I was going to wait until next month to post this but it will be there before you know it and I doubt much will change in the next 50-something days. I also originally thought to ask which one was better to choose the lesser of two evils.

Anyhow during the first half of 2021, it seemed like 2020 would have been the obvious answer. But then there was the second half with the Delta variant that crushed all hopes for the pandemic to end soon, the Afghanistan situation, inflation and supply shortages, etc. which are all contributing to Biden's plummeting approval rating. It just overall has a depressing and pessimistic vibe. At least in 2020 people were just counting down days to the end of that year thinking it was going to be better in 2021.

Also my personal life has gone downhill with my new job so it effects my perception about the year (I should have stayed at my old job even though I was unhappy there). All the news articles are depressing as well and it seems people are getting crazier, mental health has degraded including my own. Pop culture wise 2020 had a lot of good music but 2021 had better movies (which wasn't hard to accomplish since cinemas pretty much shut down in 2020 and only a handful released for streaming). TV series were about a tie. Also the Braves winning the World Series was the one good thing that happened in the Fall of 2021 but other than bragging rights for my city it didn't impact my life that much.

I don't want to make trouble, but doesn't this seem like decadology? All this comparing of two specific years. A lot of that has been going on here lately under the guise of the pandemic. All these "2022 will suck" and "2021 sucked" threads and then ensuing discussion in them about how the previous year (or the next year) was/will be better (or worse). And now this thread that specifically pits two years against one another. I mean, if it was "which year do you think was better,  1994 or 1996" wouldn't the decadology red flag immediately go up?

I don't want to make trouble, but doesn't this seem like decadology? All this comparing of two specific years. A lot of that has been going on here lately under the guise of the pandemic. All these "2022 will suck" and "2021 sucked" threads and then ensuing discussion in them about how the previous year (or the next year) was/will be better (or worse). And now this thread that specifically pits two years against one another. I mean, if it was "which year do you think was better,  1994 or 1996" wouldn't the decadology red flag immediately go up?


I don't think it would be decadeology according to the mods definition, which is comparing a year of the current decade to a year of a past one. Now I'll admit that I am guilty of sneaking in trying to compare (or more like contrast) to years back in simpler times that I feel nostalgic for (particularly the Mid-2000's), but I don't think there's anything decadeological about this particular topic, since it's talking about two years within this decade and right next to each other. I also see no harm in venting about how the years of this decade, the early 2020's, or this decade in general suck because I'm sure a lot of us feel the same way, granted it has been getting beaten to death.

I don't think it would be decadeology according to the mods definition, which is comparing a year of the current decade to a year of a past one. Now I'll admit that I am guilty of sneaking in trying to compare (or more like contrast) to years back in simpler times that I feel nostalgic for (particularly the Mid-2000's), but I don't think there's anything decadeological about this particular topic, since it's talking about two years within this decade and right next to each other. I also see no harm in venting about how the years of this decade, the early 2020's, or this decade in general suck because I'm sure a lot of us feel the same way, granted it has been getting beaten to death.


By the by, I was trying to find that definition of decalogy before I posted and I couldn't. It seems to me it used to be more prominently displayed somewhere. It's not in the rules section. Where is it?

By the by, I was trying to find that definition of decalogy before I posted and I couldn't. It seems to me it used to be more prominently displayed somewhere. It's not in the rules section. Where is it?


I noticed the sticky is not in this decade's forum but it is in all of the previous ones.

I noticed the sticky is not in this decade's forum but it is in all of the previous ones.


Right under my nose!  ;D

2020 was worse.

2020 was worse.


Correct. In 2020 people were terrified. They were washing their mail, afraid to touch money, washing groceries when they got them home, etc. By 2021 people had gotten the hang of living with a pandemic. Exercising caution but not being hysterical about it.

2021 was way worse. In hindsight it actually makes 2020 look good.

2020 was worse.

It was worse, supermarket products like toilet paper, hand sanitizer and masks went off the shelves like crazy and people were panicking every day, It was a horrible year and people couldn't wait for 2020 to be over.

2021 was way worse. In hindsight it actually makes 2020 look good.


