Do you guys miss the good old days?

You ask a lot of questions.  Reminds me of some of my ex's !

Casinos are just one of the things that have had all the fun sucked out of them. I haven't been to a casino since COVID and with the current restrictions I just don't see myself going again until they let the fun back into going. I don't see gambling becoming a thing of the past, but I am foregoing casino gambling until they allow the fun back into it, and I have quit watching/gambling on sports until they take the politics out of it. I still plan on drilling oil wells, so I suppose that's all the gambling I really need in my life. lol

Some behaviors are legacy because there is a cost to switch even if the switch would result in greater efficiency.  These are the sorts of things that an emergency can force paying the switching cost. Once paid it is natural to continue on in the new mode.
.
But a lot of things are simply deferred for a while and will revert back to what they were.  
.
In many places around the world, people are rebelling against lock downs.  I expect a lot of these rules enforced against public gatherings will be revoked ... except in the most authoritarian liberal enclaves.

once there is a vaccine that works and has no serious side effects.

I miss many things during the pandemic and sometimes it feels like we will never get back to "normal."

Well, SA has changed alot. Pre-FOSTA/SESTA the profiles were alot clearer as to what the young offered. You could message and flat out say, "How about 400 for P4P". Now you have really very little ideal what her deal is, and if you message her, big brother is watching and any misleading innuendo about P4P and then WHAM...You're banned. So that kinda sucked. So yes, I'm banned...lol
Now as for Vegas, I was suppose to be there today. But the trip got canceled because one of the boys contracted Covid and he's bedded up. But on my last visit in July, it was tough with the Covid rules. Yes the casinos aren't the same, the vibe is missing. Sitting at the pool in 100 degree weather with a mask on is tough. The BJ tables don't have that "Feel". Smiling at a CG is gone, had to resort to a "WINK".
But are we fucked? Nah..I tend to look at the positive and think, in time we'll be ok...what are or can you do?

Remember life pre 9-11, pre Patriot Act? Could any of us even imagine the freedoms we have sacrificed in the name of "safety" against terrorism?  

Things haven't changed a whole lot for me. Hunting for girlfriends is basically done on new platforms. As for Covid, I  took a few precautions, but still managed to get out and see my girlfriends, especially with the extra stimulus and unemployment money. There is the possibility that the rising tide of censorship against free speech could make things difficult, but I'm learning to use the dark web, so if things get bad enough, I will still have options.

Lmao

That's what I'm talking about - the "feel." I miss that - and yes - at the BJ tables - aww.

Been wearing my mask all the time.....but  I am still indulging with hot beautiful hookers whenever the whim strikes.  Have not slowed down a bit......just staying away from the low hanging fruit you find on less desirable hooker sites.

This right here was what my initial worry was.

My worry is that once Government has a power over their citizens they are VERY reluctant to give up that power.

Government take ith, and never give ith back.

There was at least one entire book written on that problem: Crisis and Leviathan. Then again, Tocqueville made the point a couple hundred years or so back about just how willing "the people" always are to sell their freedoms for the appearance of safety. (Probably more on topic on the P&R board but who would really get it. LOL)

In the words of one of the great conservative US Presidents:

And this too... while at the start of COVID the intent might not have been to gain power, but now that people are in place it's the perfect climate for some psycho to pop up and take advantage of the situation.

Preach

Some people even know it's the appearance of safety.

The gloom and anxiety we are all going through is natural. This year sucks - and the end is not yet in sight. But I have no doubt that we will get our normal lives back in time. We've just got to tough it out. The government is not exercising new powers over us. The police power of the states is enshrined in the 10th amendment. The government has had  these powers since the founding of America. It is far from a radical departure., Of course the government can restrict some freedoms to protect us from perceived dangers during emergencies. If not, why have laws at all? Government can impose curfews during times of civil disturbances. Government can impose speed limits to protect us from chaos on the roads. In 1905 the Supreme  Court upheld mandatory smallpox vaccinations. Eventually we'll get a vaccination for the Covid virus - restaurants and bars will reopen and we'll start smiling and hugging one another again. Have faith.

I hope it stays like this forever. I could ask for worse. But this is about OK. But it's inevitable, it's going to get worse in the future.  Now rest of some of you let's see how you enjoy/make your money and all those social type that dated or get dating... now suffer or hang yourself. LOL I read on the news that's what some are doing. LOL  

When I first got started, if course things were simpler, this is the CL days where you could literally contact and meet up with the hour.  City whatever was great too, BP was awesome, save for the occasional bait and switch, wasn't really into TER much circa 2007 or so.  FOSTA/SESTA sucks, no pun intended.  After the decline of CL, BP was the go to, of course that went away, not we have STG for local ladies, it sucks ass.  TER was poppin for a minute...pre anti-TER, which i don't understand.  I'm optimistic things will return to normal, but I doubt in the near future.  Yes I think this is the new normal.  

Been thinking about this.