What Have You Learned From This Stupid Pandemic?

[Deleted]

Please let’s refrain from making this political. I’ll go first….

1. The pandemic proved that there are a lot of really stupid people in this world, but I already figured that.

2. I learned that we never know which time will be the last time we get to do something we love, or hug someone we love, even if it’s just the last time for a very long time. Or worse, the last time, period. I already knew that intellectually, but the pandemic drove the point home for me.

3. I learned that even though I’ve become a bit of a recluse, I do enjoy socializing occasionally, and I really value spending time with family. I’ve always kind of taken the time with family for granted. Not anymore.

Your turn.

[swamp]

I enjoy being a hermit.

[giramomma]

1. It ain't over til it's over.

2. I will survive.

3. I need my old lady craft groups.**

**To my knowledge, there is no song about old lady craft groups that can be an earworm for someone.

[Opti]

Pandemics suck.

Wearing a fitted N95 mask for hours is no fun. 

Surgical masks are less protective, but easier to wear when its hot.

People are crazier than I realized.

[Cookies Galore]

1. People
2. Are
3. Awful

[TheOtherMe]

All of the above with an exception and you learn who you can count on and who you can't.  That was disappointing.

When it's family who shows it's true self, you realize you are better off without relying on them.

I really don't need much of a social life.

[busymom]

1.  Wearing a mask in the Winter isn't all bad.  It helps keep my face warm.  

2.  There are a LOT more selfish people in the world than I'd imagined.

3.  Even people I grew up with were apparently sleeping through science class.  


4.  I didn't realize a pandemic could affect the supply chain.  Never even considered it, until recently.


5.  People in the medical field should be eligible for sainthood.  Both for saving lives, and for not saying to patients what they're thinking.


6.  I didn't realize some people in power actually enjoy the idea of some of their citizens being killed off by an illness.  No conscience.  

[Spellbound454]

People have a huge capacity to whinge and moan ..... when all around them there are people in a worse position.

Last thing I heard on fb was "I'm not having a booster because I am fed up of it all" .... Grrr ... Great a freakin grip FFS

We used to have a spirit of helping each other out ... but now we have seen entitlement, demands, blaming other people without taking responsibility for your own actions.


Disappointing really, I thought our Nation were tough cookies.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2021 19:20:44 GMT -5 busymom said:

1.  Wearing a mask in the Winter isn't all bad.  It helps keep my face warm.  

2.  There are a LOT more selfish people in the world than I'd imagined.

3.  Even people I grew up with were apparently sleeping through science class.  


4.  I didn't realize a pandemic could affect the supply chain.  Never even considered it, until recently.


5.  People in the medical field should be eligible for sainthood.  Both for saving lives, and for not saying to patients what they're thinking.


6.  I didn't realize some people in power actually enjoy the idea of some of their citizens being killed off by an illness.  No conscience.  

I didn’t realize either until the pandemic, just how many people are unsung heroes that keep our society functioning the way we prefer. 

In MY opinion, anyone that doesn’t see the value in the people who work all the jobs that helped our citizens shelter in place back when that was a thing….. is an idiot. Most of the jobs that helped make necessities available and got them to the homes of people that were sheltering in place, don’t pay very well, but what would we have done without them?

The people that were able to work from home to try to stay safe, are often the same ones that look down on the jobs they needed people to work (often at risk to themselves) so they could be safe and work from home.

I am an “essential” employee, and yes I’m a little salty about the lack of appreciation. I would’ve preferred to be able to be safer and working from home too. But nooooo, if I wanted a paycheck, I had to go to work and help make things happen for the people that could stay at home, safe. 

Our healthcare workers, I have mad love and respect for them. That is why when we had an unusual amount of snow that lingered for about a week back in February, I was pleased and proud to be a part of what the local Jeep group was doing to transport healthcare workers to and from work. I wasn’t out there driving (Jeep or not, I don’t do well with snow and I live so far from my job that I didn’t even think about trying to get there with all that snow), but I was working more than 12 hours/day helping to match drivers with people that needed a ride. My official title was “dispatcher” and I’d never done anything even remotely like that, so I had to learn on the fly, helping with thousands of requests for rides every day, and trying to help coordinate things for the drivers. Once I offered to help, my offer was accepted and I was pretty much just thrown in the water to figure it all out by myself.

