Things are now Getting back to Normal. But, IS Normalcy Good for You and Me?

[GammaGlobulin]

Dear Friends,

 

Most of you know something about Culture Shock, and even, so-called Reverse Culture Shock.

For sure, most guys on this forum know what it means to return to Normalcy when one returns to one's Home Country.

Surely, you do.

This means, in some cases, months and years of adjusting to a new culture, when one's Home Country has evolved beyond anything one might have imagined.

 

And, as we all know, returning to one's Home Country, after many years, is anything but returning to "normalcy".

 

Perhaps, then, one might expect that our getting back to normalcy, after the pandemic, might be less than easy.

 

I find it not so easy, in some respects.

 

Maybe you, as I, find the crowds at the malls intimidating.

Maybe you, as I, find the noise of planes flying overhead taxing.

 

There are just so many new adjustments that we must make if we wish to return to our former world, pre-pandemic.

 

Earlier today, or was it yesterday, I visited a huge mall.  And, while there, I suddenly became consumed by the idea that I was just an ant, among ants, searching for products most ants do not need.

 

For example, I saw about 100 different types of toothpaste, and, at least, 500 different types of shampoo. 

 

In fact, there were so many different types of almost everything that I began to hyperventilate.

I almost feinted before one of the staff came to my aid, with a glass of lemonade.

 

You know what, my friends....?

 

I am not sure if I can do this.

 

But, if I can do this, then I just want to begin living a much simpler life.....somewhere up in the mountains.

 

I do not need 100 different types of toothpaste. And, I do not like to waste minutes of my life deciding which toothbrush will be best for me.

And, even when I know which toothbrush is best for me, still, I can never find the same toothbrush, twice, since the packaging is always changing.

 

OF COURSE:  My Friends, I am not remarking about anything new.  We, meaning you and I, have become accustomed to marketing, gradually, over many years.

We know that the marketers of products treat us like lab rats.

 

However, during the pandemic, and during this past two-year period of the pandemic, while self-quarantining, I have noticed that many of us have seemed happier.

 

And, yesterday, while trying to find a parking place at the mall, I felt so stressed.

I just was so sorry to see so many cars backed up, looking for a place to park.

I was so sad, really.

 

Sometimes, perhaps oftentimes, I miss the lockdown, for sure.

 

Life was simpler during the lockdown.

 

And so, are you, like me, already beginning to feel a bit of nostalgia for the pandemic lockdown?

 

What can be done about this?

Are you, as I, thinking about heading for the mountains in Thailand?

 

Regards,

 

GammaG

 

Note:  Best to you, my friends.  I am the same as you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

Sorry...

But, I just mean...

Sometimes, post-pandemic, I feel such nostalgia.

Not about recent years, particularly, but about nostalgia for many years, past...

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

Tiny Tim...

And...

The American Flag...

Both together.

 

Those were the good old days.

 

Such nostalgia....

[thaibeachlovers]

IMO no such thing. I think it's the same as Utopia, a place everyone wants to be, but will never find.

I've never known "normal". Every day is different, so how could they be "normal"?

I'll accept that what we do every day can be the same, till they are not, so that could be a sort of normal.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

36 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Sorry...

But, I just mean...

Sometimes, post-pandemic, I feel such nostalgia.

Not about recent years, particularly, but about nostalgia for many years, past...

 

 

I feel nostaglic all the time, but I know in my heart nothing was really as good as I remember it.

[GammaGlobulin]

8 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I feel nostaglic all the time, but I know in my heart nothing was really as good as I remember it.

Maybe, you should no longer deny that things were not just as good as you remember it?

I bet they were.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Maybe, you should no longer deny that things were not just as good as you remember it?

I bet they were.

A few good bits amongst the bad or boring does not make the reality of those times better. I just forget the bad bits now.

