When will this shit end?

[steviewevie]

 

[DeanoL]

12 hours ago, steviewevie said:

Ok, thanks. That Christina Pagel has been making the argument that we should try and keep the virus suppressed until we have more vaccines available for these other variants...but that means maybe keeping some restrictions and no travel abroad this summer...which obviously isn't very popular!

It'll be interesting to see what the appetite for holidays abroad is this summer. If most places abroad are still employing some form of social distancing or lockdown. Would people want to go Spain if it means going back to masks, keeping distance from people, half empty restaurants, etc? Or holiday in the UK when you don't have to do that.

As someone who usually does city breaks in Europe, going to a city where half of it is shut isn't that appealing.

[st dan]

Just now, DeanoL said:

It'll be interesting to see what the appetite for holidays abroad is this summer. If most places abroad are still employing some form of social distancing or lockdown. Would people want to go Spain if it means going back to masks, keeping distance from people, half empty restaurants, etc? Or holiday in the UK when you don't have to do that.

As someone who usually does city breaks in Europe, going to a city where half of it is shut isn't that appealing.

It’s purely dependent on the weather I think. If we had a summer like 2018 then I’m sure the majority of people would be quite content staying in the UK and holidaying or relaxing here. 

[DeanoL]

 

11 hours ago, gizmoman said:

As a matter of interest, how long would this have to go on before you would start to think that your dad might be right?

Wasn't directed at me, but my answer to this would be "after the NHS is back to normal". That's the latest possible point I can see for any viable argument for restrictions. This will likely be a few months after everyone has had their second dose. At that point, other than the struggle with clearing the backlog that will have built up, the NHS should be at around the same capacity as it was before this started.

11 hours ago, gizmoman said:

Ah understood, the state still control the primary message though through the main media and there is now an active censorship of alternative sources by the big tech firms so the flow of information is starting to be more controlled, the government are currently working on making the internet "safe" from disinformation, so although we were bombarded with information from all sides things are starting to move towards a more controlled situation. Fact checkers now tell us what to believe, who fact checks the fact checkers?

But no-one is being actively censored on the the internet. Sure, if you want to post up stuff on Facebook and Twitter that is outright dangerous lies, they'll remove it. But those are private companies. If I owned Facebook, I'd do the same. I'd feel a moral responsibility to do so. Would you not?

But there's still absolutely nothing stopping anyone from buying some web hosting, registering a domain and putting their own views up on their own websites. Unless it's literally illegal (child pornography or selling drugs or such) no-one will take it down. 

(And for illegal stuff, there's a "dark web" that's trivially easy to access)

[efcfanwirral]

5 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

It'll be interesting to see what the appetite for holidays abroad is this summer. If most places abroad are still employing some form of social distancing or lockdown. Would people want to go Spain if it means going back to masks, keeping distance from people, half empty restaurants, etc? Or holiday in the UK when you don't have to do that.

As someone who usually does city breaks in Europe, going to a city where half of it is shut isn't that appealing.

Plenty will be off as soon as they're allowed whether it's right or not. Personally I don't think it's morally right but each to their own I guess. 

I'd hate to have to wear a mask in the sun, it would be so uncomfortable and also ineffective when I sweat on it and it gets wet within a few minutes 

[TheFullShaboo]

2 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

It'll be interesting to see what the appetite for holidays abroad is this summer. If most places abroad are still employing some form of social distancing or lockdown. Would people want to go Spain if it means going back to masks, keeping distance from people, half empty restaurants, etc? Or holiday in the UK when you don't have to do that.

As someone who usually does city breaks in Europe, going to a city where half of it is shut isn't that appealing.

This is exactly my dilemma. Travel and festivals is what keeps me going throughout the year so been thinking about this a lot since the announcement. 

Ive decided to leave any oversees travel till September onwards and make the most of the festivals on offer in the UK until then, whilst being able to catch some of final rays of sunshine on the continent before winter. Also gives a bit more time for any restrictions still in place overseas to be fully phased out. 

[xxialac]

10 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

I'd hate to have to wear a mask in the sun, it would be so uncomfortable and also ineffective when I sweat on it and it gets wet within a few minutes 

I don't know about other countries but in terms of Spain:

- you only wear a mask when walking the streets and it is amazing how quickly this becomes normal and you adapt - even in the sun. You don't have to wear one when eating or drinking or being on the beach or exercising, all of which a large part of any holiday. It's also very possible this will be relaxed further by the Summer

- restaurants are open today for 50% indoor capacity dining, so by the Summer they will be full or near-full. 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

19 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

It'll be interesting to see what the appetite for holidays abroad is this summer. If most places abroad are still employing some form of social distancing or lockdown. Would people want to go Spain if it means going back to masks, keeping distance from people, half empty restaurants, etc? Or holiday in the UK when you don't have to do that.

