Supermarket rules in a time of pandemic hysteria.


https://www.lidl.co.uk/summer/fun

Lidl's staff have taken on a new 'traffic warden' persona, in common with other Supermarkets, and seem to enjoy their new found ability to order customers around.

Supermarkets have taken on a Disney-like character of one-way systems, in and out doors, floor markings, barriers, screens, hand-disinfection, masks, car park queues and helpful announcements, assuring this is all for our own safety. Much of what is being recommended or enforced is without any scientific backing. It is largely just psychological posturing and an excuse for staff to feel justified in telling others what to do. 

It is a phenomenon common to petty officialdom, more seriously evidenced by the police in multiple instances. Of course the current state of confusion over what is and isn't allowed and the increased fines that appear to be now arbitrarily available to policemen and women, has far more serious implications. 

But returning to Lidls and supermarkets generally, the irrational and inconsistent application of hygienic precautions is too apparent. Some wear masks, others do not. Same applies to rubber gloves. Some appear quite paranoid about maintaining the obligatory two metres distancing (I have been forcefully ordered back as if I was pointing a gun and screamed at by other customers) whilst others, quite understandably pack shelves cheek by jowl next to customers. 

When the epidemic was in its infancy, and potentially more dangerous, there were no screens, now it is in its decline, they and other measures have appeared everywhere. 

One checkout girl behind her screen, nevertheless thought it wise to wear a face mask and apply disinfectant to her hands between serving each and every customer. I was tempted to warn her of the health dangers this imposed to both lungs and skin but decided this would probably be resented or ignored so desisted. 

One example of irrationality: pastries previously open are now placed in paper bags whilst bread and other bakery products are not. To a degree this might be considered sensible to protect them from hand or droplet infection. However what is not sensible is the edict that customers are not even allowed to touch the bags without purchasing them. 

Twice whilst checking the contents I have been ordered by different employees not to do so. When asked why, the only explanation : "Bugs". Of course the likely transfer of a bug from a hand to another person from the exterior of a bag is beyond computationally remote. Even if were possible, it would mean the same rule would have to apply to all items on the shelves. Yet this did not stop the employees enforcing the company's stupid rule. 

This same employee earlier felt it necessary to approach three people outside the store standing on the pavement to 'move along' or the 'police would complain'. All this in an area where despite the obvious exaggeration of the statistics, only one in a thousand population, has been diagnosed with the resultant illness of coronavirus, and these of a very specific susceptible group. 

What lessons can we draw from this? 

Government fear propaganda, ably disseminated by the BBC and other media, has been completely effective, fundamentally changing people's attitudes and behaviour. We shall have to see whether such behavioural changes, such as standing two metres apart, is retained after the episode is declared over if it is (the government has just announced a continuation until October!) or if community suspicion becomes a permanent feature. 

The willingness of people to be bamboozled and frightened, is itself frightening, because if it is so easy, to what other strictures and limitations might they not be susceptible? 

Will the same tactics be used to enforce vaccination, identity cards, work or freedom passes, personal chipping, forced hospitalisation or incarceration without due process, the removal of children from the family home on the pretext of infection, reducing the care of the elderly for the same reason? 

Sadly many these things have happened already without an outcry. According to the Mail, the Queen may never be allowed to carry out public engagements and official duties again! The Supermarkets, their empty shelves and ridiculous rules, are just a small taste of what is to come unless people stop their hysteria and start thinking rationally.