Chapter 308: Corona changed our society.

 

Corona has been an unwelcome visitor Corona. It is finally going. We can now do the dishes and talk about tomorrow. 

When Corona was here our society changed. How many of these changes will remain after it goes?

Behaviour

Social distancing. Us humans are social animals. I’m guessing social distancing will go the way of the Tassie Tiger. We enjoy and like being in crowds. A crowded restaurant or pub has an atmosphere or buzz that we enjoy. We feed off the people around us. Empty tables depress us.

Hand washing

Hand washing has become more common. I assume increased hand washing will stay. In the past handwashing after going to the toilet was considered normal. That’s all.  In the future I’m guessing handwashing before eating will be standard. The new normal.

Post Corona I imagine restaurants will provide hand sanitizer or bowls or paper towels to clean our hands when we enter.

Shopping

Shopping has gone on-line. Corona has accelerated the trend in that direction. The advantages of on-line shopping have disseminated.  Shopping to a distant warehouse with postal delivery seems sure to continue. Not only books, clothing but also food and meals.

Garden

During Corona we have also eaten more home-grown food. More herbs or vegetables from our garden. During Corona more people have planted and tended vegetable patches. Will this trend continue. Post Corona will people eat more healthy, organic, seasonal home-grown food? 

Arts

Corona has unleashed local community art. Musicians playing for their neighbours. Friends posting to their own Facebook groups. Often posting funny and creative posts relevant to the local community.  

A deluge of local talent has been exposed and given air. During Corona art has become more local. It has been reflecting what the community is actually thinking and doing. 

Post Corona I imagine less big art events. Less vacuous celebrities famous for being seen.  More local people seeing what other local people can tell them about their community.  More people illuminating their local community to itself.  

Sport

Sport has gone the same way as the arts. Local sport has replaced big events. Playing on the local cricket oval has replaced being one of a crowd watching superstars. 

Post Corona I imagine local community sport staying strong. A game with friends is hard to resist. The celebrities and TV stations associated with big sporting events will remain. They will not admit irrelevance.

Local community

During Corona global Facebook has helped us become more local. Connect with our Neighbours. Connect with people in our apartment. We are suddenly sharing jokes and posts on Facebook with our neighbours.  Global Corona and Facebook have strengthened local communities. Brought people together.

Work

During Corona more people have worked from home. The need for multi-story central offices, morning coffee rituals and transport has shown to be unnecessary. Nobody knew working from home was possible. Now everybody knows it is possible and can see the advantages. In the future more people will combine work and home. 

The status of certain workers will change. On the up are health care workers. We have been reminded about what really matters. The health of everybody in the community.

The status of teachers will go up. Corona has shown that schools are an important part of our communities. Corona has told us that looking after children or a class of children is difficult. Let alone teaching them something.

The status of science will increase. People will listen to real, true facts based on objective studies. The status of vague, nebulous, spiritual feelings will be less.

Politicians  Laws

Corona has resulted in law changes. The laws and rules have been made up as we go. Corona has been a real time experiment involving different countries and new laws. The new laws haven’t fitted correctly. They have all resulted in anomalies, exceptions, unintended consequences and routs.  

Corona has rewarded countries where the  government has monitored and controlled the population. Where decisive politicians have  consulted with experts, passed new laws and inspired people to embrace the new laws.  

Corona has also increased the gap between the IT-connected and IT-unconnected. Not rich and poor. Not males and females. Not indigenous and non-indigenous. Our world has become an ITocracy. The IT connected have booked on-line, educated on-line, shopped on-line, worked from home and lobbied politicians on-line. This trend is unstoppable.

Corona has exposed and shown the whole world countries which are good or bad places to live. Tasmania has emerged near the top but I am a bit biased.