Freedom!

[Octavious]

So, with Covid-19 in retreat as a lethal force in ever greater areas of the globe, and normal life returning to more and more people every day, how are we all finding it?

I have to say that enjoying live music in a bustling pub, making plans to go to the other half's grandparent's 70th anniversary do, not having to worry about wearing those godawful masks whenever you go to the shops... has been bloody fantastic in recent weeks .

[Jamiet99uk]

I missed my friends and am glad to have a social life again.

A couple of them did not make it, which is very sad.

[gimix]

I'm afraid many of us suffered the same as you, Jamie. It is awful.
And, Octavious, I would like to share your optimistic view, but it is in retreat, not defated still: let's keep our guard up

[Octavious]

I have to disagree, gimix. I don't think it will ever be defeated, in much the same way that previous coronaviruses never were. There's a small chance that a vaccine is developed that can prevent people catching the virus, rather than reducing the chances and cutting the impact as the current ones do, and an even smaller chance that the will will be there to vaccinate the global population if that happens. Realistically, though, defeat of the virus isn't on the cards. The closest thing to victory we will have is when we can lower our guard, which should be as soon as is practicable. Not everywhere is there yet, by any stretch of the imagination, but some are, and it is fantastic.

[goldfinger0303]

Ironic this is posted as US case counts are exploding and talks of lockdown are rising.

[Octavious]

Is it ironic?

The Indian variant driven wave came first to India, then made its way to the UK and mainland Europe, and is currently making headway in the USA. The spread of this variant was inevitable, but the extra time that the USA has had to prepare for it has been of great benefit to that nation and should be celebrated. With high vaccination rates there should be no need of further draconian lockdowns that less well protected nations such as Australia are requiring.

[Octavious]

But we are in danger of turning this into a debate over covid policy when the intent is purely to celebrate the growing return to freedom that we are starting to see across the world.

[Trigfea63]

"Freedom" means different things to different people. I would like to be "free" to go to the supermarket without having to worry I'll catch a dread disease.

[Octavious]

I'm not sure how your definition of freedom differs from anyone else's, Trig

[Sasanov]

in fact, we should mark those unvaccinated
im thinking something big! a nice fat yellow star right on the arm!

[bo_sox48]

what the fuck is wrong with you

[Octavious]

in fact, we should mark those unvaccinated
im thinking something big! a nice fat yellow star right on the arm!

There is a debate to be had over the treatment of people who don't, for whatever reason, wish to be vaccinated, but that's very much a debate for the politics thread. And even there comparisons with Nazi Germany will be neither accurate nor useful.

[jmo1121109]

in fact, we should mark those unvaccinated
im thinking something big! a nice fat yellow star right on the arm!

You can go convince a mod to unsilence you from the forum now.

[FriendBoy]

"Freedom" means different things to different people. I would like to be "free" to go to the supermarket without having to worry I'll catch a dread disease.

"Dread disease" means different things to different people. I would like to be free to go to the supermarket. I'm not worried, and if you're vaccinated, you shouldn't be worried either, right?

I'm celebrating the return to freedom

[Trigfea63]

I hope you're right, Friend.

[Octavious]

Out of curiosity, what exactly was it about what Sasanov said that earned him a silence?

[ubercacher16]

It seems so much as mentioning Nazi policy gets you shut up.

[JRoz]

I'm extremely fortunate to live in Western Australia. Beyond our initial lockdown, that lasted a couple of months, there's only been a few snap lockdowns that have lasted for a week or less. There is only 4 active cases in a state of over 2 million people, all in hotel quarantine. There has only been just over 1k overall cases and 9 deaths and no serious community infection since the start of the outbreak. Like has been as close to normal as possible for quite a while.

I really feel for everyone else who has gone through prolonged lockdowns/restrictions, caught COVID, and/or had people they've known who has died from it. It must be extremely difficult.

[Randomizer]

“War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, 1984

I'm living in a State (Arizona) of denial where the government's Covid-19 policy is driven by politics and not science. So I'm enslaved by the ignorant Trumpites whose policies make it unsafe to go outside in public without a mask even though I'm fully vaccinated. The spread on new cases is rising and I dread if I have to go to a hospital for a serious illness.

My friend was lucky to have his stroke during a down turn in cases. His wife's broken leg was serious (requiring surgery), but quickly handled and out before over crowding in the emergency room.

[Octavious]

Eh? It's literally always been safe to go outside in public without a mask, regardless of whether or not you have a vaccination. Wearing a mask when you're not in an enclosed area or in a dense crowd of people does more harm than good because it dampens the mask and makes it less effective for when it might be useful.