The Coronavirus Thread

There was nothing stopping stores putting a restriction in place much sooner than they did.

 

I disagree with both points.

This is the Coronavirus thread, the image belongs here more than elsewhere - and I found it a bit gross but also topical and funny. There isn't a Berlin Wall between the serious and general fora, our heads won't explode if one funny thing happens in Serious.

And hoarding is absolutely fine as long as you're not choking supplies. I hoard non-perishables all the time. In fact, I didn't have to panic buy anything, because we were already well stocked before all this started. Bulk buying from one shop, in a time of crisis and shortage, is inconsiderate. Hoarding, as and when you find things in abundance, is sensible.

It's a non-issue if you use hand sanitizer and masks properly and otherwise follow lockdown. You won't come into contact with anybody who isn't already in regular contact with the public due to their jobs. Obviously people who are symptomatic or high risk shouldn't go to the post office, or go out at all.

I'd agree that shops were lackadaisical about putting measures in place. But I don't blame them for not being better prepared. Their business model depends on accurately predicting demand and minimizing waste by not overstocking. Supermarkets overstocking and then throwing away produce is a modern plague and they've been under huge pressure to cut down on it. This situation is entirely down to us, as a society, having an individualistic outlook. If I ran out of something I would ask my neighbour, without hesitation, and they'd help me out - they have, many times. Because we're socialised, rural and tight-knit. I go out and buy what I need, and buy stuff for my neighbours if they're low on particular things. The whole of China basically thinks like that, too, which is why they're not panic buying bog roll.

 

A wee bit of positive light...

My wife's friend went to their supermarket after they'd been self isolating and, unsurprisingly, found the place decimated.

Instead of leaving in a huff, he walked to the checkouts and made loud appeal (basically passive-aggressive shaming) to the other shoppers about greed and hoarding, and explained his situation. It worked. Other shoppers handed him pasta, eggs, tinned food and toilet rolls. He left with a decently full trolley.

 

So let me get this right, you're saying that someone in the UK who works in fertiliser production is considered to be an absolutely necessary job and as such they should be exempt from the governments rules?

 

I wasn't thinking about the post office itself, but that people will be receiving stuff that will have been touched by a few people on the way across the country. It's small but it's what we're supposed to be avoiding completely.

The shops have been fine really, but there's no toilet roll in a 3-mile radius. My mum went so far as to look for handkerchiefs. We were lucky to get 2 big rolls of kitchen roll which are lasting us a while. Might suggest seeing if there's newspapers. The advice on not putting wet wipes down the toilet is gonna go out the window eventually.

There are good people but it's a lottery who you live by. I yearn for the days of having nice next-door neighbours instead of a police helicopter outside one and a dawn raid by a police force in the other.

 

Anyone signed up with the GoodSAM volunteer programme? I am not occupied fully 9-5 as my work is a bit curtailed, so could help somehow.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52019509

 

I feel in two minds about this - I'm well up for providing assistance on the one hand, but seeing as my lot have all been indoors for over a week now (minus essential shopping runs), it seems counter-productive to then head to the frontline and put at risk four people...

 

Nothing personal, but no. Quote reponses are how discussions proceed, especially in Serious. Above, for example, oscy pointed out something I hadn't thought of, and changed my mind a little. I'm gobsmacked that this, of all things, bothers you.

 

Also given the economic implications of the shutdown it seems utterly disgusting for the government to ask for volunteers instead of creating paid jobs...

 

In an odd piece of positive news for once. Whilst my acrylic supplier has had to shut down, since his chief business is making display cabinets for public spaces (heard demand is down for those atm...), my aluminium supplier has seemingly managed a record turnaround. Hoping that the alternative acrylic place will manage okay, the further up the supply chain I have to go the harder it becomes to procure the "small" quantities I require. 10mm frosted acrylic is quite often only sold in full sheets, which are a) massive and b) set you back £4-500 each. Even with over-provisioning in case more places shut shop, I can't remotely justify that, nor do I really have a means to store that much stock either.

 

More so, given that they've apparently offered otherwise-sitting-idle London black cabbies paid roles as chauffeurs to NHS staff, in order to keep them off public transport as much as possible.

Also, as much as I reiterate I'm all for public spiritedness and helping your neighbour, without that financial incentive, I can't see many (responsible? Practical?) people taking the unpaid riskier option.

As I type this though, next door's gardeners, who I assume don't live in the same shed together, are out working as normal. Wasn't that banned now?

 

No, a debate can be progressed by quoting a point and responding with your take or counterpoint in a reasoned manner, but I wasn't responding to your conversation with oscy. I was referring to the quote for quote pissing contests these threads decent into when people preface or end their response with passive-aggressive or straight up confrontational remarks.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52040579

After trying to force his 0-hour workers to keep his sports shop open, billionaire Mike Ashley has now suddenly taken £600+ out of his supporters' bank accounts at the most helpful time possible. For next season's tickets. Despite this season not even being resumed yet.

 

NSFW If you're at work.

Edit:

Meanwhile Brighton are offering free tickets to NHS workers. Ashley is a slimeball.

 

My bad, I thought it was an overreaction to my stuff. I haven't read the thread back much. Take it easy though, man, it's just the forum. There are always people getting their pants twisted over each other's comments

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043896

Government backed emergency loans start at £25'000, so we'll offer you a maximum of £24'999 but only at 20% interest and you have to put your personal assets up as collateral for your business.

And bankers wonder why they need to hire bodyguards.

 

The council say the don't know when the grants to small businesses will arrive.

Well I'm on hold to the bank at the moment. I'll tell you in a bit.

But I predict the government will put a gun to the banks head in a moment. The want to stay in office and if there are bankruptcies and mass job losses everywhere, they will be out by the end of the year. Believe me, they will spend as much of your money as it takes......

 

You forgot the fact that banks are planning to push ahead with hiking everyone's overdraft interest rates up to 40% in the middle of this.