Fallout

So, my Twitter timeline is full of contradictory comments this morning...

In general there's a lot of "look a these people crowding in streets with pubs" and "my daughter was working in a bar and punter kissed her on the face" and stuff like that.  A lot of finger-pointing and judgement.

There's another thread of "I didn't go to the pub because I care about people whereas others..."

And there, quietly in the middle, is a small but determined voice and it's saying "thanks to our customers for coming to see us yesterday and behaving well" and "I went to the pub and it was well-managed, and great to be out".

There's probably no objective proof of which is more prevalent.

Is it possible that people are finding the stories they're looking for?

Is it possible that some people and some businesses have behaved in an exemplary way and others have behaved like arseholes?  You know, like in real life where not all cyclists are paragons of virtue and some cycle thoughtlessly and dangerously, and like some motorists are caring,thoughtful and give way for pedestrians and old ladies, where some pedestrians walk and stop carelessly, paying no mind to anyone behind them?

I think we need to allow for some nuance in all contentious issues.

I'm getting fed up of seeing people "othering" other people because of fears, because of an inability to understand grey areas and, most of all, a lack of empathy for other people's situations when you have no idea what they're going or have gone through.

If this is the time for anything, it's a bit more critical thinking, a little more patience and rather less hysteria.

Meanwhile, I'll be drinking beer from my fridge for a few days yet.  I might venture to a pub I trust before too long, if the opportunity presents itself.  As always, by choice it'll be a quiet pub, at a quiet time of day. I'll respect the fact that a publican's livelihood is dependent on me and I'll try to be an exemplary customer because, that's what we all want to be, isn't it?