View Full Version : Panic buying now forgotten about?
As we all remember back in March when the COVID-19 outbreak was really starting to get going both here in the UK and worldwide, there was a lot of panic-buying going on with epic stampedes for toilet rolls, pasta, etc, which suddenly seemed to peter out from around early April onwards, and now seems to be mostly forgotten about as if it hadn't even happened at all.
With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder if all that hysteria was really justified (and possibly a waste of our time, energy and mental health), especially as most people eventually came to their senses and realised that there were no actual (or at least mega-significant) shortages of anything.
What does anyone on here think now looking back?
As we all remember back in March when the COVID-19 outbreak was really starting to get going both here in the UK and worldwide, there was a lot of panic-buying going on with epic stampedes for toilet rolls, pasta, etc, which suddenly seemed to peter out from around early April onwards, and now seems to be mostly forgotten about as if it hadn't even happened at all.
With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder if all that hysteria was really justified (and possibly a waste of our time, energy and mental health), especially as most people eventually came to their senses and realised that there were no actual (or at least mega-significant) shortages of anything.
What does anyone on here think now looking back?
Yes indeed the hysteria of the panic buying public . I’ve often since wondered what that was all about, & who & what started the fixation on the toilet roll buying, its not like it was a ‘norovirus’ pandemic, in which case i could quite understand the panic, but surely a high fever & related symptoms doesn’t necessitate the need to stock pile 50 toilet rolls.
WiredIncorrectly
28-05-20, 15:23
Yes indeed the hysteria of the panic buying public . I’ve often since wondered what that was all about, & who & what started the fixation on the toilet roll buying, its not like it was a ‘norovirus’ pandemic, in which case i could quite understand the panic, but surely a high fever & related symptoms doesn’t necessitate the need to stock pile 50 toilet rolls.
Yeah most shops around here are open as normal now. The media caused that hysteria and I really think they need to pay for that by introducing reporting restrictions for the big media giants. It's twisted and sick what the newspapers do.
Yes indeed the hysteria of the panic buying public . I’ve often since wondered what that was all about, & who & what started the fixation on the toilet roll buying, its not like it was a ‘norovirus’ pandemic, in which case i could quite understand the panic, but surely a high fever & related symptoms doesn’t necessitate the need to stock pile 50 toilet rolls.
I could never quite fathom the extreme demand specifically for toilet rolls, especially as they're not all made in China and exported to the rest of the world, which was probably one of the big fears in the beginning that eventually proved to be unfounded. One other plausible explanation could be viral (no pun intended) videos circulating online that I think were of scenes in supermarkets in Australia, accompanied by Black Friday-style frenzies, and the associated madness that ensued.
As for Norovirus, that seems to be a 'pandemic' pretty much every autumn-winter, especially during the past 20 years or so that perhaps twas ever thus but we could previously had been unaware of pre-21st Century, especially with the way the media in general have gone ever since.
It's still quite hard to get certain baking supplies online - I've had to resort to buying bulk yeast.
Yeah most shops around here are open as normal now. The media caused that hysteria and I really think they need to pay for that by introducing reporting restrictions for the big media giants. It's twisted and sick what the newspapers do.
Agreed, this was totally manufactured by the controlled media. As Trump says, they are truly the enemy of the people. They focused on toilet paper inparticular to make asses out of the public.
Water, TP, paper towels, beef roasts, gloves and cleaning supplies are all still only available to buy in limited qualities in our stores here in socal.
Agreed, this was totally manufactured by the controlled media. As Trump says, they are truly the enemy of the people. They focused on toilet paper inparticular to make asses out of the public.
It's all cyclical dude. You can't declare the media the enemy when the public consumption of them drives their force. They are both a cause of and a product of the problem. For example, Trump says the media are the enemy of the people, but he, through his own production of media in Twitter, is part of the problem. When people stop giving ratings to infotainment and start consuming more unbiased news programing or when the public actually starts demanding that certain outlets stop producing biased programming, you might see things change.
Or you can just wait till I take over ;)
Yeah most shops around here are open as normal now. The media caused that hysteria and I really think they need to pay for that by introducing reporting restrictions for the big media giants. It's twisted and sick what the newspapers do.
Absolutely, WiredIncorrectly. Very reminiscent of the many typical 'moral panics' and 'hysteria' of the past that were amplified and exacerbated by the press. And over the past 2-3 months or so they have had many epic field days. Pretty soon they will be blowing the next 'big thing' out of proportion big time. I bet your life!!
Also the 'two of the same item only per person' policy (apart from the very small number of designated items) in our local Co-op store now has all but gone the way of the dodo.
ankietyjoe
28-05-20, 20:12
I don't think it's accurate to say the media caused the panic. The media lit the fuse, but it was individual people actually panic buying that caused the self sustaining problem. The shops themselves were saying that there were no shortages of anything, but people STILL went ahead and bulk bought stuff they didn't need. It was this that caused the issue.
People should really take responsibility for their own actions. The media is just information, it's up to us to act accordingly.
We all claim to know that the media are evil corporate twisters of truth, so why do we react?
Fintechguy
28-05-20, 20:21
As we all remember back in March when the COVID-19 outbreak was really starting to get going both here in the UK and worldwide, there was a lot of panic-buying going on with epic stampedes for toilet rolls, pasta, etc, which suddenly seemed to peter out from around early April onwards, and now seems to be mostly forgotten about as if it hadn't even happened at all.
With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder if all that hysteria was really justified (and possibly a waste of our time, energy and mental health), especially as most people eventually came to their senses and realised that there were no actual (or at least mega-significant) shortages of anything.
What does anyone on here think now looking back?
I kinda worry it may start again as the bulk buyers could think everyone will get there before them !
People should really take responsibility for their own actions.
