We've likely all come into contact with the phenomenon known as panic buying, which occurs around a perceived disaster when folks stock up on unusually high amounts of certain kinds of products.
In the past, weather forecasts of big snow storms or hurricanes sent people to the store after bread, milk or water and toilet paper.
But not usually on the "clear every shelf bare across the country" level.
Apart from being really, really annoying—in a time when specific populations are more at risk—it's also selfish and dangerous, as an old gran from London let the entire internet know.
Our new idol wastes no time in laying into folks across the UK for their bad behavior:
"No what a bad state of affairs we are in? I can't believe what is f*cking happening. Now, anyone going out now can't get a mask, of course you can't because all you greedy f*ckers doubled up on them so..."
"I come from a war and don't remember anything like this," she continued. "Stuff was rationed but we all got our share."
"Now, everybody's going mad, buying all the f*cking toilet rolls up. Why? Don't you normally buy them? The stores should only be letting people have one per customer. No, but the stores are greedy b1tches and they're not."
These troubling times surely are difficult, but folks—who are already expressing their annoyance at toilet paper panic buyers by meming them—believe our gran here speaks a heaping dose of truth on the matter.
And, the BBC agrees.
There is likely to be no shortage of food or supplies while the outbreak lasts so hoarding is unnecessary.
Across the pond, coronavirus has cast a very ugly light on American capitalism as the outbreak has worsened in recent weeks.
As the economy faces a recession in light of businesses, arts and entertainment being closed, the government has had to scramble for stimulus.
It is undoubtedly a scary time.
But the data suggests that panicking—specifically panic buying—will not change the events to come.
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter