from a report that companies like proctor and gamble would soon have to slow production of certain products due to factories in China being shut down. And not necessarily for the actual product, which might be manufactured here, but for some of the things that go into making those products, if some of the materials have to come from China. In any case, I’m not sure why it’s only tp that people are buying up—I guess that’s one thing people sat for a moment and thought, “Hmmm, napkins at the dinner table we can go without, but toilet paper??? Yikes!” I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, just that I think that’s how it started. Hand sanitizer I think is more obvious, and more helpful in preventing spread of diseases. We could not find hand sanitizer, but oh well! If schools close and events are canceled and we’re all encouraged to avoid going out, I guess we won’t need it much!
I don’t worry too much about me or my immediate family contracting this virus, but I do have parents in their 60’s, and other extended family older than that. Any kind of blasé attitude about spreading this virus does seem to put them in more danger. I know, the flu is similar, but they’ve managed to avoid, or survive the flu, so far. This is a new, novel, mostly unresearched virus, and there are still many questions about it and how it will play out. There are already two strains of it being reported—could it perhaps mutate again into something worse (or better)?
So I’m not into extreme fear mongering, but I do think it’s a serious situation, particularly for a subset of the population (so far). To say that this virus could just come through our country and not have much effect (as a PP upthread insinuated) I think is pretty disrespectful of that more at-risk, older, or compromised population. We’ve “only” had 15 or so deaths in the US due to it, but most of those were older people with underlying conditions. Should we not be concerned at least for them?
I don’t quite understand the constant comparison between COVID-19 and the flu. Yes, they’re both viruses, and yes, the flu kills and always has. But it’s been researched top to bottom, there’s a vaccine that most people can get if they wish, etc. Besides, any mortality that comes from COVID-19 is on top of flu deaths, so I do think that’s a factor to consider. This is a different virus, and a lot is still unknown.
Someone asked why the mention of Australia was relevant. I believe the question was whether or not COVID-19 spread would slow with warmer weather coming. Someone else said that since it’s the end of summer in Australia (and therefore has been warm there) but the virus is still spreading there, that maybe the warm weather won’t actually help. I can’t tell how much it’s spread there actually in Australia, as opposed to those who contracted it on cruise ships or in more northern countries.
4 -
I’ll just add that my family was thinking of going to the Lego convention being held in our area this weekend. The website for the event mentions some things they plan on doing and changing in order to help prevent the potential spread of Coronavirus (there have been a couple cases in our area). Again, not as worried about us contracting something, I was willing to go, but hubby is more wary.
Upon further thought, I’m going with my husband on this one, and we’re not going. My parents will be visiting us next week, and I don’t want us to be harboring it and getting them sick, when it can easily be avoided. Sure, they could catch it somewhere else, but why add to the risk when it’s fairly easy to avoid by just not going? Unfortunately this kind of action will have effects on these large events, and of course, many have been or will be canceled. But I guess until we see how this plays out, caution is important, and all kinds of businesses will be affected.
Eh, I’m just blabbering at this point 🤪3 -
Anyway, I legit needed toilet paper, so I grabbed some at Walmart (no shortage here BTW). But I felt like I wanted to tell everyone I walked past " I'm not hoarding it! I just ran out of toilet paper. Look, I'm getting eyeliner and a pint of Ben & Jerry's I'm going to eat right when I get home."
I'm finally buying it today because I need it too, and plan to get some extra because it's nice to have plenty around the house to avoid having to ever be low on it, and similarly I am afraid it will look like hoarding. Oh, well. ;-)3 -
paperpudding wrote: »There have been 2 confirmed cases in my state and yet all the supermarkets in my regional town, far from the cases, have sold out of toilet paper - why do people need a years supply of toilet paper???
Hand sanitiser sold out too - but that makes bit more sense. But whole aisles totally bereft of toilet paper???
I haven't heard of anyone having trouble buying toilet paper here, but lots of places are sold out of sanitizer. I normally am someone who doesn't use sanitizer (kind of the same theory that Ann mentioned above) but I'd buy it now if I saw it -- I really don't consider my thinking about buying some "panic" though, as some here seem to have a much lower threshold for what panic is that I do, I guess. ;-)4 -
Biggiwig69 wrote: »
I'm wondering why is everyone stockpiling toilet paper?!?! That is selling out as quick as water around here!
Funny, I work at Wegmans (East Coast). Toilet paper is flying off the shelves. What are people doing with this? It‘s ridiculous. And then these facial mask shoppers.... ong! I feel like I am in the middle of a science fiction movie 😀
Have you seen anyone wearing a mask? I've seen one -- a bus driver. I actually saw more before this virus in that I live close to a neighborhood with a significant Asian population and it's not uncommon for Asians to wear them IME (my understanding is that the point is to protect others if you happen to have a cold or something).2 -
I went to a party last night. Everyone was avoiding shaking hands or cheek kisses doing friendly waves instead. It was kinda good. Also before grabbing pizza people were washing hands. It was great.11
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