Gareth O'Callaghan nails what many of us are thinking...

Covid19 · 23-08-2020 4:10pm #1

I'm still shocked at the stupidity of those attending the "protest". I just can't seem to put into words the anger I feel.
This man, I think, nails it on the head.
From his Facebook post...

"This is a message to all those anti-mask protestors in Dublin yesterday. Like many others reading this, I have a serious illness, and this is how I spend mornings each week receiving treatment to keep my immune system strong and my body healthy. I don't want to catch Covid-19.

When I'm not on my own in this clinical treatment room I wear a face mask to protect me from idiots like you. Can you not show any care or compassion for the elderly and the most vulnerable who you scare, who might not be able to fight this virus if they catch it? People like your own parents?

Do you honestly think your parents or your children are proud of you for what you did yesterday, for behaving like a bunch of ignorant self-centred fools who seem to think there's some sort of solidarity in stupidity? You have been brainwashed.

Your actions yesterday are a direct slap in the face to our brave frontliners. Many of them continue to risk their lives to treat seriously ill coronavirus patients. Some of our frontliners are dead as a result of bravely putting their own lives on the line. They died tragically, and now you have the disgusting audacity to go and do exactly what could kill more of them by putting their lives at risk.

If you think you did something valiant and worthwhile yesterday, then you really need to take a long hard look at your life. Do you think your elderly parents will admire your behaviour yesterday? Do you think your kids will tell all their friends or their teachers about your protest when they return to school next week? No they won't. They're mortified by you, even though they probably won't tell you. You are a joke, even though it's not remotely funny.

Someday you might be staring up into the eyes of a paramedic, or a nurse, as they wheel you into ICU because you are critically ill with this virus. All you will be able to see is their eyes because they're wearing PPE gear to protect themselves against catching Covid-19 from you.

Do all of us who respect life, and how fragile it is and how uncertain these times are, a big favour: Grow up and get some sense.

Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Educate yourselves. Do something decent with your lives that your children will be proud of you for. Stop putting other people's lives at risk."

I have to say, I agree.

23-08-2020 5:08pm

Your dealing with conspiracy theory believers and scrotes best of luck with that.

ToddDameron · 23-08-2020 5:13pm

Really shocked how popular this idiocy has become, more and more people seem to be getting on board with the anti mask nonsense.

The best thing to come out of this whole pandemic is that I now know who I can't trust when the going gets tough- from people breaking lockdown, hoarding, spouting conspiracy bull**** and generally being selfish. Plenty of people I have no interest in associating with anymore when this is all over.

Treppen · 23-08-2020 5:16pm

DubInMeath wrote: »

Your dealing with conspiracy theory believers and scrotes best of luck with that.

I reckon they're cut from the same cloth as barrets bootboys.

Spanish Eyes · 23-08-2020 5:18pm

There is no talking to rent a mobs with an agenda to disrupt and defy everything. Sadly.

23-08-2020 5:22pm

Treppen wrote: »

I reckon they're cut from the same cloth as barrets bootboys.

Ah the patriots who like to try and bring 1916 revolutionaries into everything they spout, while being sub members of anti Irish English groups.

whisky_galore · 23-08-2020 5:23pm

But, but what about their sybil liberdees?

Bunch of fúckin idiots.

Ken Tucky · 23-08-2020 5:31pm

People are idiots...

Had to ask what the protest was about yesterday. When told I was sad.
Have tools like that got nothing better to do...but I already know the answer

Eduard Khil · 23-08-2020 5:34pm

Autism causes vacation brigade

Yes that is the idea behind their argument in that styling

drunkmonkey · 23-08-2020 5:54pm

Professor Carl Hennigan giving advice to the Irish covid 19 special advisory committee a week ago. We'd do well to fact check mandatory government policy before blindly accepting it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNI2ocgosgA

https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/masking-lack-of-evidence-with-politics/

hmmm · 23-08-2020 5:56pm

ToddDameron wrote: »

Really shocked how popular this idiocy has become, more and more people seem to be getting on board with the anti mask nonsense.

The best thing to come out of this whole pandemic is that I now know who I can't trust when the going gets tough- from people breaking lockdown, hoarding, spouting conspiracy bull**** and generally being selfish. Plenty of people I have no interest in associating with anymore when this is all over.

That's been one of the saddest things about this for me. Finding out the people in my life who don't give a damn about anyone else. On the other hand, I've also seen the people who have been doing their bit, and particularly the ones who have just got on with it without making any fuss.

JP Liz V1 · 23-08-2020 6:38pm

A protest over a mask, pathetic

Away With The Fairies · 23-08-2020 6:40pm

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

A protest over a mask, pathetic

Did I see pictures of some of them wearing masks?

unhappys10 · 23-08-2020 7:38pm

ToddDameron wrote: »

Really shocked how popular this idiocy has become, more and more people seem to be getting on board with the anti mask nonsense.

The best thing to come out of this whole pandemic is that I now know who I can't trust when the going gets tough- from people breaking lockdown, hoarding, spouting conspiracy bull**** and generally being selfish. Plenty of people I have no interest in associating with anymore when this is all over.

Same here. Seeing friends on Instagram out in pubs sitting close together, hugging each other while drinking away, having house parties etc
I'm just sat here thinking you're a bunch of cunce without 2 brain cells to rub together.

sibersha · 24-08-2020 7:58am

I am absolutely astonished at how many people attended this protest and at how many support their "cause" on twitter.

Every country has their fair share of idiots but this conspiracy nonsense seems to be spreading at a very worrying rate.

LuckyLloyd · 24-08-2020 8:50am

sibersha wrote: »

I am absolutely astonished at how many people attended this protest and at how many support their "cause" on twitter.

Every country has their fair share of idiots but this conspiracy nonsense seems to be spreading at a very worrying rate.

It was only a thousand people or so, just to add some perspective.

JoannieG · 24-08-2020 9:18am

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

Did I see pictures of some of them wearing masks?

Yep. If you look closely, there's a few wearing masks.

24-08-2020 9:20am

Jim Corr was there, so tells you all you need to know about that gathering really.

sibersha · 24-08-2020 9:24am

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

It was only a thousand people or so, just to add some perspective.

It is indeed a relatively small portion of the population but I'm still astounded that 1,000 people would buy into this **** so much they would attend the protest.

Pablo Escobar · 24-08-2020 9:25am

This is the Dunning-Kruger effect at play. The smartest most informed people generally have doubts about the extent of their knowledge. The confidence of these people suggests they're very early in the knowledge cycle. Besides the fact that what they're spouting is totally baseless.

hi5 · 24-08-2020 9:26am

JoannieG wrote: »

Yep. If you look closely, there's a few wearing masks.

To show their support but not wanting to be recognised (one of the advantages of mask wearing).
I suspect there would have been a lot more there but they fear for their jobs.

CrankyHaus · 24-08-2020 9:30am

sibersha wrote: »

I am absolutely astonished at how many people attended this protest and at how many support their "cause" on twitter.

Every country has their fair share of idiots but this conspiracy nonsense seems to be spreading at a very worrying rate.

Every time our betters disregard the rules and best practice they impose on the rest of us they give oxygen to those idiots.

Every time special dispensations are made for certain protests they encourage these people to hold theirs.

24-08-2020 9:39am

That OP is full of the kind of nonsense, fear and hysteria that has led us to this point.

The death rate of Covid in Ireland is tiny. Only 1777 "deaths". Factor in that the government have openly admitted to overstating the deaths by a lot. And lots of the deaths are people that died WITH Covid as opposed to OF Covid.

Perhaps we should act like grown ups and accept that some people will get sick and some people might die. The same way lots of other illnesses kill people each year.

Time to get back to work while there is still an economy left to salvage.

paw patrol · 24-08-2020 9:45am

i was there . I was there only for the masks/restrictions , i'd no interest in any other agenda.
Any protest will bring people with different agendas and that's just how it is .

I don't know of O'Callaghans previous but we can see people like jedward (I know they aren't the greatest example but their stance was highlighted so it's a good example in that way) slammed the march yet went to the BLM march. These idiots justified it cos their concern mattered but the concerns they don't agree with don't matter.

I'm protesting because of the infringement on our civil liberties primarily.
The recent decision that a garda can enter my house on their opinion that i've a few lads over is frightening. That's real police state stuff and if you don't see that then that's really weird. If your personal freedoms don't matter to you - that's fine but they are important to me.

I also don't believe the numbers and severity of the illness warrant the enforcement of lockdowns and restrictions.
If you want restrictions that is fine. We can do like Japan - which has had similar restrictions to ours but they aren't law nor mandatory but guidelines. But that isn't what is here in ireland.

For people giving out about protestors (like me).
What is your red line from the government?
When will you say , that the restrictions have gone too far?

Chances are when you finally think that , it will probably be too late to reverse.

walshb · 24-08-2020 9:46am

DubInMeath wrote: »

Your dealing with conspiracy theory believers and scrotes best of luck with that.

And serious attention seekers..

A day out for their social media profiles for the absolute majority of them..

walshb · 24-08-2020 9:47am

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

There is no talking to rent a mobs with an agenda to disrupt and defy everything. Sadly.

