Anytime I'm feeling bummed about this pandemic...

I just remember that my grandpa and his 11 siblings got out of fascist Italy by living in a cave. A cave! My grandma's house in Holland was literally turned into a hospital they all worked at, pretty much surrounded by mines that they witnessed exploding family friends. A few years of limiting social contact and wearing a mask is nothing, you guys. If they could do that, we can do this. What would have happened if they all got 'burn out' and said fuck it during the war?

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Excellent post!

Nov 13, 2020 at 2:35pm

My family came from terrible conditions as well and sometimes no food. And now, people are annoyed because they can't go to a pub or club or spin classes!

28 7Rating: +21

I agree!

Nov 13, 2020 at 6:33pm

Our grandparents’ generation saved the world from fascism and we can’t survive a week without dating apps and Instagram. It’s pathetic.

What They Had

Nov 13, 2020 at 6:57pm

Throughout those times was each other.

Being denied that is a massive sacrifice and people are not weak or lesser because they crave human interaction.

So true!

Nov 13, 2020 at 8:11pm

My grandparents lived through the pandemic in 1918 or thereabouts. What we’re dealing with now is minuscule compared to what they had to cope with. Isolation then was far worse! They had no media like tv or internet. Anyone who lived in rural areas like my grandparents did would be completely isolated for weeks. The whining I hear from so many people now just illustrates how incredibly spoiled we’ve become as a society. Suck it up, buttercups!

Two very different situations

Nov 13, 2020 at 8:12pm

Horrible what your family went through and I commend their resilience but there’s really no sense in comparing it to the COVID situation now as they’re very different. Burn out and mental health are very real issues and loneliness is a truly horrible feeling that can have a huge impact on one’s physical health. I take it you are someone who can text or FaceTime with a friend or family member. Many people live alone with no real friends or family and their only social interaction was chatting with retail staff or servers in restaurants. Having worked both industries, I met a lot of “regulars” who I wondered about as they were always alone and were usually that bit older so not like they would be on their phone either. All I’m saying is that maybe limiting social interaction isn’t a big sacrifice for you but for many people it’s all they have so don’t downplay this because they’re not fighting for their life at war. Very different.

@two very

Nov 14, 2020 at 12:44am

I appreciate your comments, but the OP seems to be saying that, instead of whining about the situation, people should be doing what they can to make it better. It's pointless to have a pi$$ing contest about how this situation is as bad/worse than WW2 for whatever reason. Since March, I've helped set up an outreach phone program for vulnerable people, a zoom support group for a particular disability and I've shopped for people who can't get out. I'm old and disabled myself, but I did what I could and the magic thing is that it has improved my own mental health and confidence.

20 7Rating: +13

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