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Original poster

Has everyone just given up on social distancing?

185 replies

Esbm2015 · 19/08/2020 22:31

It certainly feels that way and is making me very anxious and frustrated.

I’ve been following the rules with my friends when I have seen them and have been working from home.

This morning on a work call many of my London based colleagues attitude was basically that I was being too sensible and that i need to get over my concerns about travelling into the city on the tube and train as there’s nothing to worry about. I still don’t feel comfortable taking an hour long journey by train and bit more by tube - esp as trains were so unreliable and unclean pre-Covid and of what I’ve seen many on board are not wearing masks etc.

Also they were happy to say they are not SD at all with friends and family, just strangers. Many have shared pictures of themselves on social media with no SD at all hugging etc.

I just find it very frustrating - plus I didn’t get chance to say that actually I don’t really care about going back into London for the foreseeable. I’m having a great time where I live right now, even while sticking to the rules and seeing friends. But I was made to feel ‘uncool’ and anxious that am still trying to follow the rules and care about SD!!!! I’m just frustrated at working with people who have such views that they feel they can now do as they wish and change the rules as they see fit! End of rant!

OP posts:
latticechaos · 20/08/2020 08:48

@inpontypandyallday

I'm not SD with close friends and family, so about 15 people.

I am with others.

That's a lot actually, and they are the ones you are most likely to catch it from. Unless you are in a closed pool of 15, presumably they can get it from other connection s
inpontypandyallday · 20/08/2020 08:50

That's a lot actually, and they are the ones you are most likely to catch it from

I've already had it.

I'm not prepared to socially distance from loved ones, end of story. My grandfather is dying and has said he would rather see his family than shield for the last three months of his life.

latticechaos · 20/08/2020 08:52

@inpontypandyallday

That's a lot actually, and they are the ones you are most likely to catch it from

I've already had it.

I'm not prepared to socially distance from loved ones, end of story. My grandfather is dying and has said he would rather see his family than shield for the last three months of his life.

That's fine and I didn't say you shouldn't.

I'm just saying 15 is quite a lot.

latticechaos · 20/08/2020 08:52

Also sorry about your grandfather Flowers

Autumnsloth · 20/08/2020 08:52

@lilylion

I think being prone to throat infection is a medical reason not to wear a mask?

TheKarenWhoKnocks · 20/08/2020 08:57

I think lots of people are back to normal. Which is what that eugenicist fucker Cummings and his cronies always wanted so they'll be pleased.

Does make me grimace though when people talk about not being concerned at the prospect of them knowingly spreading a communicable disease just because they themselves are unlikely to suffer greatly from it.

Mintjulia · 20/08/2020 09:01

Trust your own judgement. I wouldn’t be keen on public transport either.

I’m not in an at risk group. I’ve just spent a weekend at my sister’s house (I am a single parent) and we went out for coffee & cake. Other than that, I’ve had two friends around for coffee in the garden since March, and my son has had two. I do a food shop every ten days.

The rates in my area are very low, but the way to keep them low is to carry on with sd. Just because the cinemas and bars are open doesn’t mean you have to party.

Frownette · 20/08/2020 09:02

eugenicist fucker Cummings, like it

Hyperfish101 · 20/08/2020 09:03

My concern is that people not bothering to make the effort to SD will be if much more significance in the winter when viruses spread quicker anyway and were all indoors. Then those people who DGAF now will be responsible for any tougher lockdown we will have to endure.

TheKarenWhoKnocks · 20/08/2020 09:08

See, I don't think we're going to get another lockdown. We're on our own with this.

inpontypandyallday · 20/08/2020 09:09

There will not be another lockdown, the economy won't survive it.

kittensarecute · 20/08/2020 09:11

I'm very close to giving up on it. Enough is enough.

loulouljh · 20/08/2020 09:12

We need to get on with our lives...we don't make a conscious effort to SD but equally don't crowd people. Common sense really!

savagebaggagemaster · 20/08/2020 09:16

@egghead68 I'm sorry that you're also going through this nightmare. If only others realised just how serious it can be, even for those who deem themselves to be at low risk. It's not worth the risk in my view! If you're on Twitter my dsis campaigns for more understanding and recognition of the condition. Thanks to you

1990shopefulftm · 20/08/2020 09:16

I ve been doing pretty following the same guidelines they had since lockdown started.

