The only reason we started buying cans and frozen meals is so that when things get progressively worse and perhaps locked down, we won’t have to risk exposure at the grocery store. We were able to do it without waiting in long lines, and when we did finally encounter a long line, we thought it defeated the purpose.Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2020 11:46 pm This whole situation with hoarding items from the grocery store is like a giant version of prisoners dilemma. Or perhaps a derivative of the tragedy of commons.
A lot of the buying of consumer items from grocery stores isn't from fear of the virus. It's the knowledge that everyone else is stocking up, so there may not be much left for oneself.
If somehow we could all just agree to, for lack of a better term, not be assholes and engage in unnecessary hoarding, then nobody else would have to hoard in response.
Similarly, I bought mushrooms at the outdoor market to build up immunity to all the germs I picked up while buying the mushrooms. I actually quarantined the crumpled bill that I received as change, yecch.
However, as you said, there is definitely something to what you said about how perception of hoarding leads to a perception of scarcity.
