To Clap or Not to Clap?

[tommytowne]

The clap for Carers now resurrected as Clap for Heroes from 2000 tonight.
Am I a bad person if I choose not to go to my doorstep this evening?
I wholeheartedly support all those who whatever their occupation, are hard at work going about their business. If I encounter any of them, I thank them to their face.
What I couldn't stomach last time was the false bonhomie from people down our street looking up and down seeing who was and wasn't out then engaging in idle chit chat with people they never spoke to before the event, and haven't since it was stopped.

 

[PaddyJames]

I've got a few family members and a close friend who work for the NHS in different capacities and they all (independently of each other) said that it was nice at first but after a few weeks it became tiresome, they didn't want claps they wanted sleep. They didn't want applause that turned into pity they wanted an extra couple of quid on their salary. They didn't want Karen from Worksop to say on Twitter that "they are only doing their jobs" they wanted the right equipment to be able to do their jobs properly.

It became a Tory deflection tactic just like I believe that Major Tom stuff was created by Cummings with VE Day looming to "put the spirit of good'ol blighty" into them while they cover their tracks and try to deflect the blame away from them.

You only have to look at some of the vitriol on the likes of twitter towards teachers etc to know that whilst many will clap with a full heart of thanks, many will scowl and sneer because it isn't benefiting them in anyway.

I won't be doing it. Not because I don't care, but because I do.

 

[jaycee]

I never ventured out once during it the 1st time,I found it to be very patronising to people working on the front line,give them proper pay and equipment rather than claps,there was a girl lived by me every Thursday she would be out clapping,cheering and whooping,come Friday she would have a load of mates round for a session,more than once the bizzies and ambulance ended up arriving there

 

[sageyefc]

Give them a pay rise instead that’s proper appreciation

 

[PaddyJames]

I never ventured out once during it the 1st time,I found it to be very patronising to people working on the front line,give them proper pay and equipment rather than claps,there was a girl lived by me every Thursday she would be out clapping,cheering and whooping,come Friday she would have a load of mates round for a session,more than once the bizzies and ambulance ended up arriving there

Yep. Horror across the street from me had her brat kids hitting pans on the pavement trying to outdo another family down the road. It wasn't about anything but being seen to do it and do it better than anyone else. Fireworks for the sake of it when it's still daylight. The country spoke about clapping at their front doors instead of people dying because of a global virus and the complete screw-ups the government were making on a daily basis.

 

[duncs pigeon]

I won't be. Got friends and family who work in the NHS, teachers etc. This will be turned into a political agenda no doubt. I appreciate everything done by everybody during these difficult times, but dont need to stand and clap to show it sorry. As pre poster said. not because I dont care, but because I do.

 

[jaycee]

Yep. Horror across the street from me had her brat kids hitting pans on the pavement trying to outdo another family down the road. It wasn't about anything but being seen to do it and do it better than anyone else. Fireworks for the sake of it when it's still daylight. The country spoke about clapping at their front doors instead of people dying because of a global virus and the complete screw-ups the government were making on a daily basis.

Like I said it just seemed very patronising to me,not heart felt by a lot of the people taking part,I'd rather say please and thank you to somebody working through it than clap for 5 minutes before going back to watch the telly

 

[Leylo]

Ask the cancer patients let down in this pandemic, alot of families pushed to one side.na my front door staying shut this time.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

The clap for Carers now resurrected as Clap for Heroes from 2000 tonight.
Am I a bad person if I choose not to go to my doorstep this evening?
I wholeheartedly support all those who whatever their occupation, are hard at work going about their business. If I encounter any of them, I thank them to their face.
What I couldn't stomach last time was the false bonhomie from people down our street looking up and down seeing who was and wasn't out then engaging in idle chit chat with people they never spoke to before the event, and haven't since it was stopped.

No you aren't. Many of my friends in the NHS are saying it is patronising bullshine. I'd much rather the NHS is funded properly with needed infrastructure (and via a sensible model, i.e. not via pfi contracts) and staff paid properly, particularly HCAs and porters. Same goes for teachers and the police.

Supermarket and warehouse staff are in a different boat in terms of controlling pay, but I'd back them getting bonuses. Also, and likewise for the above, I'd rather see people treating them with respect, following rules and not putting them at risk. Oh, and to stop trotting out that they are key workers in crisis and going back to taking them for granted. I'll guarantee my neighbourhood will be full of those who held parties on nye (honestly, one bunch had a massive cocaine fuelled bust up) and crammed their houses with visitors for months will be out clapping. Tools.

 

[Paris]

A care worker gave me the clap

 

[tommytowne]

Like I said it just seemed very patronising to me,not heart felt by a lot of the people taking part,I'd rather say please and thank you to somebody working through it than clap for 5 minutes before going back to watch the telly

My point exactly. I always ask my daughter in law to say thank you to the staff under her charge on her Covid ward. She says her staff are all aware of strength of feeling towards their efforts. What she couldn't understand was people travelling to the hospital forecourt in the hope of getting on the local news tv bulletin.

 

[Kurt.]

This is going to sound awful to say as I fully support the NHS and know first hand the struggles they have faced throughout this epidemic (my sister is a health care assistant on a Covid ward) but I do feel this is more a deflection tactic by the tory government, there are literally hundreds of thousands of people still working every day because they don't have a choice of choosing to be furloughed or work from home yet these people don't get recognised for the essential work they are carrying out too under difficult circumstances.

 

[KaiserEFC]

Probably mean a lot more if the public stopped taking the NHS for a ride.

 

[ToffeeTim]

I didn't know it was coming back to be honest. It was a good idea at the start and it felt genuine but I think it definitely ran its course. I don't think I would go out and do it again because it feels a bit contrived and patronising towards those who are working themselves into the ground to help everyone.

There are a lot of people continuing to work very hard every day, week in week out, in various industries. I feel very lucky to be able to sit at home and work in front of a laptop, but I don't think I have to stand outside and clap to show support.

 

[Amokachi1995]

Some really interesting points raised. We did it a few times primarily to get my daughter thinking about the sacrifices others are making.

There are medics living nearby who said they appreciate it, which was good. But, I think there is a lot of credence to the points raised here about it being a superficial side show rather than really helping critical workers with meaningful support. I'll think on.

Plus, its going to be colder this time innit.