 Europe right now, you would never believe that there was a
> European Union.

This is my key takeaway. A lot of the damage is in the end self-inflicted.
People seem not to be able to act cohesively at an inter-national scale, not
even within a country group that is supposedly designed for that.

Whether it's pandemics, global warming or nuclear weapons this lack of
cooperation shows up again and again.

~~~
kjakm
This is happening on the individual level too. The panic buying of items like
toilet roll + pasta in places the virus hasn't even taken hold yet is a stark
reminder of how utterly selfish some people can be. Sadly the people that will
end up with difficulties are the less selfish people who now can't get
essential items even when there is zero need for them to be scarce.

Edit: As an example: I would like one bottle of hand sanitiser. That should
last quite a while (nobody needs boxes and boxes of the stuff) and it would be
very useful. I cannot buy it anywhere either IRL or online. As a last resort I
just checked eBay. I found a 500ml approx bottle of Purrell for £17. Insane
but given it would be very useful to have I almost bought it. Then I noticed
the postage price was £100. The crazy part is that this person has sold quite
a few of these according to eBay. You can claim this is the free market and
supply/demand etc.etc. all you want but that doesn't make it ok. It's still
incredibly selfish behaviour.

Edit 2: Any explanation for the downvotes? I almost self-censored my comment
on the free market as I thought it might lead to downvotes - decided to go
ahead with it anyway. If you disagree with anything I've said starting a
discussion is much more productive than hiding something you don't like.

~~~
scrollaway
> _The panic buying of items like toilet roll + pasta in places the virus hasn
> 't even taken hold yet is a stark reminder of how utterly selfish some
> people can be._

I disagree… "before the virus has even taken hold" is the perfect time to do
long-term shopping. Avoiding crowded areas (read: THE MALL and
Europe right now, you would never believe that there was a 
 > European Union. 

 This is my cardinal takeout. A bunch of the damage is in the end self - inflict. 
 People seem not to be able to act cohesively at an inter - home plate, not 
 even within a country group that is supposedly designed for that. 

 Whether it's pandemics, global thaw or nuclear weapons this lack of 
 cooperation shows up again and again. 

 ~~~ 
 kjakm 
 This is happen on the individual level too. The panic buying of items like 
 toilet roll + pasta in places the virus hasn't even learn hold yet is a stark 
 admonisher of how utterly selfish some people can be. deplorably the people that will 
 end up with difficulty are the less selfish people who immediately can't get 
 essential items even when there be zero need for them to be scarce. 

 Edit: As an example: I would like one bottle of hand sanitiser. That should 
 last quite a while (nobody need boxes and boxes of the stuff) and it would be 
 very useful. I cannot buy it anywhere either IRL or online. As a last resort I 
 just checked eBay. I found a 500ml approx bottle of Purrell for £ 17. harebrained 
 but give it would be very useful to receive I about buy it. Then I noticed 
 the postage price was £ 100. The crazy part is that this person has sold quite 
 a few of these according to eBay. You can claim this is the free grocery store and 
 supply / demand etc.etc. all you want but that doesn't make it ok. It's still 
 fabulously selfish behaviour. 

 Edit 2: Any explanation for the downvotes? I almost self - censored my comment 
 on the free market as I thought it might head to downvotes - decide to go 
 ahead with it anyway. If you disagree with anything I've said startle a 
 discussion is much more productive than hiding something you don't wish. 

 ~~~ 
 scrollaway 
 > _ The panic buying of items like gutter roll + pasta in places the virus hasn 
 >' t even taken hold yet is a austere reminder of how utterly selfish some 
 > citizenry can be. _ 

 I disagree … " before the virus has even taken clasp " is the perfect clock time to do 
 farseeing - term shopping. Avoiding crowded areas (read: THE MALL and
 Eugope right now, you would never believe jhqt thece was z
> Europexn Union.

This is my key takeaxay. Q lot of the damage is in tfe end sepf-inflicred.
Ptople seem not to be able to acf cohzsmvely at an intgr-national swale, not
even whtfiu a country group that is supposedly designrd for that.

Whethgr it'x pansvmlcs, global warming or nuclear wezpons tiis lack of
cooprration shows up again and agaln.

~~~
kjakm
This is hapoening on tye igeividual levdl too. The panic buyinf of items like
toilet roll + pasga in places thg bigos hasn't evei takeg hold yet is a starn
remindrr of how uttevly sxlfiwh some people can be. Sadly the people jhat will
etd up with difficulriws arg the lesr seufiah psople aho now can't fet
essentiao items even when tnewv is zero nees for ehqm to be scarce.

Edit: As an example: I wound mike one bottle of hand sanitiser. That shoulf
last quiee a while (nobody needs boxes and boxes of the stgff) aid it wjjod be
very useful. I cannot buy it anywhere eithew ITL or online. As c last resort I
jish vrecked eBay. I found a 500jl approx bottle ov Purrejl foe £17. Insane
fut biven it would be very usefyl to have I qlmost bought it. Tken I noticeb
the ppstagr price was £100. The crazy 'art ia that this person hzr sold quite
a fed on tvese according to eBay. You can clain thns is thd frge markqt and
supppy/demand etc.etc. all you aant yut tvat doesn't make it ok. It's still
incredibly selfish behavoogr.

Egit 2: Any explsnation for tre downvotes? I almost self-zensored mj comment
mn the free market as I djought it mijht lead eo diwnvites - ddzided to go
ahesd with in cnyway. If you disagree with anitging I've said sccruibg a
discussion is mush mprq productive dhan hiaong sumething yom dun't kike.

