....just to see if you think it’s right for government to pass ‘emergency’ legislation allowing everyone to be involuntarily imprisoned in their own houses. Imagine it’s 1982, and the start of the HIV epidemic. A lot of right wing newspapers and social media (pretending it existed then) are spreading the rumour that it’s massively more proportionately prevalent in the gay community. At the weekend, there’s been photos circulating on Twitter, showing gay couples holding hands and thousands of angry comments under them about how they’re putting everyone in danger. So today, the Government pass emergency legislation banning homosexuality, and urging everyone to report on anyone who they think might still be having gay sex. They also give themselves executive power to lock up anyone suspected of being gay. This is an exact analogy of what’s happening now. Civil liberties taken away because of fear of an unknown and political pressure applied by loud mouth know nothings via social and mainstream media. Wake up.
Its not an exact analogy though is it? The aids epidemic didn’t overwhelm the heath service to the degree that this is likely to, did it? Or have the potential to involve people not engaging in such activities. Or kill 100ks people in a matter of months in this country.
So because of fear of a *potential* outcome, you're willing to trade public freedoms and liberties. That's OK, fear is a very powerful emotion - just know exactly the gravity of what you've chosen to give up (not that you've actually chosen it - it's been taken away by the Government. We're basically now North Korea, and I freely admit it sticks in my craw to see people gleefully welcoming this development).
I'm stopping in as much as I can, because I think if I go out there's a chance, varying from totally insignificant to significant, that someone might die as a result. I refuse to argue about it though, it's just my way of dealing with this crisis.
So am I mate. I'm adhering to every single guideline and recommendation. I don't need a totalitarian government to imprison me in my own home for me to do it.
I said I wouldn't argue, but if I'm allowed to comment, I agree with you. Most of us don't need the legislation. But sadly there are loads of utter tools out there who just ignore the advice and keep socialising in large groups. Some of them are my own friends, who ridicule me for my stance. It's the utter selfish t***s that the legislation is aimed at, and because they exist, I agree with the legislation.
That's exactly it though. This is only necessary because of the actions of the selfish pricks that have continued to ignore government guidelines. That's who you should be directing your anger at.
TT - making up fatuous comments about the Aids epidemic of the 1980's and suggesting it's an 'exact analogy' of the present situation is misguided and to be blunt a load of tosh! There is a debate to be had about the governments possible emergency legislation - focus on that.
You're honestly OK with moving to a police state with total power to detain the population in their own homes indefinitely because of the actions of a few thousand vvankers that have been highlighted on Twitter? You don't think that is a somewhat disproportionate response?
You're intelligent, compassionate, and understand the bigger picture. You get it, as do many others. Sadly, as @Stahlrost has already said, there's still far too many people that don't. You only have to look at Twitter to see the scorn being placed on closures, the almost 'f*** you' attitude to the instruction to self-isolate, and the hundreds heading to flower markets, Snowdonia, etc. to realise that any enforcement or 'imprisonment' isn't because of the behaviours of you and me. The people who need to wake up are those acting as if nothing is going on.
It isn't just a few thousand though is it? You only have to go out in the car or see the states of supermarkets at opening time to see that this is not just a small minority. It is a very sizeable minority.
As I say, I understand people's frustration at those actions, I really do. But do you not think measures this draconian are a massive overreaction - a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Does it not scare you the precedent set here?
Do you? I think he’s being reactionary and instead of trying to understand the problem is just looking to blame others for his inconvenience
What I'm trying to do is ensure that people understand the importance of what's happening. It's far beyond "inconvenience".