BS: Clapping for the NHS

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 05:40 AM

You can clap for my wife who is trying to bring her temperature down with ice packs.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 06:12 AM

My thoughts are with you Bonzo. Hope she's soon feeling better.
Eliza x

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 06:42 AM

Thank you Eliza

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Thompson
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 06:53 AM

In Ireland we have done some of the clapping sessions that have crossed the world, but lately we're doing what we do on Christmas Eve: putting a light in the window.

Traditionally this is a candle left in the window to guide the Holy Family on their wanderings towards Bethlehem; it used also be the custom to lay an extra place at the table… whether anyone actually invited in any wandering beggar as is the intention of this custom is another question.

The light in the window now is a salute to, a thanks to, and a protective wish for all the medics, hospital cleaners, hospital porters, ambulance and fire brigade staff, gardaí and others who are keeping the light of civilisation alive amid the pandemic.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 06:58 AM

That wasn't directed at you Dave

Maybe not conciously, Eliza but as your response came immediately after my post I think I may have triggered something. There is a much better may to support the NHS of course. Don't assist those that would dismantle it :-)

My thoughts are with you too, Bonzo. Hope your wife gets better soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 07:26 AM

THank you Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 08:08 AM

Best thoughts from Dunfermline, Bonzo
Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 08:13 AM

Bonzo, best of wishes to your wife.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 08:44 AM

If it's a thread about the NHS, it's going to get political. Labour founded the NHS in the teeth of bitter Tory opposition whether you like it or not, and, true to their natural instincts, the Tories have run down the NHS concertedly. Four years ago a report stated that the NHS was not in a proper state to handle a major crisis. That report was ignored by the Tories. We are now several months into this crisis and doctors and nurses on the front line are dying or getting sick through lack of proper protective gear, and haven't been tested in timely manner to make sure that they aren't spreading the virus in hospitals. Now we hear that there is an impending shortage of vital anaesthetics and that doctors may have to look for less desirable alternatives. The voting choices of those who chose Tory have brought this about, whether they meant to or not. We don't know what Labour would have done had they been in, and silly guesswork about that is shallow and disingenuous. The Tories have had ten years with an NHS that was in pretty decent nick when they took over after 13 years of Labour, lest we forget, and just look at us now. As for going out to applaud, for the fourth time, it's grand if you don't want to. But coming on a forum with lofty statements about how it's infra dig, or that you "don't do display", etc., or that you consider it to be useless, short-term, vacuous or populist, is a kick in the teeth for all those good-hearted people who actually just want to show that they care and express solidarity with front-line workers. It's your perfect right to say those things, but it's also our perfect right to say that we think you're wrong-headed about it, not for not doing it, but when you speak out against it. My bin lid is all ready for 8 PM Thursday.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 08:52 AM

I have dug out the bodhran and the tambourine. Heaven help the neighbours :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 11:27 AM

Bejaysus, I have two bodhrans unused for 25 years. I forgot about them. Out they're coming!

We used to get an annual visit by a spoons "player" who used to dress up as a Roundhead (or was it a Cavalier...) at our session years ago, for one of those re-enactments. Eventually, I seriously had to tell him to bugger off. Even he would be welcome of a Thursday evening now!

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 12:05 PM

I've got about 300 watts of mini PA, and a drum machine with hand-clap samples..

.. and they can stay in their storage boxes..

Because I personally thank care workers and NHS staff, by phone and emails just about every day...

..so stuff it up the jumper of any mates trying to impose their opinionated will
on anyone else...

No matter how well-intentioned they think they're being...

I also just thanked a front-line essential worker teacher again,
and nearly put my back out in the process...

[Right, I'm tearing that page out of Dr Comfort's manual as well...!!!]

WE can all do our OWN little bit to share the LOVE for real heroes
in our OWN positive ways...


Take care Bonz mate, whatever our politics, our love for our spouses is a universal bond
WE ALL have in common...

AND MANY THANKS to the emergency paramedic crew and A&E staff
who looked after my old mum so recently after a fall,
and a very bruised bum...

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 12:15 PM

No one is trying to impose anything on anyone, PFR. It's entirely up to you whether you clap or not. Just as I can choose to join without being accused of being involved in a vacuous, flag-saving charade :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 12:27 PM

"..so stuff it up the jumper of any mates trying to impose their opinionated will
on anyone else..."

