Windwalker

Not that your looking for it George ! It’s easy to find someone to blame and find fault with. As Shetlander says “I’m glad I don’t have to make these decisions“. They will be dammed if they do and dammed if they don’t.

As I see it the main reason for the lockdown is to ensure our hospitals and care workers can try to cope, this might help save more lives in the long term as they may have enough ventilators to deal with those who get effected the worst. Basically spread out the numbers. It’s also giving a bit of time to build additional hospital beds and get more equipment in place and if that can save more lives, then surely that has to be a good thing. It will eventually catch up with a lot of us, but hopefully most will get a mild effect and those who are hit the hardest can be offered a bed and the equipment necessary to hopefully be successfully treated. Yes, lots might come out in the wash and lots of questions will be raised, but of course hindsight is a great thing. Meantime we are living in the now and I’m sure if the government took the view of business as normal, let’s lots of folk catch it, let folks of all ages get more ill because we don’t have the capacity to treat them and eventually bury them, a lot more folk would be up in arms. I doubt there is a totally right or wrong way to work through this, but in my opinion doing what we can to reduce the overall loss of life is more important than a temporary restriction or effect on the economy.

What might the total deaths be if this action wasn’t being taken, does this not prove that the current action might be saving lives ?

Well put Ghostie

You are saying all that as if you think I don’t agree. I fully agree that the job of the police is a difficult one and certainly not one that I would have wanted, particularly with the complexities they face on a daily basis. Gone are the “good old days” where the local bobby would give you a slap on the lug, take you home just to get another slap on the lug from your mother. I clearly in my last post mentioned YouTube clips of idiots, which you seemed not to have read. You seem to be suggesting that, because their job is a difficult one, we should not hold them accountable when they get it very wrong. This is a recipe for disaster. I for one, am grateful that we have a good team of officers in Shetland and will give them my praise and support for the great job they do, but I would not think twice in challenging something that wasn’t right, just the same as I would challenge exceptionally poor service in a shop. To be clear, I have never made any formal challenge or complain to police, I think they do a great job. Just because I reserve the right to challenge them doesn’t make me anti them, more so, it proves how much I care that they continue to do their very difficult job professionally. We have the luxury of a well led force here in Shetland, but it’s not the same everywhere. I have a friend in London, who is very hard working, professional and successful, never been in trouble in his life, well off, runs his own large business, drives expensive cars etc. His view of the police is very different to mine. He has been pulled over numerous time and been treated like he must have stollen the car, he’s been dragged out of the car for daring to ask a question, he was accused of being a drug dealer, because he’s driving an expensive car. he’s been stopped and searched on the street more times than he can remember and treated as if he has to be guilty of something. These are his words not mine. Of course he is black and as he puts it, it’s just become the norm. I suggested he move to Shetland as this would not happen here, of course he can’t, as his business is in London, but it proves the point that our police like all other people in authority have to be held accountable, just the same as you and me must, as we go about our daily lives.

Agree with a lot of what you say Claadehol, and we are very lucky in Shetland to have the police force we do. As far as I can tell our local force have handled a difficult, continuously developing situation extremely well and manage to get the message across without having to resort to heavy handed tactics. I’m surprised they have issued as few fines as they have, as we all know there are a lot of idiots around. Local policing at its best under difficult circumstances. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for some forces on the mainland. You just need to go on YouTube to see the behaviour of some officers who seem to be poorly guided and informed, in people’s faces breaking the very social distance rules they are there to enforce. While there are plenty of clips where the public are clearly being idiots, there are many where the police have clearly got it very wrong. We are in difficult times and it’s important that we all do our bit and follow the guidance to help make everyones job safer and easier, but, and this is where we may disagree, I feel we should respectfully question authority where it is inappropriate, unprofessionally delivered or unlawful. To just accept bad policing slowly widens a crack which becomes the norm. Take a look at American policing for example, unfortunately we often follow on from them. Luckily, in the main, we have a good system in the U.K.

Now now George, now that the original story you posted has been proven not to be the fault of Westminster, lets find someone else, like the unionists to blame. Kinda sidelines the fact the the story was rubbish and Sturgeon took full advantage to score points. It must be Westminster’s fault, no it must be the Unionist’s fault. Deflect and blame others, doesn’t fool anyone.

