Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I travelled to the Balearics recently - (with much lower infection rates than the UK now) - every passenger was temperature tested on arrival by nurses, full social distancing, masks etc. - on return to Gatwick - no temperature testing, half the forms weren't checked (although they would have been registered on the system) and many of the immigration staff were both unmasked and not behind screens. No gloves used when taking passports. (Most of the automatic readers were down!).


If the impoverished Spanish Government can get it right, how come we can't?


Oh, and mask wearing everywhere built-up - except when actually eating or drinking, or on beaches.

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/264748-why-are-we-bothering/
Share on other sites

The culture of English exceptionalism is exactly that. It is the island mentality that has driven a lot of UK thinking over the centuries. One of two things will either happen this winter. Things will get so bad that government has to order a second full lockdown, or the public will take it upon themselves to shape how things evolve. We seem to have easily forgotten the days when 900 people were dying each day in hospital. That peak began with 1 then 2 then 10 etc daily death rates. We are now back up to 40 a day. And bear in mind, they are mostly people who became ill weeks ago.


What frustrates me is that we, the public, can do a lot to mitigate risk while keeping the economy open. But it is the actions of those that ignore even the simple request of wearing a mask on public transport that are reducing the chances of avoiding that second full lockdown. There are very few medical conditions that truly make a person exempt from wearing a mask. The vast majority of those who are not doing so, are doing it out of choice. If we won't oblige, then we can not be surprised when government makes laws ordering us to oblige. And no amount of defiant protesting in Trafalgar Square, led by cranks, is going to change that.

I disagree Nigello. Plenty of protests often have counter protests, but why would anyone want to put themselves at potential risk by mingling with thousands of people at a covid hoax protest? Plenty of people do challenge those who buy into that nonsense, on buses, in supermarkets and on social media. They are often met with a verbally aggressive response. The truth is that it is the bullies of the world that are often behind these types of acts of defiance, and they bully because they can not deal with their ignorance being exposed.

Does English exceptionalism also encompass complaining on forums unlikely to be seen by the offender about actions/non-actions after the event instead of there and then? I?d say yes. Even reporting it to the offender a day or so later would help.


To whom would I report the failure to test for temperature (or have any method of doing so) or for the lack of wearing or using PPE by government officials? There are simple things that the authorities could be doing to help the anti-Covid-19 cause. It seems easier to restrict individuals then to engage your own employees in 'doing the right thing'.


If you want people to take Covid-10 seriously, you need to start by doing so yourself, in deeds, not words. I knew that the Spanish authorities were serious about Covid from the second I got off the plane - from the second I got of the plane in Gatwick it seemed clear that the paid officials couldn't give a toss, and that there was no attempt to check on the health of those arriving. Obviously not everyone who has Covid 10 has a temperature (and some who do have a temperature don't have Covid-19) but it would be a start and a marker that it's important.


My point, posting here, is that we should be expecting more from the authorities, in terms of what they do, not what they say. After all, they want to judge us in terms of what we do.

" Why are we bothering? " Indeed.


I visited my GP's premises last week for an appointment to get my flu jab. The receptionist at the door had her face mask on below her nose. Before I let her get anywhere close to me to take my temperature I insisted she pull up her mask and over her nose. She complied while moaning "I can't breath with it".


I reckon we are all doomed - so many people are either ignorant or really don't care.

George Orwell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> " Why are we bothering? " Indeed.

>

> I visited my GP's premises last week for an

> appointment to get my flu jab. The receptionist at

> the door had her face mask on below her nose.

> Before I let her get anywhere close to me to take

> my temperature I insisted she pull up her mask and

> over her nose. She complied while moaning "I can't

> breath with it".

>

> I reckon we are all doomed - so many people are

> either ignorant or really don't care.


My dentist (The Gardens) was very careful - waited in the garden, checked my temperature before coming in, everyone had masks on properly as did I.


The guy in the garden after me had no mask on - didn't wait to see if they refused him, provided him one or he actually had one hidden - could be intimidating for the receptionist if he refused.

And no doubt your dentist does not form part of the state apparatus - and is acting properly and carefully, as are (most) of us. My issue was with the state apparatus which cannot be bothered to pay - well really even lip service - to acting properly. If other countries can take temperatures, and dress up in PPE (even masks), at their borders, why can't we? And what sort of a lesson is it giving to visitors to see state employees so lacking in interest?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • The issue must be everywhere at the moment. I was visiting a friend last week in Bermondsey, think we were walking  down Linton Rd & we dodged 7 dog poos. It was disgusting. 
    • Thanks for your message — I actually took the time to look into what CityHive does before posting my original comment, and I’d encourage anyone with questions to do the same. Yes, the Companies House filings are overdue — but from what I’ve gathered, this seems likely to be an accountant or admin issue, not some sign of ill intent. A lot of small, community-based organisations face challenges keeping up with formalities, especially when they’re focused on immediate needs like food distribution. Let’s not forget CityHive is a not-for-profit, volunteer-powered CIC — not a corporate machine. As for the directors, people stepping down or being replaced is often about capacity or commitment — which is completely normal in the voluntary and community sector. New directors are sometimes appointed when others can no longer give the time. It doesn’t automatically mean bad governance — it just means people’s circumstances change. CityHive’s actual work speaks volumes. They buy most of the food they distribute — fresh produce, essential groceries, and shelf-stable items — and then deliver it to food banks, soup kitchens, and community projects across London. The food doesn’t stay with CityHive — it goes out to local food hubs, and from there, directly to people who need it most. And while yes, there may be a few paid staff handling logistics or admin, there’s a huge volunteer effort behind the scenes that often goes unseen. Regular people giving their time to drive vans, sort donations, load pallets, pack food parcels — that’s what keeps things running. And when people don’t volunteer? Those same tasks still need to be done — which means they have to be paid for. Otherwise, the whole thing grinds to a halt. As the need grows, organisations like CityHive will inevitably need more support — both in people and funding. But the bigger issue here isn’t one small CIC trying to make ends meet. The real issue is the society we live in — and a government that isn’t playing its part in eradicating poverty. If it were, organisations like CityHive, The Felix Project, City Harvest, FareShare, and the Trussell Trust wouldn’t need to exist, let alone be thriving. They thrive because the need is growing. That’s not a reflection on them — it’s a reflection on a broken system that allows people to go hungry in one of the richest cities in the world. If you're in doubt about what they’re doing, go check their Instagram: @cityhivemedia. You’ll see the real organisations and people receiving food, sharing thanks, and showing how far the impact reaches. Even Southwark Foodbank has received food from CityHive — that alone should speak volumes. So again — how does any of this harm you personally? Why spend time trying to discredit a group trying to support those who are falling through the cracks? We need more people lifting others up — not adding weight to those already carrying the load.
    • Well, this is very disappointing. Malabar Feast  has changed its menu again. The delicious fish curry with sea bass no longer exists. There is now a fish dish with raw mango, which doesn't appeal. I had dal and spinach instead, which was bland (which I suppose I could/should have predicted). One of my visitors had a "vegetable Biriani" which contained hardly any vegetables. Along with it came two extremely tiny pieces of poppadom in a large paper bag.   This was embarrassing, as I had been singing Malabar's praises and recommending we ordered from there. The other mains and the parathas were OK, but I doubt we will be ordering from there again. My granddaughters wisely opted for Yard Sale pizzas, which were fine. Has anybody else had a similar recent poor (or indeed good!)  experience at Malabar Feast?
    • Another recommendation for Silvano. I echo everything the above post states. I passed first time this week with 3 minors despite not starting to learn until my mid-30s. Given the costs for lessons I have heard, he's also excellent value.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...