BF
The Italian PM has apparently called this his country's "darkest hour". Surely that is an unhelpful hyperbole, without wanting to sound unsympathetic or insensitive to victims and families, estimated 463 deaths from a single illness can hardly be the darkest hour in the history of the country.
My 88 year old mother would agree. She thinks we're all a bunch of softies, and I can see her point, there are very few now where the horror and chilling uncertainty of WWII is a living memory
That said I've just read a message from an Italian friend whose parents live in the worst affected region. It's pretty scary
With respect, your 88 year old mother needs to do the following:
1 - Stop going on about the war. Many generations younger than her have experienced war, including the Falklands and the Yugoslav conflict. She's not special.
2 - Stop applying British arrogance to a global viral outbreak. As in 1 - she's not special and, at her age, has an increased risk of catching the condition, dying from it, or spreading it to and killing her friends.
The Italian response is a well rehearsed approach designed to slow the spread of the virus while scientists work frantically behind the scenes to find a vaccine to SAVE LIVES. I am routinely seeing comments online and on TV from people saying it's all an over reaction. These comments are always from people who do not have chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems. Funny that.
Right, back to the presentation chat. Haha.
On the other hand, I’d say a measured attitude is what is needed. Fears of lockdown, self-isolation are what’s leading to the stockpiling scenes we’re seeing and will only make things worse/more stressed.
Locking down a country at pretty much no notice is by any measure a very nuclear option - any tourist who was still in Italy is now unable to get out for a month and probably very worried and scared (I had a friend who thankfully got out of Italy a day or two before the lockdown). For me much of the reaction I’ve seen particularly online has been of 3 camps:
1) There’s nothing to worry about, why’s everyone paniced - agreed this is irresponsible and not helpful
2) Of the ‘We’re doomed I tells ya’ variety which spreads panic and seems to suggest if you so much as step out the house you’ll get coronavirus and die and if you don’t agree you are the problem.
3) Sneering and mocking people who are panicked as a result of Number 2 and who are now stockpiling whatever they can.
For me it’s most important that actually coverage and reaction stays mostly fact-based and that much attention should be paid to the experts (particularly on self-isolation and the like) but we should still ask questions/clarify as normal.
Certainly I’ve taken a step back from Twitter because as an anxiety sufferer, it was making my mental health a lot worse.
The Italian PM has apparently called this his country's "darkest hour". Surely that is an unhelpful hyperbole, without wanting to sound unsympathetic or insensitive to victims and families, estimated 463 deaths from a single illness can hardly be the darkest hour in the history of the country.
My 88 year old mother would agree. She thinks we're all a bunch of softies, and I can see her point, there are very few now where the horror and chilling uncertainty of WWII is a living memory
That said I've just read a message from an Italian friend whose parents live in the worst affected region. It's pretty scary
With respect, your 88 year old mother needs to do the following:
1 - Stop going on about the war. Many generations younger than her have experienced war, including the Falklands and the Yugoslav conflict. She's not special.
2 - Stop applying British arrogance to a global viral outbreak. As in 1 - she's not special and, at her age, has an increased risk of catching the condition, dying from it, or spreading it to and killing her friends.
The Italian response is a well rehearsed approach designed to slow the spread of the virus while scientists work frantically behind the scenes to find a vaccine to SAVE LIVES. I am routinely seeing comments online and on TV from people saying it's all an over reaction. These comments are always from people who do not have chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems. Funny that.
Right, back to the presentation chat. Haha.
On the other hand, I’d say a measured attitude is what is needed. Fears of lockdown, self-isolation are what’s leading to the stockpiling scenes we’re seeing and will only make things worse/more stressed.
Locking down a country at pretty much no notice is by any measure a very nuclear option - any tourist who was still in Italy is now unable to get out for a month and probably very worried and scared (I had a friend who thankfully got out of Italy a day or two before the lockdown). For me much of the reaction I’ve seen particularly online has been of 3 camps:
1) There’s nothing to worry about, why’s everyone paniced - agreed this is irresponsible and not helpful
2) Of the ‘We’re doomed I tells ya’ variety which spreads panic and seems to suggest if you so much as step out the house you’ll get coronavirus and die and if you don’t agree you are the problem.
3) Sneering and mocking people who are panicked as a result of Number 2 and who are now stockpiling whatever they can.
For me it’s most important that actually coverage and reaction stays mostly fact-based and that much attention should be paid to the experts (particularly on self-isolation and the like) but we should still ask questions/clarify as normal.
Certainly I’ve taken a step back from Twitter because as an anxiety sufferer, it was making my mental health a lot worse.