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Covid

It would be a terrible, terrible mistake to ban exercise outside

278 replies

Thedogshow · 05/04/2020 12:09

Domestic violence has already increased, and whilst I know some people have been ignoring the rules the majority are abiding by them. The knock on effects for people’s mental health and the safety of women and children inside the home would be terrible.
It would be such an infringement of people’s liberty and terrible for the mental and physical health of so many people.
Imagine being stuck indoors all day with young children in a flat with no outside space.
This idea worries me more than anything else about the current crisis. I hope so much that it doesn’t happen. I feel like it’s almost like a reaction in anger because not everyone will do what they’re told: like a smack.

OP posts:
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YenniferOfVengeberg · 05/04/2020 12:11

It would hasten the social unrest that's likely inevitable

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esjee · 05/04/2020 12:12

Its not a smack ffs. It would probably have been better to be stricter from the start, if we're not seeing the reduction in cases we need, its just dragging this out longer.

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Oxyiz · 05/04/2020 12:12

If it did happen I'd hope that people in flats would be exempt somehow.

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AudaCityLimits · 05/04/2020 12:12

It makes me feel so claustrophobic, thinking of this- but I do get why it's necessary. I live in a seaside town in Wales, and we're getting absolutely loads of people still arriving to their second homes, socialising, ignoring all social distancing rules. The locals are terrified. I'm stunned when I see the photos of deserted cities, because it is very, very far removed from what I'm seeing through my window.

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SmileEachDay · 05/04/2020 12:13

In Italy and France you can still go outside, but it has to be within a certain distance of your home. I’d anticipate it being similar here.

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esjee · 05/04/2020 12:14

@Oxyiz As someone in a flat, its really not hard to stay inside temporarily!

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Sapphiresunrise · 05/04/2020 12:15

I agree. Depleted vitamin D levels, rising obesity rates, increased mental health issues, increased DV, and so on.

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MonkeyToesOfDoom · 05/04/2020 12:15

Imagine being stuck indoors all day with young children in a flat with no outside space.

Imagine being stuck indoors all day whilst your young child fights for their lives in a hospital 50 mile's away.

This is what people aren't getting. If you go out. You can become exposed. You could become ill, you could pass it to others. You could suffocate to death alone in a hospital bed miles from anyone. Your child could die alone, desperate for air, miles away from you.

That sounds alarmist, but that's what's happening right now all over the world.

Stay home, stay safe but get bored. Insist on going out and risk catching a virus that might kill you and your children.

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AgeLikeWine · 05/04/2020 12:16

The government should not ban exercise outdoors, which would punish the responsible 99% for the actions of the 1% of morons.

What they should do is increase the fines for ignoring social distancing rules to at least £100 and start enforcing the rules properly.

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Honeyroar · 05/04/2020 12:18

I think they need to massively come down like a ton of bricks on people sitting in parks or beaches and beauty spots and every person who has parked at a beauty spot car park. Dish out big fines that rise of a second offence is committed. Last week the police were criticised for shaming people. Imo they should be. I’d everyone stuck to the rules nobody would be shamed.

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Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 05/04/2020 12:19

There are two other threads currently active on this subject, I suggest you join the arguments on there otherwise the entire board will be taken over by people thinking dog owners prioritise dogs over children. Those with mental health issues can just do yoga and everyone is largely a selfish fucker.

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donquixotedelamancha · 05/04/2020 12:19

if we're not seeing the reduction in cases we need, its just dragging this out longer.

We're not seeing a reduction because there has not been time yet.

We could have the army on the streets sealing people in their houses like in China. We don't do that because we are governed by consent.

This will work if everyone takes responsibility for their own actions and reacts calmly and sensibly.

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Arseit · 05/04/2020 12:21

Well it’s quite simple isn’t it.
The government wouldn’t even have to contemplate imposing restrictions such as these if everyone could just follow basic instructions - STAY THE FUCK INSIDE.
Don’t try and come up with a loophole, the rules are quite clear, stick to them.

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cologne4711 · 05/04/2020 12:23

The government wouldn’t even have to contemplate imposing restrictions such as these if everyone could just follow basic instructions

The government could enforce the rules we have instead of taking the lazy teacher whole class punishment approach. It is not "joggers" causing problems, it's people going out to sunbathe and have picnics You don't need to make the rules stricter because they're not complying with the existing ones, you just enforce them. Even if they say you have to stay within 2km of your home, that won't stop people who live within 2km of a park. Or 400m or 200m or whatever radius they decide to use.

