A little bit of understanding can go a long way …

Written By: - Date published: 11:09 am, August 19th, 2021 - 18 comments
Categories: covid-19, Social issues, The Standard - Tags:

It is perfectly understandable feeling a range of negative emotions such as fear and anger because we are again in Level 4 lockdown and I certainly do right now. Everybody deals with the situation and circumstances differently and it is ok to let off steam.

The Standard is a forum that can help with this, with dealing with emotions and filling gaps in our information, knowledge, and understanding; the situation changes rapidly, especially at the beginning of the present lockdown with so much uncertainty. We can help each other here and foster online connection and cohesion.

Fear and loathing often go together. Lashing out, blaming and demonising are not inclusive behaviours and tend to unravel the fabric of our society and spoil good relationships, sometimes for a long time. They also do not change anything, least of all the past. Although we can learn from experiences and adjust future actions and behaviours, we rarely seem to do so; we are often and mostly in ‘auto pilot’ and simply react rather than reflect.

Indeed, many thought that opening the bubble with Australia was too soon. Many thought that the Olympic Games should have been cancelled. In other words, the current lockdown was unnecessary and ‘entirely’ (!) preventable if only we had done or not done certain things. There are many opinions and views, some perhaps more valid than others, and we are all entitled to our opinions. We are also free to express them. How we express them is up to us; we are free saying what we want and how we want. Opinions are to be shared and heard because they tell us something about ourselves. However, we are so much more than our opinions and who we are does not depend solely on our views nor do they define us; we can change views without losing face.

Please keep this in mind when you post your rants & reckons here on The Standard.

Kia kaha

18 comments on “A little bit of understanding can go a long way … ”

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  1. Treetop 1
    19 August 2021 at 11:38 am

    we can change views without losing face

    Yes, due to new information being known or hindsight.

  2. weka 2
    19 August 2021 at 11:54 am

    well said Incognito.

  3. mpledger 3
    19 August 2021 at 12:23 pm

    The govt can't give in to the squeaky wheels. And there are a lot of squeaky wheels who want their interests to be served without acknowledging the increased risk to the safety of everyone else.

    Every time the media reports a story about people who wants special treatment, they should ask those people how that special treatment will effect others and if that is fair. And if that is poorly answered by the people then the media themselves should find out who will be affected. That balance has been sorely lacking.

  4. Ad 4
    19 August 2021 at 1:23 pm

    New Zealand won't be immune from build-ups of irrational rage. We're reasonably polite about it on TS, but I would hardly be surprised if people just lost their nana a bit.

    It's a reasonably good test of the new hate speech proposals that people can already get arrested for saying and doing spectacularly dumb things inside the statutory limits of a pandemic that is an actual threat to order.

    It would be therapeutic both to see a bit of spillage, and also to see more people arrested for it. It's like the playout of a collective id.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    19 August 2021 at 2:31 pm

    To me it is amazing the degree of positive collective response to COVID Delta that has been displayed in this country, so long blighted by “Roger’n’Ruth’s” ultra selfish legacy.

    Apart from a short lived Auckland to Tai Tokerau exodus (500 vehicles per hour for a few hours according to Rueben Taipari)
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/covid-19-far-north-response-mayor-john-carter-says-stay-courteous-and-respectful/GWBYFPRA7OSH4GISR4MWP44G3Y/,
    what I have observed is a lot of public mask wearing and very little vehicle traffic today.

    COVID is an immediate existential crisis, that points out pre-existing problems with the health care system, so people may get crankier than usual in online forums.

    But there is good news too–Māori organisations in my area are onto it in all sorts of practical ways. If you do not normally live in Te Tai Tokerau–don’t come here! Heaps of pākehā support Hone Harawira and Rueben Taipari’s Border Control too.

    • Sacha 5.1
      19 August 2021 at 2:47 pm

      Wish the police had been turning back escapees north like they did to Coromandel the next day. Especially anyone towing a boat. I am glad communities in Te Tai Tokerau remember the lessons of 1918 and are acting accordingly.

      The urge to flee is understandable but public health trumps feelings and selfishness.

      • Patricia Bremner 5.1.1
        19 August 2021 at 2:55 pm

        They actually did in many cases Sacha. There are always selfish folk.

        • Sacha 5.1.1.1
          19 August 2021 at 2:57 pm

          Glad to hear. I read that they had turned back 200 vehicles from the Coromandel peninsula.

    • Patricia Bremner 5.2
      19 August 2021 at 2:53 pm

      Yes, amazing compliance here.

      I think NSW is a window into "the other choice" of light late lockdown. They had cafe's open until recently. My brother in NSW said they now had 'Police at the crossroads', yet his next sentence, "they were meeting friends for coffee"

      A lockdown was not in evidence. A real lesson. In Britain it was the "Eat out vouchers" Virologists were clearly not being listened to. Thank you Siouxsie Wiles for your common touch.

  6. Foreign Waka 6
    19 August 2021 at 4:01 pm

    Well, that was just a matter of time really. After so many issues with MIQ it was inevitable. Better to lock down now rather than to wait.

    What is really frustrating is those bulk buyers rampaging through the Supermarket and the essential worker that comes after all the selfish people had a go, get to buy what is left over. They are the ones working and get the bread crumbs – shame on those selfish hoarders.

    • Patricia Bremner 6.1
      19 August 2021 at 4:50 pm

      Yes some people are not rational. Loved that TV presenter at the warehouse " Here is your 4Square's toilet paper. No need to panic".

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