Clapping this evening..

I wonder how many individuals will use the evening's celebratory applause for our front-line workers as an excuse for a 'look at me' moment. Last week there was a guy dancing on a roof, others in fancy dress.....
I'm sorry if I appear to be a grumpy old git but something doesn't smack right about an event like 'clap for carers' when it gives an opportunity for people to over indulge for their own benefit. If you want to show solidarity then clap. If you want to show further solidarity then support ANY political party next election which clearly intends to build the nhs rather than undermine it. The clapping seems sincere by most but at the end of the day nhs staff need paying properly and looking after.
P.s. I can handle the pot and pan drumming I think.

 

You're absolutely right. Its becoming a pssing contest. From clapping, to pots and pans, to horns, to fireworks, to fancy dress and running through the streets.

People are just wnkers.

 

My partner is a nurse and she was genuinely delighted and touched the first time it happened, arriving home on the verge of tears.

She's now tired of it, and of the view that a lot of people are just doing it "for the 'gram" and Facebook. It doesn't help that since this started she's not had access to suitable PPE, had no hint of a payrise and has seen people die on a weekly if not daily basis. This obviously isn't directly the general public's fault (apart from those who voted Conservative at the last election) but it all just seems insincere to her now, although not as much as Boris and his cronies daring to join in.

 

Yeah it's just a bunch of virtue signalling. You don't need to stand at your door clapping people who can't even see you doing it to show your appreciation for the NHS as it should come naturally. If you appreciate them that much raise cash for them or buy some PPE to donate to your local hospital or care home. It's been overtaken by attention seekers making noise in any way they can such as hitting pans. A lot of the weekly clapping is done with people not social distancing and therefore risking giving more work to those they are applauding.

 

Summat weird with our mentality - this collective morality that sees everyone trying to outdo each other on the 'look-at-me-I'm-cheering/clapping/grieving better-than-you' front. Remember Diana's funeral?? Folk stood at the side of the fu.ckin' M1 trying & failing to hurl great bunches of flowers on the hearse as it went past at 30mph. All trying to win the 'I'm the most upset' stakes. Even better when the TV cameras are around - watch the clapping footage tonight to see folk making sure they're front & centre when the cameras are on. Send me up the fu.cking tree....

 

My wife appreciates the support but finds it a little embarrassing, she’s rather have a bit more pay and proper support(under the tories) or not have 5 middle managers to one nurse(labour).
I’ll just have the bathrooms cleaned, her wine chilled and the tea ready to show our appreciation.

 

My elder sister is a stoma care nurse and younger sister a pharmacist. I’ve not been outside and clapped once. I choose to vote labour to show my support for them, the NHS and the many millions of key workers who I rightly have the utmost respect and regards for.

 

Is she working in the nhs or private? If nhs then she would have received the 3rd instalment of out current pay deal in April. If not at the top of the band then will be jumping up the incremental ladder twice as quick as I did under the pay deal (effectively a 27% rise over the 3 years).
Edit: sorry meant 17% rise within banding.

 

I work for the Govt and like most Key workers workplaces we have had to retrain/ learn other aspects of work in lightning quick time in order to make sure vital money and resources gets out there. Then there’s the added pressure of a depleted workforce. We’ve had all the verbal and written platitudes you could imagine, but as someone has written, can you direct me to the part of a Utilities company website or other services,where you can input these platitudes so they can reflect on my bill. I hope the NHS staff get the pay rise and terms and conditions they truly deserve. Likewise for us, but I shan’t hold my breath. I will expect the treatment we got following the Global crash in 2008 and the following attacks from the Tory-led Govts will continue

 

People clap to make themselves feel better not for the NHS. If they cared about the NHS they wouldn’t have elected this shower

 

My thoughts exactly. I joined the first time but haven't done since. Its lost its impact by happening weekly and has just become routine rather than genuinely meaningful

 

Proper support mate. She might be too tired to show her appreciation but it'll be there. Those sorts of things really make the difference in relationships and life. Thanks for making me smile.

 

I think her base salary recently went up from £23k to £25k as part of this deal, but she now won't get an increase (apart from the standard 1%, below inflation) for another 2-3 years. I'm not sure where you've got 27% from.

I should've phrased "payrise" as "pay commensurate with what nurses actually do".

 

I haven't clapped once. Its not that I don't support the NHS and would be happy to tell them in person. I'd rather vote for a party that meant I paid more tax (which I would probably grumble about a little when it went up to be completely honest) so that people were rewarded more. I'd rather vote for a party than supplied proper equipment so that nearly 200 of our NHS workers didn't die as a result of contracting this disease. I'd rather scrap Trident and quiet probably HS1/2 to fund the NHS properly, but apparently the majority of people don't think that way.

 

If your thinking of kicking the missus or mr out, make sure you pack all the clothes and order the taxi for 7:59pm then when they drive off it'll seem like the whole street is glad to see the back of them.

 

I’ve clapped but completely agree with you. I pay corporation tax & I’m better off financially under a Tory Government but could never vote for them.

I’ve lost three grandparents since 2008 & had a baby since then & every time I’ve been to Barnsley hospital the staff are run off their feet & the place looks like it hasn’t had a facelift this century. It’s in desperate need of funding. I’ve got 2 friends who’ve got wives / partners that work there & they always say the same.

Unfortunately more people care about Brexit than their families health.

 

When I found myself nodding, in agreement, with your last sentence, I had that moment where I realised, I am no longer young!!!

 

The jump in incremental pay. It took me 8 years I think to get to the top of band pay But this is happening much quicker now with the changes.

 

Well, it appears I'm in the minority on here. But I don't care. Come 8 o'clock I'll proudly stand on my doorstep and applaud the NHS and all our important key workers. I can't improve their pay, nor working conditions. The NHS has been an absolute Godsend to our family and we'll be eternally grateful to them. As far as I'm concerned, the NHS is a wonderful organisation that deserves to be funded properly and treasured by all. I also have never voted for a political party that deliberately under funds the NHS and justifies the cutting of the number of doctors & nurses. "No magic money tree" to fund it properly, but there is one to fund the DUP.
I can take the mocking, derogatory comments & sneering condescension for my actions. They certainly won't stop me.

 

Well said mate, I was going to post something very similar!