It was a lot of work for us behind the scenes and everything was moving so fast it was hard to keep up at first, but imo it was nothing compared to the Jeeple that were out there in the trenches driving all over the area to get people back and forth to work, pulling stuck vehicles out between runs (including ambulances) and unintentionally damaging their vehicles driving on the snow. More than once, several Jeeple showed up when one had trouble with their Jeep, and they were on the ground in the snow and cold, helping to get that Jeep back on the road. Then there was the water crisis at the local hospitals (pumping stations weren’t working or something)and the Jeeple scrounged up all the water they could buy or get companies to donate, and there were caravans of Jeeps delivering water to the local hospitals…. In between rides for the healthcare workers.

That whole experience is one I’m very proud of being a part of. One of the sponsors of the FB group bought lunch to feed the drivers and offered his tools and heated bays for them to check their Jeeps out and make any necessary repairs. He also designed a badge for the drivers and dispatchers to put on their Jeeps for the Snowvid effort. I have one, but I haven’t put it on my Jeep yet. When I get serious about modifying my Jeep, he will be the first person I try to do business with.

The drivers ran 24/7. Some of them had to work, and they drove before and/or after they worked at their regular jobs.

It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve witnessed and been a part of. The drivers were mostly white males, with a few white females sprinkled in. They didn’t care what the passengers looked like, what religion they were, or their politics and they didn’t want money for their efforts. Some of them did accept homemade goodies and snacks…. I don’t blame them.  The bottom line for them though was that it was all about trying to keep our hospitals staffed so the most vulnerable among us were cared for. Most of the drivers felt like (and said) that it was their way of trying to give something back to the healthcare workers that had been on the front lines, helping our communities deal with COVID.

The group’s officers did end up setting up a go fund me account that the healthcare workers could contribute to. That money was used to help cover the costs of damages that any drivers incurred during the effort. 

So with all my ill feelings about the pandemic, there have been things that happened that showcased the good in our fellow human beings.

[teen persuasion]

1) How selectively oblivious people can be. You passed 4 "mask mandatory" signs on your way in (on the outer door, inner door, at the hand sanitizer-which you used, and at my desk, yet you claim you thought we weren't requiring masks because there were no signs?!

2) How ridiculously interconnected our lives are in a Six degrees of Bacon kind of way. That whole butterfly-flapping-its-wings-in-the-Amazon thing is not nearly as outrageous as I'd originally thought, if Omicron can spread this fast.

I'm sure will add more later...

[Tiny]

What I learned?

1.) Eating out, Going to Bars, Going to/watching Sports are all consuming hobbies for more people than I ever imagined. (I had to listen to a lot whining about not being able to do any of the stuff that use to be done pre-covid). I guess people don't really have hobbies these days.

2.) I, too, enjoy being a hermit. (although as a woman I think I would be called a recluse). decades ago I use to sort of joke about how I wanted to be a Hermit and live in a cave with hot and cold running water, internet, and access to toilet paper. And thanks to the pandemic - I got to try out being a Hermit! My house isn't a cave - but close enough. It worked for me.

3.) I enjoy doing "silly" stuff - going to the arboretum, going to the zoo (it's very park/garden like), doing kitschy touristy things (outdoors) the Train Museum, A "garden walk". I like sitting outside of restaurants and bars and eating and drinking. I like doing old time "craft" things, too.

4.) I learned that my "I'm retired budget" of expected expenses - is very realistic. I am ready to FIre!! (got a few more months to go!)

5.) I rather liked zoom get togethers with friends. (they didn't like it so much - which I found weird because they all watch hours and hours of TV every day... but sitting in front of a computer monitor screen for an hour was "uncomfortable".... probably be cause they were missing their shows.

6.) the saddest thing I learned was that lots of people in my Real Life - have next to no ability to cope with change or not having things go the way they demand they go. Not being able to go to places that provided entertainment seemed to mean their life was over. One wailed "what are we suppose to do? stay home and stare at the walls??" That made me sad.

7.)  added:   I learned that a lot of people in my Real Life aren't very good at figuring out what's plausible and what is not.    I'm guessing if you told them you saw a camel playing the guitar while riding a motor scooter and that soon all the local entertainment places would have guitar playing, motor scooter riding camels headlining  - they would be inclined to believe that a camel could play the guitar while riding on a motor scooter and they would start thinking about how expensive it would be see this wonder, when would they be able to do it, and how quickly would tickets sell out (cause you KNOW the scalpers are going to get all the good tickets)? 

  

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

That corporate America literally doesn't care if you die so long as they make a buck from it.  I mean I always knew they didn't care about their employees, but JFC.   Sending the text I was positive and listening to the HR person desperately back track was awesome.

