Subtle but effective

[The happy Objectivist]

I think it is already very ugly and it will get much uglier but not in the way you think. I think there is a good chance that instead of the "new world order" we are going to get something different. Have you heard of NESARA, the National Economic Security and Reformation ACT, signed by President Clinton in Oct. of 2000? The ugliness will be in the form of learning just what kind of evil people have ruled this world for centuries. I think that system is about to go down forever, and I mean in this year and next, not 20 years from now or never.

 

[Tom 1]

Over the last 2.5 years little has changed in my life. I did not miss the bars, theatres, and public social interaction. Wearing a mask at the local grocer was no setback. I was not isolated and went about my routine of travelling around my native area exploring and taking photos, which is a solitary endeavour anyway.

However, my question is... how many of you, especially if barely inconvenienced, have felt you have still subtly been brainwashed into being wary of fellow man and the old freedoms we took for granted all our lives. Are you as comfortable as you once were in going about your daily life or has something been taken away?

The biggest change I’ve noticed, among friends across Europe and in the business news, is the apparently permanent shift to working from home 2 or more days a week in a lot of professions. Other than that, since the tail end of the pandemic I’ve been in 3 different countries here in Europe and, other than some people still wearing masks, nothing was noticeably different.

 

[timothyu]

There's been a whole lot of thwarting going on the last hundred years and it really ramped up during the pandemic.

Coincides with the rise of Corporatism, turning a field of wildflowers into a couple of plastic knockoffs with a sign saying do not smell..

 

[timothyu]

other than some people still wearing masks, nothing was noticeably different.

Yes I still see people alone in their cars with the vents sealed, wearing masks also.

 

[Whyayeman]

Force can be used for good

The great majority of people in many countries agree with that - and consider that the actions taken by governments in response to COVID outbreaks in their countries were in their best interests. Without the restrictions the pandemic would, in most people's opinion, have been worse.

All the democratic countries in the world which imposed COVID related restrictions on their populations have subsequently removed them in a timely fashion. Even China, which has imposed the most stringent restrictions, has removed them when it considered it to be safe to do so. And with obvious good reason - such restrictions are bad for their economies.

All this malarkey about evil governments stealing our liberties is just silly.

 

[timothyu]

All this malarkey about evil governments stealing our liberties is just silly.

A lot of people don't notice restrictions until authority knocks on their door or they are cut off m speaking, especially on the internet. Of course those that follow the official narrative allowed will have no problem.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Over the last 2.5 years little has changed in my life. I did not miss the bars, theatres, and public social interaction. Wearing a mask at the local grocer was no setback. I was not isolated and went about my routine of travelling around my native area exploring and taking photos, which is a solitary endeavour anyway.

However, my question is... how many of you, especially if barely inconvenienced, have felt you have still subtly been brainwashed into being wary of fellow man and the old freedoms we took for granted all our lives. Are you as comfortable as you once were in going about your daily life or has something been taken away?

I’m immune suppressed so I haven’t returned to a number of my pre-COVID activities simply because I weigh out the risks and decide if it’s worth it. Often times for me on an individual level, it’s not. If I get COVID I can’t be on my immune suppressors to manage Crohns until 12 weeks after my last positive test. While COVID doesn’t scare me, the idea of managing my immune disorder without meds keeps me up at night.

So yes, I’d like to fly to Disney World, but it’s not worth the risk of being unable to take my meds. Sure, I’d like to go out on a Saturday, but not enough that I’d be willing to deal with Crohns without meds. If I have something I need to do, like grocery shop, I’ll go off hours, do curbside, and I always wear a mask when I leave the house.

The only mindset that has changed for me with regards to how I think of others post-COVID is I have a mental list of the people who didn’t do their part by masking, getting vaccinated, or who spread COVID misinformation. My mental index card with their name on it has a note that when things are inconvenient to them, they will not do their part and are not people I can rely on.

That said, the Venn diagram of people I would not rely on or trust to be altruistic pre-COVID and the ones I wouldn’t trust post-COVID is a perfect circle.

 

[Whyayeman]

A lot of people don't notice restrictions until authority knocks on their door

I do notice restrictions. I noticed our lock-down laws when they were applied here in UK. Then I noticed when they were rescinded. And now my freedoms are exactly as they were before the lockdown.

