Do we use our common sense or do we stick to the rules?

[StealthPolarBear]

Because as far as I can see it's not possible to do both

[Sparklingbrook]

I think just do everything you can within your power to not catch CV or spread it about.

[StealthPolarBear]

So common sense approach. I'd tend to agree but I am also a rule follower.
Like most people, I assume, I'm finding this all very stressful

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes I am a rule follower too, I get that. I dropped some food to my parents yesterday and we did our usual yell at each other from the bottom of the drive. I dropped the shopping there for them to pick up when I drive off.
I stand there thinking ‘sod this put the kettle on and I will come in for a cuppa’ surely if I say at one end of the living room and them the other what’s the harm? But I can’t bring myself to do it.

[RiftGibbon]

I follow rules which are logical and practical, and which are beneficial to myself and others. In cases where rules are in place for the sake of rules then I will look at common sense.

[NewAccountForCorona]

I'm a bit cynical about people (and to be honest I see it on here more than in real life) saying "we are adults, let us make our own decisions, assess our own risk, act sensibly" etc etc.

After all, we wouldn't apply that to the rest of society, precisely because we cannot trust people, in general, to not be bloody selfish.

For example, we don't say - we are all adults, we don't need laws about shoplifting or burglary, everyone can assess their own risk, no-one will do anything stupid, we don't need to lock our doors or give the police powers of arrest.

We can't all just decide that we don't agree with this rule/law, it's stupid, we're going to use my common sense.

[NewAccountForCorona]

I'm in Ireland. We have rules. We are (generally) following them - apart from my local teenagers but I do have some sympathy with them.

[StealthPolarBear]

Yes true.i agree with all of that.
But if I were a single parent with a toddler I'd be very confused as to why I was excluded from the "meet one other person in the park" rule. It makes no sense.

[MarthasGinYard]

'Yes I am a rule follower too, I get that. I dropped some food to my parents yesterday and we did our usual yell at each other from the bottom of the drive. I dropped the shopping there for them to pick up when I drive off.
I stand there thinking ‘sod this put the kettle on and I will come in for a cuppa’ surely if I say at one end of the living room and them the other what’s the harm? But I can’t bring myself to do it.'

Spark, that is exactly what I'm doing and how I feel every time. Like you, I just can't though.

[Sparklingbrook]

I think it every time too @MarthasGinYard. A proper battle with my conscience. But there’s something within me which won’t allow it.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

I’m using my own form of “common sense” and have been since the beginning of lockdown. I’m not a rule follower where the rules make little sense and are aimed at the lowest common denominator.

In terms of the “one other person outside your household rule” I largely suspect that the scientific advice to the government has been that, epidemiologically, meeting even multiple people, one at a time, in the open air, without physical contact is low risk for virus transmission.

[ladyvimes]

Well people on this thread have already shown a lack of common sense so there’s your answer. The difference between dropping off shopping to going in for a cuppa is that going inside means you’re in a more confined space so more likely to spread germs, you’ll be touching things within the house, etc, etc. This is why we need rules.

[MarthasGinYard]

'Well people on this thread have already shown a lack of common sense so there’s your answer.'

Who?

[Honeyroar]

@ComtesseDeSpair the point of only meeting one person rather than multiple is that people forget the social distancing much easier when there is more going on to distract them - as the clapping/dancing on doorsteps and VE celebrations have clearly shown. It’s nothing to do with transmission.

[ginsparkles]

Mostly sticking to the rules with one small exception. In order for me to meet the one other person from outside of my household I will be taking my daughter so we will be a group of 3, maintaining our 2m from the other household. Otherwise we'll be sticking to it.

[maddy68]

Common sense. A lot of this report is nonsense. I can have my cleaner in this been in dozens of houses but can't have both my parents sitting outside metres away with no contact ? But I can have them individually when they live in the same house ?

[Littlepoppet1]

Same here ginsparkles I am planning on meeting my mum later in the week for a socially distanced walk and I’ll have my 18 MO DD in her pram. Sticking to everything else though and I am not planning on driving anywhere to exercise either I will be staying in my local area.

[Lweji]

I dropped some food to my parents yesterday and we did our usual yell at each other from the bottom of the drive. I dropped the shopping there for them to pick up when I drive off.

You don't need to do that. You can stay 2-3 meters apart and not have to shout.

It's safer to be closer outside because the air tends to disperse faster.
Inside, it's less safe, unless you open all the windows and create air currents. Even if you stay apart indoors you'll have gone through the same areas to get to where you sit.

It would be safer if you went for a short walk together.

[Bluebellpainting]

@ginsparkles and @littlepoppet1. I feel the same. Very torn. I’m a rule follower but when I’m stuck at home with my baby so can’t meet someone I think some common sense should apply. As someone said on the radio this morning we can take them in the shop as we count as a unit but not to meet someone else as that isn’t one on one. I know one is for food but if this rule has come in for mental health of people- why do single parents and parents of young children seem not to matter?

[Sparklingbrook]

Well people on this thread have already shown a lack of common sense so there’s your answer. The difference between dropping off shopping to going in for a cuppa is that going inside means you’re in a more confined space so more likely to spread germs, you’ll be touching things within the house, etc, etc. This is why we need rules.

Which is why I don't do it, because I would worry. but thanks anyway. I have a conscience and common sense!

[81Byerley]

Use your common sense. I haven't even bothered to watch the advice given, or updates. If something is outside and it wants to kill me, I'm not going out there. As for the people desperate to get back to normal, and pushing the boundaries, they should take a look at this cartoon.

[Sparklingbrook]

You don't need to do that. You can stay 2-3 meters apart and not have to shout.

I and my parents are happy with me at the bottom of the drive. It's 5 minutes tops. If i get any closer I might want to hug them even more.

[ginsparkles]

@bluebellpainting I think that as both DM and DD and I have all been in our houses alone for the past 2 months the risks in us going on a socially distanced walk together is pretty minimal. DM would be at the same risk with other people if she walked alone. The biggest risk is my DD wanted to hug DM but it's been explained and I would remind her as we arrived and hold her hand to stop her.

[Alsohuman]

The rules as they currently stand and common sense are a million miles apart.

[Bluebellpainting]

@ginsparkles absolutely and that is where common sense applies but according to the advisor they had on the radio this morning it is breaking the rules.

[NewAccountForCorona]

I have to agree that your new rules are bloody confusing,

I've decided in the last few days that common-sense and conscience may go hand in hand. So those with little conscience and little care of anyone outside their own bubble will be applying their common sense rules (or lack of them) rather differently than I would choose to.

I'm afraid to join in on the mask-wearing thread - the number of people on there who are saying that they aren't going to cover their faces because they can't be arsed/don't see why they should/it won't protect them anyway/they wouldn't be able to breathe etc etc is amazing. They don't seem to get that if mask wearing isn't to protect the wearer, if we all use our common sense we will see that other people wearing masks protects us, in return we should cover our faces for them.

In the same way I could visit my mum in her garden safely (we've both not been out of our houses for weeks), but if everyone visits every relative and friend they have we're all fucked.