Ecotrain QOTW: Are you a hugger or a shrugger?
This week’s @eco-train question of the week asked us to reflect on the general mood in our local area about Covid-19, and our feelings about what the future’s likely to hold!
I had thought that my adopted home city of Hereford, being relatively isolated on the Welsh Borders has a relatively low rate of Covid-19, but I just checked and in fact we are slightly above the national average, but only just...
More alarmingly maybe for the 'shruggers' (worriers) is that there’s been a local-ish spike in nearby Merthyr Tydfil – which is only around 50 miles away.
Then again Merthyr is notoriously local (they do a bit more than 'hug' in the valleys as I understand it), so the chances of the infection rate spreading are relatively small.
The local feeling about the Pandemic....
Well it’s a bit mixed –
My neighbours and I generally don’t seem that phased at all – we’ve just gone along with Lockdown and enjoyed the chill-time – my across the road neighbour has seem especially relaxed, with friends round, beers, barbeques, all ‘socially-distanced’ of course (?!).
My local long (80 metre) foot bridge has been an interesting one – it’s quite narrow, and quite a long wait if you get someone walking from the other end, so people have generally been ignoring social distancing for months here – convenience first I guess....
And a lot of the local teenagers seemed to have come out of lockdown a little early – they’re now back to hanging around in groups on Street Corners, so that certainly feels like things are getting back to normal.
Around town there are a few people wearing masks and a few scared looking people taking obvious steps to keep their distance, but there’s not enough of them to make things feel like this is a new norm – these people are so few, they’re the ones who look odd.
I think the new norm is just one of uncertainty – people not being sure what they should be doing: you know the kind of person – the one takes a step back to let you go past, but not really far enough to count for the now ‘1 metre distant rule’.
Uncertainty combined with a general slackness – certainly the people who did my kitchen and carpets recently weren’t that concerned with distancing, it was just hand washing, and I hear that most of their clients aren’t that concerned with it either.
So I wouldn't go as far as saying we're 'huggers' - there is a nod to being socially cautious about distancing, but we're not complete shruggers either, people in general aren't hiding away behind masks, and we're all starting to emerge from the shadows.
For frontline workers in institutions only?
So maybe the full-on social regulations are only enforceable in shops, schools, hospitals, on public transport and so on, anywhere where there’s visibility and people are employed and sackable?
Out here in the real-world things seem to be getting back to normal, all be-it with a little distance, and no evidence of full-on hugging yet, if there is hugging I imagine it's more a case of this...
Impacts on me personally…
Aside from the £5-6K of lost income, I must say I’ve really enjoyed NOT working in my teaching job, and I also must say that I really don’t want to go back to said teaching job in September, if that even happens.
The thought of having to go up to Birmingham (where the next course is scheduled) and be the front man during covid-times – it just doesn’t interest me! Also because I deliver basic teacher training, I just don't want to hear about all the crazy things trainers are going to have to do going forwards to meet the new safety standards. I can't bear-witness to people's future miseries when there's nothing I can do to help them, other than advise them to get the fuck out like I'm doing!
I’ve got used to leading a very secluded life almost entirely cut off from ‘ordinary society’ the last three months, and absolutely loved it! I need to make sure I don't go back into mainstream, the new normal is going to be fucking nuts!
So with any luck I’ll be on my way to Portugal before that next course is scheduled so I won’t have to deliver it – if it isn’t cancelled first, which it probably will be, and even if I end up doing it, it’ll probably be my last one ever anyway!
I've never heard the term huggers/shruggers... weird!
Anyway, I think the Coronavirus has affected us all in different ways which is leading to different experiences about how important or annoying it is. It has been a bit of a disaster personally, as musicians are heavily hit and the general consensus from certain parts of society is that we should just go and "do something useful" instead of asking for help. I do find it a bit odd that some people aren't able to parse the risk to society over the individual risk, but that is something that pervades all parts of our economy/society... so, it shouldn't really surprise me!
... also, I have found it weird that many people have such a light understanding on how science works... and on how statistics (not polling...) works.
I didn't really get the distinction from @eco-alex either, he's the one that came up with it!
This virus certainly has been divisive! I think that's only just begun - I read a report published last week that said the richest 10% have got richer, because they've been unable to spend so much money, while the poorest have just gone more into debt.
I would say at least 70% of the population are statistically illiterate, either through not caring or sheer lack of capacity.
Looks like a higher rate around here, but I still don't know anyone who has definitely had it, although some think they have. Cases seem to be concentrated in some areas.
The only time I see people with masks is on the train or in the supermarket. When I am out running I just try to give everyone a wide berth, but we will only be close for a couple of seconds anyway.
You're a little bit closer to Leicester than I am I guess!
I suppose @shanibeer isn't allowed to get out much atm.
It's a fair way to Leicester. I think Bedford has got it fairly bad. Just stay away from crowds, especially indoors.
We're sanguine in Leicester.
The concern, I think, is not knowing what has caused the spike here, although the sense from the Director of Public Health is that there may not be one single cause. Unfortunately, the situation has sparked a lot of unfounded (as the Mayor said, "not a shred of evidence") essentially racist rumours. Unhelpful.
I did quite a lot of my own research near the beginning of the pandemic: the key factors are level of congestion (ie lots of people in a small space) x duration of experience x increased respiratory action eg singing/playing sports. Unless one of the passersby on the footbridge sneezed directly at someone, they are unlikely to have enough exposure to the virus in passing by, even side by side. Risk increases if they stopped for a chat for five minutes and were facing each other.
Essential travel only is advised, both to and from and within Leicester, although reading Government guidance, social bubbles (one single person or parent may join another household) are still allowed.
A major cause for concern, though, is the under-the-radar garment factories in Leicester which have continued production throughout the pandemic and where there are are coercive and modern slavery practices in place. Boohoo, the largest retail exploiter of this, has seen significant increases in sales during the pandemic.
And then there is the Dominic Cummings effect, apparently an incident which has deep penetration across all classes and cultures of the UK, regardless of their general knowledge of current affairs.
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STOPnice one! great to hear how things are in Wales..i can imagine its been real weird because older country folk tend to do what the TV tells them to do.. and thats for sure the easiest and only practical way for most of them...
im glad you found your balance.. sounds like things are coming back to some kind of normality!
most importantly.. im VERY interested to read you write
I have been FEELING this in the ethers.. and wondering if it is so.. I wondered how many people will not even want to go back to their old lives after so long on pause.. The momentum of the duldrugery of daily life has reveled itself.. a bit like if you are watching movie and push pause .. and then suddenly realise how terrible it was only after you pause it. p-)
much love <3
A lot of people are just staying indoors, and I think that suits most people - I don't know if you know a TV sitcom called 'Not Going Out' - I think that's about right for most people! They'd rather just stay in anyway, we all lead such privatised lives.
I imagine a lot of people have been reflecting on their next moves. There surely must be an increase in the numbers of people just wanting to escape the rat race now?
The media seem to have found plenty children who are desperate to get back to school, but I can't believe that's representative! I feel sorry for the kids, they're going to have to bear even more 'obsession over their safety' now!
ill check that sitcom out.. i havent heard of it.... as usual ;-)
I think probably its true the kids wanna go to school!!! can u imagine being stuck at home with your mum and dad for three months and you cant see your freinds! I think they all want to go just to have some fun and hang out.. l-)
I wouldn't recommend the SitCom btw, it's wallpaper, it's just name kind of sums up our times!
I think you're probably right about the kiddos!