[Lacessit]

What is "normal?" A war in Ukraine causing global economic turmoil, perhaps? The BS trotted out by politicians to excuse their lack of action on global warming and climate change?  An ex-president  accused of being a felon on so many counts it reads like a phone book, who still is supported by about 30% of the American population?

 

The OP is confronted by too many toothpaste choices, and the queues for car parking.

 

One of our former Prime Ministers, Malcolm Fraser, once famously remarked "Life wasn't meant to be easy." It's obviously too hard for some.

[GammaGlobulin]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

What is "normal?" A war in Ukraine causing global economic turmoil, perhaps? The BS trotted out by politicians to excuse their lack of action on global warming and climate change?  An ex-president  accused of being a felon on so many counts it reads like a phone book, who still is supported by about 30% of the American population?

 

The OP is confronted by too many toothpaste choices, and the queues for car parking.

 

One of our former Prime Ministers, Malcolm Fraser, once famously remarked "Life wasn't meant to be easy." It's obviously too hard for some.

Since I have promised to not, again, speak with you in a joking or jocular way, I won't

 

But, if I wished to mention to you a joke, then I would mention Kevin Rudd.

 

I only mention Kevin Rudd, since you, yourself, mentioned another PM of an island of no more than 22 million insignificant people.

 

Of course, I am not joking, because I promised you that I would never joke, again.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

38 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

What is "normal?" A war in Ukraine causing global economic turmoil, perhaps? The BS trotted out by politicians to excuse their lack of action on global warming and climate change?  An ex-president  accused of being a felon on so many counts it reads like a phone book, who still is supported by about 30% of the American population?

 

The OP is confronted by too many toothpaste choices, and the queues for car parking.

 

One of our former Prime Ministers, Malcolm Fraser, once famously remarked "Life wasn't meant to be easy." It's obviously too hard for some.

If normal is continual comments about climate change or rants about ex presidents I scorn normal.

[GammaGlobulin]

9 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If normal is continual comments about climate change or rants about ex presidents I scorn normal.

As you say, rants about almost anything and everything are never welcome.

 

What is a rant, anyway?

 

A rant, in my opinion, is characterized by BOMBASTIC extravagant speech.

 

Ranting is not science.

 

Does anybody know what science might be?

 

Science is all about testing of hypotheses, and being able to design experiments which can test hypotheses.

 

Normalcy, on the other hand, means never having to say you're sorry for not practicing the Scientific Method.

 

 

 

Those were the good old days.

 

Let's all have more Tears and Fears, and superstition in our world.

Back to normal, now.

 

During the pandemic, most people acted more logically.

 

Those days, sadly, are gone.

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

 

 

[Walker88]

"Normalcy" is democracy in action. It is that state where the maximum number of people feel comfortable.

 

For humans, that means, inter alia, superstition. Most people feel more comfortable when they think something, or someone, is in charge. Normalcy is predictability. It is lack of randomness.

 

Historically, why do humans create deities or embrace monarchs? Because those represent lack of randomness. Somebody, or something is in charge and in control. That takes away both the need to think and, to some extent, the need to be personally responsible.

 

Randomness is just too scary. Even a malevolent greater power---deity or monarch---is better than nothing (or democracy, which can change things based on then-current trends and attitudes). There is always the possibility of deal making with a deity or absolute leader, even if it is a malevolent force. There is no possibility of deal making with randomness. Damn if sh!t just happens.

 

Thus, in search of normalcy, people will embrace superstitions that can save them from harm (e.g., amulets, reading their horoscope, chanting or saying some prayer, getting a magic tattoo). People will turn to religion, which is total nonsense, but it's comforting nonsense to many. All folks need do is pick the One Truth, which of course varies depending on where one lives or in what culture one finds oneself. (That at best there can be only one One Truth, which means every other belief system--or likely all of them---were created by a charlatan, a liar, or a lunatic---doesn't influence people. That is what we call 'faith', another term for the total lack of logic or denying of objective reality.) People will embrace a monarch or autocrat, too, because that leader has all the answers and must be revered, even revered by law.