Sadly that is true. I was mostly staying positive and trying to make the best of the situation despite all the events. I remember feeling uplifted while listening to music by Dua Lipa, The Weekend, etc. I also miss working from home.


It was worse, supermarket products like toilet paper, hand sanitizer and masks went off the shelves like crazy and people were panicking every day, It was a horrible year and people couldn't wait for 2020 to be over.


There is a supply crunch now, maybe not toilet paper but other things, plus inflation and high gas prices. We are just at risk of catching/spreading COVID despite the vaccine. I would say I can't wait until 2021 to be over, but there's no telling what 2022 is going to be like so that's what makes it more depressing.

2020 personally. Had depression that year but this year has been the best year i've had since 2013.

Obectively i'd say 2020 as well since there was the shock of COVID, recession and dissapointment of the 9th gen gaming launch.

Sadly that is true. I was mostly staying positive and trying to make the best of the situation despite all the events. I remember feeling uplifted while listening to music by Dua Lipa, The Weekend, etc. I also miss working from home.

There is a supply crunch now, maybe not toilet paper but other things, plus inflation and high gas prices. We are just at risk of catching/spreading COVID despite the vaccine. I would say I can't wait until 2021 to be over, but there's no telling what 2022 is going to be like so that's what makes it more depressing.

I hope 22 is nothing like 21, They need to stop people from dying and hospitals from getting overwhelmed.

I am employing the wait and see technic here.

Obectively i'd say 2020 as well since there was the shock of COVID, recession and dissapointment of the 9th gen gaming launch.


Putting Covid and recession in the same category as 9th gen gaming (whatever that is). Talk about priorities!  ;D  ;D  ;D

2021 seemed promising but 2020 was just a horrible year.

2020 was worse in my opinion, though I feel like 2021 is currently having it's moments like the January 6th insurrection and this whole Travis Scott situation.

2020 wasn't "good" because it started all the horrible stuff we are experiencing in 2021. But at the least, there was some normal that year for the first 2 months. So that's why it's better. The first half didn't feel as dystopian as 2021 too because even though there were less lockdowns this year, there were still more human rights violations with the vaccine mandates and stuff. Plus music in 2020 was better than 2021 (though music in the early '20s is quite good in general compared to before). Overall 2020 was better than 2021 in my opinion.

2020 wasn't "good" because it started all the horrible stuff we are experiencing in 2021. But at the least, there was some normal that year for the first 2 months. So that's why it's better. The first half didn't feel as dystopian as 2021 too because even though there were less lockdowns this year, there were still more human rights violations with the vaccine mandates and stuff. Plus music in 2020 was better than 2021 (though music in the early '20s is quite good in general compared to before). Overall 2020 was better than 2021 in my opinion.

2021 seemed promising for the first couple of months.

2021 seemed promising for the first couple of months.
The hope of a better world out there?

2021 is obviously worse.  When COVID hit, I was forced to work from home starting March 2020.  So far in 2021, I'm still working from home, which I hate, so for about 2 and a half month, I was still working in an office in 2020

2021 is obviously worse.  When COVID hit, I was forced to work from home starting March 2020.  So far in 2021, I'm still working from home, which I hate, so for about 2 and a half month, I was still working in an office in 2020
My family and colleagues that are working from home (or someone else's home) had it too.

The hope of a better world out there?

removing the masks for good.

removing the masks for good.
More than just for masks, it would be the eradication of the virus.

2021 seemed promising for the first couple of months.

Only the middle of 2021 (summer) was good because masks were removed. Everything else was bad.

Only the middle of 2021 (summer) was good because masks were removed. Everything else was bad.


I liked the spring months. July was when things went downhill. The same months I liked the most of 2021 were the worst ones of 2020 (March, April, and May).

I liked the spring months. July was when things went downhill. The same months I liked the most of 2021 were the worst ones of 2020 (March, April, and May).

I guess it depends where you're located. In my location, all restrictions were removed only in July. But that didn't last long of course. In September we were back to mask-wearing and lockdowns.

More than just for masks, it would be the eradication of the virus.

I sure hope so.

Only the middle of 2021 (summer) was good because masks were removed. Everything else was bad.

I agree.

