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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can my children go out for another walk today?

541 replies

1278kj · 26/03/2020 14:10

I’m aware it’s episode of exercise today. I have not been out today.

Basically my partner took dc and the dog out this morning before he went to work - he has to go to work. I was waiting in for a delivery so couldn’t go.

Going a little crazy and thinking of going out for a walk myself but that means two walks for dc today!

I live in a rural area. Hardly anyone around. Probably wouldn’t meet anyone and plenty of open space to socially distance anyway.

Aibu to take them out for another walk?

OP posts:
chomalungma · 27/03/2020 10:57

It's really not. It is for our courts to interpret law, it for police to enforce it. I'm not trying to be pendantic but it an important principle of our judicial system that the police are enforcers, not interpeters

THIS

chomalungma · 27/03/2020 10:58

Well if it really doesn't matter go and tell all those that who have lost loved ones then

I hope most people will follow the spirit of the law and use common sense. I am sure most people are.

But it is important to understand the role of the law and the function of the police. And yes, even in a pandemic.

OlaEliza · 27/03/2020 10:58

It's all moot because being allowed out for anything other than essentials just makes lockdown pointless anyway.

This nonsense about allocated daily exercise is just bullshit. Either you are in isolation or you aren't.

We have been in complete lockdown in Spain for nearly 2 weeks. No one is whinging about mental health and that they absolutely cannot stay in (and apartments are very very common here). They are just accepting that we need to stay in and the better we do that the shorter this is going to be. From what we can tell, covid19 isn't in our town yet. Hopefully it will stay that way.

Fwiw I think op going for 2 walks won't harm anyone, because there's no-one there to harm, while people living in highly populated areas should only go out for essentials. Common sense needs to be applied 🤷

ErrolTheDragon · 27/03/2020 11:06

Yes, you're right Brace - but in practice, the initial assessment of what's reasonable will be up to the police. If anyone is told they're being unreasonable then I guess they can take it to court rather than comply, I hope that doesn't happen much.

DParse · 27/03/2020 11:07

I strongly suspect the MN Walk Police are traffic wardens in their normal lives.

LotsaDo · 27/03/2020 11:14

Well if it really doesn't matter go and tell all those that who have lost loved ones then

No one is dying because of rural walks.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/03/2020 11:27

No one is dying because of rural walks.

In areas such as the OP describes, very unlikely. Everyone and their dog descending on the same nice place - yes, that will probably cause deaths.
Reasonable / not reasonable.

Applejaxx · 27/03/2020 11:32

I’m sure there will be dead bodies piled up in the OP’s rural backwater...

TheLadyAnneNeville · 27/03/2020 12:15

@ThisWontHurt... thank you for that list. It’s very comprehensive. It doesn’t include “sardining yourself onto public transport to go work on a building site (non essential)”. Sorry to be like this but Lockdown should include all but ESSENTIAL KEY WORKERS.

I don’t get why the Police aren’t shutting down non essential work places.

Pentium85 · 27/03/2020 12:16

@TheLadyAnneNeville

My business isn't essential to the running of the country, but I have to leave my house to attend the unit where it is.

Without this, I have no income.

What would you suggest I do?

mooboy · 27/03/2020 12:24

Sorry to be like this but Lockdown should include all but ESSENTIAL KEY WORKERS. Are we in lock down? I didn't think anyone in Gov had used that term?

copycopypaste · 27/03/2020 12:36

@MasakaBuzz

Because if you do it, then everyone else will do it!! Plus it’s not guaranteed there’s no one about, it’s not guaranteed you don’t have the virus, it’s not guaranteed you won’t pass it onto anyone, we don’t know enough about how it’s transmitted to ensure complete safety.

Hey I could drive my car down the M4 at 100 mph at 4am when no one else is on the road, using your logic that’s absolutely fine to do so, because one size doesn’t fit all Hmm

mooboy · 27/03/2020 12:38

Scrap that seems like they are calling it lockdown - the frothers must be loving that!

TheLadyAnneNeville · 27/03/2020 12:49

Then @Pentium85...WHAT’S THE POINT?

We’re either doing it... or we’re not. You won’t be the only one defaulting in their mortgage etc. But we can’t say “you can go to work...you can’t” or this will go on forever!

Key workers. Essential staff MUST work to keep the country going. Every one else should be at home.

catlady3 · 27/03/2020 12:53

Fwiw, I'd take them. As you say, doesn't harm anyone, plus it benefits them.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/03/2020 12:55

Hey I could drive my car down the M4 at 100 mph at 4am when no one else is on the road, using your logic that’s absolutely fine to do so

Don't be silly. Your chances of having an extremely serious accident would be greater, impacting emergency services. Possibly not the NHS if you go fast enough.Hmm

ErrolTheDragon · 27/03/2020 12:56

The car analogy is like someone deciding that their exercise will be an 'extreme sport', one in which they're liable to injure themselves.

Thekindofwindowsfaceslookinat · 27/03/2020 13:46

Hey I could drive my car down the M4 at 100 mph at 4am when no one else is on the road, using your logic that’s absolutely fine to do so, because one size doesn’t fit all

...aaaand round we go again. What an excellent, well-thought out analogy. No holes in that one.

DowntownAbby · 27/03/2020 16:22

We also live somewhere very rural. There are only 4 houses on our lane. Barely a vehicle passes by, and it really is 'all fields' here, well, other than the woods.*

I've just been for a 3 mile walk on the lanes and footpaths and have not seen another soul.

But I'm still only going out to exercise once per day, because that's what we've been told to do and I intend to follow the guidance, it's not exactly a hardship to just follow these bloody rules, is it? We're not being told we've got to go to war. We've only got to stay at home!

*before some smart arse doubts what I'm saying about how rural/unpopulated it is where we are, I'll happily take a photo out of the front door as proof.

Sewrainbow · 27/03/2020 16:24

I would go...

00100001 · 27/03/2020 17:01

"hey I could drive my car down the M4 at 100 mph at 4am when no one else is on the road, using your logic that’s absolutely fine to do so, because one size doesn’t fit all"

Ermm.... You're endangering yourself there.... How is that the same as taking a second walk in an empty field?

cavalier · 27/03/2020 17:42

No one trip out only
Please read the government rules

cavalier · 27/03/2020 17:44

People who say they would effectively “ flout the law “ are extremely reckless and moronic
Shame on them and risking others lives !!!

FelicisNox · 27/03/2020 17:52

The rules say once a day so once a day it is.

chomalungma · 27/03/2020 17:52

Another police force who have their own interpretation of the law.

GMP Denton/Droylsden
@GMPDenton
Excercise is limited to around an hour per day and not more than once. Please stay home