 

Take away all those uncertainties or the need to make decisions, and we have 'normalcy'.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Since I have promised to not, again, speak with you in a joking or jocular way, I won't

 

But, if I wished to mention to you a joke, then I would mention Kevin Rudd.

 

I only mention Kevin Rudd, since you, yourself, mentioned another PM of an island of no more than 22 million insignificant people.

 

Of course, I am not joking, because I promised you that I would never joke, again.

 

 

Kevin Rudd is like the curate's egg, good and bad in parts. As we all are.

 

You should show more gratitude. Those insignificant people have contributed quite a lot of blood and treasure to the various wars America has engaged in since WWII. We have also made ourselves a nuclear target on your behalf, without North West Cape and Pine Gap your intelligence-gathering would be severely impaired.

 

Perhaps Stalin was correct when he remarked gratitude is a disease of dogs.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If normal is continual comments about climate change or rants about ex presidents I scorn normal.

Scorn is about all bitter people have got.

[GammaGlobulin]

19 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Kevin Rudd is like the curate's egg, good and bad in parts. As we all are.

 

You should show more gratitude. Those insignificant people have contributed quite a lot of blood and treasure to the various wars America has engaged in since WWII. We have also made ourselves a nuclear target on your behalf, without North West Cape and Pine Gap your intelligence-gathering would be severely impaired.

 

Perhaps Stalin was correct when he remarked gratitude is a disease of dogs.

Speaking of dogs, what do you know about the dingo? 

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Speaking of dogs, what do you know about the dingo? 

Excellent pets when domesticated, a neighbor had one. Supposed to be illegal to own a dingo; however,he was a lawyer so presumably he was immune to prosecution.

 

Speaking of lawyers, did you know one in ten people in Washington, D.C. is a lawyer? We make do with three in one thousand. No wonder you guys have problems.

 

My spelling eagle eye detected you feinted in your OP, and did not faint as you no doubt meant. Is this another feint?

[GammaGlobulin]

29 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Kevin Rudd is like the curate's egg, good and bad in parts. As we all are.

 

You should show more gratitude. Those insignificant people have contributed quite a lot of blood and treasure to the various wars America has engaged in since WWII. We have also made ourselves a nuclear target on your behalf, without North West Cape and Pine Gap your intelligence-gathering would be severely impaired.

 

Perhaps Stalin was correct when he remarked gratitude is a disease of dogs.

For that matter, what do you know about running dogs for the CCP, such as Rudd? 

 

Kevin drank the CCP Kool-aid, years ago. 

 

His Chinese language skills are excellent, for a farang. But, he paid the price by too much cosying up to the commies. 

 

He has become sort of like a new Philby. He has been corrupted by the Chinese Communist Party. Or, maybe, he was just basically Red, from the very beginning. 

 

If you are a red sympathizer such as he, there are plenty of golf courses in China for you, my friend. 

 

[Will B Good]

Hate it.......lockdown in BKK was a dream come true.....loved every minute of it.

[Denim]

5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I am the same as you.

I'm just off to the psychiatrist . 

[GammaGlobulin]

8 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Excellent pets when domesticated, a neighbor had one. Supposed to be illegal to own a dingo; however,he was a lawyer so presumably he was immune to prosecution.

 

Speaking of lawyers, did you know one in ten people in Washington, D.C. is a lawyer? We make do with three in one thousand. No wonder you guys have problems.

 

My spelling eagle eye detected you feinted in your OP, and did not faint as you no doubt meant. Is this another feint?

Right you are!

 

I am the Artful Dodger who feints and weaves, and faints, again. 

[Lacessit]

Just now, GammaGlobulin said:

For that matter, what do you know about running dogs for the CCP, such as Rudd? 

 

Kevin drank the CCP Kool-aid, years ago. 