As someone who usually does city breaks in Europe, going to a city where half of it is shut isn't that appealing.

Ibiza in July 2020 was a very different experience. None of the clubs were open, it was 80% less crowded, all of the bars in the West End of San Antonio and Playa d'en Bossa were closed and you had to wear a mask in all public places except for the beach. You even had to keep your mask on at your table at the restaurant until your first drink arrived and put it back on to use the restroom. And I'd give my right arm to be able to do it all again this year, I need to get away and get some (guaranteed) sunshine by the sea. We're booked in July and I fully expect it to be a similar experience to last year. 

[Mellotr0n]

One thing I reckon is gonna happen is we're all going to be surprised at how tiring we find mass social interaction again, after being so used to only interacting with a very small group of people for a year or so.

Don't get me wrong, will get over it and it'll be totally worth it, but the thought of doing, say - 3 different social interactions with 10+ differing people each time, all within a week - sounds absolutely knackering to me right now!

Anyone get where I'm coming from?

Edited February 24, 2021 by Mellotr0n

[Fuzzy Afro]

24 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

Plenty will be off as soon as they're allowed whether it's right or not. Personally I don't think it's morally right but each to their own I guess. 

I'd hate to have to wear a mask in the sun, it would be so uncomfortable and also ineffective when I sweat on it and it gets wet within a few minutes 

Given testing requirements before/after, vaccines and the fact that they wouldn’t let you in at all if they didn’t want you, I’m not seeing what the issue is?

[DeanoL]

12 minutes ago, xxialac said:

I don't know about other countries but in terms of Spain:

- you only wear a mask when walking the streets and it is amazing how quickly this becomes normal and you adapt - even in the sun. You don't have to wear one when eating or drinking or being on the beach or exercising, all of which a large part of any holiday. It's also very possible this will be relaxed further by the Summer

- restaurants are open today for 50% indoor capacity dining, so by the Summer they will be full or near-full. 

But deaths and cases in Spain are going up at the moment? So unless they get on top of the vaccination programme properly, we can't assume restrictions will be lower in summer.

[steviewevie]

11 minutes ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

Ibiza in July 2020 was a very different experience. None of the clubs were open, it was 80% less crowded, all of the bars in the West End of San Antonio and Playa d'en Bossa were closed and you had to wear a mask in all public places except for the beach. You even had to keep your mask on at your table at the restaurant until your first drink arrived and put it back on to use the restroom. And I'd give my right arm to be able to do it all again this year, I need to get away and get some (guaranteed) sunshine by the sea. We're booked in July and I fully expect it to be a similar experience to last year. 

any parties going on?

[philipsteak]

7 minutes ago, Mellotr0n said:

One thing I reckon is gonna happen is we're all going to be surprised at how tiring we find mass social interaction again, after being so used to only interacting with a very small group of people for a year or so.

Don't get me wrong, will get over it and it'll be totally worth it, but the thought of doing, say - 3 social interactions with 10+ people all within a week - sounds absolutely knackering to me right now!

Anyone get where I'm coming from?

What are we all going to talk about?

"Been up to much?"

"...."

[Mellotr0n]

1 minute ago, philipsteak said:

What are we all going to talk about?

"Been up to much?"

"...."

That's also why lots of recent Zoom catch ups have been largely shit, unless it's with a good mate where you can just chat away about all sorts of stupid stuff.

[st dan]

8 minutes ago, Mellotr0n said:

One thing I reckon is gonna happen is we're all going to be surprised at how tiring we find mass social interaction again, after being so used to only interacting with a very small group of people for a year or so.

Don't get me wrong, will get over it and it'll be totally worth it, but the thought of doing, say - 3 social interactions with 10+ people all within a week - sounds absolutely knackering to me right now!

Anyone get where I'm coming from?

You can’t even claim to be ‘running out of battery’ when you want to leave like we can on Zoom. 

[gooner1990]

43 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

It'll be interesting to see what the appetite for holidays abroad is this summer. If most places abroad are still employing some form of social distancing or lockdown. Would people want to go Spain if it means going back to masks, keeping distance from people, half empty restaurants, etc? Or holiday in the UK when you don't have to do that.

As someone who usually does city breaks in Europe, going to a city where half of it is shut isn't that appealing.

Me and my girlfriend have 5 nights in New York for my 40th booked in mid-August, and luckily I have a friend living there at the moment keeping me up to date with everything so if we will be fairly well informed about what its like to go there as tourists if we stick to our booked dates. 

My girlfriend has already spoken about postpoining until 2022 as she doesn't want to spend a ton of money going, only for it to be half the trip she wants because of things either being shut or not as they should be due to COVID restrictions.  I kinda get her point but I'm also desperate to go as I've been looking forward to it for ages, it might be bette to go when its a bit quieter this summer if not so many people are keen to go and we've already had other things for this year cancelled...and well just selfishly i'm not 40 in August next year its this year! 

