Camera Clubs and Coronavirus
We are told not to go for walks, well sod that I don’t see why I can’t go into the fields nearby if I avoid contact which wouldn’t be difficult.
And therein lies the problem for HMG. You, like me, can go for a walk in open fields without much chance of contact. That's not the case in an urban area. But HMG must have the same rule for everyone, and Joe public will criticise them if they don't. Same with 'If you're 70 or over...'. Nothing suddenly changes on your 70th birthday, but they have to give a precise age because Joe public wants and needs a clear instruction. As for clubs and societies, if the age of every member is 70, the risk to members is little different to if they were all 69. Same with speed limits, safety doesn't suddenly deteriorate at 70mph. But in all such cases there has to be a cutoff that applies to everyone.
My guess is that a lot of gardens will be looking a lot better than they do now after all the attention they will get from self-isolated over 70's. And there's no reason why those with a garden shouldn't also have a long-distance chat to a neighbour over the garden fence.
Steve
People need to stop thinking "What if I get the virus?" and start thinking "What if I pass the virus to someone who's at higher risk and they die because of me?".
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3 & K200D, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
Schools are doing digital teaching but are open for the kids of people in essential jobs.
Ban on meetings of over 100 people. Most churches, mosques etc have also closed.
First case in my town is a woman in her 40s, and the youngest patient in intensive care in the Netherlands is a 16 year old. My son't girlfriend a nurse in her early thirties is in quarantine and awaiting testing.
I'm not sure I agree with the isolating of over 70s "for their own good" as if over 70s can't decide for themselves. It will also mean they are seen as the source of the illness, rather than the younger symptom free carriers quietly spreading it, and result in poorer health for them in the longer term, mentally and physically.
Anyway if you don't have to mix with people don't. Stay safe everyone!
as if over 70s can't decide for themselves.
How many discussions, debates, arguments have I had over the years with elderly relatives who wouldn't make sensible decisions for themselves and didn't seem to care about the impact on other people ... ???!!! My wife and I still have the scars.

It will be interesting to see whether younger people who have started to work at home want to continue doing so after this blows over. Not doing the daily commute must be attractive for some. Might this be the beginning of the end for rush hour on the road and overcrowded rush hour trains? One can dream...
Steve
As I said certainly here in teh netherlands it is not only the elderly with underlying conditions who are in ICU and dying. In Spain the 21 trainer of a football team has died of it, young fit and dead.
I'm all for social distancing but do not pick on just one sector of the community. Stop the pop concerst, rugby matches, half marathons, close the clubs and pubs. Take it seriously but it is everybody's problem.
I see there is already a #boomer remover tag for it. Sorry but that just isn't funny.
Philip
That leaves us with online activities, but also the possibility of visiting places that will now be very quiet. But where?
Arley Hall is still open. English Heritage have closed all their manned sites, although the free ones are still open.
Best regards, John
I hope there is someone at Barclaycard to pick up the phone.
There was, after an hour of musak and a cheery voice saying how busy they were!
Lets hope that this situation clears sufficiently for them to re-open in the autumn.
Graham
Friendly Regards
Graham
We keep in touch via a DPS Facebook page which attracts lots of new images every week. I've suggested we take a leaf out of the PUF weekly and monthly comp systems and set up a weekly or monthly comp with one image per person and the winner of the previous week setting the next subject and judging the results. The idea seems like it might catch on.
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout
Very lucky to belong to a club with such a clever and proactive committee
Nigel
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