I told DH if I die you better own the company or I will come back to haunt you.

[buystoys]

While I prefer to be a hermit, I do better mentally and emotionally when I get out on a regular basis. 

I'm spending more time with my Dad.  I wish I'd spent more with my Mom.

Due to Mom's death, we let a lot of bad family history just die.  We're much closer now than we've been in decades.

I worry too much about things I can't control.  I'm working on that.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2021 18:49:15 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Please let’s refrain from making this political. I’ll go first….

1. The pandemic proved that there are a lot of really stupid people in this world, but I already figured that.

2. I learned that we never know which time will be the last time we get to do something we love, or hug someone we love, even if it’s just the last time for a very long time. Or worse, the last time, period. I already knew that intellectually, but the pandemic drove the point home for me.

3. I learned that even though I’ve become a bit of a recluse, I do enjoy socializing occasionally, and I really value spending time with family. I’ve always kind of taken the time with family for granted. Not anymore.

Your turn.

The pandemic taught me there are a lot of really smart people in the world. People that know way more than anybody else. When it comes to intelligence, I am at the bottom of the ladder. I learned there are a lot of scientists. My sister was saying how ignorant people are. It keeps getting pounded into my head. PEOPLE ARE STUPID - INCLUDING ME.

[Lizard Queen]

1. The majority of people don't want to even consider the ugly truth, and instead will seek out affirmation.

2. The years I spent taking care of my mother were very much like the soft lockdown we had.

3. I'm more social than I realized.

4. I learned more about biology, which I had previously avoided due to the requirement of cutting up dead animals.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I would like to hope people realize that while they are worshipping the 1%s like Bezos and Elon Musk that it's really those 99% of people you treat like crap because they didn't make your coffee right that actually make the world go round. 

Society would survive just fine without Jeff Bezos waving his dick in space.   We've been brought to our knees when truckers can't get product out.

I've also realized how little survival skills most people actually have.  I was chatting with my neighbor who grew up without indoor plumbing, he didn't get the hysteria over TP.  Yes TP serves a purpose and a valuable one but people LIVED just fine without it.   Beating people up and attacking customer service reps opening a pallet of it was ridiculous.  

Also all the PSAs that had to go out about not flushing stuff like book and magazine pages really drove home that most of us will die in an actual apocalypse.  Come on people it's called Google. 

[Deleted]

1.  Some folks are actually happy being miserable and work hard to make sure you are miserable too

2.  Sometimes we conflate the worth of an individual with the wage they earn.  No bank VP ever had to endure the abuse I saw dished out to store workers when supplies were short and lines long.

3.  There's work to be done on gender equity in childcare and education.  The pandemic has exposed an imbalance with women still shouldering a lot including remote learning.

[billisonboard]

Dec 22, 2021 9:41:10 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

Dec 21, 2021 18:49:15 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Please let’s refrain from making this political. I’ll go first….

1. The pandemic proved that there are a lot of really stupid people in this world, but I already figured that.

2. I learned that we never know which time will be the last time we get to do something we love, or hug someone we love, even if it’s just the last time for a very long time. Or worse, the last time, period. I already knew that intellectually, but the pandemic drove the point home for me.

3. I learned that even though I’ve become a bit of a recluse, I do enjoy socializing occasionally, and I really value spending time with family. I’ve always kind of taken the time with family for granted. Not anymore.

Your turn.

The pandemic taught me there are a lot of really smart people in the world. People that know way more than anybody else. When it comes to intelligence, I am at the bottom of the ladder. I learned there are a lot of scientists. My sister was saying how ignorant people are. It keeps getting pounded into my head. PEOPLE ARE STUPID - INCLUDING ME.

There is a big difference between ignorant and stupid. I am ignorant in regards to vaccine technology but certainly not stupid enough to elevate my opinions concerning it above those who aren't.

[Deleted]

1. Never take anything or anybody for granted. It can all change.

2.  This was mentioned earlier, but we're all connected.  It DOES matter to us in the developed world that there aren't enough people in developing countries getting vaccinated.

3.  Sometimes when you're forced to change habits, you make changes that are permanent or at least long-term.  I'm doing fine without the gym, I now go to Costco every other week instead of weekly, and at least one day a week I don't use the car.

4.  Not all meetings need to happen in person.  I'm glad that I can do my church-related meetings on Zoom rather than travel the 35-mile round trip.

