Not publishing leaflets about nuclear attacks would freak me out less!
Comment on Pamphlet advising on protection against a nuclear attack (1963-1967) UK
FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 days agoAs the UK National Archives comment under it. “[it] seemed remarkably naive”. And it was. Guess they were focusing more on trying not to freak people out.
Tramdan@sh.itjust.works 5 days ago
FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 days ago
I think it’s more about giving people who were already scared an illusion of safety and control. But that’s just my opinion.
zante@lemmy.wtf 5 days ago
Like many similar government programs, it was thoughtfully designed.
The biggest risk in any national emergency is panic. As seen recently with Covid and earlier, when a rumour toilet roll supplies running out. Mass panic trigger irrational behaviour en masse which is bad news all round.
Second thing, and related I suppose, is the fear level of the populace. If the message is That “things will be difficult but good old British common sense will prevail, while the government sorts things out for you”. The government keeps people, voters, on side . Alternatively, the government come under a lot more scrutiny if it’s widely understood to be ‘game over’ if war in not averted.
So while you cannot rely on these to be truthful or factually accurate, or even designed to keep you alive , you can be reasonably be sure it’s part of a plan.
In 196 Raymond Briggs wrote a graphic novel , which became a movie - called “when the wind blows” that pretty much nailed this.
There are clips on YouTube but nothing substantial. If you get chance to see it - do so.
FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 days ago
I don’t think the worst part of the covid pandemic was a shortage of toilet paper. I would have guessed it’s the tens of millions who died and were disabled for life, and still are being more and more every day.
Damage@feddit.it 4 days ago
Yeah, panic clearly wasn’t the biggest issue with covid. There were MANY problems, governments didn’t handle it well, etc, but the virus itself and its deadliness received a very mild reaction after all.