Nail on the head..

Markcheese · 24-08-2020 9:47am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

That OP is full of the kind of nonsense, fear and hysteria that has led us to this point.

The death rate of Covid in Ireland is tiny. Only 1777 "deaths". Factor in that the government have openly admitted to overstating the deaths by a lot. And lots of the deaths are people that died WITH Covid as opposed to OF Covid.

Perhaps we should act like grown ups and accept that some people will get sick and some people might die. The same way lots of other illnesses kill people each year.

Time to get back to work while there is still an economy left to salvage.

While there is a lot of truth in that , and the medical professionals have made large steps in treating those with serious covid , how much of the relatively low death rate is due to the major efforts to stop the spread of the virus ?
Most of us are back or getting back to work .
It's grand saying ah some people will die , untill it's your parents or grandparents who end up in the ICU .

Seth Brundle · 24-08-2020 9:50am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

That OP is full of the kind of nonsense, fear and hysteria that has led us to this point.

The death rate of Covid in Ireland is tiny. Only 1777 "deaths". Factor in that the government have openly admitted to overstating the deaths by a lot. And lots of the deaths are people that died WITH Covid as opposed to OF Covid.

Perhaps we should act like grown ups and accept that some people will get sick and some people might die. The same way lots of other illnesses kill people each year.

Time to get back to work while there is still an economy left to salvage.

The Spanish flu pandemic 100 years ago took out 50 to 100 million people worldwide.
We are not seeing those numbers thankfully because of the measures imposed despite the best work of the paranoid gimps on Saturday.
Maybe if you contract the virus, come on here and tell us how it feels and how proud you feel to have been right :rolleyes:

CrankyHaus · 24-08-2020 9:53am

Markcheese wrote: »

While there is a lot of truth in that , and the medical professionals have made large steps in treating those with serious covid , how much of the relatively low death rate is due to the major efforts to stop the spread of the virus ?
Most of us are back or getting back to work .
It's grand saying ah some people will die , untill it's your parents or grandparents who end up in the ICU .

The death rate is low now because the new infections are concentrated among the young. We can keep it that way by keeping the elderly cooped up indefinitely.
As a young person I think that's disgraceful, and I'll do anything I can to allow older people to live their life normally and without fear. Wearing a mask for a few short periods a day is not too onerous.

the corpo · 24-08-2020 9:54am

Don't be knocking Jedward!

Jedward for president, he's a great lad!

Fiery mutant · 24-08-2020 10:05am

People flipping out over some minor restriction that are actually good for the health of the most vulnerable in our society is absolutely disgusting, whinging about their ‘freedoms’ and ‘civil liberties’ but not giving a **** about those very freedoms of the vulnerable who are actually affected by this disease.

Can only imagine the crying that would go on if there was an actually emergency.

xhomelezz · 24-08-2020 10:07am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

That OP is full of the kind of nonsense, fear and hysteria that has led us to this point.

The death rate of Covid in Ireland is tiny. Only 1777 "deaths". Factor in that the government have openly admitted to overstating the deaths by a lot. And lots of the deaths are people that died WITH Covid as opposed to OF Covid.

Perhaps we should act like grown ups and accept that some people will get sick and some people might die. The same way lots of other illnesses kill people each year.

Time to get back to work while there is still an economy left to salvage.

Actually surprised it took so long for this kind of post to show up on this thread. Yeah sure nonsense, hysteria, fear.. whatever makes you happy. Sick of reading this nonsense! I can follow measures and get on with life no problem, didn't stop working since this covid sh1tstorm started. This kind of attitude in this particular post is exactly what drives cases up and leave useless government to deal with it. So everything is mess by now and everything takes forever to deal with. If people comply, if companies comply, with the most basic rules to limit the spread, we would be somewhere else by now..

owlbethere · 24-08-2020 10:20am

I saw his post on Facebook and it sums it up very well for sure. Rte news reported that the protesters were angry at the measures taken. The measure taken were for public health and to protect us all.

Also the protesters were both anti mask and anti lockdown. It doesn't make sense to me. If you were anti lockdown, surely you would be for measures to slow the spread of the virus and that would include the wearing of masks in indoor public areas. So that we can hopefully all resume back to some sort of normality with less virus cases and not lockdown again. To be both anti lockdown and anti mask at the same time - that doesn't make sense to me.

Make no mistake about it. The organisers are probably great friends with that tramp Gemma O Doherty. They have one aim, to stick whatever sort of dirt they dream of to the establishment. They don't care about the fools they use in the process for their aim. What they did on Saturday was jeopardise public health with crowds of people, rammed together and not a mask in sight. God help them if they were around with the introduction of seat belts - would they be speeding around the roads shouting about their human rights not to wear a seat belt?

