Starting to get annoyed at people who don't think rules apply to them

[WelcomeToShootingStars]

So the rules say we can go outside for 1 form of exercise a day. Yet I see so many people saying things like "but we live in the countryside and it's quiet", or "my dog is used to 3 walks a day" etc

Then there's the newer stipulation of not driving anywhere non essential. And yet I see people saying it's OK less than 10 miles, or it's OK if you're driving somewhere remote to exercise.

Why are people unable to make such a tiny miniscule sacrifice? And why do they think the rules (designed to keep everybody safe) apply to everybody else but them?

Because they are idiots

They’ll catch and spread the virus because they virus doesn’t apply to them either’

Thing is, if they do live in the countryside, and noone is around, there is no harm in going out twice for a walk. You arent going to pass it on to someone who just isnt there.

I think partly because rules are there 'for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men'.

If you live in the countryside and can go for a walk and not get within 2 (or 5)m of anyone, then you are achieving the aim of social distancing. You just can't do that in a city.

The driving thing is more important I think because driving in itself brings risk of accidents or breakdowns which will divert people. Plus it means more need to fill up with fuel.

Because life is complex and varied and what may seem straightforward to you may not be for someone else. There are plenty of posts on here from people with poor mental health for whom being outside is crucial. It IS possible to walk about and not touch anything, no gates, fences, keeping a distance etc. Yes of course there are always twats who carry on obliviously and are creating risk and that is incredibly frustrating but 95% of people are intelligent enough to understand and mitigate risk to balance all the needs in our lives. I'd like to hope that we can rely on that rather than a draconian crackdown and further restrictions.

If you're a goody goody like me who follows the rules, you notice it all the time. People are selfish. It isn't exclusive to this.

You can do it in a city, quite easily. Have you seen a picture of a city center recently?

But it's not about that. Its about the rule being once a day. It isn't once a day unless you can easily avoid other people.

And the more people flout it, the more likely to having that little freedom completely removed.

I live in the middle of nowhere. On a normal day I see nobody when out for a walk, let alone during the lockdown.
We have a footpath that goes behind the back of the farm, my regular walk, I am still doing that walk.

In your eyes, am I breaking the rules?

"And the more people flout it, the more likely to having that little freedom completely removed"

Noone can even see the people in the countryside going for 2 or 3 walks. The police arent sat there, counting.

To be more annoyed at people who can not do basic risk assessment for themselves. If an activity does not involve social contact then it is not a risk to either themselves or others. There also has to be a balance between excessively stringent regulations meaning that people are going to rebel sooner and less stringent which might be better tolerated.

Well, there's 'the rules', and then there's the actual wording of the legislation. They differ. And it has caused a situation where not everyone is doing the same thing, and we're being asked to use 'common sense' which of course is subjective.

I need to go out later. I regard it as essential. Others might not. But it'll be legal.

Oh fgs if someone lives in the middle of no where and sees no one ever then of course they can go out whenever..

Who are they passing it onto?. Have woodlice been deemed carriers now?

It's only been a week but I am stunned at how some people interpret it. A friend posted on FB this weekend a photo of her alone in a local beauty spot someone else took the photo not a selfie. Said beauty spot is within walking distance but not half an hour.

Cue a myriad of posts saying how did you get there did you drive because you couldn't even walk there take a quick photo and walk back in an hour.

Basically the rules say you can't drive to exercise, people out driving increase the risk of accident which may impact on our NHS or breakdown which may mean contact with someone.

But there are always people who will say but the roads are quiet or I'm not going far. Yes the roads are quiet because everyone is staying in except you

The same if everyone went out two or three times a day or for 2 or 3 hours at a time then that increases the outdoor population and risk of contact. So people say oh it's ok to go out for longer / further / more often because its quiet. Yes its quiet because everyone else is staying in.

To all those people walking in the countryside without a care in the world, I hope you're not touching gates. stiles etc.

