Social distancing - why do I feel like I’m the only one doing it?

[Snufflebabe05]

For the record, I’m in Scotland. I feel like I’m the only one still trying to play by the rules here. My sister is out cutting hair (in peoples homes), and despite being clear with another family member that we were coming to their bbq yesterday but would only be sitting outside despite their protests that ‘inside will be fine’ nothing was set up outside and chairs were sat inside at the back door. The weather was mixed and they had zero plan as to how we would ever sit outside. Their son, who is 3, obviously didn’t understand distancing and despite me saying out loud “Oh, remember and keep over that side.”, there parents did bugger all about it.

The second example really pissed me off and when we got home I raised to OH that it’s a bit shit that I’m the lone voice on this. And he snapped at me, telling me he was fed up talking about Coronavirus.

Am I being over-zealous I’m trying to keep to the rules?

The thing is unless we mix with people little by little things will never change. We need to know what will happen to the infection rate when we mix again if not we won’t be able to.

Sorry meant to add, where I am lots of people are mixing and socialising and we still have a very low infection rate. Some people seem determined to stay in lockdown forever.

I'm with you OP . Social distancing isn't being taken seriously by most. I'm definitely in the minority with my friends in still doing it. I feel like a bit of a dick (e.g. when keeping a distance, not allowing DD into playgrounds, etc) but it's the choice we've made. Reading the BBC news article about the decline in Scotland makes me feel like it is more worthwhile though. link

I am in Scotland too and still playing by the rules. I do wish Nicola would ease things a little faster though. I am thoroughly fed up now.

Yes that’s right, you’re the only person in a country of over 5 million people sticking to the rules, well done you.

I’m in Scotland, playing by the rules and far from thick.

Is Boris going fast to deliberately annoy Scotland? No! So why is Nicola deliberately going slow to go against England @heyheyho ?

I have never been an SNP voter, buy have been largely impressed by Nicola Sturgeon’s handling of all of this.

@Snufflebabe05 I know how you feel OP. I'm in Scotland as well and feel like no one gives a toss anymore. I asked a man in the supermarket to give me a bit of space yesterday as we are meant to be maintaining 2m distance (he was practically breathing down my neck) and his response was to scream at me that's it's not 2m, accused me of walking up to him and told me to grow up. I'd gone into the supermarket early that day as I've been struggling with anxiety when it's crowded so this encounter reduced me to tears. The lovely security guard said that if I had a similar encounter in future to notify them straight away and they'd have the other customer removed as they don't tolerate abusive behaviour x

I'm in Scotland too. We're not really sticking to the rules with family now to be honest. We went to a bbq the other day and the kids definitely weren't 2m apart etc, neither were the adults either probably although there wasn't any touching or hugging or anything. We did go in the house but only to use the loo.

We're sticking to the runes when out and about etc, masks and distancing in place, but with relatives we have kind of given up. I'd say that seems to be the norm based on my neighbours and friends.

If you don’t believe that then Your thick.

you're thick

Brilliant. The irony

@heyheyho

If I was in Scotland I wouldn’t either. Infections are very very low and sturgeon is only keeping these rules to go against England. If you don’t believe that then Your thick.

England is going too fast. HTH

If you don’t believe that then Your thick.

Excellent

I'm still sticking by the rules and it irritates me when I see others not.

Nicola has been more honest and doing her best to look after the people of Scotland.

Boris, if you remember, at the start wanted herd immunity so It doesn't surprise me that he is opening up the lock down earlier than he should be.

We have to stick by the rules to protect the more vulnerable.

I think you just have to be willing to stick your neck out and insist other people respect your decisions or not see them even if this upsets your friends and family.

My family is like this, very lackadaisical about Covid precautions, and I will only see them in my garden at a distance. They are pissed off.

Well, given that it's ok for me to teach 180 different pupils a day in classes of 30 in September, I don't really care any more. In not going to get up close to anyone on purpose, but if I and my family have to take our chances I'm not that bothered about going out of my way to socially distance. I certainly won't be staying at home this summer.

I'm another one who's sticking to the rules because I believe it's the right think to do. Social distancing only works if the majority of people do it. I think people who aren't social distancing are being selfish.

We have to stick by the rules to protect the more vulnerable.

Or alternatively, so rates are low enough so kids can get back to school and people back to work. That’s my priority, not random vulnerable people I don’t even know.

I often feel like I’m a bit of a lone voice, so it’s good to hear that there are others feeling the same. It makes you feel like your being difficult. I want the kids to get back to school but only if it’s safe. I worry that by relaxing everything now, we will see a spike and those back to school plans, that were only announced a few days ago, will have to be revised once again.

Coz you're the best, well done.

Why would you go to a family bbq if you want to be strict with socials distancing? It’s too it raining where you are too? Family has a 3 year old - did you really expect that a 3 year old would understand social distancing or that the parents would watch them like a hawk?!

This is what I don’t understand in your post. You sound a bit “aren’t I wonderful playing by rules”. Fine but make it YOUR responsibility to avoid situations where you know social distancing won’t be possible.

I’m actually in Scotland too and I am following social distancing except with my own parents. I decided to start seeing them when garden visits were allowed and felt it would be impossible to socially distance myself children from their (non vulnerable) grandparents. So since the garden visits were allowed they go around their grandparents normally. We haven’t seen anyone else. I declined a friends bbq invitation as I knew social distancing would be impossible for the children if not the adults. I haven’t gone to playgrounds and have no plans to rush their when they open Monday. I won’t be going to zoos or shops either. So I feel I AM being responsible and doing my part.

I think majority of people are now doing similar. Seeing close family as normal but socially distancing otherwise. Children will be at school in 6 weeks. Way I see it I’d rather ease them back to that slowly but seeing close family as normal to begin with.

Your point about the cares rising and schools closing...well firstly cases are incredibly low and awareness incredibly high so I feel unlikely to be a massive rise (winter could be another issue). Also if this slight increased interaction is going to result in new cases sufficient to close schools I’d rather this started now and we could plan for it than wait and wait then have a rise late Aug and close just as they’ve started back!

AllstartedwithUSA

It’s the first time we’ve seen the family since March. We’ve not been to any gathering of any sort since March, so I went thinking that we have to start somewhere. We asked in advance if we could sit outside. They said that inside would be fine, we said no, outside please as we want to maintain social distancing. We also were explicit in saying that we didn’t want to get close, no hugs etc. I don’t believe it should be on our shoulders to ensure that they respect our wishes. We obviously want to see them, but we were clear with our feelings in advance. And I don’t think we were listened to.

I’m trying to get an understanding of how this is all working out for other people. What else should I have done to be clearer?

I don’t think you could be clearer. It sounded like you laid out your feelings and expectations clearly to them. I’d have been nervous from their first “no inside will be fine” comment. It IS a minefield I agree. You risk “offending” people by doing what is actually required of us all. So that’s why I feel it’s in YOUR shoulders. People will not socially distance with family in their own home garden at a family bbq with a 3 year old. So you either accept it won’t happen (and maintain as much as you can) go alone enjoy. Or you just say you aren’t going. It’s a rock and hard place granted but you need to decide personally how much risk you feel there is (for you for society if looming at wide picture) by you not fully social distancing with family at a bbq (assuming still keeping good hygien not hugging etc anyway). That’s way I’m viewing things now really. I actually don’t think full social distancing is possible other than in a full lockdown situation so I am choosing to see only my parent and not social distance and no one else yet. Shops etc I keep distance but accept others might momentarily get in my space ... again risk is low so I won’t be getting upset about.

Sorry for typos got 1yr old wriggling on me too