I guess it depends where you're located. In my location, all restrictions were removed only in July. But that didn't last long of course. In September we were back to mask-wearing and lockdowns.


Where I live we were in lockdown for all but about 2 weeks. Things started to return to normal by summer of 2020, but then the riots started.

Where I live we were in lockdown for all but about 2 weeks. Things started to return to normal by summer of 2020, but then the riots started.

Sorry, you misunderstood me. I am talking about this year. In July of this year all restrictions were removed where I live. I am not talking about 2020.

In 2020 things were never even close to normal where I live and mask mandates started in August 2020. Then again, this summer still had some abnormality since you still had to wear masks on transit.

Sorry, you misunderstood me. I am talking about this year. In July of this year all restrictions were removed where I live. I am not talking about 2020.

In 2020 things were never even close to normal where I live and mask mandates started in August 2020. Then again, this summer still had some abnormality since you still had to wear masks on transit.


Actually I was talking about both years. In 2021 we didn't have any lockdowns or restrictions but there are other reasons why this second half seems darker/bleaker compared to the first half or even 2020.

Where I live we were in lockdown for all but about 2 weeks. Things started to return to normal by summer of 2020, but then the riots started.

And then you went back to the mandates?

And then you went back to the mandates?


No, we didn't have any more mandates.

No, we didn't have any more mandates.
Masks are still mandatory on London Transport, but many pay no attention to it.

Masks are still mandatory on London Transport, but many pay no attention to it.

How is the UK so relaxed? Canada is becoming full-on dictatorship. Australia is even worse I heard.

2021 seemed promising for the first couple of months.


Exactly what I thought.

Masks are still mandatory on London Transport, but many pay no attention to it.

masks here in NYC are still mandatory but many refuse to wear them. ::)

Now there's the new Omicron Variant with whatever that may bring. If anything, the feeling of uncertainty about the the future going into 2022. Meanwhile I noticed people are more excited about Christmas than before. They are really doing it big with decorating the lights in my neighborhood.

2020 was objectively worse, but for me it's been this year. 2020 was bad but at least it was SUPER interesting and entertaining (Let me clarify, I think it's tragic that ANYONE died, I meant the novelty of the year was fascinating). This year has just kinda been lame for me personally. BUT culturally it's been great! Music, meme culture, and social media have all been very fun this year (I stay out of politics to avoid any negativity)! But in my personal life up to August I was just being overworked at a lame grocery store job that destroyed my physical & mental health. Since I quit things haven't been all good either (although I've had some great moments and overall it's been WAY better than when I was working).

2020 was objectively worse, but for me it's been this year. 2020 was bad but at least it was SUPER interesting and entertaining (Let me clarify, I think it's tragic that ANYONE died, I meant the novelty of the year was fascinating). This year has just kinda been lame for me personally. BUT culturally it's been great! Music, meme culture, and social media have all been very fun this year (I stay out of politics to avoid any negativity)! But in my personal life up to August I was just being overworked at a lame grocery store job that destroyed my physical & mental health. Since I quit things haven't been all good either (although I've had some great moments and overall it's been WAY better than when I was working).

How is 2020 objectively worse?  ??? You had way less laws violating people's freedoms. What are you talking about?  ???

Now there's the new Omicron Variant with whatever that may bring. If anything, the feeling of uncertainty about the the future going into 2022. Meanwhile I noticed people are more excited about Christmas than before. They are really doing it big with decorating the lights in my neighborhood.

And they're concerned about the inside holiday gatherings.

And they're concerned about the inside holiday gatherings.


Might be another socially distanced Christmas.

Might be another socially distanced Christmas.

or no New Year's Eve parties too.

2021 is almost over, and 2020 still beats it by miles

2021 kicks 2020’s butt. No doubt about it.

2021 kicks 2020’s butt. No doubt about it.


Kicked its butt as in better or as in the battle for being the suckiest year?

In the first few months of this year, here in Texas, it was terrible rather than optimistic. The reason is our electricity grid wasn't doing us any favors during the freeze of February.

Personal-life-wise for me, regardless of which one was worse objectively, it was way easier to get pissed off this year than last year.

