Corona Virus panic buying...

[Looking-Glass]

What has toilet paper to do with the Corona Virus I ask our knowledgeable readers?

Toilet paper will not prevent Corona Virus
Toliet paper will not cure Corona Virus

So why  the panic buying in Australian stores?  Not only toilet paper but face masks, paper towels, sanitary wipes tissues are also being panic bought by "intellectually challenged" consumers.  Rice, pasta, instant noodles and frozen pizza are also being snapped up, supermarkets with empty shelves are common place, especially in the cities, not so much in the rural areas.

However, we in the country regions are not spared the city antics, charter buses (complete with a trailer attached) have converged out here from Sydney and go through our supermarkets like a locust plague buying up all the fore mentioned and heading back to Sydney.

Last week on national TV three women were shown fighting in the supermarket aisle over the last rolls of toilet paper, in another episode an elderly woman in her 70's with a walking frame was shoved aside by another woman in her early 30's for rolls of paper towel.

A school boy on a Sydney  train was screamed at with a torrent of abuse by some other passengers because he sneezed without covering his mouth, the errant behaviour goes on day by day, some weird, some bizzare and others quiet frightening.

The "Me for me" society at its best.

If this is the best society can do with a virus what would happen if we were suddenly plunged into a war? 

[redhat]

Good to know the stupidity does not exist just in the US.  I blame social media and all the sheep that follow it...but I could be wrong, or simply jaded.

+-RH

[ChrisSmolinski]

I've noticed an urban/rural divide here in the USA as well regarding panic buying, with more in the former than latter. I suspect partly because rural residents tend to be more self sufficient, and most keep adequate supplies of food and consumables anyway, because "stuff happens", like a snowstorm or whatever. And I think tend to be more frugal, with large pantries, big freezers and multiple fridges to buy stuff when it is on sale and stock up.

[Pigmeat]

We also know not to panic. Grandpa will keep in the cellar until the "Bring Out Your Dead" men come by and our newspaper is as good as the fancy European brands.

[skeezix]

I've noticed an urban/rural divide here in the USA as well regarding panic buying, with more in the former than latter. I suspect partly because rural residents tend to be more self sufficient, and most keep adequate supplies of food and consumables anyway, because "stuff happens", like a snowstorm or whatever. And I think tend to be more frugal, with large pantries, big freezers and multiple fridges to buy stuff when it is on sale and stock up.

I completely agree. In the Twin Cities ¹ here, its madness. A friend & I took a trip to southern MN (name not mentioned to protect them) and while the paper products were cleaned out, plenty of everything else. We stopped at a meat store in rural MN and more than enough meat available. Very delicious meats, at very reasonable prices (even during what used to be normal times). They even have a vending machine for select meats.

Was talking to another guy last week, and he said that he knows someone that lives way up in northern MN (name also not mentioned to protect them) and said no problems of any stock, for any item, including paper products. 

The urban areas are a problem.

And funny you should say that about rural residents, as I said nearly the exact same thing to my friend this afternoon after seeing how much the store had in stock.



¹ Twin Cities = Minneapolis & St Paul metropolitan area. To be differentiated from the other Twin Cities of Bismarck/Mandan in ND.

[Azimuth Coordinator]

Good to know the stupidity does not exist just in the US.  I blame social media and all the sheep that follow it...but I could be wrong, or simply jaded.

No Your Not Wrong..  Just when I think how stupid could people be..  Someone accepts the challenge and raises the bar..     Stay Safe Everyone.

AC

[Josh]

Grampa most definitely will not keep in the cellar till the bring out yer dead men arrive.

[JimIO]

Grampa needs to get back to work...

~

[Josh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs

[Pigmeat]

Grampa needs to get back to work...

~

He's stayin' until we get the big Trump relief check. You've got to be patient and prudent in these matters.

Does Chief Lying Racoon pay up on his promises or does he run off on Al's Stingray bike as fast as his skinny little legs will take him?