Just kinda a thought experiment. At times I’ve thought that peoples’ reactions to COVID are resulting in behaviors more consistent with an earlier time - say 50 years ago or so. Sure, these are all gross generalities, but families are making their own entertainment, folk aren’t just taking planes everywhere, possibly with so much economic insecurity people are less consumer goods oriented, people aren’t hustling about to as many entertainment venues or kids’ activities.
Of course, at the same time, people are availing themselves of cutting edge computing and communication tools, and plenty of goods are being delivered to home. So in that respect, our reaction to COVID might be speeding us into the future.
Just wondering if any of you had mused along these lines.
It is turning the clock back on growth, but rushing us headlong into the mostly online, telework, buy-from-Amazon future that has long been predicted to arrive gradually over the next 20-ish years.
Anyone else feeling like the household dynamics reflect earlier times? Less ability to delegate “parenting” outside of the household to schools/clubs/sports. Sure, folk are using their screens - possibly even more than ever, but I perceive more people taking walks/bike rides as families, and hear of more people making music, doing puzzles and board games.
I’m inclined to say neither.
It may take longer than many of us first thought, but someday this will be over. There will be an effective vaccine and/or COVID-19 will run its course naturally.
And then, everything will pretty much go back to exactly the way it was before – even if the new ways we’ve found to do things are easier or more efficient or less polluting. Humans are notoriously slow learners.