Any benefit to COVID-19?

[rennigade]

Besides the obvious, heavily discounted stocks and cheap flights/trips...any other benefits to this epidemic?

My wife may be in the market for a new vehicle this year. Im guessing these next couple months are going to be really rough on car dealerships. May be able to get a decent deal towards the end of the year on an suv.

Id like to think that this will show americans how under prepared most of us are for these events, but like everything else, this will be forgotten in a year or two.

[kork13]

Id like to think that this will show americans how under prepared most of us are for these events, but like everything else, this will be forgotten in a year or two.

That's about what I was thinking. But even if the lesson doesn't stick with the public for long, hopefully our healthcare & emergency management industries/agencies will get improved funding & policies to better prepare the country for stuff like this in the future.

[james.hendrickson]

That's about what I was thinking. But even if the lesson doesn't stick with the public for long, hopefully our healthcare & emergency management industries/agencies will get improved funding & policies to better prepare the country for stuff like this in the future.

This is one of those events that only comes along very rarely. If there is any kind of fatality rate, people will not forget it any time soon.

[~bs]

Refinanced mortgage pretty much at the very bottom before it went back up this week. I do expect it to head even lower in the future though..

[disneysteve]

One possible benefit is that it might show companies how they can function just fine with employees working remotely, holding meetings virtually, and really cut down on so much unnecessary travel. Long term, that would help global warming. So many companies fly dozens or hundreds of employees to a central location for a meeting that consists of little more than everyone sitting in a convention space watching a series of PowerPoint presentations and then flying home. It's a huge waste of time and resources that can be easily replaced by an online conference.

The same might influence colleges as they see the benefit of online learning. Just think what a cost savings that could create going forward.

There's another benefit I expect to see in my job (urgent care physician). With schools and businesses closed and everyone staying home, I fully expect our volume to drop off significantly. Not only will COVID-19 cases die down but also flu, strep, common colds, stomach viruses, etc. All of that stuff spreads readily especially this time of year. Two weeks of everything shutting down should sharply impact all of that stuff.

[~bs]

One possible benefit is that it might show companies how they can function just fine with employees working remotely, holding meetings virtually, and really cut down on so much unnecessary travel. Long term, that would help global warming. So many companies fly dozens or hundreds of employees to a central location for a meeting that consists of little more than everyone sitting in a convention space watching a series of PowerPoint presentations and then flying home. It's a huge waste of time and resources that can be easily replaced by an online conference.

The same might influence colleges as they see the benefit of online learning. Just think what a cost savings that could create going forward.

There's another benefit I expect to see in my job (urgent care physician). With schools and businesses closed and everyone staying home, I fully expect our volume to drop off significantly. Not only will COVID-19 cases die down but also flu, strep, common colds, stomach viruses, etc. All of that stuff spreads readily especially this time of year. Two weeks of everything shutting down should sharply impact all of that stuff.

Our state's teacher union is fighting back against online classes because they're fearful that there will be less need for their services in the future. So they're having grievances filed and possibly looking at lawsuit. All to ensure that school isn't canceled. They don't really care that it would likely spread the disease much further.

[disneysteve]

Our state's teacher union is fighting back against online classes because they're fearful that there will be less need for their services in the future. So they're having grievances filed and possibly looking at lawsuit. All to ensure that school isn't canceled. They don't really care that it would likely spread the disease much further.

Sad but true. Everybody's first concern is always themselves.

I don't think it will happen but one could see how this "experiment" could fundamentally change a lot of face-to-face interactions.

My accountant said that the last 40-50 tax prep appointments he had scheduled have all been changed over to "email me your documents and them we'll "meet" by phone to discuss everything". He said it's already working out great as one client saved 90 minutes of driving to come in. I'm willing to bet that next year, that client will say, "Hey, let's just do it virtually like we did last year". Think how much that can help save gas, reduce traffic, etc.

[~bs]

Sad but true. Everybody's first concern is always themselves.

