Monday morning quarterbacks

I'm frequently amazed and disappointed at the impatience of some commentators and members of the public with various aspects of the authorities' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Terrigal beach this evening

This morning I listened to people criticising the shortcomings of the government's tracking COVIDSafe tracking app.  Sure, there are problems that should be addressed, and they need to be brought to the attention of the developers, but there seems to be an enthusiasm for finding faults and portraying them as the product of incompetence.  The reality is that the app was quickly developed and released and was bound to have some issues.  But, it was never going to be the only tracking solution, and despite its current faults, still works in the majority of cases.  And, there will be many new versions released that address the shortcomings over the course of the pandemic.

Social-distanced fishing this
evening at Terrigal

There are similar examples every day of critics getting excited about the shortcomings of the authorities actions.  It could be the public servant who permitted passengers to leave the Ruby Princess, some ambiguity in government restrictions, the plans for the return of children to school, and so on.

It is totally reasonable and desirable for objective and constructive criticisms to be publicly or privately made of government actions.  We need transparency and to learn from our mistakes.  But, it needs to be done civilly and without theatrics and glee.  With one or two notable exceptions, especially on the global stage, the individuals involved are doing their best in situations that would test anybody regardless of their expertise and experience.

Still no running or walking for me (though I did walk around the block this evening to get some fresh air and could feel minor pain and immobility in the errant hip).