5.  The  Chinese government cannot be trusted.  Oh, yeah- I knew that already.

6.  And yes, there are a lot of stupid, stubborn, inconsiderate people in this world.  Some of them are my family and friends.
 

[Opti]

I would like to hope people realize that while they are worshipping the 1%s like Bezos and Elon Musk that it's really those 99% of people you treat like crap because they didn't make your coffee right that actually make the world go round. (DQ)





Sometimes we conflate the worth of an individual with the wage they earn. No bank VP ever had to endure the abuse I saw dished out to store workers when supplies were short and lines long. (SS)


  (I have known since I was very young that the worth of the individual had nothing to do with money earned, race and others. I Thank my parents for that.)


I'm glad that I can do my church-related meetings on Zoom rather than travel the 35-mile round trip. (Athena)

Agreed although I've noticed some churches make it easy and some make it hard depending on sw program used. The church I chose locally uses Zoom. The one roughly that far away uses FB something. Have yet to join a service, as I do not have a current FB account and not looking forward to creating and maintaining it. Work sometimes used Facetime for visitor visits. I haven't learned that yet, but plan to soon.

[Tennesseer]

I learned to shop in stores and not wear my eyeglasses because I have tried and tried to fit my mask around my nose and mouth and my glasses still fog up.

That it's not all about 'you' when you are asked to get vaccinated/ booster shot and wear a mask when among indoor crowds.  It's about protecting others who may not be able to physically handle being vaccinated.

[Opti]

Dec 22, 2021 9:06:29 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

That corporate America literally doesn't care if you die so long as they make a buck from it.  I mean I always knew they didn't care about their employees, but JFC.   Sending the text I was positive and listening to the HR person desperately back track was awesome.

I told DH if I die you better own the company or I will come back to haunt you.

Its even more fun and up close and personal if its your boss's boss or someone else high in the local branch. Some did, although it may have been covering too many hours and not being careful enough in Covid+ patient rooms.

I am so glad and surprised I did not catch Covid at work. It easily could have happened.

[Deleted]

I learned not to call anyone stupid. It is inconsiderate. Every body is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings. 

[raeoflyte]

I haven't learned it yet but am trying to figure out a balanced schedule. We desperately missed our activities, some were still not back to. But having downtime is nice too.

I need 1 full weekend day to prep for the week, but that's a lot of life to try to cram into that 1 other day.

I knew how much I loved and appreciated my parents and months of not being able to visit was awful. I will enjoy every minute we get.

[billisonboard]

Dec 22, 2021 13:30:12 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

I learned not to call anyone stupid. It is inconsiderate. Every body is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings. 

I agree everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings. And I agree they should not be called stupid. I have no problem with it being explained to people that their expressed thoughts and feelings are based on inaccurate information when necessary for our society's safety.

[busymom]

Dec 22, 2021 13:12:24 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I learned to shop in stores and not wear my eyeglasses because I have tried and tried to fit my mask around my nose and mouth and my glasses still fog up.

That it's not all about 'you' when you are asked to get vaccinated/ booster shot and wear a mask when among indoor crowds.  It's about protecting others who may not be able to physically handle being vaccinated.

      Tuck the edge of your mask underneath your glasses.  For some reason, that seems to prevent them from getting fogged up.  Even works here in the Midwest.  

[crazycat]

I learned just who I can and can’t count on . 
I learned that there were some people in my life who I just had to cut out . TOXIC 
I learned just how  selfish , hateful people really are . 


On a good note , I finally just said , NOPE , and life is too short to put up with so called friends and family that really don’t give a shit about anything except themselves . 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

My identity is massively intertwined with my work. While I knew that, the pandemic has affected my profession in such a a drastic way that it's actually caused me to re-evaluate how much my identity needs a bit help in being more well-rounded. Part of that does have to do with my youngest child graduating from high school in June 2019 and going to college in September 2019. 

[anciana]

I've learned that people showed up as they do in all other crisis situations. Some showed up at the stores picking up all of the TP that was available. Some showed up on NextDoor to offer from their modest supplies to the ones that were left without any. And I learned that I can't judge either of them rightfully as I don't know what kind of shoes they wear or what kind of road they travel.

[swamp]

Dec 22, 2021 13:43:59 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Dec 22, 2021 13:30:12 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

I learned not to call anyone stupid. It is inconsiderate. Every body is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings. 

I agree everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings. And I agree they should not be called stupid. I have no problem with it being explained to people that their expressed thoughts and feelings are based on inaccurate information when necessary for our society's safety.

Meh. Some people are just stupid