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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think the government has no grounds to control when shops are open and for how long

212 replies

Objection · 20/04/2014 14:48

Like many people, I'm always thrown by shop closures at Easter. I really don't understand WHY the government deems it necessary to restrict or ban shops from opening - surely that should be at the owners descretion?
Unless I'm missing some crucial point, surely Easter is optimum time for shopping and the economy would benefit from it?

OP posts:
Pipbin · 20/04/2014 19:28

Now isn't this an 'optimal time for shopping' because a lot of people have the day off.......

Because the shops are shut.......

So people who would normally be working on a Sunday aren't. If we opened shops on Easter Sunday then it would be like any other Sunday and the 'optimal time for shopping' argument would be invalid.

Catsize · 20/04/2014 19:31

Well said Windy. Have a Easter Smile

TalkinPeace · 20/04/2014 19:42

I'm an atheist.
I wish all the shops were shut one day a week, every week.
I wish the pubs were no longer open all day.
I wish the TV channels would mostly shut down in the day time and the middle of the night.
I wish more people spent time with family and friends.

Original poster
Objection · 20/04/2014 19:48

Catsize - Since you asked OP, I find your sentence 'Surely Easter is the optimum time for shopping' tragic

Why? I didn't say that I believed Easter's only purpose was for shopping and I didn't imply it either. I used the point that Easter, being a holiday, would mean that more people are likely to shop.
I don't see that as tragic, more factual. Free time = spending money.

I have respect for people's faith, I don't think it should have a bearing on the law - other than to make sure that people aren't marginalised.
As it happens, I think that those who are NOT Christian are the ones who aren't being respected here. As an atheist I believe that Sunday is exactly the same as every other day of the week - wanting to do what I wish on these days does not mean I don't respect other peoples faith - if I was being pedantic I would argue the reverse.

OP posts:
Original poster
Objection · 20/04/2014 19:49

I hope you can think of something other than shopping

Catsize, get your head out of your arse and actually read the rest of my posts. I have said multiple times that my problem isn't that I couldn't shop.

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 20/04/2014 19:50

Why are theatres, cinemas and filling stations necessary?

I did forget about power stations and also care homes, sheltered accomodation and community care workers. also social workers need to be on call.

I'm not sure if phone companies or broadcasters have to have staff 24/7 - I don't know how it all works. We haven't used live TV today, we have watched dvds so that wouldn't bother me really. I have only used the internet on my phone but if it wasn't available again I wouldn't be bothered. However you do need to be able to ring the emergency services.

Original poster
Objection · 20/04/2014 19:53

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius A typo on my behalf there, with the "some". I'm trying hard not to detract from the fact that any job is a good job for a lot of people (probably 99% of the population at the moment!) and don't want to cause an offence. My point is more to highlight that retail workers shouldn't have to have the government dictate one day for them and that there everyone has a choice even limited by finance.

OP posts:
Joules68 · 20/04/2014 19:54

Op what did you want to go out and buy??

The government don't dictate anyway, it's from governments years ago not the present government. You can't blame them!

Original poster
Objection · 20/04/2014 20:01

Op what did you want to go out and buy?? Ironically, nothing. I worked on my business a bit, slept in, took the dog for a long walk.
(But don't forget that I'm shopping obsessed Wink)

OP posts:
Maleeka · 20/04/2014 20:14

I get one sunday off a year and thank god (ironic) that my company lets us have the day off! Would have been better if it hadnt bloody rained all day but hey cant have everything!

The idea that we can ask for the day off is great until we ALL ask for the day off! I actually think Easter, being a holiday, wouldnt mean that people are more likely to shop but quite the opposite and suggest that people would use this time to get together as a family and enjoy the day off together.

I know you said that your problem isnt that you couldnt shop, and that the government is being mean to us not letting us work! But believe me, IMO, getting this one sunday off a year, means the bloody world to me!

Andrewofgg · 20/04/2014 20:15

nappyaddict Do you think broadcasting - even of recorded material - can happen without engineering staff and announcers? Then there's the whole news side of broadcasting - the world does not stop for Easter or any other Sunday.