For the fifth time...nobody is trying to impose their will on anybody else. If you don't want to clap, don't clap. That's great. I simply think that your opinion about the clapping, as you bluntly expressed it here (vacuous, short-term, populist...) is wrong. Please note the word THINK. If you can be blunt in that manner, you shouldn't be surprised that someone who doesn't agree with you can be just as blunt. The people who turn out to applaud are doing it for good motives. The words you used sounded like words of ridicule and came across as mean-spirited.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 10:55 PM

Well, I may have gotten the media interested...

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: mg
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 12:38 AM

i think clapping is fine but excessive noise when people might be struggling with this illness might not be the most sensitive approach. Some of what I have seen in other countries like loud instruments would not be my choice of sound if i were ill

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 04:39 AM

He is being pressured though, Steve. Some time back he said his neighbours are bringing pressure to bear and there are local right wing thugs involved. Ok, no pressure on here but I am quite happy to provide a vent for the frustration caused elsewhere :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 06:05 AM

Ok, no pressure on here ....

Communication, and miscommunication for that matter, is about how things are received as much as how they are intended.

So you may well be my mate on this forum. But if you knew about the 8pm applause tonight but decided not to turn out, well sod you. You are so wrong.

Some might interpret that as pressure.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 07:04 AM

Nope. A firmly-expressed point of view is not pressure. In no way was I telling him what to do. And we are all grown-ups here, Doug. Cue cheap shot response from someone or other...

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 08:08 AM

I didn't perceive that as pressure to applaud, Doug. Not did I see calling it a vacuous, flag waving charade as pressure to stop doing it. But I do take your point about pressure being as much about how it is received. I cannot say how PFR received it but his robust response makes me think he is not one to buckle under easily!

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 08:56 AM

41 grocery clerks have died from Covid here. They made $11.31 an hour.
They are first responders too.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 11:40 AM

There are comparable episodes of applause in the US, especially in hard hit places like New York City and New Orleans. Lines of police and firefighters on the street outside the hospital staff exits as well. It isn't like they can do anything about the personal protective equipment, the lack of ventilators, the piling up of bodies, but they can express support. A friend of mine lives a block north of the old St. Vincent's location - in an email the other day he remarked on the time, noting that he could hear people clapping from the street and surrounding buildings. He's usually a curmudgeon to do with city noise, but I think the streets are so much quieter now that it's probably a surreal thing to hear.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 12:09 PM

Eliza started this thread to talk about supporting health care workers and other front-line help. She didn't start it so some of you could ramp up the political discussions or complain about moderation or keep sniping to see if the next set of off-topic complaints have been removed.

Grow up. Let this thread be what it was intended and go talk politics on the UK political thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 12:18 PM

If you haven't seen it on Instagram, you might want to find and follow @goodnews_movement. It's run by @iammichellefigueroa and has been a huge boost for people supporting healthcare workers, grocery clerks, delivery people, first- and last- response workers, and neighbors working the cheer their neighbors.

This article might help you track it down: https://people.com/royals/how-meghan-markle-and-prince-harrys-only-follow-on-instagram-is-changing-the-social-media-game/

Or try this: Instagram. This is world-wide coverage.

Subject: RE: BS: Clapping for the NHS
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 01:49 PM

Clearly we can't have anything nice here. The group ganging up on this thread to talk politics, to discuss moderation, to request particular moderation (we tried to add something new and you decided it meant you could get away with all sorts of crap) isn't what this thread was about.

---

Eliza and I had a conversation, after the moderators had a conversation, about the behavior of the British men on this thread.

This is what I told Eliza in one of our exchanges:
"It is strange - many of them I consider friends, but they simply refused to "get it" when they were told they were off topic and bullying others. I saw a group of middle-aged and older white British men announcing to the women on the thread that what they wanted to discuss was okay because it was what they wanted to talk about. And when I said "no," then they wanted to argue about it. None of that having to do with the thread."

I do consider many of you friends, but I am deeply disappointed at how incredibly thoughtless and dense you were regarding this topic. And how dismissive of the attempt to turn the thread around. You guys can do better; let's hope the turnaround comes real soon.