Nah, it’s far easier to blame it on some big bad organisation that nobody has ever seen. That way you’ve always got someone to blame when you fall on your ar*e.
Lets be real here. If there is a threat of a snowstorm, the shelves are empty and has nothing to do with the media. People are freaked out by a lot of things that lead to panic buying. As Antsy said, here in the US, some things are still hard to come by (try to find disinfectant wipes) and there are limits on how much you can buy.
Positive thoughts
MyNameIsTerry
28-05-20, 21:23
It's still quite hard to get certain baking supplies online - I've had to resort to buying bulk yeast.
I understand supplies are on the rise...:whistles:
MyNameIsTerry
28-05-20, 21:28
[/B]
Absolutely, WiredIncorrectly. Very reminiscent of the many typical 'moral panics' and 'hysteria' of the past that were amplified and exacerbated by the press. And over the past 2-3 months or so they have had many epic field days. Pretty soon they will be blowing the next 'big thing' out of proportion big time. I bet your life!!
Also the 'two of the same item only per person' policy (apart from the very small number of designated items) in our local Co-op store now has all but gone the way of the dodo.
June is Brexit deadline month and it's looking like no deal. So The Guardian and Indy will need their hyperventilation brown paper bags ready. That old cliff edge guff will be back in fashion :winks:
MyNameIsTerry
28-05-20, 21:30
Nah, it’s far easier to blame it on some big bad organisation that nobody has ever seen. That way you’ve always got someone to blame when you fall on your ar*e.
I don't think you can absolve the press either. It's both parties sharing responsibility for their own part.
They are not always reporting facts, their opinions are often more the problem.
I don't think it's accurate to say the media caused the panic. The media lit the fuse, but it was individual people actually panic buying that caused the self sustaining problem. The shops themselves were saying that there were no shortages of anything, but people STILL went ahead and bulk bought stuff they didn't need. It was this that caused the issue.
People should really take responsibility for their own actions. The media is just information, it's up to us to act accordingly.
We all claim to know that the media are evil corporate twisters of truth, so why do we react?
Thank you. You said it better than I did.
There are still a few things that I can never get - cornflour, icing sugar are two off the top of my head.
I think the media fanned the flames, but I also think that it’s what people do.
There are still a few things that I can never get - cornflour, icing sugar are two off the top of my head.
I think the media fanned the flames, but I also think that it’s what people do.
A kind of vicious circle, I'm afraid.
[/B]
A kind of vicious circle, I'm afraid.
Yes.
Because even though I didn’t participate in panic buying at the time, now I generally make sure I’ve got at least 2 of most things. Whereas before, I’d generally just wing it because I’d be going to the shops most days.
I am used to going to the shops most days and now limit myself to 2 supermarket shops a week which I find hard as I don't have a freezer but have got 4 adult mouths to feed, one mouth being more open than usual thanks to appetite-stimulating meds! I've found it really hard to get Bran Flakes which are one of my safe foods but apparently the factory where they are made was shut down at the start of lockdown..Have managed to find a few packets recently though which all helps. It's good that supplies on the shelves are much better now-I found it really stressful back in March/April. There's still no flour and baking stuff available but that hasn't bothered me as I'm not a cake or bread maker.
ankietyjoe
29-05-20, 16:05
I am used to going to the shops most days and now limit myself to 2 supermarket shops a week which I find hard as I don't have a freezer but have got 4 adult mouths to feed, one mouth being more open than usual thanks to appetite-stimulating meds! I've found it really hard to get Bran Flakes which are one of my safe foods but apparently the factory where they are made was shut down at the start of lockdown..Have managed to find a few packets recently though which all helps. It's good that supplies on the shelves are much better now-I found it really stressful back in March/April. There's still no flour and baking stuff available but that hasn't bothered me as I'm not a cake or bread maker.
We're lucky enough to have a guaranteed weekly Ocado slot and they seem to have Bran Flakes. If you can't get a slot I could order them for you and get them to you....somehow lol.
We're lucky enough to have a guaranteed weekly Ocado slot and they seem to have Bran Flakes. If you can't get a slot I could order them for you and get them to you....somehow lol.
That is so very kind of you , Joe and thank you. I have managed to get a supply from Tesco now and it seems the supply is back to normal but I'm really grateful for your offer! Maybe Her Maj has a penchant for them so your local Ocado makes sure the royal taste buds are always satisfied?
I can't get an online delivery slot even though I'm a registered carer. Having said that I prefer to get out and choose my own stuff anyway.
MyNameIsTerry
30-05-20, 04:17
He's been my F dealer for some time. The trouble is the dependency, you need it regular. And you have to judge your needs just right: too little and you end up bunged up, too much and it's bad shit and lots of it! :biggrin:
ankietyjoe
30-05-20, 12:09
The first one is free.
M'k?
As we all remember back in March when the COVID-19 outbreak was really starting to get going both here in the UK and worldwide, there was a lot of panic-buying going on with epic stampedes for toilet rolls, pasta, etc, which suddenly seemed to peter out from around early April onwards, and now seems to be mostly forgotten about as if it hadn't even happened at all.
With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder if all that hysteria was really justified (and possibly a waste of our time, energy and mental health), especially as most people eventually came to their senses and realised that there were no actual (or at least mega-significant) shortages of anything.
What does anyone on here think now looking back?
Not only was it not justified in large part it was manufactured. Why do we act like complete sheeple in this stuff. I heard a good one the other day it said how can you pick a politician out of a large crowd? He'll be the one that's not wearing a mask.
Not only was it not justified in large part it was manufactured. Why do we act like complete sheeple in this stuff. I heard a good one the other day it said how can you pick a politician out of a large crowd? He'll be the one that's not wearing a mask.
Typical pack mentality. Black Friday style!!
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