24-08-2020 10:26am

xhomelezz wrote: »

Actually surprised it took so long for this kind of post to show up on this thread. Yeah sure nonsense, hysteria, fear.. whatever makes you happy. Sick of reading this nonsense! I can follow measures and get on with life no problem, didn't stop working since this covid sh1tstorm started. This kind of attitude in this particular post is exactly what drives cases up and leave useless government to deal with it. So everything is mess by now and everything takes forever to deal with. If people comply, if companies comply, with the most basic rules to limit the spread, we would be somewhere else by now..

The majority of people have complied for months now.
The virus won't go away if we hide under the bed. It will just wait until we come back out.

At some point we'll have to accept that a small number will die.

Fiery mutant · 24-08-2020 10:28am

owlbethere wrote: »

would they be speeding around the roads shouting about their human rights not to wear a seat belt?

Jesus, don’t put ideas in their heads.

niallo27 · 24-08-2020 10:29am

xhomelezz wrote: »

Actually surprised it took so long for this kind of post to show up on this thread. Yeah sure nonsense, hysteria, fear.. whatever makes you happy. Sick of reading this nonsense! I can follow measures and get on with life no problem, didn't stop working since this covid sh1tstorm started. This kind of attitude in this particular post is exactly what drives cases up and leave useless government to deal with it. So everything is mess by now and everything takes forever to deal with. If people comply, if companies comply, with the most basic rules to limit the spread, we would be somewhere else by now..

What about the all the businesses that never even had a chance to comply with any rules, because they never opened in the first place. Its easy say all this when your still working full time, what about the thousands who are out of work.

Seth Brundle · 24-08-2020 10:30am

Deleted User wrote: »

At some point we'll have to accept that a small number will die.

Are you volunteering to go first?

xhomelezz · 24-08-2020 10:31am

niallo27 wrote: »

What about the all the businesses that never even had a chance to comply with any rules, because they never opened in the first place. Its easy say all this when your still working full time, what about the thousands who are out of work.

You can thank to people or businesses who doesn't comply.

xhomelezz · 24-08-2020 10:34am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The majority of people have complied for months now.
The virus won't go away if we hide under the bed. It will just wait until we come back out.

At some point we'll have to accept that a small number will die.

Looks like majority wasn't big enough, otherwise numbers for new infections would be somewhere else. I've never said to keep hiding somewhere. No need to.

VillageIdiot71 · 24-08-2020 10:36am

xhomelezz wrote: »

I can follow measures and get on with life no problem, didn't stop working since this covid sh1tstorm started.

This kind of statement is as bad, or worse, than the Gemma-style of waffle.

I similarly had no personal interruption in my work or income as a result of the pandemic. But, unlike you, I'm not in denial about the many hundreds of thousands who are still impacted, or in denial about the collapse in hospital activity impacting on folk with many ailments, or in denial about the impact on the development of children.

The protesters are the kind of people that rational folk don't want to be associated with. But I wouldn't be entertaining equally nonsensical statements by people who seem to think large portions of the world can be brought to a halt forever, just because of a relative minor risk that they feel personally exposed to.

xhomelezz · 24-08-2020 10:44am

VillageIdiot71 wrote: »

This kind of statement is as bad, or worse, than the Gemma-style of waffle.

I similarly had no personal interruption in my work or income as a result of the pandemic. But, unlike you, I'm not in denial about the many hundreds of thousands who are still impacted, or in denial about the collapse in hospital activity impacting on folk with many ailments, or in denial about the impact on the development of children.

The protesters are the kind of people that rational folk don't want to be associated with. But I wouldn't be entertaining equally nonsensical statements by people who seem to think large portions of the world can be brought to a halt forever, just because of a relative minor risk that they feel personally exposed to.

I think you misunderstood my post a bit. Or I wasn't clear enough for you. I'm up for keeping basic measures in action and make sure peeps comply. I'm not advocating any lockdowns, or postponing any hospital procedures.

niallo27 · 24-08-2020 10:45am

VillageIdiot71 wrote: »

This kind of statement is as bad, or worse, than the Gemma-style of waffle.

I similarly had no personal interruption in my work or income as a result of the pandemic. But, unlike you, I'm not in denial about the many hundreds of thousands who are still impacted, or in denial about the collapse in hospital activity impacting on folk with many ailments, or in denial about the impact on the development of children.

The protesters are the kind of people that rational folk don't want to be associated with. But I wouldn't be entertaining equally nonsensical statements by people who seem to think large portions of the world can be brought to a halt forever, just because of a relative minor risk that they feel personally exposed to.

