THREAD:

Lockdown has inspired community. The reason so much solidarity has been unleashed is not simply because we are naturally wired to empathise. That is not enough for what we see. It's because of a shift in how politicians frame adversity and, in turn, how its reported.

In just a matter of weeks we have well over a million people active in the community, helping people they don't know, with all kinds of challenges. We have daily reports of acts of kindness, generosity and courage. What has changed? Well, it is pretty simple really.

Because we are all experiencing a similar problem, and because that issue cannot be overcome without human cooperation, suddenly the idea that we can turn the other cheek seems vulgar. 1m people now applying for Universal Credit. Many more relying on the state to make ends meet.

Suddenly this notion of deserving and undeserving seems primitive - because we all need help at the same time. After this, politicians need to think very carefully about how their language around poverty has effectively created the opposite of empathy and solidarity.

Media must get better at challenging lazy stereotypes - not blindly permeate them. Think of the energy and goodwill that could be unleashed around issues like drug abuse and homelessness, if they were framed with the compassion and empathy such as we see with the lockdown.

What many people are now learning is that it just takes the right kind of crisis and you are fucked. That no matter how hard you worked, or how unique you might feel, something will come along and knock you on your arse. And that we will all need a hand up at some point.

We are being a bit nicer to each other because our leaders are encouraging us to be. We are being asked to be considerate of others, to go above and beyond, and to remain mindful of how our action affects others. In my view, that is the way it should ALWAYS be.

Makes you think about the way we have all been tearing lumps out of each other for ten years straight - and why.