You guys know the saying "living well is the best revenge"?
That's pretty much the answer.
Do everything in your power to live your life as normally as possible, ignoring as many of the stupid rules as your personal risk tolerance will allow, and I promise you, your example will be an inspiration to people around you. Not wearing masks especially is a highly visible sign of civil disobedience (you can ignore the other rules too - track and trace, and limits on friends you can meet etc, but masks are very symbolically powerful). But it's more than just ignoring the rules - it's about living well and living as normally as possible without letting the negativity and atmosphere influence you - that's what it means to be an example, and you *will* influence others.
Find the right risk tolerance for you - if your workplace requires masks, and you don't want to risk your job, then be sensible and wear a mask in your workplace and take the mask off on public transport and shops. If you don't like confrontation, then keep a mask in your pocket and put it on if someone challenges you - just say "Oh I forgot". And so on (I don't wear an exemption badge although I carry one in my pocket in case any particularly officious Council busybodies challenge me - I think wearing it all the time defeats the purpose of civil disobedience).
I've been mask-less on public transport since March and almost never have hassle, and the number of people going mask-less has increased markedly. And early on, it used to really cheer me up when i saw another mask-less person and inspire me - that's why I started - I saw a few people in February or so not masking up on the train and decided that if they could do it then so could I.
On top of that, yes, write to your MP, donate money to places like Lockdown Sceptics and Time for Recovery if you can, talk to your family and friends (try not to become That Conspiracy Theory Guy though - they will stop taking you seriously), go to protests if you can.
I think it's easy for average citizens to become dispirited and think we have no power and the government and the media etc can do whatever they want. The thing is, individually none of us has as much power as Murdoch controlling opinion through the media . But collectively, we have ALL the power.
Ever seen that famous video from all the leadership courses showing that guy dancing alone at a festival who starts a movement? We're in the early stages of that now...
steer clear of the anti-vaxxers, the conspiracy theories or any "underlying globalist/technocratic agenda", those people are known as covidiots or covid deniers, they have damaged our effort tremendously.
Since the virus can only spread when people without immunity mingle, then all you can do is mingle less and get vaccinated. And wait. That's the best thing to do is wait for the chance to express your view at the ballot box.
You've inspired me to register and reply....
What exactly is an anti vaxxer ? Lots of people that have had, and allowed their children to have, vaccines would like the covid vaccines to follow the same testing process. If emergency use is justified then surely that would be targeted at the minimum 'at risk' group. They might like the known side effects to be shared so people can make informed decisions (pfizer heading straight for the ovaries anyone) . Oh dear, i think I might be an 'anti vaxxer'.
Conspiracy theories ? Do you mean like the US beurocrats that said it didn't come from a lab, actually funding the gain of function research in that lab ? That sounds like a conspiracy theory doesn't it ? How about politicians and civil servants that clearly don't believe their own messaging (furguson, cummings, hancock, G7...) - how many of those do you need to see before you accept that the entire establishment is lying to you ?
you talk about 'our effort'. got to be honest that sounds a bit like grouch marx talking about clubs...
your 'anti lockdown' stance seems to be take the untested vaccine, stay away from other human beings and then wait for an election - an election I'd put good money on will see you voting tory. That'll teach them...
funding the gain of function research in that lab ?
I've never filed that in the list. Crackpot or plausible? Feedback needed. I don't know from where it sprung. I'll file it under poss. exaggerated.
How about politicians and civil servants that clearly don't believe their own messaging
I've never filed it. some of the establishment is lying.I'd be glad to file that under probably correct.
you voting tory.
I'd vote monster raving loony at the moment. Unlike Labour at least some Tories want to quit lockdown.
ok, here's the new list with the corrections.
Probably True Ideas or at least plausible
Probably whacky or poss. exaggerated ideas
Totally CRACKPOT IDEAS
Is that right?
pathogens .. benefit those with power.
The Pandemic has disrupted our ability to act politically, at the time when we most need to act politically. This is ironic. So I've rearranged the list of all the theories to make it slightly less condemnatory of the ridiculous ideas and slightly more accepting of plausible ideas.
Since we are weakened, so let us use what focus we retain to target ideas which are susceptible i.e. real ideas not silly fantasy ideas dreamed up by fake news sellers. Here is the latest list with corrections. let's focus on ideas that are plausible, and focus on where we have made gains.
Probably True Ideas or at least plausible
Probably whacky or exaggerated ideas
Totally CRACKPOT IDEAS