I m pregnant and have asthma and mentally I d know I d feel a lot worse having to labour or give birth alone or if I d harmed myself my son or anyone I cared about if I got covid compared to how I feel about not seeing people or going out to places.

I live in a local lockdown area so my actions are the only ones I can control when a lot of people in my area don't seem to care anymore from what seems to on be social media like people asking for places they can go to eat that can have a party of 20 people for example.

InDeoEstMeaFiducia · 20/08/2020 09:17

vanillaandhoney put it best.

loulouljh · 20/08/2020 09:18

There will be no mass lockdown again. We are in a recession! The economy is on its knees..there will be no NHS soon as no-one will be working to pay NI. We have to return to normal. If individuals want to SD etc then that's up to them. Most people I think are now trying to operate sensibly but normally for a whole host of reasons. I am one of them.

History will judge this period. I suspect there will be absolute disbelief at the crazy situation we found ourselves in.....mass deaths not from Covid but from related issues, the exam fiasco, poverty, mass unemployment...….We need to move on before it is too late.

Strawberrypip · 20/08/2020 09:24

I'm not socially distancing from friends and family but I live in a rural area and the current infection rate is low, last time I checked it was either 1 or 2 in 100,000. seems crazy to give up my whole life based on these numbers and I have a 9 month old baby who has never been a good sleeper. frankly, I was on my knees the 3/4 months I stringently followed the rules and have embraced some much needed help recently. my mental health and my babies wellbeing is not being sacrificed for this absolute shitshow anymore

BellaintheWychElm · 20/08/2020 09:25

I think lots of people are back to normal. Which is what that eugenicist fucker Cummings and his cronies always wanted so they'll be pleased

Even if Cummings is a eugenicist what has that got to do with this situation? Do you understand what eugenics is? The vast vast majority of people dying will be past reproduction age.

Chairlove · 20/08/2020 09:28

It’s about trust now and taking the necessary measures. I wear a mask and socially distance when I can at work and around people I don’t know.

Friends I social distance to an extent, with no hugs etc. But I will go into their houses. It’s staying sensible. It’s about trust now. I trust my good friends will tell me if their ill, but I wouldn’t trust a stranger.

latticechaos · 20/08/2020 09:29

We have to return to normal

We have to get back to normal

We need normality

I understand the desire but please can someone who posts this explain how society would be normal with the virus in circulation, what level of excess death is acceptable to you and what you actually mean by normal?

Get back to normal is just the 2020 version of take back control - an empty phrase for people who can't cope with complexity.

itssquidstella · 20/08/2020 09:31

I'm not distancing. I'm a teacher and won't be able to distance at school so there doesn't seem much point, really. None of my friends is bothered either so my social life has basically gone back to normal.

I did roll my eyes the other day when I was walking down the pavement and a woman flapped her arms at me because she thought I was too close to her. Honestly, at this stage, if you're that paranoid about the possibility of a stranger coming within a couple of feet of you, you probably shouldn't be going out.

latticechaos · 20/08/2020 09:35

It's common sense
It's just being sensible
It's about trust
We need to get on with our lives
Enough is enough

Just endless meaningless empty phrases.

I wish the UK government had a plan. Scotland, NI, Ireland and maybe even Wales appear to have a plan.

England is, imo, fucked because we're just drifting aimlessly.

Strawberrypip · 20/08/2020 09:35

@latticechaos if there is no vaccine then the virus being circulation is something we will have to live with either way.

TheKarenWhoKnocks · 20/08/2020 09:35

"At this stage" ... yeeeesss, at the stage where the global death toll is three quarters of a million. I agree, silly cow should just stay at home while you go to the pub.

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