Edited February 24, 2021 by gooner1990

[Mellotr0n]

1 minute ago, st dan said:

You can’t even claim to be ‘running out of battery’ when you want to leave like we can on Zoom. 

Yeah these are the introverts concerns, aren't they? Pressure to socialise.

I did one of those introvert/extrovert tests and came out down the middle - an ambivert. I've definitely missed mass gatherings, a lot.

Edited February 24, 2021 by Mellotr0n

[squirrelarmy]

Just now, Mellotr0n said:

That's also why lots of recent Zoom catch ups have been largely shit, unless it's with a good mate where you can just chat away about all sorts of stupid stuff.

Perfect time to mention the virtual meets we have on here. Talking about stupid shit is what we excel at. There’s a games night later this evening and a more regular chatty drinky session this weekend. 

[Mellotr0n]

1 minute ago, st dan said:

You can’t even claim to be ‘running out of battery’ when you want to leave like we can on Zoom. 

The 5 seconds after you say bye on a Zoom meeting and are all fiddling around trying to press the Leave Meeting button while still half waving are excruciatingly socially awkward ha.

Someone explained quite well a while back why we also often feel very flat the moment a Zoom meeting is over. It's so sudden.

When you say bye to friends at the end of a night out, it's often much more gradual and feels more natural - maybe there's 6 of you, and 2 split off leaving 4 of you, then 1 more goes leaving 3 of you walking home, etc etc. With Zoom it is brutal and clinical the way it throws you back into your room in silence.

[efcfanwirral]

12 minutes ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Given testing requirements before/after, vaccines and the fact that they wouldn’t let you in at all if they didn’t want you, I’m not seeing what the issue is?

I don't think its as simple as that - in some cases they NEED people there due to reliance on tourism and will be willing to accept a certain amount of deaths for that. I guess deaths will happen if the economy isn't fed but it's a shit situation all round.

With us being so far ahead on vaccinations I don't think it's THAT important for people to be able to go abroad. I hate this country more than most do but it just doesn't sit right this summer when everyone else is so far behind

Edited February 24, 2021 by efcfanwirral

[steviewevie]

7 minutes ago, Mellotr0n said:

That's also why lots of recent Zoom catch ups have been largely shit, unless it's with a good mate where you can just chat away about all sorts of stupid stuff.

I'm no psychologist, but I reckon we'll quickly adjust pretty quickly to how we used to be...so for me that means needing some sort of social lubricant or mind altering substance when talking to friends.

Edited February 24, 2021 by steviewevie

[xxialac]

9 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

But deaths and cases in Spain are going up at the moment? So unless they get on top of the vaccination programme properly, we can't assume restrictions will be lower in summer.

The opposite is true - cases and deaths in Spain are falling dramatically.

And by the Summer will be very low, barring mutant issues.

https://english.elpais.com/society/2021-02-24/spain-leaves-extreme-risk-coronavirus-situation-with-incidence-rate-falling-to-235-cases-per-100000.html

 

[Hannibal Schmitt]

43 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

It'll be interesting to see what the appetite for holidays abroad is this summer. If most places abroad are still employing some form of social distancing or lockdown. Would people want to go Spain if it means going back to masks, keeping distance from people, half empty restaurants, etc? Or holiday in the UK when you don't have to do that.

As someone who usually does city breaks in Europe, going to a city where half of it is shut isn't that appealing.

This won`t be the case as shops have already opened up here now and hotels and restaurants are going to open up latest at easter. Also our health minister has said a dozen time that by summer everyone who wants a vaccine will have been vaccinated,

[Mellotr0n]

1 minute ago, steviewevie said:

I'm no psychologists, but I reckon we'll quickly adjust pretty quickly to how we used to be...so for me that means needing some sort of social lubricant or mind altering substance when talking to friends.

Yeah I think you're right - for the vast majority of us it won't take a while, but for a couple of weeks or so I reckon I'll find all the sudden socialising a bit knackering - but it'll be so fun that I'll keep wanting to do it anyway.

I worry for those who have literally shut themselves away for a year - I think some may end up with some lasting psychological trauma that may take quite a while to sort.

[st dan]

2 minutes ago, xxialac said:

The opposite is true - cases and deaths in Spain are falling dramatically.

And by the Summer will be very low, barring mutant issues.

https://english.elpais.com/society/2021-02-24/spain-leaves-extreme-risk-coronavirus-situation-with-incidence-rate-falling-to-235-cases-per-100000.html

 

Interesting - is that mainly being driven by the change in weather? Seen as the ‘restrictions’ don’t seem so harsh at all.