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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that the media should stop people not to panic buy fuel?

56 replies

Jinsei · 26/03/2012 23:15

I have heard several reports on the news this evening urging people not to panic buy fuel. It would not have occurred to me to buy fuel if I hadn't heard those reports as my tank is over half full, but I now find myself wondering if I should top up when I go to the supermarket tomorrow. Just in case.

I will resist the temptation, but aibu to think that such reports merely fuel the demand and feed the panic?

OP posts:

Original poster

Jinsei · 26/03/2012 23:18

Aagh stop telling people not to panic buy

OP posts:

EdithWeston · 26/03/2012 23:22

Well, we don't know when the strike is going to be. Rumour mill suggests part 1 over Easter and later instalments over the Olympics.

And whenever it will be, it'll provoke panic buying.

So arguably, getting people to think now about what their fuel needs will be; filling up and keeping tanks full, and maybe buying a jerry can full as an emergency stash now (assuming safe storage!); all that might spread out the additional buying and reduce the amount of panic buying just before any walkout, thus leaving supplies then in slightly better shape.

Sparks1 · 26/03/2012 23:27

Panic buyers = selfish fuckers.

I have to do a 1300 round mile drive over the easter w/e. If i run out the AA will be getting employed and driving me the rest of the way.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 26/03/2012 23:58

Meh. I was planning on filling up the tank tomorrow anyway. Still will... all 80 litres :)

CrystalMaize · 26/03/2012 23:58

You are quite right Jinsei. The media has a big part to play in these things.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 27/03/2012 07:13

YABU. They're only the messenger. If there's to be a strike we need to know and, if people want to top up the car in advance, that's not selfish it's good planning. Selfish would be taking along loads of extra canisters and stockpiling the stuff in sheds. Remember how quickly the fuel ran out last time it happened in 2000?

EdithWeston · 27/03/2012 07:18

I doubt the AA will be able to cover "run out of fuel" services in the normal way during the strikes.

I asked this on the In the News thread - how many tankers does the military own? Or will they be requisitioning civvie ones?

MyleeneCrass · 27/03/2012 07:24

The media are loving stirring it up.

SoupDragon · 27/03/2012 07:24

"panic buyers = selfish fuckers"

I think people who set out on a journey knowing they don't have enough fuel would be pretty selfish too.

The only way the media could stop people panic buying would be to not report the potential shortage at all.

mankyscotslass · 27/03/2012 07:35

Edith, you are right - the last time there were large scale fuel blockades/strikes the AA were in the same position as everyone else - they fuel up at petrol stations too. (I worked for them at the time)

Sparklingbrook · 27/03/2012 07:36

Just saw it on the news-(well GMTV/Wake up Britain whatever it's called if that counts as news.) Telling us not to panic buy.

Immediately DH says he will fill up on the way to work. . But we both know he won't get anywhere near the pumps because of the queues.

YANBU

iamme43 · 27/03/2012 08:13

SParks ..................... Assuming the AA van has petrol, after darting all over the place helping people.

Look after yourselves and let everyone do the same.

Some people don't get paif if they don't work = me.

but I walk to work so I may be in for some overtime.

mankyscotslass · 27/03/2012 08:16

iamme43 When the fuel blockade was on the AA was actually very quiet breakdown wise, as most people stayed at home/found other ways of getting to work - but the patrols were running low on fuel themselves, so it was just as well!

People seemed to think patrols should carry massive fuel tanks around with them - they don't!

AutumnSummers · 27/03/2012 08:28

This kind of stuff is why I'm pleased not to be able to drive.

MoreBeta · 27/03/2012 08:34

One of the problems I had not realised is that petrol stations run now with very little fuel in their own underground storage tanks - only 25% full. Hence, they need refilling every few days. The same is happeing throughout the economy where stocks of food in supermarkets is not held in a warehouse or the back of the shop but in trucks on the way to the shop doing 'justin time deliveries'. If the food trucks stopped moving because they had no fuel then we would have no food within a few days.

Hence the panic over fuel. There is so little slack in the economy with such low stocks of fuel and food that any disruption has a huge impact immediatley. Apparently, in the last tanker strike it was the prosepct of shops running out of food that was the main source of concern to the Govt.

People would start rioting very quickly without food. It could bring down the Govt.

Calamityboo · 27/03/2012 08:41

Morebeta, bring down this government! Now your talking! and I will be making sure I will have petrol while ds is at school, it is 20 miles away and he is sn so always need to be able to got there, during the hols, not so bad, we are in a small tourist town so always plenty to do in walking distance!

2shoes · 27/03/2012 08:41

I will just put a bit more in when I get fuel, can't be without as it is dd's WAV

Mrsjay · 27/03/2012 08:49

teling people not to panic is going to have the reverse Imo you are right , i dont think pople really would fill up out of sheer panic , MY friend was maoning about it last night i thought oh dear get a grip ,

ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 08:57

I think it probably is sensible to make sure that if you are running on fumes at the moment then you top up your car. But we dont even know when the strikes are going to happen yet (if indeed they do happen). Nor do we know how long they will last. (if it was just 24 hours then not really a worry unless you are planning a long journey on that date) We could end up having shortages just because everyone is worried about the prospect, with the actual date being ages away.

startail · 27/03/2012 08:57

Tank will get filled tomorrow, nothing to do with strike. Just the one day of the week I'm near supermarkets with vaguely "affordable" fuel.

ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 08:58

Round here our supermarkets seem to be charging more than local petrol stations. I have no idea what that is all about!

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 27/03/2012 08:59

I've got to get petrol today and will probably fill up the tank, instead of putting the usual £30 in, not due to panicking just because it will mean when everyone else is panicking I can avoid the petrol station.

I do agree that the media make these situations worse, they always have an end of the world mentality, do a whole piece on how terrible it will be then when people are worked up and worrying say "but don't panic"

LackaDAISYcal · 27/03/2012 09:01

"People would start rioting very quickly without food. It could bring down the Govt."

Every cloud has a silver lining, eh?

I will be filling up my tank in the next day or so because of this news. I usually only put £20 in at a time, but I'm a domicilliary care worker, so need my car to do my job. Not only would I not get paid, but several elderly and disabled people would be left without food and drink or unable to use a toilet or get in/out of bed. If filling up makes me selfish, then so be it.

Mrsjay · 27/03/2012 09:02

can you remember a few years ago there was the same thing well they picketted reffineries (spelling) and shops ran short of bread milk etc , I remember seeing 1 woman in tescos grabbing lots of bread we were also told then not to panic ,

MoreBeta · 27/03/2012 09:08

I don't have a car but am getting a supermarket shopping delivery today.

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