NSW Covid-shamers not helping Sydney navigate out of lockdown

Frayed tempers, class prejudices and sanctimonious behaviour have surfaced in Delta-struck Sydney. In a time of uncertainty, we seem to be itching for an argument and a bloodlust for scapegoats, writes Louise Roberts.

The virus is the enemy, not each other.

But along with the increase in case numbers, we now have a shamedemic to navigate.

In a time of uncertainty, we seem to be itching for an argument and in a bloodlust for scapegoats.

Yes, we’re seeing the best of Sydney.

We know that from our #SydneyStrong campaign brimming with examples of selflessness and the kind of retro practical attitude to keeping calm and carrying on.

But elsewhere we are also witnessing some downright bewildering and nasty behaviour.

Illustration: Terry Pontikos

Armchair bullies calling people out for legally exercising, explosive Facebook posts about dog poo and even complaints about siblings giggling as they happily play screen-free in their front yards.

Never mind that if it’s real awe you’re after. You only have to look at our fellow Sydneysiders digging deep for resilience and patience as Covid crushes livelihoods and ringfences more south west and western suburbs and NSW regions.

But elsewhere frayed tempers, class prejudices and regressing back to sanctimonious behaviour seems to be the order of the day.

Are we really in a position to judge? Or be judged?

The last time I checked it was still legal to go for a socially distanced walk in the winter sunshine — be it beach, park or simply a footpath within the area from home as allowed in your particular LGA. God knows it is one of the few scheduled pleasures we get at the moment.

Yet we are facing pious smartphone-wielding fools intent on shaming fellow residents out enjoying a blue-sky winter’s day whilst they, of course, are at the same location.

“Of course keeping my distance but seriously this is not how you lockdown” whilst tagging the premier, the police and any other authority, in photos posted on social media.

“Why are these people out and about in (insert name of) park?? Don’t they know we’re in lockdown. Puhlease!” Or tut tutting an image of queuing folk for seemingly being crowded together.

Police on patrol at Bondi Beach amid the Sydney lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Isolation and social distancing are the most effective tools, the lecture continues.

It was a picture of a vaccination queue, shot from the back so it looked squashed.

There’s stories of passive aggressive notes being left in letterboxes for young parents whose kids have the temerity to be outdoors instead of sofa-bound and hypnotised by devices.

Neatly typed directives to keep them locked up until mid morning because of “their booming voices”.

One of the more bizarre diatribes I have seen is an indignant homeowner who posted a photo of large dog faeces on their naturestrip and then threatened to circulate a photo of the “dog owner” in the same forum as a warning for them — or rather the mutt — not to do it again because “we all have to do our bit in a pandemic”.

If you are doing the right thing staying at home and disciplined to socially distance when doing a non-browsing, dilly dally-free grocery or chemist trip, then welcome to the real world of community responsibility. You have nothing to apologise for.

It would seem Covid is triggering those who have spent so long being politically correct that they have forgotten to set their own moral compass and fire off insults as a defence mechanism.

It’s the mood of “if I can’t have a good time no one else can” which might go some way to explaining why there was suddenly angst about why fried chicken was still being dished up in Punchbowl KFC and why the Premier was not demanding a shut down of their 11 herbs and spices routine.

Shaming has become a coping mechanism. It’s misdirected and instead of attempting to embarrass perceived rule-breakers into good behaviour, these critics should use their energy to support the national vaccine campaign.

A lack of civility does no one any favours.

Covid-shamers get an ego hit from affirming their own perceived decency but it doesn’t actually stop people from being careless or selfish.

That’s called personal responsibility and we’re not going to survive this pandemic by being vile to each other.

As much as I am not a fan of cliches, when this pandemic began, I felt a warm sense of pride every time I heard someone utter the phrase “we’re all in this together”.

I am proud of our culture of ride-or-die mateship, proud of our track record of solid and steadfast community. I love how we wrap our collective arms around our fellow Aussies when they are doing it tough, facing drought, floods, fires and any manner of natural disaster. I love that spirit of “no one gets left behind”.

But I feel my pride waning in a sea of petty squabbles, online shaming and the growing feeling that our spirit is being crushed by a groundswell of anti-social, intolerant loudmouths, who seem determined to change our national narrative to “every person for themself’”.

Even our state premiers cannot resist the urge to dig at each other.

“I’m not here to be a commentator on Sydney,” said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday, “ but if you want to see whether locking down some local government areas works, have a look at what’s happening up there. We tried that last year — it didn’t work against last year’s coronavirus let alone against Delta.”

Lockdowns suck. People getting sick and dying is heartbreaking. And no one is untouched. Our children, our parents, siblings, families, neighbours, colleagues, friends and people we don’t even know.

But the time has come to check ourselves. Are we behaving badly because we are bored and are we behaving the Aussie way?

Because if the answer is no, it’s time to get out of your funk. Australians need to face this together.