[shmel]

Look, I don't want to engage into discussions of statistics, flu comparisons and implications. It all boils down to an observation that most people are ready to make _some_ sacrifices for others, but also not too much, sort of "don't burn yourself trying to warm others". Some people didn't suffer too much during lockdowns and they perceived it as a minor sacrifice for the sake of society, old people and so on. Some even found it positive, they chilled out on furlough, they got new hobbies, they spent quality time with family and they don't understand why anyone is upset.

Some had it pretty bad and breached this altruism threshold. I personally flew past it very early. My life turned from "the best period of my life" in early 2020 into my worst nightmare pretty much overnight.

In early 2020 I barely drank at all. I had perhaps a glass of wine once a month or two. I remember I was horrified when I read a BBC article "try to have at least one sober day a week" early into the first lockdown. By the end of the third lockdown I realized I drank every single night for the last 3 weeks. While I feel hundred times better now than back then, I still find it difficult to not drink at all for a week. Alcohol isn't a cause of any problem, it is one of the most accessible coping mechanisms. It numbs emotional pain and distracts you from constantly thinking how much your existence sucks.