That contribution is as much use as me suggesting you’ve spelt nuts wrong

Now we’re being asked to spy on our neighbours and challenge them about their movements rather than report them to the police. I would think that’s going to work out well. We already have one interfering sod living on our street who thinks he owns the place. Now he will think he has a licence to accost neighbours and act like the sherif in town. Do the folk who come up with these ideas ever think them through https://apple.news/AHTd56wHNQFyLWK_dInu8Jw

Completely agree, hopefully that’s the ones the police will eventually fine.

Can understand where your coming from, but if we took this to extremes, we would all wrap ourselves in cotton wool, just in case. Midder wit, seems to get lost in lots of discussions. If I’m the only one walking on the beach, I wouldn’t see the problem, if more and more folk arrive, I would think, for my own safety and the fact this is starting to look like a gathering, I think I’ll head home before the police arrives. Those who don’t can expect to be approached by the police. At the same time if the police sees one or two people walking on a beach and confirm they live nearby, they should be allowed them to get on with their exercise. I also appreciate and understand that we are being requested not to travel to a beach, but should take a walk from our home and back. We are lucky we are still being allowed to do this. I would agree that’s there’s no real need to drive to a beach to take a walk, but if the beach is in my door step then I would see no issue with it. I also accept exercise should not be having a barbecue on the beach, we are in lock down not on holiday. midder wit is needed in the current climate.

I have no doubt that the police, like ourselves are finding their way through this mess just now, but I would expect them to ensure their officers are up to date and act in an appropriate manner. Whilst I have heard no complaints regarding our local police and their handling of folk locally, it is concerning to see daft officers down south telling folk they can’t go in their front garden, chief officers threatening to search your shopping, council officials telling shops they can’t sell hot cross buns etc. At least in these three cases they have admitted they got it wrong, but how many folk were forced to comply with or fined for wrongful interpretations of the law, who weren’t doing anything wrong. In America despite the various amendments, an officer will decide your guilty of a crime and a huge risk before you open your mouth. Once stopped some will do all they can to ramp up the situation to find a reason to charge you with something, sometime resulting in shooting. In America you are 9 times more likely to be killed by a police officer than a terrorist. What happened to ‘serve and protect ?’ It’s now ‘find a reason to issue a ticket as in some states their force gets some of the money’ My worry is in lots of ways, Britain follows America and if we all sit back and do nothing, when we know our rights are being abused, we will allow Britain to slowly become a police state. Policing for cash must never be allowed to be the norm in the U.K. In the main the local police in Shetland do a great job, they are friendly, professional and show common sense, this is down to good local leadership and we are lucky to have a local man in charge. Like all organisations there will always be those who join the force for the wrong reasons and it’s important we bring these officers to the attention of their superiors. After all if we got poor service from a shop worker we wouldn’t think twice about telling them or their boss we weren’t happy. The majority of officers do a great job sometimes under difficult and dangerous circumstances. They like our nurses, care staff etc etc, should be applauded for the work they do at this difficult time. The folk on the front line don’t have the luxury of staying at home safe like some of us. Our liberties are important, but we have to remember these are exceptional times, which won’t last forever, so let’s all try to take a sensible approach and work together.

Calm down, you are the one loosing it over someone questioning your views. Your views are clearly in a minority and whilst you have the right to express them, it doesn’t mean we all have to agree. I neither buy into mass hysteria or have any fear of dying, but I will do what I can to live as long as I wish to. your obviously someone who gets upset when people don’t agree with you, so as I don’t have the same opinions about life as you do, and it tends to upset you, I’ll cease from replying, now there you go, you’ve won. But I’m sure you’ll have to have a final dig. Ending correspondence.

your condescending response is what I expected. Funny you didn’t answer the question about attending doctors, dentists etc, of course that would water down your couldn’t care less attitude you seem to be implying.

Whilst I agree that we all have the right to make comment and express our opinions, I find the above quotes inconsiderate, ill judged and shows no concern to those who are currently concerned with a loved one who may be suffering with this virus. if we take CSmiths views in board, surely we would not take medicines or treatments, receive any doctor or hospital care, not wear glasses or hearing aids or go to the dentist etc etc. Because according to CSmith it’s the natural order of things. I wonder if CSmith, with his clear views of “it isn’t a big deal”, has never been to his doctor, dentist, optician etc.

it’s sad to hear the numbers working on the front line who are affected by Coronavirus, some folk don’t get the option to sit at home and be safe. This helps clarify the reason why folk need to stay at home, not go out when it’s not necessary and adhere to the social distancing rules.

Perhaps signs displayed at the bus stop and in the bus window asking you to consider if your journey is really necessary, would safe a lot of bother, after all if the person boarding the bus knows their journey isn’t necessary they are not going to admit it to the driver. All it will do is cause resentment and additional pressure on the drivers.

