Positive effects of this virus??

[RussBLib]

Yeah, odd topic.

But in everything bad, something good can emerge.

What can you think of as a positive effect of this virus? I can only think of one, so far. We'll see what our uncertain future will bring.

1) The open office concept. It could be that the era of packing your workers in like sardines is over. They might even bring back private offices, WITH DOORS!!

That's all I've got.

Maybe someone else can come up with something to give us a little more hope that things will eventually work out.

[marybourg]

1. Death knell to tRump presidency.

[RussBLib]

18. that could be the BEST thing - n/t

[GeorgiaPeanut]

33. That is the most positive effect.

Stupid Trump -- he had a golden opportunity to execute the pandemic competently and he would have become unbeatable. Instead, he saw it as a threat and squandered it very very badly.

To give an example -- in 2012, Obama's reelection was iffy. Then hurricane Sandy hit and the brilliant response by Obama and his administration ensured his reelection. If Obama had squandered it, we would have president Romney now.

[Mister Ed]

2. Somewhat slowing our headlong rush to extinction through climate change. n/t

[triron]

23. Yes, Mother nature has had a breather for sure.

[Evergreen Emerald]

3. Less Drunk drivers

Drunk driving arrests have been down significantly. People staying home rather than drinking and driving.

[soothsayer]

4. More work from home!

Don’t have to go to parties or crowded places!

All day pajamas!

[ProfessorGAC]

15. The Guys Were Talking This Today

Commercial real estate lessors probably should be freaking out.
Many companies may be learning that IT connections, laptop cameras, and the like are way cheaper than leasing 10s of thousands of square feet of high rise office space.
You could hold meetings gatherings and bring clients/customers in using a fraction of the floor space.
That said, I don't see much changing in companies with their offices in buildings they own.

[Laelth]

5. President Biden and a Democratic Senate.

Personally, I think that both of these were inevitable, with or without COVID-19, but the virus and the depression it created have sealed the deal.

-Laelth

[soothsayer]

6. More family time (double edged sword)

More pet time!

[live love laugh]

7. Almost the entire world got to take a breather for a month.

Wildlife came out to see why everything was so quiet, the skies cleared up and baking escalated. All things sublime.

[lapucelle]

11. That's my thought as well.

I think most of us also have a new appreciation of the many things we take/used to take for granted.

[triron]

24. Yes Gaia got some breathing room from us human encroachers.

[soothsayer]

8. Whole world had time to watch and absorb the George Floyd murder by cop

...and become appropriately outraged.

That’s huge.

[crickets]

29. +1000000

[blm]

9. Opportunity to spend more time with family than with the rat-race.

[SheltieLover]

10. Respect for Nature and Science

It will continue to be forced upon them.

[magicarpet]

12. The realization that intelligence and wisdom supersedes,...

... showmanship, bluster, inflated ego, a fabricator and habitual prevaricating liar.

The later is very dangerous to put in charge of and allowing to lead a country for a duration of four years - the former much less dangerous and nerve wracking.

Hopefully American society might be much less inclined to experiment or take a shot in the dark when it comes to the consideration, selection of, and finally electing their president, senators, or representatives.

Maybe,...

But we can only hope for the best.

[MartyTheGreek]

13. Let's call them Silver Linings. Some of my observations...

Just like the 2008-09 Great Depression, we're gonna have some silver linings. Out of 08-09, came your neighborhood brew pubs when jobs were scarce. Cash for clunkers worked for the Clunker Owner anyway. Low interest and mortgage rates.

Now with the Covid-Crash

-Remote tele-office Dr. Visits more widespread.
-Jump in Distance Learning
-Environment Healing some
-Big Social Media and Cyber Slowly changing
-Racist Statues coming down
-Need for National Healthcare exposed
-Wall of Moms
-Wall of Vets
-Global Response to racism
-Republican Underbelly finally exposed
-Sense of change on the horizon

[RussBLib]

20. there ya go. silver linings

that need for national healthcare might have a real lasting impact

[marlakay]

14. My stepdaughter working from home

So instead of a few months off for new baby he is 7 months now and loves being with mom and dad who watches him while she works. She was able to nurse longer and easier. Baby is super happy with all the extra attention.

[RussBLib]

17. that's a real plus

but more forced time with the kids can be a mixed blessing, said another poster.

[marlakay]

21. My stepdaughter was real spoiled as a child

Its been great over the past 15 yrs since she turned 18 to watch her mature.

They waited to have kids, this is their first. She met him when she was 19 and they married in her late 20's. I worried because all the years before she got pregnant they were social big partiers drinking smoking pot all the time. But she has done great giving that lifestyle up for now.

[qwlauren35]

16. Working from home

So many companies have discovered that it works. And no more commuting, no more missing days from work when children are sick. Moreover, you have a wider net to cast when hiring. You can hire anyone in the country. No one has to relocate.

That's one biggie.

Absentee ballots. Making them available, making them a positive alternative. That's the second one.

[RussBLib]

19. indeed, if we can do more mail ballots

You will see more participation. That, and it's a little less likely that you will catch Covid!

[Generic Brad]

22. My morning commute has shortened a bit

It was previously 10 miles, but now it is only 8 feet.

[tinrobot]

25. Work from home has a lot of cascading effects if it sticks.

Fewer cars on the road commuting, possibly fewer cars overall.

Less need to live near work, possibly causing people to move away from high-priced urban cores.

Empty office buildings.

Decline in support services - janitorial, security, food, etc.

We may soon witness a demographic shift on par with the end of WWII, when the suburbs displaced cities over the course of a generation.

[qwlauren35]

32. Hmm...

The janitorial and food shifts will be disastrous for a segment that depends on the lunchtime crowd. Similarly, the people who make paper goods for bathrooms will have to shift to home products. The people who stock vending machines, the people who sell office coffee... Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks will all suffer.

Pros and cons.

[canetoad]

26. It's winter here

No colds, sniffles, sinus troubles etc because of masking and distancing.

[RussBLib]

27. wearing masks might catch on in flu season

probably drive retailers crazy

[LeftInTX]

28. Zoom

We do all sorts of training for the party. This is gonna save a lot of time in the future.

[mvd]

30. The progressive ideas of..

people like Sanders, Warren and AOC are getting a closer look. Biden may be more progressive than he would be otherwise.

Also, reduced carbon emissions are very important now.

People get to be with friends and family more.

Time to find new interests and hobbies.

The health consciousness should carry over even when we get the pandemic under control.

[Raine]

31. More road trips instead of flying over the country

on a plane but driving it, seeing it and getting to know the people who live in America.

[Tom Rinaldo]

34. It might hasten the move to Medicare for All

Maybe a few people will stay more engaged in outdoors activities and spend less time in bars on the other end of this.

[tavernier]

35. Discovered some fantastic new recipes.

Found out that I’m pretty good at water colors.
Binged The Office and other programs I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Watched Hamilton twice.
Caught up with some old friends on line.
Read a zillion audio books during my daily walks.
Experimented with six or seven different types of weight loss programs. None worked. I weigh exactly the same as when the pandemic started. I guess that’s better than 10 lbs up.