What has happened to proportion?

When - and why - did we start clapping people for doing their jobs? (In admittedly trying circumstances).

I see no one clapping the government, which is dealing with exactly the same problem.

Difficult to criticise the national religion before, it will be utterly impossible now.

If we want to thank health workers, maybe we could pay them properly instead anyway. A national round of applause is just ridiculous.

Thank you, NHS, and all who work there. But can we get over it already?

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Lhayezee Well, he certainly made his point, in destroying the monasteries and confiscating their lands.

Returning to the question itself, this business of applause is new. Apart from the gratitude, perhaps it provides some relief from being largely cooped up away from each other in our own homes and gardens.

As my neighbour remarked last Thursday evening, you don't normally see so many of the street's residents all out at once! (Albeit all of us staying in our own, though very small, front gardens.)

Lhayezee · 26-30, F

@ArishMell It's essentially underlining the often made point that the NHS is the new national religion (which can't be a very healthy way to view it). Instead of communing and giving thanks on a Sunday morning it's now just Thursday evenings!

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Lhayezee A good point, though I admit I've not heard the "new national religion" idea expressed very often.