I think my personal life 2021 turned out to be OK expect for the few things that happened to me like from when I lost my job then about 2 months later I gained a new job then when I lost my wallet on the bus then a few hours later someone had found my wallet and I was happy again.

Kicked its butt as in better or as in the battle for being the suckiest year?


My company made money hand over fist this year. That’s why 2021 kicked butt.

This is a tough question.

2020:

-Had an incompetent president who said that Covid was going to miraculously disappear by April.
-There was no vaccine in sight.


2021:

-Jan. 6th and their ilk are still intimidating everyone. 
-Anti-vaxxers are allowing Covid to mutate.


Personally, I think there is more hope for 2022 than there was for 2021. More people are vaccinated and boosted than they were this time last year. (First vaccines came out on Dec. 11th 2020). The infrastructure bill is now law. I have a feeling that the Build Back Better bill will pass (maybe not the way it is now but something will pass) and the two voting rights bills will pass. And the people who instigated Jan 6 will have their comeuppance.


Cat 

2021 was worse due to mandatory vaccinations and countless violations over personal rights. Don't get me wrong, 2020 was bad, but it only got worse in 2021 because it went from mandatory masking in 2020 (which is bad enough and it is still violating your bodily autonomy) to mandatory vaccines in 2021 which is insane as it is a literal mandate on putting something INTO your body. And don't forget the first two months of 2020 did not have any of this... The first two months of 2020 was normal before the lockdowns happened. So 2021 is a much worse year than 2020.

2021 was worse due to mandatory vaccinations and countless violations over personal rights. Don't get me wrong, 2020 was bad, but it only got worse in 2021 because it went from mandatory masking in 2020 (which is bad enough and it is still violating your bodily autonomy) to mandatory vaccines in 2021 which is insane as it is a literal mandate on putting something INTO your body. And don't forget the first two months of 2020 did not have any of this... The first two months of 2020 was normal before the lockdowns happened. So 2021 is a much worse year than 2020.


Question: Did you go to school? If so than you were required to get polio, chickenpox, MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) and probably more. If you go overseas, you are required to get other vaccines-like yellow fever and malaria.

Is getting a shot worse than getting a disease that can kill you or kill members of your family?


Cat

Question: Did you go to school? If so than you were required to get polio, chickenpox, MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) and probably more. If you go overseas, you are required to get other vaccines-like yellow fever and malaria.

Is getting a shot worse than getting a disease that can kill you or kill members of your family?


Cat

Actually no you are not "required" to get it. There is a way around it through exemptions, you are also able to be home schooled if you choose. As for travelling overseas, you did not need to show any proof of vaccinations. I would know since I travelled overseas to many places... Only in some countries perhaps it is mandatory. I have travelled all over Europe, renewed my passport several times, mandatory vaccinations were NEVER required. So what you wrote is not correct. Today, getting a rushed vaccine that was made in less than two years is MANDATORY to do basic things such as eat in restaurants or cross the border... This has never been seen ever in the history of the world. It is truly a new and horrifying thing. Eventually it will cross over to essential services too and this needs to be stopped immediately if you still want to live in a free country. Whether you are pro vaccine or not. If you don't think every individual has a right to make their own personal choice over what comes into their body NO MATTER WHAT, and to not be discriminated against based on that decision, then there is something wrong with you.

Actually no you are not "required" to get it. There is a way around it through exemptions, you are also able to be home schooled if you choose. As for travelling overseas, you did not need to show any proof of vaccinations. I would know since I travelled overseas to many places... Only in some countries perhaps it is mandatory. I have travelled all over Europe, renewed my passport several times, mandatory vaccinations were NEVER required. So what you wrote is not correct. Today, getting a rushed vaccine that was made in less than two years is MANDATORY to do basic things such as eat in restaurants or cross the border... This has never been seen ever in the history of the world. It is truly a new and horrifying thing. Eventually it will cross over to essential services too and this needs to be stopped immediately if you still want to live in a free country. Whether you are pro vaccine or not. If you don't think every individual has a right to make their own personal choice over what comes into their body NO MATTER WHAT, and to not be discriminated against based on that decision, then there is something wrong with you.


