CLap for our carers tonight at 8pm

This morning on my daily walk round the park, the refuge collectors were doing their tour down the street. I stopped to thank them for the work they're doing and saw there's only two men on - the driver and the poor guy running after the van grabbing bins on the way.

They are stars in my eyes but I wonder how long they'll be able to keep going. My bin bags were gone at 7.00am this morning

I work for the NHS, and am frontline but not with known covid patients.
Once was nice but honestly it feels disconcerting how a lot of my neighbours are enjoying posting videos of themselves clapping in the streets. It’s more about them and how they appear to their friends and neighbours than about the care givers and other essential workers.
It would mean more to me certainly for people to pull together and help others....and to continue once this plague has abated.

Melanie123, I think we have to be careful not to think of every good deed as virtue signalling.
Whatever has motivated people it’s great to see that as a nation we can come together.
I bet many rifts and squabbles have been healed, friendships cemented and conceived during this grim time.

So last night people filmed/photographed the neighbours that didn't clap and today "named and shamed" them on social media (not my street, but seens widespread)

Yes. It was nice once . But is turning into something distasteful

If that’s true not it’s very said. I’ve not personally seen one example of this in my area. No one was filming anything last night, their hands were otherwise occupied. It’s easy to say this is ‘widespread’. What exactly does this mean ? Putting a few examples on fb or Twitter? I doubt you’ve got a sound evidence base for your post. The most dreadful things go viral on social media - that doesn’t mean the incident going viral is ‘widespread’ just that the incident has been spread widely.

One person I know personally was challenged on it putting their bins out today. Their partner is an nhs worker. It was a GN post that expressed anger that someone they clapped dared to take their car out more than once in a day. Other examples from SM yes so pinch of salt but:

It seems to be mostly keyworkers/NHS workers saying "enough now"

My son was just off on a shout with blue lights, and wondered why people in the street were all applauding and waving as he shot by!!!. He was called to an elderly man with suspected coronavirus, on top of many other conditions.

I think the NHS workers are not the only ones needing a well done, all frontline workers do, supermarket employees, drivers, carers etc etc. Most of them don't earn very high wages at all, yet they are at great risk of catching the virus, and are coping with very stressful working conditions.

I thought the clapping would be a one off. I think every week is too much, it loses its' impact. Once a month, maybe on the first day of the month, would be great. It also brings neighbours together.

I'm with those who think that it is a good use of a short time once a week. There were more people here out doing it last night, although we're not close enough to hear the noise from most of the town.

I was in Tesco today for our weekly shop and one of the assistants said that she appreciated it, so that's enough reason for me. I wave to the bin men if I see them when we're on our walk, and there are so many people who are keeping things going and I want to show any appreciation I can to them all.

Again not another statement not based on evidence - some key workers say they don’t want the applause but plenty do. No evidence that in general they want it stop. As long as some want it, that’s good enough for many of us. No one has to join in the clapping ( but I do realise that those who object to it will be writing to their MPs demanding better pay and resources and appreciation instead of clapping). I’m sorry that some workers don’t want it, but I don’t think that’s a reason not to do it for those that are touched by it.

And to those of you who think once is enough, you don’t seem to have a clue about how much worse this is all going to get. Do you know the number of deaths is doubling every three days at the moment?

suziewoozie
How do you think clapping is going to help keep people alive. My neighbours broke into our local play park last week with their granddaughter, that they are still looking after 3 days a week, yet they were out wooing and clapping last night. Are they helping?

And to those of you who think once is enough, you don’t seem to have a clue about how much worse this is all going to get.
Actually quite the opposite
The "street party" vibe is going to feel more and more inappropriate as more people die..

Last week I applauded the NHS , and last night I applauded them along with my son who is working in a food hall, my friend who is working in a supermarket, the bin men who came yesterday, the post man who is still having to deliver flyers and junk mail , the village postmaster... the list is endless .

Scentia I have absolutely no idea at all what you are talking about - where did I or any one else in this thread equate clapping with saving lives?

And to those of you who think once is enough, you don’t seem to have a clue about how much worse this is all going to get.
Right there suziewoozie

I really think its more about the clappers than who they are clapping for. Which would be legitimate: lets all go out at same time so we can see each other and give ourselves a clap.

Would seem more genuine than "we MUST all clap the carers" IYKWIM

My personal opinion? Over frequent events will only serve to demean the intention. Perhaps every 2-3 weeks might be more appropriate? Here in Scotland we have had ships sounding their horns and pipes playing instead of the clapping. The other thing that concerns me is the lack of social distancing when neighbours are outside especially in terraces with no space between houses.

There are people in our cul de sac who live alone and are being shielded. They have phone support but feel very distant from day to day life. Yesterday evening they were at their doors, masking a noise, smiling and laughing because they were part of something with others, albeit distanced from them. For me that’s enough of a reason to join them next week.

Yes Corner gran I absolutely see the value in that. If that was what it was about I would be all for it being weekly x

I now have the name of the author who wrote the poem I posted up-thread. He is Matt Kelly, who wanted to pay tribute to the NHS. Matt is from Salford and his partner is a district nurse, he said the challenges she tells him about on a daily basis inspired him to write about the NHS during the coronavirus crisis.

The poem is read here by Christopher Ecclestone, a fellow Salfordian.

I bet many rifts and squabbles have been healed, friendships cemented and conceived during this grim time

Lets assume Melanie knows what she is talking about.

I bet maby firts have opened up.

I bet many rifts have been opened up.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRM5yyaDkMc&fbclid=IwAR1yc7q55fgHJ4lzaQMNMkvtIs3t3OjShjm8nKUMtr2XpukZLdooU7J4uFs

I believe that many of the divisions brought about by Brexit are being healed by this crisis. It would seem we are going from and us and them society to one of "we are all in this together."

A few weeks back Brexit, Johnson's leadership and the Labour leadership were all daily making the news headlines.

Now it is as all that never existed and replaced by an atmosphere of we must get through this as a nation, and in that the crisis is making us one nation.

I agree Grandad1943 ....it’s the one good thing to come out of it, the feeling of all coming together again.?