Exactly this, if you disagree with any of the restrictions you are automatically grouped with the nutjobs yesterday.

xhomelezz · 24-08-2020 10:50am

niallo27 wrote: »

Exactly this, if you disagree with any of the restrictions you are automatically grouped with the nutjobs yesterday.

Lol guys I didn't say anything like that.

Gentleman Off The Pitch · 24-08-2020 10:59am

So, what's the main problem here, the fact that they marched or what they are marching about?

If it's the latter, surely there is very little to be outraged about, it's not as if this is going to grow into some movement that eventually convinces vast swathes of people to stop wearing masks

CertifiedSimp · 24-08-2020 11:09am

This is interesting from WHO just 18 days ago. It goes against a lot of what we are seeing/hearing here.

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1291410066839658499

Medical masks (those blue disposable ones) - should be worn by health care workers, those with covid 19 symptoms and those who take care of those with suspected covid 19. Where physical distancing of 1m can't be obtained, they should be worn by over 60s and those with underlying health issues.

Fabric masks - should be worn by those where 1m distancing can't be carried out, such as social care workers, cashiers and servers.

So, a lot of people are wearing the blue disposable ones in shops/restaurants and they shouldn't be wearing them at all according to the WHO.

And then the shop workers should be wearing fabric masks - I haven't seen any staff member wear a mask yet.

3xh · 24-08-2020 11:33am

owlbethere wrote: »

They don't care about the fools they use in the process for their aim. What they did on Saturday was jeopardise public health with crowds of people, rammed together and not a mask in sight.

Just like the politically backed BLM ‘movement’ and their worldwide ‘demonstrations’?

Don’t forget, owlbethere, many of those BLM protests took place during official worldwide lockdowns earlier in this crisis. And they had far greater turn-outs too. Nothing much was said or highlighted by that, through so called mainstream channels.

If you can’t verbalise (even to yourself) where your red line is with continuous state intervention, your unquestioning support for government imposed lockdowns, guidelines, initiatives, etc, is as valid as those ‘anti-mask’ protestors.

plodder · 24-08-2020 11:33am

I support wearing masks, and don't support breaking of restrictions. So, I don't have much time for protests like this. But, what is the deal with the Minister for Justice calling for one of the speakers at it to be kicked out of her job as a Senior Counsel on the International Protection Appeals Tribunal?

Is there any particular reason for this. Has she actually broken any laws? Should that be established first?

Gerry Hatrick · 24-08-2020 11:37am

sibersha wrote: »

I am absolutely astonished at how many people attended this protest and at how many support their "cause" on twitter.

Every country has their fair share of idiots but this conspiracy nonsense seems to be spreading at a very worrying rate.

This site has its fair share of these anti masker the virus isn't that bad idiots.

Having said that I'm glad we live in a country where these twits are allowed to express their opinions freely

3xh · 24-08-2020 11:57am

plodder wrote: »

I support wearing masks, and don't support breaking of restrictions. So, I don't have much time for protests like this. But, what is the deal with the Minister for Justice calling for one of the speakers at it to be kicked out of her job as a Senior Counsel on the International Protection Appeals Tribunal?

Is there any particular reason for this. Has she actually broken any laws? Should that be established first?

I support you wearing masks and your choice to do so.

Did you have much time for worldwide BLM looting and protesting, incidentally? Or did it ‘not concern you’?

drunkmonkey · 24-08-2020 12:06pm

Gerry Hatrick wrote: »

This site has its fair share of these anti masker the virus isn't that bad idiots.

Having said that I'm glad we live in a country where these twits are allowed to express their opinions freely

Read and watch my post early in this thread, your calling the wrong people idiots, an idiot to me is someone easily lead.
I'm not anti mask but i'm 100% anti using them incorrect and unnecessary mandates that allow the Government to put someone in jail for 6mts for grabbing a liter of milk.
Now the dail is coming back tomorrow to give the guards permission to bust into your house to see of there are more than 6 people, wake the hell up, please.

bodhrandude · 24-08-2020 12:17pm

What I don't get is if you are going to have this sort of protest, maybe choose a bloody area with the least amount of cases instead of choosing an area with the highest amount of cases in the country, maybe have the protest in Leitrim rather than Dublin. Having the march in Dublin will only exacerbate the situation but of course its probably for the maximum media and social media exposure. But feck it, I won't be taking part of this and I love crowds, music festivals and the like, but I'll take the year or two out of these situations until if is safe to do so.

Gareth O'Callaghan nails what many of us are thinking...

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