Come on Governments, of Course FOMO = Panic Buying; Can’t Stop Human Nature
As this crisis continues unabated throughout our little blue planet, I find myself growing more and more irritated with the powers that be. Since I have been on lock down for what feels forever (you will understand soon enough America!), I want to talk rant about a pet peeve of mine.
So, the government is currently outraged that people are panic buying and figuring out ways to deal with the strain on our supply chain. A fair and reasoned argument on the surface, but ultimately this was a predictable reaction, and the government has no one to blame but themselves.
You cannot issue a state of emergency, have thousands dying every day, create a (necessary ) atmosphere of isolation and then act shocked that people are hoarding & stockpiling. When the chips are down, people will inevitably revert to our primal, “Fuck you, I got mine” instincts.
As a species, we are intrinsically clannish. We create social structures and moral paradigms to benefit our own little bubble. As our comfort level grows this bubble expands within defined parameters up until it gets uncomfortable.
Think of it this way; first you prioritize your family, then friends > neighbourhood > town > state > country > sub continent/cultural identity, etc.
When life trucks along smoothly, you might even start caring about other continents – possibly spend some time musing socio-economic issues facing Zimbabwe or the democratic struggles of Hong Kong. But the moment something hits close to home we start to withdraw our empathy and concern.
This isn’t a criticism folks, it’s just honesty.
This shift in mindset is hardwired in our genetic code. It’s how we survive and grow as a species and the idiots in charge should recognise this core human trait and legislate accordingly.
When we see the shit show that is Italy and we know it’s going to hit our shores eventually – of course we will hoard for our own little bubble. We won’t care about social constructs and politeness. People are scared and fear leads to reactionary behaviour that has nowhere to go but down to our basest, primal instincts.
You might not think wearing a mask is necessary when out in public, but if 20% of people around you are wearing masks, regardless of the science – you will begin to worry and think about escalating your response regardless of your initial bias.
I am not immune to this folks. I am a prepper and should be cool as a cucumber in these trying times. I have an off grid gas heating system + panels for my electronics. My supplies are solid and I really don’t foresee any scenario where assistance would be required.
With that said, when I see people rushing out and emptying freezers, buying entire legs of ham (no joke), I start to think that perhaps my own preps are not sufficient.
I had an entire 8 kg cured ham in my Amazon cart last night, I was musing about pulling the trigger because meat is delicious and why not. Looks like I will be in pseudo-isolation with the girl for the next 60 days and thus this ham is looking like a sound investment in my own happiness.
Here’s the catch though, I went to bed to sleep on this super important decision and by the time I woke up, someone bought them all. Like… every last one of them.
I immediately felt a wave of worry. Someone else took them and I could have been the one to have them! It’s a savage cyclical fear of missing out.
I don’t care about the ham, but I care that someone else cared enough to buy every last one. Savvy?
Thankfully the girl is wise, calls me an idiot and I go about my day scowling at the universe, perhaps whilst being slightly sheepish too. Maybe.
The reason I am languidly complaining about my own brainwashing is simple, it’s important to discuss. Understanding what makes humans tick is important and this is a conversation worth having.
The government being run by cretins will on one hand say everything is fine, but we have to go into lockdown, and oh yeah – our GDP is going to implode, 30-80% of us will get a virus which has highly divergent fatality rates based on age, pre-existing conditions, and healthcare provided.
But its all good. Don’t panic. You might lose your job, our countries are going to be indebted to the tits but don’t panic. Everything is fine, except our medical infrastructure, economy and mfg base.
But everything is fine.
You don’t need masks. Masks won’t help you, but keep the masks for healthcare professionals who need them.
You don’t need them because it won’t help against the Coronavirus, but it will help medical professionals against the Coronavirus, but don’t worry its all good everything is fine.
Fine. fine. fine.
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This shit drives me crazy, the wishy-washy political nonsense from all our politicians is making matters worse. Some people will focus on the “everything is fine” narrative and go about their days, ignoring our newly established social conventions of awkward distancing and thus compound infection rates.
Others will obsess over every single consequence and will max out the credit cards buying enough toilet paper for a football team creating these shortages and supply disruptions that have “shocked” our idiot leaders.
It’s incredible to me that those who represent us seemingly don’t understand us in any way, shape, or form.
Any halfway intelligent human being would have told you that telling people not to buy masks because medical professionals need them will create a panic within which every soccer mom will hunt for masks like politicians hunt for corporate donors.
It’s common fucking sense.
The morons in charge should have immediately put quotas on basic items like toilet paper, grains, tinned food, etc. Something reasonable like 15 tins per shopping trip instead of waiting until the situation spirals out of control.
Right now we have dimwits (who are just being human and thus clannish) grabbing their trolley and emptying entire shelves because hey, fuck you I got mine.
A crisis like this pandemic brings out the best in some, the worst in others and for most – they fall somewhere in between based on their own little bubble and how threatened it is.
Predatory behaviour like buying all the baby formula and then selling it on eBay for 10 times retail is abhorrent, but ultimately we have to accept human nature instead of being perpetually surprised that humans act like humans. Obviously if you ever run into the people who are exploiting new mothers for a quick buck then you should backhand them into the dust.
That’s also human nature.
Anyway, I have other articles planned throughout this crisis (Have I ever been so prolific? Hah.), but for now I felt the need to vent about the never ending stupidity from our overlords.
Comment below about your thoughts on the current situation in your neck of the woods and how people are reacting to it!