These Are 35 Things That Were Ruined By The Pandemic A Lot More Than People Realized

Sort of unrelated, but I do really like BP's choice of picture on this one. It's perfect

Most of my working life has been either face to face or talking on the phone to the general public. The very first job I ever had made me realise just how monumentally idiotic the general public is.

Same. The absolute heartlessness of some people...on both sides...was crazy.

Media have the noisy minority a megaphone.

same

And so many made obscene profits whilst getting government handouts, it's past being a joke or funny, we are overdue a revolution imo.

Instead of showing an increase in profits every year for share holders, these corporations should absorb inflation cost from their profit.

What's even worse is the fact that at one time, we just paid the price listed for something. It was up to the business to price their products to cover their expenses and remain profitable (to whatever degree they could). Now, the customer is expected to pay the employees' salary in tips just for doing their job, pay the company's credit card transaction fees, and listen to a line of BS that supply issues and inflation are forcing the increase in prices, when in fact any price increase is going into their pockets in the form of even greater profit, but hey, customers need our stuff.

A plague that's spread to most other countries since Reagan.

I'd say one good thing resulting from this is that people seem to be much more willing to organize/form labor unions to push back. That's generally a good thing. And, yes, there are "bad" unions which is a matter of perspective since they're just doing what unions are supposed to be doing. Don't like that evil cops are protected by their unions, which are doing their jobs? Demand that the cities negotiate better & more varied ways for cops to be fired. Everything is negotiated in CBAs. Being in a union doesn't mean you never lose your job. If you're mad that it's difficult fire bad union members, be mad at the employers for agreeing to that terrible process. CBAs are a two way street & don't just lean heavily union. It's give and take.

My son's tiny business stayed afloat partly due to one of the COVID loans, administered by the Small Business Administration in the US. He's made every payment on time, but they sent a letter saying that he hadn't and they would have to directly take money from the business. It's been months, and he hasn't yet been able to get ahold of anyone to investigate or help. It's insane. But BIG businesses also got these loans and I bet they are not having these troubles. About 80% of the business like his in the US folded in 2020.

I watched the deli right next to my work struggle. He had 4 employees and worked his a** off. Covid came and nearly destroyed him. He soldiered on, and it looked like he might make it. But downtown did not bounce back like we all hoped. He sold his shop early this year. Breaks my heart.

I agree

I already loved staying home before the pandemic. Aside from the risk of infection and restricted access to things like restaurants and grocery stores (at times), life went on pretty normally for me.

Everything is just so expensive, eating out, no. Going on vacation, the last vacation I had was my honeymoon 30years ago. I'm just glad wife and I are homebodies.

Working in Healthcare and my wife in the energy industry we both continued working. nothing changed for us and sometimes i often feel like i cant relate socially to those who did nothing for nearly 2 years.

I’m just now rediscovering the ability to go outside and do stuff spontaneously

Nah dude, you just got a few years older during covid. /J

People are *still* fighting about this and, to be honest, I worry about our society when the next pandemic comes along. There's a certain demographic that has refused to learn anything from the previous one.

Anti-Vax was mostly a fringe movement until politicians made following mask mandates, or getting vaccinated into social identity issues.

Stupidity vs knowledge...

Not everywhere, no. In my country, the antivaxx and anti masks were a tiny minority of idiots seen as such. There was no division, no debate, just a handful of morons disregarded by everyone.

Is this page all about the US? Where I live, most of us were vaccinated, we wore masks when required and respected each other and each other's right to be safe. If you didn't want the vaccinations, your choice was accepted. Some of us, because of the people with whom we work were isolated for several months, but everything soon returned to normal. The only country, of which I am aware that people set against each other, was the US.

All we can do is stop tipping and refuse to buy from businesses that require it.

This!! I was using a self checkout at my local gas station and it asked me to tip! I made the comment "So am I going to get paid to work here?" the manager didn't seem to pleased but none of them were checking people out and was directing people to their self checkout registers 🙄

The glass half full version: Tipping is FINALLY reaching a tipping point (no pun intended) where people are pushing back. Tipping has been out of hand for years but has gotten really ridiculous the past few years. I would love to see tipping go away in the USA except for maybe above and beyond situations that truly deserve a tip. Of course I would also like to see laws changed in many states so nobody is depending on tips to pay their bills.

Even gofundme wants you to tip on your donation. I dont feel obligated to tip anywhere, sorry not sorry.

The cashier at the local small but upscale food place has a tip can at the register. As if.

That was evident during COVID. I don't like strangers within 6 feet of me during normal times. And all the whining about masks. Yes, for people like me who wear glasses, it's not ideal in the winter, but if I end up not killing someone's grandmother I think it's a small price.

i’m so picky abt who comes within a couple inches of me, not even my family or some of my long time friends can come that close… only by bestie and boyfriend that’s it

Sadly this is the biggest thing I've noticed in the classroom. Kids are far more selfish and there is far less empathy. Honestly it's frightening

I work supply chain, it's the second one.

I think fast food companies are in for a rude awakening. Fast casual restaurants haven't got the memo. Better quality food at the same price point. Maybe it's not ready in minutes, but it's easy enough to order ahead.

The wars in Ukraine and the middle east continue to out pressure on the supply chain, but the stores etc have figured out how much they can squeeze us and get away with it

Definitely being taken advantage of. Inflation has NOT been caused by the government. It has TOTALLY been caused by the disgusting greed of (largely) American corporations.

Vote with your wallet. Groceries have gone up too but it is still massively cheaper to prepare your own meals at home. I realize some folks have situations that make it harder to avoid eating out but most of us don't have to eat out.