Staying home is really not a big ask. We're not being asked to go to war, we're just being asked to be a bit bored.

People need to stop being selfish and think about everyone's needs not just their own.

Then there are the people who start Coronavirus threads all over MN instead of on the Coronavirus Board as asked my MNHQ

But the actual legislation doesn't mention only going out once per day. Really OP I thought your post was going to be about people still socialising rather than people going for solitary walks or short drives. Honestly this whole situation is bringing out the worst in people!

I think partly because rules are there 'for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men'.
True, though if MN is anything to go by there's quite a lot of fools who think they are wise.

I'd imagine those in a rural village going out for their second dig walk having seen nobody aren't likely to spend their time starting threads on MN asking if it's ok to do so.

Whereas people who know it's perfectly possible to maintain social distancing in their local area but would rather drive somewhere else are more likely to start a thread asking if they're reasonable to do it, often by saying "surely it's better I drive 10miles and probably see nobody than to walk in my local area where there's people" in order to dress their selfishness up as a public service. Of course they then need to argue the toss with anyone who disagrees. It's almost like they really want others to approve their actions because then they can justify that it's not just them.

I have followed the rules, even before we had to I was social distancing. However, I have been driving for exercise as we don't live anywhere suitable for me to go running, I am not fit enough to run there and back. The play parks near us are all closed so can't go there. I think that's a very difficult rule to follow if you live in a city. Fine if you are the country. I get in my car, drive, run, drive home. I keep the required distance from everyone and drive carefully keeping to the speed limit.

Thing is, if they do live in the countryside, and noone is around, there is no harm in going out twice for a walk.

Exactly. People having parties and visiting each other’s houses is how this will spread, not through someone going for two walks and seeing nobody.

To all those people walking in the countryside without a care in the world, I hope you're not touching gates. stiles etc.

That's correct, I'm not.

But the actual legislation doesn't mention only going out once per day.
Well no, because obviously there could be times where it's appropriate to be out multiple times.
Eg I had a medical appointment and walked the dogs on one day.

They're not going to write laws that make no sense.

But there's a pandemic and people are being told to only go out to exercise once a day. It's not hard to see the bigger picture and people saying "eeeh but technically I want to and you can't stop me" are part of the problem, just like idiots who were told to avoid busy places and then went for a day trip to busy seaside towns.

YABU for starting the 50 millionth thread about this, and not even in the bloody coronavirus section.

And why do they think the rules … apply to everybody else but them?

Pot kettle black!

@1981m why can't you run on the street like many others in the city (same as people walking) I live in a really busy city and it's really no excuse.

Too many people deciding they have special circumstances meaning the rules don't apply to them. Its infuriating.

I think a degree of common sense needs to be applied. I can’t see any problem at all with someone who lives rurally and won’t come across another living soul going out for more than one walk a day. I live in a very residential built up area so I’m abiding by the rules.

I don’t think it’s an issue going out for a walk three times a day if you’re not near anybody at all. What annoys the hell out of me are idiots who still think they can go and socialise with other groups of people. I’ve just seen the news the Aston Villa player Jack Grealish crashed his car at 8am after going to a party… This is after he did the whole stay home save lives stuff on social media so what is an absolute tool. I hope Aston Villa football team and the police fine the hell out of him. Disgraceful behaviour.

"To all those people walking in the countryside without a care in the world, I hope you're not touching gates. stiles etc.

Staying home is really not a big ask. We're not being asked to go to war, we're just being asked to be a bit bored.

People need to stop being selfish and think about everyone's needs not just their own."

You are allowed to go out for walks. Boris wants people to go out for exercise. So why do you add "without a care in the world" as if they are nasty heathens out to kill everyone for goodness sakes. We go out for walks, as we are allowed to. We open the gates with a wipe, or the sleeve of our coat, or our foot. As are most people. Then when we return home, we wash our hands. People absolutely should go for their walk. It's a very gentle form of exercise and cuts down other health risks.