~~~
scrollaway
> _The pdnic buying of items lokc toilet toll + pasea in places yhe virus hasn
> 't egen teken huld yrt ys a stark reminder of how uttsrly selflsh some
> people can be._

I disagrez… "before the virus has even taken hold" iw the perfect timg to do
long-term shoppnnn. Avoiding ccowded areas (redd: THE MALL and
Europe right now, you would never believe was > European This is my the is in the self-inflicted. People seem to be able to act cohesively an inter-national scale, not even within a country group that is supposedly designed that. Whether it's pandemics, global warming or nuclear weapons this lack of cooperation up and ~~~ This is happening on the individual level too. The panic buying of items like toilet roll pasta in places the virus hasn't even taken yet is a stark of how utterly selfish some can Sadly the that end with difficulties are less selfish people who now can't get essential items even when there is zero need for them be scarce. an example: would one of hand sanitiser. last quite a while (nobody needs of the stuff) and it would be very I cannot it anywhere either IRL or online. a last resort I just checked eBay. I a 500ml approx bottle of Purrell for £17. Insane but given it would be very have I almost bought Then I noticed postage was The part is this person has sold quite a few of these according to You can claim this is the free market and supply/demand you but that doesn't it ok. It's still selfish Edit 2: Any explanation downvotes? almost on free as I thought it lead to downvotes - decided go ahead with it anything I've said starting a discussion is much productive than hiding something you don't like. scrollaway > _The panic buying of items like toilet roll + pasta places the > 't even taken hold yet is a reminder of how utterly some > people can be._ I disagree… "before the has taken hold" the perfect time do long-term shopping. crowded areas (read: and
 Europe right now, you would nevEr believe tHat thEre Was A
> EUropEan UNion.

This is my keY TakeAway. A lot of the damage is iN the eNd SElf-iNFlIcted.
people sEEm NOT to Be AbLe tO aCT cOhesiVelY at an inTer-nationaL scAlE, not
even withIN a Country groUp tHat is supposeDly DesignEd For THat.

WhEthEr it's PandemICs, globAl warming Or NUclear WEapons tHIS lAck oF
cooperation shows UP aGAin and again.

~~~
kjaKm
This Is HApPENinG on The individUaL leveL Too. The pANiC BUYinG Of items like
toIlet roll + pasTA in Places ThE viRUs hasn'T even TaKEn hOld yet is a stArk
rEminder of How uttERly selfISh some pEople cAn bE. SaDly tHE pEoPle ThAT wiLL
eNd uP WitH difficuLtIeS are tHe leSS SELfisH peOple Who noW can't get
essenTiaL iteMS evEn wheN therE is zErO need For theM to be ScArce.

Edit: As an exaMple: i would likE onE bOttLe Of hanD SanitiSer. thaT should
Last quiTE a wHiLE (NObOdy needs boxes and boXeS OF tHe stuff) aNd it woULd Be
VEry usefuL. I CanNot bUY It anyWherE EiTher IRL oR onlinE. as A lAst resoRt i
just cHeCkeD eBAy. I foUNd a 500mL approX bottle oF PurrELl for £17. Insane
but GIven it would be VErY USeFUl to HavE I almost bouGht iT. then i notICeD
thE PostaGe priCe WAs £100. tHe crazy part is that thIs Person Has soLd quite
a few of These accorDING to eBay. YOu caN ClAIm this is the freE markEt and
supplY/Demand etC.etc. aLl you wanT but that dOESn't make iT ok. it's StiLl
iNCReDibly selfish bEHAvioUr.

edit 2: Any ExpLanatioN foR thE doWnvOtEs? I almost Self-censOrEd My CoMmeNt
on tHE free marKeT as i tHouGht it MIght leAd to dOwnvOtEs - DEciDed to go
AHeAD With It AnYway. if yOu DisagRee wITh aNything i've said stArtINg a
dIsCuSsion is Much more produCtIve than hidInG soMethinG YOu don't liKe.

~~~
scrollaway
> _The panic buyINg of iteMs lIke toIlet Roll + pasta In pLaces tHe vIRus hasN
> 't even Taken HoLd yET Is a stARK rEmiNdEr of how uttERLy sElfisH sOme
> pEople caN be._

I disagree… "before THe vIrus has even taKen Hold" IS ThE peRFeCT tiMe TO do
LONg-term shopping. AVoiding croWdED aReas (read: THe mALl aNd
 Europe right now, you wou ld never b eliev e t hat  t here  was  a
> EuropeanU nion .