There has not been any attempt to impose permanent restrictions in any democracy that I know of. I think the suggestion that there have been is just a bit paranoid. Perhaps some poster might show that I am wrong.

 

[timothyu]

Perhaps some poster might show that I am wrong.

We still need to carry 'your papers please' or an app seeking permission to cross borders and the like. And of course any time somebody says something others think they now have the right to say no conflict of opinion allowed.

 

[comana]

We still need to carry 'your papers please' or an app seeking permission to cross borders and the like. And of course any time somebody says something others think they now have the right to say no conflict of opinion allowed.

Where do you have to show anything? Unless you are traveling abroad and need your passport. I was in Europe in June. No country wanted to see anything but my passport and in the US, well I can go anywhere without “papers”.

 

[timothyu]

Where do you have to show anything?

An app is required to enter Canada from the US now let alone a passport which was never needed before either.

 

[comana]

An app is required to enter Canada from the US now let alone a passport which was never needed before either.

Asking for a passport at a National border is not unreasonable and pretty much expected.

 

[timothyu]

Asking for a passport at a National border is not unreasonable and pretty much expected.

Just sayin' in all our history it was never needed until recently.
'Where were you? Went for a beer. Buy anything? Nope. Drive safe.'

 

[Whyayeman]

Original post:

Over the last 2.5 years little has changed in my life. I did not miss the bars, theatres, and public social interaction. Wearing a mask at the local grocer was no setback. I was not isolated and went about my routine of travelling around my native area exploring and taking photos, which is a solitary endeavour anyway.

However, my question is... how many of you, especially if barely inconvenienced, have felt you have still subtly been brainwashed into being wary of fellow man and the old freedoms we took for granted all our lives. Are you as comfortable as you once were in going about your daily life or has something been taken away?

And now:

We still need to carry 'your papers please' or an app seeking permission to cross borders and the like. And of course any time somebody says something others think they now have the right to say no conflict of opinion allowed.

Total non sequitur!

 

[Desk trauma]

We still need to carry 'your papers please' or an app seeking permission to cross borders and the like.

Passports and vaccination requirements for entry into other countries started well before Covid 19 existed.

 

[Whyayeman]

Just sayin' in all our history it was never needed until recently.

You did not know that the first American passport was designed by Benjamin Franklin, then?

(The first English passports were introduced by Henry V some time in the Fifteenth Century.)

 

[timothyu]

You did not know that the first American passport was designed by Benjamin Franklin, then?

That has nothing to do with the fact we didn't need one between the US and Canada until recently. But this is off topic. I'm asking about new attitudes introduced into society.

 

[David's Harp]

I do notice restrictions. I noticed our lock-down laws when they were applied here in UK. Then I noticed when they were rescinded. And now my freedoms are exactly as they were before the lockdown.

There has not been any attempt to impose permanent restrictions in any democracy that I know of. I think the suggestion that there have been is just a bit paranoid. Perhaps some poster might show that I am wrong.

Whilst I would agree that all restrictions seem to have lifted in the UK, there are some instances where mask wearing is still expected, such as visiting a dentist. Why? I don't know. Also, any driving instructors I have saw in my home town (many of them) have all been masked up, along with their pupils.
But regardless of that, the more insidious and seemingly permanent change is restrictions to freedom of speech, and censorship on most major online platforms. That's not paranoia; that's fact.

 

[Whyayeman]

Whilst I would agree that all restrictions seem to have lifted in the UK, there are some instances where mask wearing is still expected, such as visiting a dentist. Why? I don't know. Also, any driving instructors I have saw in my home town (many of them) have all been masked up, along with their pupils.
But regardless of that, the more insidious and seemingly permanent change is restrictions to freedom of speech, and censorship on most major online platforms. That's not paranoia; that's fact.

Actually all restrictions have been restricted.

1. Dentists have a right to ask patients to conform to requests to wear a mask, as have doctors and other medical workers. They always had. There is no law requiring driving instructors and their pupils to wear masks. These are private agreements.

2. What restrictions on freedom of speech can you identify? Everyone in the UK has a right to free speech.

I am sure you cannot cite any law to the contrary.

 

[Whyayeman]

... there are some instances where mask wearing is still expected, such as visiting a dentist. Why? I don't know.

I think you do really!