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+--- Thread: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis (/thread-8234.html)
The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - C C - Mar 12, 2020
https://theconversation.com/why-are-people-stockpiling-toilet-paper-we-asked-four-experts-132975
EXCERPT: As coronavirus continues to spread around the world, anxiety is rising in Australia. Shoppers fearful of quarantine measures have been stocking up on supplies to last out a week or two of isolation. Recent days have seen reports of shortages of hand sanitizer and warnings that batteries and other electronic items could be next.
However, the surge in demand for one particular commodity has seen supermarket shelves stripped bare: toilet paper. It’s not just Australians. Shops in Japan, the US, and New Zealand have also run low on the precious sanitary rolls. In Hong Kong, ambitious thieves held up a supermarket to steal a delivery.
But why toilet paper? The question has been in the air for at least the past month, but it’s now become hard to avoid. We asked four experts for their thoughts.
Niki Edwards, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology: Toilet paper symbolizes control. We use it to “tidy up” and “clean up”. It deals with a bodily function that is somewhat taboo. [...]
Brian Cook, Community Engagement for Disaster Risk Reduction project, University of Melbourne: It’s an interesting question. My suspicion is that it is to do with how people react to stress: they want an element of comfort and security. For many Westerners, there is a “yuck factor” associated with non-toilet paper cleaning. [...]
David Savage, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle: I think it is the perfect product. It is completely non-perishable and one of the few products that you can stock up on that you are guaranteed to use eventually. [...]
Alex Russell, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University: There are a few factors at play here. People aren’t only stockpiling toilet paper. All sorts of items are sold out, like face masks and hand sanitizer. Things like canned goods and other non-perishable foods are also selling well... (MORE - further details for each theory)
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Zinjanthropos - Mar 13, 2020
I just hope for humanity’s sake that the people stockpiling toilet paper because of its guaranteed usage are also doing the same with condoms for the same reason. Think there’ll be a baby boom after all this?
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - stryder - Mar 13, 2020
I had the unfortunate need to go to the shop just now in the UK, The toilet roll shelves are near bare. (Along with tinned foods, pasta's, rices etc) It's ridiculous. I mean I know the fatality rate for the virus can be scary to some, however more people have died on the local road over the past week than from the virus in my area. Should we be fearful of cars? Ban them? Ban travelling in them? (It would be nicer in some ways if that was the case)
All I can say is if I need a crap in a hurry and their is no toilet paper, I'm going to find out who's been stockpile and shit on their doorstep. (okay, I'm not really going to do that but it is the principle of the thing)
Incidentally there were more nuts in the store than I thought their would be.... Yeah I mean peanuts, not all those people panic buying, that's something else. (I'd suggest buying flour, some oil etc, that way If there is nothing else left you can bake something)
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Zinjanthropos - Mar 13, 2020
Speaking of paper, I wonder how long the virus lives on cold hard cash money. Could include coins too I guess. Safest bet might be to use debit card and just tap, no need to touch buttons.
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Magical Realist - Mar 16, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQv5PWMzI-w&fbclid=IwAR3hJleDm_A4A9KMWs93Q-kdf4VwZ8RXB_BwhMed3H2u7RT81oh40dY7qQQ
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Secular Sanity - Mar 16, 2020
Damn! I better start raiding all the outhouses.
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Zinjanthropos - Mar 16, 2020
Current crisis about the only thing I’ve seen in my lifetime where the world seems to pulling together and two women fight over toilet paper at Walmart. Too bad folks, world peace still a long way off if even possible.
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Syne - Mar 16, 2020
(Mar 16, 2020 10:20 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Current crisis about the only thing I’ve seen in my lifetime where the world seems to pulling together and two women fight over toilet paper at Walmart. Too bad folks, world peace still a long way off if even possible.
And some people think that women in charge would mean no more war.
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Zinjanthropos - Mar 16, 2020
(Mar 16, 2020 10:40 PM)Syne Wrote:(Mar 16, 2020 10:20 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Current crisis about the only thing I’ve seen in my lifetime where the world seems to pulling together and two women fight over toilet paper at Walmart. Too bad folks, world peace still a long way off if even possible.
And some people think that women in charge would mean no more war.
Promising no more toilet paper shortages might get you elected, the hell with eliminating the virus.
RE: The personal policies behind stockpiling toilet paper during COVID-19 crisis - Secular Sanity - Mar 17, 2020
(Mar 16, 2020 10:40 PM)Syne Wrote:(Mar 16, 2020 10:20 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Current crisis about the only thing I’ve seen in my lifetime where the world seems to pulling together and two women fight over toilet paper at Walmart. Too bad folks, world peace still a long way off if even possible.
And some people think that women in charge would mean no more war.
Ha-ha! I'll give you that one.
BTW, I was at a trailer store today. They had plenty. So, any place that sells trailer supplies or backpacking equipment will probably still have TP. It's a little more expensive because it's biodegradable but it beats taking a crap on someone's porch like Stryder suggested.