I've said this already but the government needs to look at the evidence, not hysteria and fake footage and photos.

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cologne4711 · 05/04/2020 12:24

What they should do is increase the fines for ignoring social distancing rules to at least £100 and start enforcing the rules properly Yes.

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Mrhodgeymaheg · 05/04/2020 12:25

Stupid and short sighted idea. It would create more problems elsewhere than the lives it would save. I can see with my own eyes that most people are doing the right thing and distancing. We need more policing of people who are gathering in public places, but since we got rid of 20,000 of them over the years, that might be an issue.

Matt Hancock is desperately trying to detract people's attention away from frontline workers using bin bags as PPE and a lack of testing. They want us to blame each other and not them. Don't fall for it everyone.

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Sammymommy · 05/04/2020 12:26

I think that people don't understand what is happening. It's a bit concerning to see the number of people who are totally missing the point of the lockdown.

We are not fighting against the government. The government does obviously not want to put everybody in a strict lockdown. We are fighting a virus who doesn't care if you are bored at home, struggling, been really good the rest of the week. It's a highly contagious and brutal virus.

I think the government has tried to shield people too much to avoid panic. Listen to the doctors and nurses in Spain and Italy. Listen to the people who recovered from the virus. Listen to the people whose loved ones didn't recover from the virus.

People need to stop behaving like petulant teenagers trying to sneak out of the house and complain about all the things they can't do. There is no choice. You can argue all you want the virus doesn't give a fuck.

If everyone listened to the advice, then the government wouldn't have to make the lockdown stricter and people who are struggling would still be allowed once a day out.

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TriangleBingoBongo · 05/04/2020 12:28

I can see why it’s necessary. But it would drive me bloody crazy and I’m so cross that the minority have the potential to spoil this for the majority.

We are an outdoorsy family, even on my working days I’m out with the dog. I’m a long distance runner and so one piece of exercise to me is driving me mad already as I’m using it to take my DS out for fresh air and walk the dog. When usually id do that twice a day anyway and then run on top of that 3-4x a week.

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Sammymommy · 05/04/2020 12:28

"If it did happen I'd hope that people in flats would be exempt somehow."

Is the virus kind enough to leave people who live in flats alone?

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PegLegAntoine · 05/04/2020 12:32

It worries me that it’ll decrease the health of people who will then be less able to cope physically with the virus and may struggle more with breathing difficulties. Respiratory health is a priority surely.

I am gutted that while it’s actually been pretty much fine here - we are lucky to live very near a big park that has been very quiet on our daily walks - we may still have to stop because as a nation too many are being stupid.

We can of course exercise in the home and thankfully we have a little garden where one section gets a good few hours of sun. Others aren’t so lucky.

I totally agree fines to break up the minority of idiots should be prioritised. Most of us are following the rules and maintaining our lung health.

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knittingaddict · 05/04/2020 12:32

Before they do a total lock down with no exercise allowed, I would like them to use other measures first. Fine people who are found using their time outside for leisure rather than exercise, such as sun bathing or bbqs. Come down hard on the idiots, so that the rest of us can still have some exercise.

I've said before on here that my daughter lives in a small flat with 2 young children and no outside space. I would be frantic with worry about them if they couldn't get out. So much so that I would consider having them come to live with us and I do NOT want to do that.

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SylvanianFrenemies · 05/04/2020 12:33

We are in a flat. 2 kids. No garden at all. If we need to go no exercise to keep the morons at bay, so be it. Tbh we aren't going out anyway. Kids adapt. We have vitamin d sweets.

The only concern is the domestic violence issue, and people whose mental health will be so severely impacted they might not survive. Tired of seeing mental health co-opted as an excuse for people who want to have a bbq.

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safariboot · 05/04/2020 12:33

I agree with @AgeLikeWine

I also note that banning leaving your home to exercise affects the poorest the worst. Wealthier people are more likely to have a decent garden or home gym equipment. The poor are much more likely to be in cramped overcrowded flats.

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HyacynthBucket · 05/04/2020 12:43

It would be better to get heavy with those who flout the rules. Arrest them and hit where it hurts in the pocket. Why not start at £1-500 fines and work upwards? That would be better than curtailing the majority who actually abide by the instructions.

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PegLegAntoine · 05/04/2020 12:45

Tired of seeing mental health co-opted as an excuse for people who want to have a bbq. This!

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