Supermarket annoyance.

I quite agree. I can see no reason that there should be significant shortages of anything at this point. The production of food and goods didn't suddenly plunge off a cliff, and reasonably well-off folks with freezer-space and a car (i.e. the majority of the selfish hoarders) should have little need to buy so much more than they normally would to cope with a two week quarantine (to quote a joke I saw recently; if you need a trolley-full of loo-paper for a fortnight, you should probably have seen a doctor long before the virus outbreak!).

I have had a few dirty looks already when some of my slightly less charitable thoughts have inadvertently slipped out ("sure you've got enough there?") - not knowing when I'm speaking out loud is probably an autistic trait I could do without right now. But franky, I think it is about time that decent people do let their disapproval show, and that we try to make such selfishness socially unacceptable. I didn't really expect the supermarkets to respond swiftly (ker-ching!), and I would have been completely in favour of them being forced to implement rationing long before they've finally got around it voluntarily.

And who is likely to suffer most from the selfishness of the hoarders? The very people who are most likely to have the most to fear from the virus -  elderly folks, disabled people, and those with chronic illnesses; especially if they have no family or friends with sharp elbows.

I for one have no problem with you having a bit of a rant; I'm thoroughly disgusted myself with some people's behaviour (many of whom no doubt would allege that its autistic folks like us who are short of social graces and common sense!)

I'm one of the individuals whose autism means their hypersensitive to taste and texture. As such, my diet is restricted to a few meals and a few brands. One of these meals is pasta with a homemade sauce. All of the supermarkets near me have been out of passata for over a week now. I only have the ingredients to make four of these meals now 

If most of the world's workforce are self-isolating or ill it's highly likely that there will be shortages. I have had sleepless nights and panic attacks about being able to adequately feed myself. Last night, I went to the local Indian supermarket and stocked up on a few large bags of rice, so at least if everything else I can eat runs out I can survive on bowls of boiled rice and water. I did sit and cry at the prospect of having to live like this before I set out, especially as I have a 6-month-old daughter to look after, which means being adequately nourished to have the energy to be a good mum is key.

Trogluddite said:

I have had a few dirty looks already when some of my slightly less charitable thoughts have inadvertently slipped out ("sure you've got enough there?") - not knowing when I'm speaking out loud is probably an autistic trait I could do without right now

I don't think it because you voiced a thought out loud Trogluddite, its more to do with the fact that you're being rude to someone when you do not know their circumstances, plus you're showing a lack of compassion. You have no idea why they need all of that shopping. For example, they may have a large household, adverse reactions to sensory stimuli that make being in crowds difficult or mental health issues, such as suffering from anxiety in crowds based on previous traumatic experiences. 

I usually shop on-line due to finding busy places challenging but my local supermarket have no slots available for the next three weeks and I can not get through to the phone line to register for priority disability shopping. I went to Tesco at 6 am this morning to be able to try and get the bits I needed. It was mayhem and I had to work really hard not to have a panic attack. The lack of sleep, fear of not being able to feed me, the crowds, lights etc was hell. If you'd have spoken to me in the way you have been doing to other people Trogluddite it would have had me in tears.

If we want society to show us compassion and understanding, when others are experiencing challenges, such as overwhelming anxiety around being able to feed themselves, shouldn't we behave how we'd like to be treated? E.g Do what we can to protect ourself and not speak in a derogatory manner about others who are experiencing mental ill-health?

Compassion has completly disappeared with common sense. I had an ambulance as I'd deteriorated. The dr ordered inhalors to try open my airways as I'm strong enough as not classed vulnerable to stay at home. The dr said he put the inhalors as urgent. I called our pharmacy struggling to talk through breathlessness and coughs. Asked could they please deliver I've been told I have corona. She said no we re busy you collect them yourself! Considering I'd collapsed and 111 called the ambulance and Id been seen and told corona I was pre meltdown already. I called the dr back who was outraged and my meds arrived within 10 mins! But considering we're in quarantine to stop the spread, a pharmacy telling someone who's got corona to pick up their own meds is absurd. I get angry at the lack of common sense and compassion at the moment. It's just everyone for themselves

Compassion has completly disappeared with common sense. I had an ambulance as I'd deteriorated. The dr ordered inhalors to try open my airways as I'm strong enough as not classed vulnerable to stay at home. The dr said he put the inhalors as urgent. I called our pharmacy struggling to talk through breathlessness and coughs. Asked could they please deliver I've been told I have corona. She said no we re busy you collect them yourself! Considering I'd collapsed and 111 called the ambulance and Id been seen and told corona I was pre meltdown already. I called the dr back who was outraged and my meds arrived within 10 mins! But considering we're in quarantine to stop the spread, a pharmacy telling someone who's got corona to pick up their own meds is absurd. I get angry at the lack of common sense and compassion at the moment. It's just everyone for themselves