If the Omicron variant doesnt kill off Christmas parties, Hogo (the hassle of going out) just might – iNews

Tis the season to be jolly. Or tis the season to be jolly cautious? The Prime Minister tells us to party on, while health officials are advising us to restrict socialising. No indiscriminate snogging (sic), says a Cabinet minister. But then people are urged by the Government to keep living their life. The Christmas party season is upon us, and no one knows quite which way to turn. Nothing new there, then.

We are back to the point of having to manage our own risk profile, and, in one sense, thats perfectly reasonable. We have lived with this pandemic for long enough now to be able to make informed choices on what we should and should not do for the safety of ourselves and our fellow citizens. And what we have discovered is that, under the cover of Covid, many people have decided not to bother.

What a relief, some might say. No need to make lame excuses when you dont fancy an upcoming social event. Cant get a babysitter. Or my child is ill. Or the car has broken down. No, its a straightforward call these days. Im sorry, but Im seeing my elderly parents at Christmas, and Im worried about the new variant. Everyone understands. No problem. No need to have your conscience pricked.

We are told that Hogo (the Hassle of Going Out) is a modern, Covid-inspired phenomenon. Many people, we learn, would rather stay at home and watch a box set than go to a party and talk about the box set they are watching. Maybe its my advanced age, but Ive had party ennui for quite some time.

I think I may have reached the stage of life when I have been to, and given, all the parties I ever want to. So now, when asked whether I am going to such-and-such event, I cheerfully employ a more common acronym: NFI. In this case, it means Not Flipping (or some such word) Interested.

At this point, I will share with you an invaluable piece of advice for those who find themselves, on the day of a social engagement, wishing they had never agreed to go in the first place. The golden rule is this: do not accept an invitation to do something in six weeks time that you wouldnt want to do that very evening. Because one day soon, it will be that very evening. And I can guarantee you wont want to go.

But while Covid may have allowed some of us to unleash our inner misanthrope without fear of reprisal or judgement, the basic human need to connect and socialise will survive the current difficulties.

Which brings us to a much bigger question. Has our fun gene has been altered in a more fundamental way than we even realise? Could Hogo be superseded by Fogo, fear being a much more powerful driver than hassle?

We do not yet know what Omicron, or its next mutation, might bring, and that uncertainty is enough to give people, across the generations, pause for thought when it comes to unbridled social interaction. It might be all right for No 10 to have a big old hoolie, but the rest of us may be a little more watchful. Whether you are a giver or a goer, we reserve the right to party. Or not, as the case may be.

Welcome to Christmas 2021 giving a whole new meaning to cancel culture.

Read the original here:

If the Omicron variant doesnt kill off Christmas parties, Hogo (the hassle of going out) just might - iNews