Will life not go back to pre-covid 19? Is o/s the new way forward?

[Deleted User]

I don't think in any way you could possibly imagine anyone is saying that this pandemic situation is GOOD , how bizarre a thought is that? what we are saying is that instead of accepting your fate and sitting indoors wailing about the unfairness of life and getting more and more angry about a situation that cannot be changed  some people are coping by making the best they can of what they have and what they know and using their skills to make life as good in this lock down as they can make it.  No one is gloating and thinking whoopee this is fun, I don't have to go to work and I can stay home and play house, we are all of us in our individual ways trying to cope as best we can. Many I am sure would much rather be working and earning but as that's not been possible they have made use of time the have had to be as productive as they can.  Since when was a daily walk not approved of? it's been encouraged by the government all the way through this lock down and bike riding too so how is that something to object to?

elsien

ejmo said:

The problem is, whilst this effects everybody, it effects some much more than others.
I do see some positives but if you couldn't pay your rent and didn't know when you could start earning again to pay off the rent arrears staying positive is hard. Then feeling that you're not taking the positives from this situation, or even that it is some how good for you, effects peoples mental health.

I think some comments on this thread are just saying it's not the same for everyone, where is the empathy for people experiencing true hardship?

 No some people will not be baking, growing, pickling or having daily bike rides/walks because their focus will be on earning money as a means to survival not to have what they want when they want it as has been suggested. 

Where is the empathy for everyone,  whatever their situation or level of hardship? We are all coping the best way we can. My parent would love to be out and about,  not finding things to do to occupy herself because although financially secure she's bored, lonely and very scared. 
No one is saying it's the same for everyone but it's not a competition to decide whose bit of hardship is worse. I'm a key worker. Yes I'm lucky to still have a job but I still have to get out and about and I'm not going to apologise for pickling, baking or any of the other things you have been slight derogatory about in my down time.

Floss

To be quite honest I'm glad this has happened this year and not last. As at 23 March 2019 I was still in my (sold) house in Blackpool next door to the ex who harassed me daily, with my contract job finishing & no new work. A month later I put my home into storage & moved into a bedsit 50 miles away to wait for the contract for my newly acquired job in the NHS so I could sort the mortgage for my new home.

Yes I will have an NHS pension (but only 12 years - if I am able to work til retirement age at 67) but the small amount of other pensions I have accrued have lost 20% in value since 23rd March due to the drop in the financial markets - it's one of the "benefits" of the visibility of my pension provider's scheme! The amount I get from the ex will also have dropped by 20%.

That's all before the extra taxes / service cuts that will be inevitable to cover the cost of all the support from the government. 

So, I don't think life will be the same, and for those who can and / or are able, then OS is one way forward. But I too, like Suki1964, take great comfort & joy from seeing the way our nation in all its parts has come together & changed in a lot of ways which I hope stay as habits. Not necessarily the Thursday clapping, but the other things like chatting in a queue, or actually talking to neighbours & watching their kids learn to ride a bike in our close because dad was at home furloughed & there was no traffic. And living under an airport flight path with no flights means that seeing 1 plane has become a novelty rather than the norm.

Nonnadiluca

Can someone tell me where the 'ignore' button is on this new format? The only poster that I previously ignored has popped up with a new name and life is too short to get angry!
Suki, I don't think anyone else misinterpreted your positive attitude. 

[Deleted User]

Top right of your screen is a round grey button with a head shape in it, click on that and you get a drop down box where one of the options is 'edit profile', click on that and the screen you get to has a list running down the left hand side of the page of the options to edit one of which is the ignore facility.  It's straightforward to use and you'll see when you get there how to put someone on ignore.  You can have up to 100!

maddiemay

MrsLurcherwalker said:

Top right of your screen is a round grey button with a head shape in it, click on that and you get a drop down box where one of the options is 'edit profile', click on that and the screen you get to has a list running down the left hand side of the page of the options to edit one of which is the ignore facility.  It's straightforward to use and you'll see when you get there how to put someone on ignore.  You can have up to 100!

Thank you I needed to find that, all done until another new name pops up!

helensbiggestfan

ejmo said:

The problem is, whilst this effects everybody, it effects some much more than others.
I do see some positives but if you couldn't pay your rent and didn't know when you could start earning again to pay off the rent arrears staying positive is hard. Then feeling that you're not taking the positives from this situation, or even that it is some how good for you, effects peoples mental health.

I think some comments on this thread are just saying it's not the same for everyone, where is the empathy for people experiencing true hardship?

 No some people will not be baking, growing, pickling or having daily bike rides/walks because their focus will be on earning money as a means to survival not to have what they want when they want it as has been suggested. 

Well good news for those who are feeling anxious about what happens next. It has just been announced that the furlough scheme is being extended until the end of October, with employers making a contribution towards the cost. 

I haven't heard anything yet but I would imagine that this will probably mean that banks and financial institutions will have to continue with mortgage and loan repayment holidays. 

That should considerably ease the financial pressure and reduce anxiety levels. 