You are right that there are exemptions but for the most part, if you go to a public school, you are REQUIRED to be vaccinated. As for traveling overseas, it does depend on where you go but you are also required to get vaccinated. I know because I was required to get vaccinated before I went to Europe.

As for this vaccine-the truth is it has been around for about 20 years. They only "tweaked" it so it would respond to Covid. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/21/fact-check-covid-19-vaccine-nearly-20-years-making/3873247001/

Individual freedom is great but when YOUR freedom threatens my life, then there is a problem. Do you drive on the right side of the road? It is YOUR personal freedom to drive on the left side but that threatens the lives of others.

You don't seem to understand by choosing NOT to get vaccinated threatens ALL of us-even those of us who are vaccinated. It gives this virus a chance to mutate-AGAIN. This is NOT about personal freedom but about the health of EVERYONE! You call it decimation but it is fear. People fear YOU are going to give them this disease that will kill them.


Cat

Individual freedom is great but when YOUR freedom threatens my life, then there is a problem.
You don't seem to understand by choosing NOT to get vaccinated threatens ALL of us-even those of us who are vaccinated.



If you don't think every individual has a right to make their own personal choice over what comes into their body NO MATTER WHAT, and to not be discriminated against based on that decision, then there is something wrong with you.


I'm also not convinced by your "individual freedom is good" statement. Anyone who is pro mandatory vaccines does not want freedom. They want communism. There is no 'buts" to this. Supporting mandatory vaccines is immoral and wrong, period.

You are right that there are exemptions but for the most part, if you go to a public school, you are REQUIRED to be vaccinated. 

Cat


I remember when I was in the first grade or maybe second, we got the polio vaccine in school. Except it wasn't a vaccine, it was a liquid in a little paper cup. My memory says it was maybe orange-y tasting. We got the booster this same way some months later. Polio was only recently controllable at that point.

You don't seem to understand by choosing NOT to get vaccinated threatens ALL of us-even those of us who are vaccinated. It gives this virus a chance to mutate-AGAIN. This is NOT about personal freedom but about the health of EVERYONE! You call it decimation but it is fear. People fear YOU are going to give them this disease that will kill them.


Cat


Isn't this a little hyperbolic, the vaccinated can still test positive for COVID and spread it, although the vaccine might lower their viral load. Some countries have extremely high vaccination rates and still have to deal with variants like omicron because of globalism, many poorer countries are going to have lower vaccination rates.

Blaming the unvaccinated looks like a cope to me, people need some scapegoat to unload all their anxieties onto, it's like an instinctual disgust reaction.

Isn't this a little hyperbolic, the vaccinated can still test positive for COVID and spread it, although the vaccine might lower their viral load. Some countries have extremely high vaccination rates and still have to deal with variants like omicron because of globalism, many poorer countries are going to have lower vaccination rates.

Blaming the unvaccinated looks like a cope to me, people need some scapegoat to unload all their anxieties onto, it's like an instinctual disgust reaction.

It's all a numbers game of decreasing or increasing chances of mutation and virus spread. Unvaccinated people have a higher chance of becoming a virus host and produce more viruses than vaccinated people with a break through. That means unvaccinated people spread it more than vaccinated people do. More people with the virus means higher chances for others to get infected and higher chances for the virus to mutate. So yes, unvaccinated people increase the risk for everyone and in developed countries they do it by choice. Here we can make the decision to give the virus more opportunity to spread, mutate and affect others or not. That's why people start to get frustrated.

This is a tough question.

2020:

-Had an incompetent president who said that Covid was going to miraculously disappear by April.
-There was no vaccine in sight.


2021:

-Jan. 6th and their ilk are still intimidating everyone. 
-Anti-vaxxers are allowing Covid to mutate.


Personally, I think there is more hope for 2022 than there was for 2021. More people are vaccinated and boosted than they were this time last year. (First vaccines came out on Dec. 11th 2020). The infrastructure bill is now law. I have a feeling that the Build Back Better bill will pass (maybe not the way it is now but something will pass) and the two voting rights bills will pass. And the people who instigated Jan 6 will have their comeuppance.