 

His Chinese language skills are excellent, for a farang. But, he paid the price by too much cosying up to the commies. 

 

He has become sort of like a new Philby. He has been corrupted by the Chinese Communist Party. Or, maybe, he was just basically Red, from the very beginning. 

 

If you are a red sympathizer such as he, there are plenty of golf courses in China for you, my friend. 

 

Americans confuse socialism with communism, they have been indoctrinated that way, just as the majority of Russians believe the war in Ukraine is justified.

 

We have had socialist governments in Australia on and off since Federation, and we have survived OK. It's worth noting most of our reforms are introduced by them, whereas conservative governments tend towards corruption, and selling off any publicly-owned assets they can lay their hands on.

 

No, I am not a red sympathizer. I was told by a Siberian Jew how he and his fellow students were conscripted to harvest wheat in the new lands. They stored the harvested wheat in bags, which stayed open because the factory that was supposed to be manufacturing thread to sew the bags up failed to deliver the thread. One of the pitfalls of a planned economy.

 

As a result, about one-third of the crop was lost to birds and vermin.

 

I also remember a quite hilarious article in "The Economist" many years ago entitled " In the Lunatic Bus Factory", describing truck manufacture in Russia.

[LaosLover]

My pandemic year was spent on a Blue Ridge mountain top. I saw only 3 faces.

 

And one of them was a dog.

 

Now resettled in Chiang Mai, I feel like I fought my way out of a grave, like in Kill Bill.

 

I do notice I seem to get colds easier over here, so mask-wearing in enclosed spaces is back on for me. Partic in a cab where the driver is always masked as a sign of courtesy. I hope I eventually get some immunity to the local flu flora funk.

 

Thai people do seem to bump me up half a letter grad esteem-wise for wearing a mask more frequently. It's not a covid-political stance for me, but more a when in Rome-thing.

[GammaGlobulin]

8 minutes ago, LaosLover said:

My pandemic year was spent on a Blue Ridge mountain top. I saw only 3 faces.

 

And one of them was a dog.

 

Now resettled in Chiang Mai, I feel like I fought my way out of a grave, like in Kill Bill.

 

I do notice I seem to get colds easier over here, so mask-wearing in enclosed spaces is back on for me. Partic in a cab where the driver is always masked as a sign of courtesy. I hope I eventually get some immunity to the local flu flora funk.

 

Thai people do seem to bump me up half a letter grad esteem-wise for wearing a mask more frequently. It's not a covid-political stance for me, but more a when in Rome-thing.

Dogs don't have a face. 

 

Neither do they frown. 

 

Keep them fed and watered, and they're good to go. 

 

Who is caring for your dog while you are in Chiang Mai? 

 

One of the three faces? 

[hellohello123]

I'm pretty sure they're not expecting you to buy 100 types of toothpaste....

[jimn]

Personally now that all the tourists are back I do not like Pattaya at all. Pattaya is great when its busy but not full of all the 2 or 3 week millionaires who are now decending here in their droves. The roads are busy and journey times have doubled. I also hate it when the foreigners who bring their foreign wives/girlfriends with them. The women look down their nose at the the many beautiful Thai girls and the men just stare and wish they had left them at home.

[CharlieH]

Reported post with inflammatory content removed.

[1FinickyOne]

10 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Tiny Tim...

And...

The American Flag...

Both together.

 

Those were the good old days.

 

Such nostalgia....

I think it was Kingston NY when I saw Tiny Tim in concert - - he did a couple of the falsetto songs but then went into rousing deep, male voice versions of Grand Ole Flag and stuff like that. It was really fun.

[1FinickyOne]

7 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Normalcy, on the other hand, means never having to say you're sorry

I think I was still quite young, after the movie came out but we were able to conclude that love [romantic] meant always having to say you are sorry. 

[Ralf001]

<deleted>s <deleted> again.

 

Thailand was much better during the peak of covid lockdowns.