Dear HN,<p>an event of such magnitude often has unexpected consequences that are, ex ante, quite hard to predict. I assume most of us have already seen evidence of nature "returning" to cities in the form of otherwise wild animals roaming main streets.<p>But what about other effects have you stumbled upon?<p>I have recently discovered that weather forecasts will be more uncertain, as less airplanes are flying, hence there is less data about wind. [1]<p>Would love to see some more!<p>[1] https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/24/weather/aircraft-flights-weather-forecasts-coronavirus-trnd/index.html
Just a short overview:<p>Explosion in Dark-web activity
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Think service workers, gig workers, working poor etc. If you are woking 3 jobs to barely afford 2 bills you are already at the edge! Any disruption and a jump towards "alternative" income sources doesn't seen unreasonable any more. Especially for those who have dependents.<p>Worsening of virus spread
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You read that right! Instead of preventing the spread, lockdowns will make it worse! Everything the government does is stupid! What will happen is that people will refuse to believe, or underestimate the real danger of the virus. In defiance of the rules they will go out in large numbers to protest, or to demonstrate how this is all just a hoax, accelerating possible spread.<p>Drop in productivity
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“Working from home” is complete fiction for most, especially for those who have elderly or young children to care about. What are these people smoking?!?!?<p>Child rape
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Yes, I'm sorry. This is an inevitable consequence of being trapped with your captors. No escape<p>Anti-China riots
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Embassies, consular offices, even Chinese companies and even Chinese looking people could be subjected to violence. Many who lost everything will blame China and demand reparations!<p>Domestic abuse
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Already happening: <a href="https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/violence/domestic-violence-child-abuse-crime-all-on-the-rise/" rel="nofollow">https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/violence/domes...</a><p>Bank runs
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With the economy coming to a halt. Many will find out their cash isn't THAT secure in a bank after all... Think Cyprus<p>Conspiracy theories
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Already happening. Many will simply not even believe that the virus exists: <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52198946" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52198946</a><p>Suicide
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<a href="https://centralluzon.politics.com.ph/angeles-cop-stops-suicide-attempt-of-man-unable-to-feed-family-due-to-covid-19/" rel="nofollow">https://centralluzon.politics.com.ph/angeles-cop-stops-suici...</a><p>Mesh networking
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If rioting gets bad, governments will try to restrict/shut down online access. This will result in alternative communication styles such as mesh networking. See: Hong Kong<p>Starvation
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Dangerously low oil prices means lack of future investment into infrastructure which will lead to decreased future production which will, in turn, lead to skyrocketing oil prices. High oil -> high food -> riot/starvation. It's that simple!<p>(Hyper-) Inflation
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Especially in developing countries. Local currencies are brought by tourists or to trade goods with foreign countries. If those currencies are no longer being purchased using dollars, a spiral into inflation is inevitable. But more importantly, giant defaults on usd based loans will mean that the usd will explode when priced in those currencies. Making imports unaffordable, local economies (especially for the poorest) will be destroyed<p>There is many more, but if I had to summarise the effects of the lockdown in just one single phrase:
"A laser guided nuclear strike against the worlds poorest and most vulnerable"