Filling stations: do you want people to be unable to travel too?

What about public transport which is labour-intensive - do you want to close that down?

You are not living in the real world, are you?

dolphinsandwhales · 20/04/2014 20:16

Yanbu. I'd rather have a thriving high street than lose it to internet shopping. Shops should be free to open whenever they like, in line with internet shopping.

Restricted hours is outdated.

TalkinPeace · 20/04/2014 20:20

Filling stations: do you want people to be unable to travel too?
Sorry?
Is it not possible to ensure that your fuel tank is full the night before?
Most of europe manages without 24 hour petrol.
Guernsey petrol stations were all closed on Sunday's into the 90's
the world did not end

and frankly
TURN OFF THE TV on the weekend - or watch a DVD

WhoAteAllTheEasterEggs · 20/04/2014 20:32

It's one single day. Then they're all open again. You won't expire by not shopping for one day. How DID everyone manage years ago when shops didn't open at all on Sundays?! Hmm

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/04/2014 20:32

Restricted hours??? Not being able to shop every single day of the year is not a restriction in any real sense of the word! Restricted hours is closing at 1pm on one day midweek, opening 9-5 the other days, and being closed every Sunday. Tat's what it was like when I grew up, and do you know what, we all survived. No-one died of boredom. We still all managed to buy the stuff we needed. I'm not saying it was perfect - I like it that shops are open on Sundays and for longer hours - but I am baffled by this weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth because there are two or three days in the whole bloody year when people can't go to the shops.

I am still waiting for someone, anyone to tell me what dire consequences are going to befall them if they cannot have a wander around the shops, and buy some unnecessary tat.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 20/04/2014 20:34

TalkinPeace always manages to amaze me how we managed to survive in Guernsey without 24hr petrol stations or none of them open on Sunday when I read threads like this.

Most countries have national holidays where everything is shut. It's not an issue at all. Here we have them on Christmas and Easter because that's when it has traditionally been. Doesn't really make any difference whether it's then or whether we allocate 2 completely different days.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/04/2014 20:40

Rafa - don't you remember the weekly Sunday riots when the populace couldn't buy sweaters or shoes or electrical goods? The gutters running red with the blood of deprived shoppers?

Slackgardener · 20/04/2014 20:40

Of course we all survived...it's not the point. I don't even bloody like shopping I just hate someone else imposing their view of how I should spend the day. If you don't want to shop or watch tv or go to the pub then don't but why to we need a law insisting we all do the same?

picnicbasketcase · 20/04/2014 20:42

Nobody is saying they have to be able to shop every day. The point is that shops should decide when to open and close, not have to abide by rules made ages ago as a sop to a religion that the majority of the country is not a part of.

TalkinPeace · 20/04/2014 20:42

or the sheer panic when the off licences in St Peter Port closed at 5pm in winter

seriously
if your life is so shallow and empty that you need to shop every day
you have more important long term issues

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/04/2014 20:46

But you are OK with retail workers being told they can't have Bank Holidays off, and they won't get any extra pay for working the extra hours? Because that is what is happening to some - maybe lots of - retail workers - just so the Government isn't telling you how to spend two or three days??!

And not being able to shop is only ONE activity - there are many, many other things you could do - that is hardly major governmental interference!

Slackgardener · 20/04/2014 20:50

Retail workers may want to work - they may need the extra cash, I know I did when I worked in retail during my student years. We were all desperate for more hours.

TalkinPeace · 20/04/2014 20:50

Zero hour contracts .....
retailers will stay open all the time and pay their staff a pittance
subsidised by tax credits

it would be better for all of us if the shops were shut

Slackgardener · 20/04/2014 20:52

Really? If you normally work on a Sunday - what happens when Easter Sunday comes around? - you just don't get paid...that's hardly something to celebrate.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/04/2014 20:54

Yes, they may want the cash, Slackgardener - but I bet they don't want to be coerced into the extra hours by the threat (actual or implied) of losing their jobs if they don't do them.