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AIBU?

AIBU to wonder why so many SNITCHES on here?!

108 replies

GinDaddyRedux · 25/05/2020 07:55

This is not a joke thread. What is it with all the "AIBU to report..." at the moment?

I can understand the febrile atmosphere due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. I too was angry when I read the Cummings story and the subsequent reinterpretation of the lockdown rules by no.10 - for a containment strategy to work, people need to trust Government and voluntarily sacrifice to contain the virus.

However... there are just so many scenarios where someone is keen to report a neighbour, friend or individual for suspected behaviour. They won't confront that person and ask them why. They won't gain much if anything from the reporting. But they just have to report... because anything else would mean they're locking down and someone else is gaining an advantage, and that won't do.

I wonder aloud if this will continue post-Coronavirus. Will we remain a tell-tale society where people immediately report like primary school on people they can't stand and want to be punished?

AIBU for being a bit fatigued by all the ratting and telling going on?

OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

219 votes. Final results.

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Laaalaaaa · 25/05/2020 08:01

Even before coronavirus/Covid 19 (because your judged on what you call it) peoples stock response to the most mundane of situations was ‘report, report, report.’ Now they feel even more justified in ‘reporting’ because there’s an actual law.

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rawlikesushi · 25/05/2020 08:02

"because anything else would mean they're locking down and someone else is gaining an advantage, and that won't do."

Or they're locking down, with all of the sacrifice that entails, but it's for nothing because other people are refusing to - threatening the infection rate and thus prolonging the lockdown, rendering it all pointless.

And people might be fearful of approaching the perpetrator because (1) they've already revealed themselves to be idiots (2) people rarely accept criticism or accusation with good grace (3) defensive people don't generally change their mind (4) people like yourself will brand them a snitch.

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BubblesBuddy · 25/05/2020 08:03

People throughout history have enjoyed doing this. It’s how many controlled states work. Every state that excessively controls its people has a good number who are willing to “snitch”. So people are just behaving as others do in these times of draconian measures. Think about the one baby policy in China and the reporting of others that went on in Germany post 1930 and again in East Germany. Some people enjoy a certain amount of power from this. However, at the moment, we seem to have a police force that basically ignores such reporting. Let’s hope that continues. But I agree, it’s a disturbing trait in my view.

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NewYearNewTwatName · 25/05/2020 08:05

snitches is a word that belongs in a primary school play ground.

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MouthBreathingRage · 25/05/2020 08:06

Seriously, what is your obsession with 'snitching'? Did you have a bad time at school or something? It's just weird.

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 25/05/2020 08:08

Snitches is a word which should belong in a primary school playground. Unfortunately it works very well in this use as well. It’s exactly what people are doing.

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Rosehip10 · 25/05/2020 08:09

"Snitches" - Just grow up.

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larrygrylls · 25/05/2020 08:10

There is a happy medium here.

Would I report my neighbour to the police for smoking a spliff: absolutely not. Would I report my neighbour for having a cannabis farm in his house and actively dealing: absolutely.

The laws are there for a reason. If too many people flout them too egregiously, we will never come out of lockdown, go back to work, go on holiday again etc.

So, I would not report a neighbour for seeing a long term partner or having the occasional outdoor barbecue with a close friend. However if they decided to throw a party, I would be straight on to the police.

You might not be able to see a virus and it’s effect may be statistical and indirect, but if multiple people mix while it is still at large, about 1 in a hundred of them (or a third person) will inevitably die. It is not a ‘victimless’ crime.

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NewYearNewTwatName · 25/05/2020 08:10

as for the rest of the OP.

it unfortunately due to human behaviour, some people need to have control over their situations. so when peoples liberties are taken away. They need to feel they have some sort of power, and control over their lives. basically it makes them feel better.

Other people flout rules also to give them a feeling of control.

