The ethics of unnecessary deliveries

[nomdefuckit]

AIBU to wonder about this?

We're doing a 12 week lock down as DH in the shielding group. Nobody gets in or out, including toddler

I would love to order more stuff to keep him entertained, garden stuff, DIY stuff etc

I haven't because I thought it was wrong for a number of reasons

1: infection risk - every delivery has that potential
2: employees of delivery companies should not be pressured to work more than necessary for their own health
3: more drivers going out and about is more opportunities for the virus to spread
4: there is limited capacity in the system for deliveries. It should be left for essentials

Yet I have seen on here and elsewhere (fb mainly) people talking openly about the nice candles, home furnishings, make up etc that they have ordered

Anybody else a bit shocked by this?

I’m ordering some paint from F&B tomorrow to paint my hall as my tester pot is due to be delivered, we could have 6 months of this so need to get more paint in

Ah I was slightly sympathetic until that last post, OP:

Candles are genuinely bad for your lungs.
It's not dissimilar to passive smoking

That's just bollocks.
You don't have to buy unneccesary items online, but you also don't get some sort of moral high ground by not doing so.

@Loooobyloo why you lighting fucking candles anyway?? It’s spring and still daylight? What’s the obsession with the things?

There's no pleasing some people. So, online deliveries are bad... okay. But then, yesterday, apparently Asda keeping open their homeware/clothing section open was bad, too? Non essential they said.

So, where are we supposed to buy these things from? All shops have deliveries and warehouses. Where do we draw the line?

(I also say this as a key essential worker who is currently self isolating, with a partner who is also a key essential worker who puts himself at risk every day. How is it ok for him to risk his health for 9h at a time yet he shouldn't buy a new pair of trousers, because he's working overtime and needs a spare, to help hundreds of others, because it would risk those in warehouses?)

If anyone deserves a few non essential fun packages, it's essential workers.

Hi @Itsmybirthday19

That’s my post you’re quoting not the op

As several workers in the industry have explained on this thread, they will be forced into work while ever there is a demand, or risk losing their job and joining the tens of thousands of people ahead of them in the queue waiting to speak to someone who can process their universal credit application.

Lots of people have lost their jobs in this. People who work in pubs and cafes and hairdressers and nail salons have all lost their jobs but that wasn’t a reason to keep those places open was it? Because of common sense, and weighing up the necessity of being able to have a pint vs the risk of spreading coronavirus. Just like maybe people need to weigh up the necessity of having a scented candle or a new garden furniture set vs the risk of spreading coronavirus. And since big companies value their customers more than they value their staff, perhaps that push needs to come from the customers.

I know we live in a democracy but idk if you’ve noticed, things are a bit unusual at the minute wrt standard operating procedure, this is just something else to consider if you like :)

Princessconsula It's down to the company to keep us safe. Of course people will order while they can, my mum was going to order some paint online until she realised Wilkinson's was open. People aren't going to sit at home saying, "I don't think I'll order because the courier / postman may get it" they assume we have safe practices put in place.
The company is trying but it's not easy with hundreds of parcels in a small warehouse and lots of very busy couriers.

I can see us going into total lockdown very soon anyway, then it will only be essential items.

The difference is that in pubs/restaurants/cinemas it’s not really possible to put social distancing in place. The whole point of these places is that people gather in close proximity to each other and that’s why they need to close as that’s what causes the virus to spread.

Social distancing and closing things as a public health measure isn’t intended to prevent everyone in the country getting the virus. Most of us are likely to get it at some point. It’s to reduce and minimise the spread between households just now to mitigate the impact on the NHS. The government themselves have said they want business to continue. Of course businesses should operate safely.

My fiance is a keyworker and drives from client to client. He's lucky he's on a good wage but nevertheless he's still risking himself yet he has been ordering odds and ends. He's taking his own sanitizer and wipes as the ones work ordered haven't arrived yet. He just says things have to keep going. The vast majority of his colleagues have said they are glad to be out working for their sanity.

Juststayhome I'm not lighting candles. I hate the bloody things, they give me a headache. Wrong person dear.

@MadameButterface

Good post.

@Loooobyloo

"
I can see us going into total lockdown very soon anyway, then it will only be essential items."

I'm hoping we will. I have never been so scared in my life and blasé way that people are treating it all is incredible.

There are now two threads now where people are gleefully listing all the shite they're buying.

I've bought some nice skincare treats, some fancy bath oils, I've also bought some art materials and books. I don't feel bad.

@Boobooboo84
Why you lighting fucking candles on the spring when it’s still daylight??

@Loooobyloo I quoted you first by mistake! I’m sorry, I’m tired .

Why you lighting fucking candles on the spring when it’s still daylight?

Stupidest fucking comment ever .

@JustStayAtHome no worries. I think were all a little strung out.

@queenofswans you will if you get it! Or a family member does.

I suspect the vitriol and speed with which people are defending buying shite, is probably indicative of how much they are projecting their guilt.

I mean who are you all trying to convince exactly?

Me?

The world?

Yourself?

I’ve ordered a few things including a slide for DD4 and a new tablet as my old one shattered. I don’t feel bad at all - it’s helping to keep the economy going and as I’ve been prone to depression it’s a mental boost to have something to look forward to.

@TwigTheWonderKid Have I even mentioned Amazon? I never argued against companies protecting their workers in warehouses and couriers, we all deserve to be safe. I just said it's OK to buy/order non essential items and there is nothing shocking in the fact someone wants new PJ or a scented candle.

@fantasmasgoria1 I'm a bit like your husband and his colleagues. while part of me is a scared I'm going to get it, or worse still, bring it into my family home, I'm enjoying the normality of working and of not constantly thinking about it.

“ The difference is that in pubs/restaurants/cinemas it’s not really possible to put social distancing in place. ”

Are you missing all the posts from warehouse workers and delivery drivers saying that they are working in conditions where it is also impossible to put social distancing in place? That is not what the difference is. The difference is that, in the non essential businesses that have already closed, the risk of infection was equal between the workers and customers. Whereas with the non essential businesses still operating now, the risk is only to their (mainly low paid) staff.

The way I’m eating and risking atm, it will soon be essential for me to order clothes - in a bigger size!

@MadameButterface

Think you're wasting your time.

People just can't make the connection between something as inconsequential as a scented candle, and the posts from warehouse and packing staff on here. They genuinely cannot conceive of how something so seemingly unimportant could have such consequences.

I mean it's only a fucking candle, how ridiculous!

A fatal failure of imagination (pun intended).

@WhereverIMayRoam

I don’t give a flying fuck love! Not one

@Hopefulmama34 so you aren’t bothered about the 2 man lift on that slide then??

The martyrs will probably be on here all day as they will have nowt else to do, it’s already getting a bit like that