Thats interesting Watter, I was just caught the end of a bit on the bbc news where the chief constable for Devon and Cornwall just stated there are no road blocks in the United Kingdom. Whilst I understand the police’s job isn’t an easy one just now, the things we need from our police just now is honesty, clarity and a sensible approach. Advise, educate and where need be fine and lockup those who continue to ignore the current laws, but as this all moves so fast, let ensure the information being issued to the public is up to date and accurate. personally, I have no issue with being stopped at a road block as long as the person doing it acts professionally. As for bus/taxi drivers or similar being asked to police us, I think this is the start of a dangerous road to go down where a minority might overstep their authority, which of course when challenged by a passenger, will no doubt result in the passenger being the one that’s arrested. whilst we all need to buckle down and except we are in challenging times and this requires changes to our normal liberties, we also need to ensure that our liberties are not unnecessarily eroded and that these changes are removed as soon as possible, when it is safe to do so.

The difficulty they have is they require the authority to issue their licence, so they will have to play ball.

I think the ferries already check that your trip is “essential” you can only assume that the council/taxi drivers feels there are lots of unnecessary taxi trips being done and they feel a need to do something about it. They must have some evidence that folk are breaking the “not going out, unless it’s for essential purposes, guidance” or have they read somewhere else us doing it, so just following suit, which might be being excessive. whilst I fully adhere to the guidance/law regarding social distancing and essential movements, I’m sure that there are some who don’t and that basically effects us all. however to answer your question, I agree this seems excessive, a simple reminder to folk that they shouldn’t be moving around in taxis should have sufficed. The police already has the power to stop any taxi/vehicle and ask the driver/passenger the reason for their journey. It might seem unadvisable to give some people a feeling of power over others without the appropriate training and legal authority

Managing to get lots of small jobs done around the house, would love to do some decorating and modernising of some rooms, but can’t get the materials needed, typical, have time to do it, but no stuff not found time so far to pick up a book, but will no doubt turn to that sometime soon. Next job is to ruffle through all cupboards, drawers and files to have a clear out. Canna put da bruck tae da dump though and I’m sure da essay kert will no want piles o bags oot, so I doot it’ll be piled up in da shed. best to keep busy and active where possible.

I agree that the telly is full of this on most channels from morning to night. I would be happy just having an update once a day. Time they all stopped yappin and stuck on some good films etc

Sorry, been out for my one a day walk. I agree, there has been worse pandemics, and hopefully most who get this will hopefully get a mild version. The conspiracy theory issue was a reply to Ghosties post. I think he fell out of bed this morning and bashed his head, he needs a padded foil hat. As I see it the main reason for all this lockdown is to let the health services cope, with what could be a fast increase in those needing hospitalised, hopefully saving as many lives as possible. If I can do my bit to help that, I will.

We already know how deathly this pandemic is. We just need to look at other countries, such as Italy, or are their figures all made up as well. Whilst I accept older people’s immune systems deteriorate with age, can I remind you this is affecting people if all ages. We all know and accept that death us part of life, but try telling that to the parents of the healthy 14 year old who has just died with Coronavirus. As the owner of a business that’s had to shut it doors, I for one would rather be bankrupted than dead. At least I can do my best to rebuild my business. These conspiracy theories does nothing to help the situation and at worst invite sceptics to ignore the advice and put more strain on our vital services

I don’t think many are panicking, but I’d like to think they are taking on board the advise and lowering the risk to themselves and others. The idea that this is some world wide conspiracy is just daft, the large numbers of people dying around the world is worrying and where this differs from flu is younger, fitter folk are also being killed by it. One of my close friends can confirm that they are related to one of the latest people from a care home, who has been tested and confirmed to be positive for Coronavirus. Despite being very healthy for their age, they have been hit hard and whilst your own views may be “If it’s gonna get me, it’s gonna get me and if it’s gonna kill me I’ll be dead” is all very well, but for my friend this is a very worrying time of concern for her much loved relative. To suggest that, as we don’t know who the 27 locals are, therefore is someone feeding us a pile of bull, is not only ridiculously but unfair to our medical services. I agree it’s unlikely to be 27, because due to the lack of testing it will be 100s more. So I , like many others who care about catching this vile virus and want to continue living, are hoping that if I take all the precautions and advice, that it’s not gonna get me, it’s not gonna kill me and I’ll remain alive.