My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Covid

Intelligent family behaving badly..

11 replies

ColdCottage · 18/04/2020 19:39

Any tips on how to persuade intelligent family members to follow the rules...

They seem to think it is ok to go over to other family members homes for a drink as they are social distancing  by sitting 2m apart and they are only a small group of four. 

Now I know they realise this isn’t correct, but have made the choice to do this and assessed the risk for themselves, and it’s one they are prepared to take. 

Not only is it against government rules but I don’t want them to catch this and pass it to each other. They are all in the 60’s and 70’s, university educated, professional jobs (neither of these things gives anyone common sense and I’m not saying if you don’t have these things you aren’t intelligent but I thought it gave context) before retirement but I can’t seem to get through to them. 

Also for context, they are all used to being the heads of their families and leaders at work, so not used to taking guidance from younger family members. 

This isn’t a debate on how silly they are (that is clear) more a post looking for tips that could help me get through to them please. 

Thank you. 

OP posts:
Report
ChipotleBlessing · 18/04/2020 19:44

Are they in the UK? In some countries what they’re doing is permitted.

Report
LilacTree1 · 18/04/2020 19:45

Are any of them part of your household?

Report
picklemewalnuts · 18/04/2020 19:49

If both households are socially distancing then I don't really see the issue. They are staying apart. The risks of contaminating each other are pretty low. They could well be less irresponsible than someone else who is shopping for essentials more often than they are. They may need the interaction more than others do.

We really need to stop judging everyone else.

Report
ColdCottage · 18/04/2020 20:13

Yes in the UK.

Not in our household.

OP posts:
Report
LilacTree1 · 18/04/2020 20:22

If they’re not in your household, you have no right to try to police them.

It’s bad enough the healthy are being quarantined at the moment. They have made their decision, they can take the consequences.

Though if they end up with police trying to charge them, I’ll happily sign a petition to help them. What’s happening is a disgrace. People not should not be banned access to their loved ones under....pretty much any circumstances I can think of.

Planes are still landing in the UK and those people aren’t being quarantined.

Report
ColdCottage · 19/04/2020 00:51

I think you are missing my meaning. I am concerned for their health and would like them to keep their risk to a minimum which would be the case if they followed the rules.

OP posts:
Report
Haggisfish · 19/04/2020 00:56

They have clearly weighed up the risks and are acting accordingly. I don’t think anything you say or do will make the blondest bit of difference.

Report
Haggisfish · 19/04/2020 00:56

Blindest!Grin

Report
newwnamme · 19/04/2020 00:58

Perhaps they have decided they are happy with the risk? Perhaps the potential cost to society doesn't tip the balance against their feelings of boredom, frustration and loneliness? Given what you have said, I doubt there is much you can do to change their minds.

Report
LilacTree1 · 19/04/2020 01:56

I know what you mean OP

But they have a made personal assessment and this is their decision.

Report
picklemewalnuts · 19/04/2020 08:53

All involved have capacity to weigh up their behaviour. It's not like they are imposing on other people's 2m space, by taking over a public area.

People's shopping habits are far more irresponsible, going out multiple times instead of managing without certain items.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.