I don't think it will happen but one could see how this "experiment" could fundamentally change a lot of face-to-face interactions.

My accountant said that the last 40-50 tax prep appointments he had scheduled have all been changed over to "email me your documents and them we'll "meet" by phone to discuss everything". He said it's already working out great as one client saved 90 minutes of driving to come in. I'm willing to bet that next year, that client will say, "Hey, let's just do it virtually like we did last year". Think how much that can help save gas, reduce traffic, etc.

im hoping this model catches on more with my company. theres value in face to face contact, but in todays day, not making use of technology is stupid. our execs and managers fly multiple times per year to meet with different divisions. so unnecessary and stressful for the flyers

[disneysteve]

im hoping this model catches on more with my company. theres value in face to face contact, but in todays day, not making use of technology is stupid. our execs and managers fly multiple times per year to meet with different divisions. so unnecessary and stressful for the flyers

So much business travel is a complete waste of time, money, and resources and contributes to traffic, pollution, and climate change.

[rennigade]

One possible benefit is that it might show companies how they can function just fine with employees working remotely, holding meetings virtually, and really cut down on so much unnecessary travel. Long term, that would help global warming. So many companies fly dozens or hundreds of employees to a central location for a meeting that consists of little more than everyone sitting in a convention space watching a series of PowerPoint presentations and then flying home. It's a huge waste of time and resources that can be easily replaced by an online conference.

The same might influence colleges as they see the benefit of online learning. Just think what a cost savings that could create going forward.

I never even considered this but this could have a huge impact on how things are conducted in the future. Soo many people can telework today, companies just frown on it. My wife works for the government, and she is teleworking "until further notice."

[disneysteve]

I never even considered this but this could have a huge impact on how things are conducted in the future. Soo many people can telework today, companies just frown on it. My wife works for the government, and she is teleworking "until further notice."

I saw a tweet from someone who was upset because she recently had to drop out of college because they didn't offer certain things online and she has a disability that was impacting her ability to attend classes. Fast forward a few weeks and suddenly the school is shut down and everything is being done online. Somehow they figured it out when that was their only option.

Can you imagine how the entire college enterprise could change if online learning becomes the norm?

[kork13]

With everyone hunkering down at home..... LESS TRAFFIC!!!!!

[~bs]

I saw a tweet from someone who was upset because she recently had to drop out of college because they didn't offer certain things online and she has a disability that was impacting her ability to attend classes. Fast forward a few weeks and suddenly the school is shut down and everything is being done online. Somehow they figured it out when that was their only option.

Can you imagine how the entire college enterprise could change if online learning becomes the norm?

Too disruptive to the current model. Educational industrial complex wouldn't allow it. Like I mentioned, in my state (heavily unionized teacher workforce), they are fighting it tooth and nail. They dont care about the kids or their families or society, they're just worried about what happens when the curtains are pulled away and people start realizing that there may be a better way. Or at least a way that's just as good but costs taxpayers and college students much much less.

[bjl584]

gas is pretty cheap right now.
not much traffic either.
stores that don't sell groceries are less crowded too. Not much happening at the home depot

[cypher1]

Too disruptive to the current model. Educational industrial complex wouldn't allow it. Like I mentioned, in my state (heavily unionized teacher workforce), they are fighting it tooth and nail. They dont care about the kids or their families or society, they're just worried about what happens when the curtains are pulled away and people start realizing that there may be a better way. Or at least a way that's just as good but costs taxpayers and college students much much less.

I'm seeing more online courses growing, as well as more compressed workload, IE 8 weeks for 3 credit courses. Last semester, my online english instructor told me they're (my current community college) doing more studies with the results of showing students being more successful and motivated within these shorter windows vs a regular 16 weeks. So she believes we'll be seeing more more online options down the road. I expect my summer courses to be all online. Even my friend's current doctorate program is a three year accelerated, all completely online.

But I agree in the long run the education system won't allow it to take over. Even if it could, I'm sure the school administrations would still find a way to raise tuition rates with less students onsite.