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AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 25/05/2020 08:11

I agree OP. Its very sad and cowardly and pathetic the way people are doing this instead of you know....asking or talking to the person instead! There have been multiple cases of NHS workers getting nasty notes on their cars because people just "assume" they are breaking the rules when they arent. Similarly, people on MN have been "reported" for breaking lockdown when they've been taking family members to chemo or other vital things.

Its quite shocking how quick people are to assume when they actually know nothing about the situation at all. The saying here applies that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" and we see that happening on a daily basis. I guess I shouldn't really be surprised, Milgrim's electric shock experiment showed us that people blindly do what authority figures tell them to do like sheep but its shocking to see it playing out in real life.

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redcarbluecar · 25/05/2020 08:13

It must be galling for people who are following guidelines and making difficult sacrifices in lockdown to see others disregarding rules (and, by association’s , others’ safety). However, with some people (here and also on local FB groups) there seems to be quite an excitement about the prospect of reporting others, and that does feel like an insight into a more sinister side of human nature. It’s potentially very divisive, which arguably works in a weak government’s favour.

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Lordamighty · 25/05/2020 08:13

it’s a disturbing trait in my view

Couldn’t agree more.

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GinDaddyRedux · 25/05/2020 08:14

Ok @MouthBreathingRage jump all over the word and ignore the actual sense of the post.

Fine let's not call it "snitching" how about "vindictive reporting" or "telling"

I appreciate words can have negative meanings and happy to concede this. I come from a culture where we talk about snitches and tellers but that doesn't mean it is appropriate in here.

OP posts:
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MsTSwift · 25/05/2020 08:14

Bubbles has it spot on. These people live amongst us they have always existed in society. They would have been the informers to the Stasi in East Germany or telling on their neighbours sheltering Jewish families. It’s chilling. Haven’t come across this in real life thankfully

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Solina · 25/05/2020 08:17

I agree with @larrygrylls there is a happy medium.

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MouthBreathingRage · 25/05/2020 08:18

@GinDaddyRedux, you can call it whatever you want, doesn't change the fact you're utterly obsessed with it. Grown adults don't 'snitch'.

I come from a culture where we talk about snitches and tellers but that doesn't mean it is appropriate in here.

Is that place Neverland, where everyone is still 10?

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MsTSwift · 25/05/2020 08:20

Well obviously if someone is committing a proper crime that’s different. I understood the op to mean informing on neighbours in the current climate not conforming with lockdown rules.

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rawlikesushi · 25/05/2020 08:21

I once worked in a care home and snitched on a colleague who was hurting residents. Is that the sort of snitching that's allowed though?

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Howmanysleepsnow · 25/05/2020 08:21

Vindictive reporting? Really?
Surely reports are intended to minimise harm, not cause it.

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CourtneyLurve · 25/05/2020 08:21

The people who complain about snitches are usually the ones who are breaking the rules (...cue defensive posts...).

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rawlikesushi · 25/05/2020 08:22

So is there good snitching and bad snitching then?

Who gets to decide, you op?

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AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 25/05/2020 08:23

I once worked in a care home and snitched on a colleague who was hurting residents. Is that the sort of snitching that's allowed though

Of course it is- thats a safeguarding matter. Thats not really what the OP is referring to

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rawlikesushi · 25/05/2020 08:23

Oh if we're specifically talking about lockdown, I snitched on someone in a supermarket who was licking tins and putting them back. Hope that was ok.

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plunkplunkfizz · 25/05/2020 08:23

Why don’t they confront their neighbour? If willing to report then they’re obviously quite hot on lockdown rules so wouldn’t want to see someone unnecessarily especially in a way that could become heated and potentially break social distancing. An anonymous report also helps to keep the peace to some extent rather than a direct confrontation.

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BlusteryLake · 25/05/2020 08:24

Lots of people use MN as their outlet, rather than actually reporting it. Serves no purpose other than to make them feel better and spread vitriol. I bet only a tiny proportion of those venting on here actually report anything; they tend to come across as passive aggressive rather than effective aggressive.

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