I think, if they are being totally honest, most people 'of a certain age' ( and I'm one) are 'doing the right thing' primarily in order to stay healthy themselves. Helping others is a by product but the basic human instinct is to survive.
I find protestations that anyone is doing it for altruistic reasons rather smug and self righteous.
I also think there's something to be said for the approach that Pheno has misinterpreted. It is becoming clear that there is no way to protect people AND protect the economy. Therefore, the way out seems to me to let most healthy people of ages which are little affected by the virus to be able to get on with their lives and keep their jobs and allow those of us who feel the need to protect ourselves by isolating when necessary. It doesn't mean that 'the general public have become okay with the idea of vulnerable people dying' - that would be a terrible slur on humanity - nor does it mean that 'the economy is more important' but I'm afraid in our society , the economy is important and if we don't do something, more people are going to lose their jobs and their homes. That will inevitably result in more crime.
Personally, as I'm sure most of you know by now, I think the whole thing has been blown way out of proportion and has been handled appallingly by the government. They have succeeded in scaring the bejesus out of the population so that we've become a nation of cowering wrecks. Having successfully achieved that objective, they then changed tack and tried to get everyone back to work, only to change again and now they're trying (and obviously succeeding) to terrify us all over again.
Most of us on here don't have to worry about our jobs because we're retired. We can mostly afford to self isolate if we want to or feel the need to. Hopefully, it won't be for too much longer but it is in our own interests as well to get things (as far as possible) back to near normal.
Its frightening the way some students are locked in as virtual prisons in their halls of residence. They even have 24 hour guards to stop them going out - even for food. This is getting beyond a joke. It is harming our society just as much as the virus - if not more.
I sincerely hope that the revolting Tories win next week's vote against extending Boris's ability to introduce draconian measures without consulting Parliament. He should have to justify them and should be called to account for each measure. That's if he condescends to turn up to Parliament, of course.
Even the Chancellor said it - don't live your lives in fear.
