May I remember some here, this is not the PRS section.
It would be a shame if that discussion style took over the rest of VVO as well.
And that is exactly what seems to happen.
Seconded. Interestingly, just like Sid, I come from a country/culture that is often called out for being blunt or even offensively honest/non-political correct. But there is a difference between being blunt - and questioning people' s intellectual capacity, their mental health or their - in this forum (with the exception of occassional trolls) usually really not malicious - intentions. And that is a trend I have noticed across several sections here, and I don't like it.
Of course it is dangerous to get into panic mode when measures like lockdowns are discussed. But these fears are very real, and for some people they are more existential than for others. They can be addressed with information, and with exchanging experiences across the globe (even though there are of course significant differences between the US, Asia or Europe).
We are close to a 'complete' lockdown here. But as was already pointed out, that does NOT mean that we wouldn't be allowed to go shopping essential stuff. There are already limits enforced how much you can buy, and how many people are allowed inside a supermarket, the others need to line up outside and keep distance - and they do. Same at pharmacies. Even in Italy, after all those weeks of economic decline, there seem to be no significant shortages (with the catastrophic exception of medical supplies like masks and ventilators, of course). I talked to an Italian woman these days, who said people didnt even have the idea to stockpile TP, only pasta and hand sanitizer sold out quickly in the begining - but are now available again.
I value individual freedom above everything else, but I also value health and science. As long as there are not enough easy, quick, reliable and frequent tests for everyone, lockdowns seem to be inevitable. I wish it could all be voluntary, but from my experience especially young people here really struggled with the pressure to decide between freedom and reason. Peer pressure, fear and frustration, stubborness - and an overload of sometimes conflicting information. Sometimes people need clear directions to cling to.