Cat

Then Donald Trump was telling everyone about downing bleach to help rid of the virus, what a dumbass!  ::)

I'm also not convinced by your "individual freedom is good" statement. Anyone who is pro mandatory vaccines does not want freedom. They want communism. There is no 'buts" to this. Supporting mandatory vaccines is immoral and wrong, period.


Well, it is obvious that you don't have a clue what communism is. I will end it here.



Cat

Well, it is obvious that you don't have a clue what communism is. I will end it here.



Cat


I’m not sure that the so-called “communist” countries were ever true to the communist manifesto. They were all simply totalitarian regimes riding under a communist false flag.

It's all a numbers game of decreasing or increasing chances of mutation and virus spread. Unvaccinated people have a higher chance of becoming a virus host and produce more viruses than vaccinated people with a break through. That means unvaccinated people spread it more than vaccinated people do. More people with the virus means higher chances for others to get infected and higher chances for the virus to mutate. So yes, unvaccinated people increase the risk for everyone and in developed countries they do it by choice. Here we can make the decision to give the virus more opportunity to spread, mutate and affect others or not. That's why people start to get frustrated.


I hinted at this with the viral load statement, still if you're vaccinated you're supposed to be protected from serious illness(even with the variants like Delta), this means being vulnerable health wise and unvaccinated is more of a risk to yourself.

If course people are going to say the unvaccinated are overwhelming our healthcare system.

I can understand people being skeptical about the vaccine and health care professionals, I've had numerous negative experiences with the health care system here. Some have been so bad I was close to suicide, like my hellish akathisia experience that was caused by doctors.

I remember this time last year as 2021 was approaching, there was a feeling of hope for the new year with the vaccines coming and a new president (unless you're a Trump fan). Now it's more like a feeling of uncertainty. Still many people are optimistic about 2022 as the Omicron variant appears to be less life-threatening especially for the vaccinated and even more so for those who got their boosters.

The holiday season was a mess though, especially for those traveling by plane. It disrupted flights and there was the viral video of the Karen assaulting a passenger on the flight 2 days before Christmas, which has become an all too familiar scene over the last year as people started returning to the skies. I remember last year's holiday season feeling more calm and peaceful, as everyone was ready put 2020 behind them. The Netflix movie "Jingle Jangle" was a staple of that season, much like Polar Express in 2004's.

2020 started off decent, I went to Hawaii March 12th, 2020, flying whilst the stock market crashed 2,000 points. I returned March 25th on the last flight out from the Big Island of Hawaii until June 2020.

I was able to cope okay at first but by August 2020 it was all just getting out of hand.

I ended 2020 sick with coronavirus, a battle that has caused side effects lasting to today, including fatigue, less mental sharpness, POTS and cardiac symptoms that have been so concerning I need to go to the doctor to get a holter monitor. And a family divided on politics and two parents engulfed into conspiracies. Thankfully my parents have stepped away from social media after Biden was inaugurated and have become much easier to talk to.

I genuinely believe the period from early December 2020 to January 20th, 2021 to be the darkest and most sombering moment in time in our country's modern history. Our country was put through the brink, and our democracy had a near death experience on January 6th.

2021 by comparison has been much better. The period from March until early July 2021 was amongst the most optimistic, I felt about this country in a while, but all of that came crashing down when Delta hit and made me realize the selfish large minority of Americans were refusing a country to move forward.

I visited Hawaii again in May 2021. I thought I was not going to see my 90 year old Aunt again after March 2020, the vaccine changed that entire equation.

Biden has not been perfect but compared to a President beginning to embroil themself in fascism after the election, he has been the breath of fresh air. He has made mistakes and I gladly will call them out, but he has thus far brought about much needed investment and change in our government. The equation of Government spending that had been a consensus since Reagan's presidency has shifted. No longer is conservatism and hollow safety nets deemed acceptable by either political party.

COVID caused me to gain weight due to steriods, something I have not been able to completely shake off. The physical symptoms continue. And my mental health is worse than it was in 2020 despite 2021 being better overall.

2021 has felt like the longest year on earth but also time has flown by at the same time.

Hi Kid.  Sorry to hear you had COVID and are suffering after effects.  Hope you get better soon.  Although I fear that the coup is still in progress I am hopeful that our democracy will survive. Looking for better times for all of us