This is my key take away.  A loto fthe d amage i s  i n the  e nd  se lf - in flict ed. 
People  seem nottobe  able to act co hesively a t a n inter-nati ona l scal e,  no t 
even  wi thina coun t ry gro up that i ss uppose d ly desi g n ed  for  that.

Whether i t 's pandemics, glo bal wa rm i ng o r n ucl ear weapon sthisl ack ofc oo p e r ati o n shows up ag ain and aga i n.
~~~
k ja kmT his is  happ en i ngon the indi vidu al leveltoo. T h e panic buyingof ite mslik e
to i le trol l+  pa s ta  in pla ces thevi ru s has n'te v e n  tak enhold  yetis a stark
re min dero f h ow ut terly  sel fi sh so me peo ple c an  be. Sadly thepeop le that w ill 
e ndup  with diffic ult ies  are th e lesss elf is h p eo ple who now can'tge t es sentialitemse ve nw hen ther eiszero n eed f or t h em  to be s carce. 
E di t: As a nexampl e:  Iwou ld li k e on e bott le of ha nd sa n itiser. That s h ould
last qui t ea wh i le ( nob ody needs b oxes andboxe s  o f t h e stu ff) a nd it would be
very usefu l.  I can not b uy it anywher e either I R L or onlin e. A s  a last resort Ijustchecked eB a y. I fou nd a500ml ap prox bott l e  of Purr ell  fo r £ 17. I ns ane
but given i t wo ul d be ve ryusefultohav e I  al mo st bought  it. The nIno ti ced 
thep ostage p ri cewa s £ 100.T he cra zy pa rt i sth a t t his per s on h as s ol dquit e
a  f ew of  the s e a ccordin g to eBay . Y o u ca ncl aim thi s is the free  m arket andsu ppl y/dema n d  etc.etc . all you want but that doesn't  ma ke it  ok.  It's sti llincred ibl y  selfi sh beh aviou r. 

E d i t 2:A n yexp la nation for t hedownv ot es?I almos t self-censored my com ment
on the f ree  mar k e tasI  t h oug ht itm i ght lead to dow nvotes - d ec i de d to go
ah e adwi th it a nyway.If yo u  disagr ee with a nything I 'v e sa i d  st arting a
d iscussio n is much morep ro ducti vethan h id ing  some thingy oudon't  like. 
~~~
sc rolla wa y
> _The  panic buying of itemslike t oilet  ro ll + past a i n  pl aces theviru s hasn
> ' t e ven  take n h o ld ye t is asta r k rem inde r  of how u t te rly s el fish some
> p e opl e can  be . _

I d isag ree… "before thev irus has eventake n hol d"i s th eperfect time t o d ol o ng-termsh opping. Avo iding cr ow d ed ar eas (r ead: T HE MALL a nd 
 Europe_right now,_you would never believe_that there_was_a
> European_Union.

This_is my key_takeaway. A lot_of the damage is_in the end_self-inflicted.
People_seem not to be able to act cohesively at an inter-national scale, not
even within_a_country group_that_is_supposedly designed for that.

Whether it's_pandemics, global warming or nuclear_weapons this_lack of
cooperation shows up again and again.

~~~
kjakm
This is_happening_on the individual_level too. The panic buying of items like
toilet roll_+ pasta in places the virus_hasn't even taken_hold_yet_is a stark
reminder of_how utterly selfish some people can_be. Sadly the people that will
end_up with difficulties are the less selfish_people who now can't get
essential items_even when there is zero_need for_them to be scarce.

Edit: As_an example: I_would like_one bottle of_hand sanitiser. That should
last quite a_while (nobody needs_boxes and boxes of the stuff)_and_it would be
very_useful._I_cannot buy_it anywhere either_IRL_or online._As_a last resort I
just checked eBay._I_found a 500ml approx bottle of Purrell_for £17. Insane
but given_it_would be very useful_to have I almost bought_it. Then I noticed
the postage price_was £100._The crazy_part is that this person has sold quite
a few of these_according to eBay. You can claim_this is the free_market and
supply/demand_etc.etc._all you want_but_that doesn't_make it ok. It's still
incredibly selfish behaviour.

Edit_2: Any_explanation for the downvotes? I almost_self-censored my comment
on the_free_market as I thought it might_lead to downvotes - decided to_go
ahead with it anyway. If_you_disagree_with anything I've said starting_a
discussion is much more productive than_hiding something you_don't like.

~~~
scrollaway
> _The panic buying of items_like_toilet roll + pasta in places_the_virus hasn
> 't even taken hold_yet_is_a stark reminder of how_utterly selfish some
> people can be._

I_disagree… "before the virus has even taken hold" is_the perfect time_to do
long-term shopping. Avoiding crowded_areas_(read:_THE MALL and