MoneySeeker1

helensbiggestfan said:

ejmo said:

The problem is, whilst this effects everybody, it effects some much more than others.
I do see some positives but if you couldn't pay your rent and didn't know when you could start earning again to pay off the rent arrears staying positive is hard. Then feeling that you're not taking the positives from this situation, or even that it is some how good for you, effects peoples mental health.

I think some comments on this thread are just saying it's not the same for everyone, where is the empathy for people experiencing true hardship?

 No some people will not be baking, growing, pickling or having daily bike rides/walks because their focus will be on earning money as a means to survival not to have what they want when they want it as has been suggested. 

Well good news for those who are feeling anxious about what happens next. It has just been announced that the furlough scheme is being extended until the end of October, with employers making a contribution towards the cost. 

I haven't heard anything yet but I would imagine that this will probably mean that banks and financial institutions will have to continue with mortgage and loan repayment holidays. 

That should considerably ease the financial pressure and reduce anxiety levels. 

Not for the far-sighted people amongst us it won't I'm afraid (ie reduce anxiety levels).

The more far-sighted know that "mortgage holiday" does not mean "let off mortgage payments for those months". It just means "You don't have to pay it right now - but you will have to somewhere along the line".

Then there's the anxiety about those that could perfectly well return to work, and with the Government accepting it, but aren't doing so (despite the fact that some of them won't be "socially distancing" in their own private lives) and the far-sighted knowing that the rich aren't the ones that will be picking up the bill for them to continue to be off work, when they don't actually need to be. The people picking up that bill will be the rest of us and welcome to "Great Depression Mark 2 somewhere along the line (exacerbated by a factor of who-knows-how-much)". The rich always make sure to protect themselves - at the expense of the rest of us - so we will be the ones picking up that tab. Would be delighted to be proved wrong on that one of course - and find that Governments have found a way to make sure it's the rich/only the rich that pay for all this - but I can't say I'm very optimistic that Governments will stand up to the rich or the rich develop a conscience I'm afraid (would that I were wrong on that....). No the wealthy will still be out there doing things like treating themselves to one single meal (at regular intervals) being delivered to their home for £1,500 a shot - whilst many poorer single people would feed themselves for a year for that money.

helensbiggestfan

Well there's just no pleasing some people is there?

What do you want the government to do, they are between a rock and a hard place.  Perhaps you would prefer the government to just stop all financial support and throw people to the wolves. 

Of course mortgages and loans have to repaid at some point, that goes without saying but adding a year to the mortgage term is better than losing ones home.  

Whilst furlough is costing billions, currently helping support over 7m workers, it is still cheaper in the long run than allowing 7m to lose their jobs.  People are already losing their jobs, but if furlough can save some jobs and reduce the numbers of the future unemployed then it will be a good investment. 

  

tooldle

MoneySeeker1 said:

helensbiggestfan said:

ejmo said:

The problem is, whilst this effects everybody, it effects some much more than others.
I do see some positives but if you couldn't pay your rent and didn't know when you could start earning again to pay off the rent arrears staying positive is hard. Then feeling that you're not taking the positives from this situation, or even that it is some how good for you, effects peoples mental health.

I think some comments on this thread are just saying it's not the same for everyone, where is the empathy for people experiencing true hardship?

 No some people will not be baking, growing, pickling or having daily bike rides/walks because their focus will be on earning money as a means to survival not to have what they want when they want it as has been suggested. 

Well good news for those who are feeling anxious about what happens next. It has just been announced that the furlough scheme is being extended until the end of October, with employers making a contribution towards the cost. 

I haven't heard anything yet but I would imagine that this will probably mean that banks and financial institutions will have to continue with mortgage and loan repayment holidays. 

That should considerably ease the financial pressure and reduce anxiety levels. 

Not for the far-sighted people amongst us it won't I'm afraid (ie reduce anxiety levels).

The more far-sighted know that "mortgage holiday" does not mean "let off mortgage payments for those months". It just means "You don't have to pay it right now - but you will have to somewhere along the line".

Then there's the anxiety about those that could perfectly well return to work, and with the Government accepting it, but aren't doing so (despite the fact that some of them won't be "socially distancing" in their own private lives) and the far-sighted knowing that the rich aren't the ones that will be picking up the bill for them to continue to be off work, when they don't actually need to be. The people picking up that bill will be the rest of us and welcome to "Great Depression Mark 2 somewhere along the line (exacerbated by a factor of who-knows-how-much)". The rich always make sure to protect themselves - at the expense of the rest of us - so we will be the ones picking up that tab. Would be delighted to be proved wrong on that one of course - and find that Governments have found a way to make sure it's the rich/only the rich that pay for all this - but I can't say I'm very optimistic that Governments will stand up to the rich or the rich develop a conscience I'm afraid (would that I were wrong on that....). No the wealthy will still be out there doing things like treating themselves to one single meal (at regular intervals) being delivered to their home for £1,500 a shot - whilst many poorer single people would feed themselves for a year for that money.

What do you mean by rich? Given that only 2 in 10 of working age taxpayers are net contributors, and that to be one you need only to put more in that you take out, I’m not convinced that the mythical rich are getting away without paying whilst “the rest of us” pick up the bill. I’m a net contributor and i am still working my full hours (all be it from home). Can’t say i’ve ever had a meal costing £1500 a pop.