Letter to the Editor: Cosmetic ‘posts’ in a pandemic, I’m furious
As I scroll through my social media keeping one eye on my girls doing their jigsaws at the kitchen table I experience a surge of rage. I am in my mid-30s and a lot of my pals are of a similar age. My fury is ignited by the Instagram posts of their daily deliveries of cosmetics and clothes.
I have yet to see a post gloating about the receipt of hand sanitiser or essential medicines for at-risk loved ones, who we all have. In these uncertain times this demonstrated lack of self awareness is not acceptable.
I have no doubt that what is being purchased is normal activity and part of regular life for many, but is it essential? I wonder if a thought is given to the retailer who processes their order or the warehouse operative who packs it, or the driver who delivers it? In an exceptional time where we have been asked to stay at home to save lives is it reasonable to expect others to go to work to fulfil these whims?
Many of these people ordering online have state-funded jobs and are paid to stay at home, where they are quenching their idleness by browsing for these items. This fuels my anger. Our country is going through an economic crisis. Hundreds of thousands have applied for state aid to feed their families and attempt to pay their bills. I have no doubt that the months to come will be unprecedentedly challenging, yet my peers flaunt online purchases via social media. The ignorance galls me. I sincerely hope that this is not a true representation of my generation. The stark reality of this pandemic is grim. So is the realisation that I need to re-examine my network of friends.
