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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

336 replies

WelcomeToShootingStars · 30/03/2020 08:42

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
JustStayAtHome · 30/03/2020 10:04

Plain clothes officers in our area as well

Checking up on purchases

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 30/03/2020 10:04

And the ones who say 'my dog needs 3 walks a day'. I need 3 walks a day ffs. I am a very outdoorsy person who likes walking running cycling but I haven't done any of that whilst self isolating. Why do dogs get special dispensation

Because you can shit in your loo and the dogs cannot?

It's not exactly hard to comprehend, is it?

IvinghoeBeacon · 30/03/2020 10:06

I don’t really see the point in getting annoyed. Control what you can control. There’s not a lot you can do about other people not following (your interpretation of) the rules

ShamefulBlanket · 30/03/2020 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Changeofname79 · 30/03/2020 10:06

I would be very surprised to hear that a lot of people who have dogs dont have a garden for them to have a shit in, even if a small one. Certainly the minority I hope.

sweetkitty · 30/03/2020 10:09

My local park has been all over FB this weekend as it was rammed full of cars (the council shut off some of it) so people just piled up on the bit they could park at.

I walk my dog once a day for an hour always have done, usually through some woods where you don’t met a soul sometimes down the park where you may see 2-3 people if your lucky. Past week or two there’s people and dogs everywhere, people I didn’t even know had a dog out walking. Was wondering where cccc all these dogs came from? I’ve stopped going to the park now as there’s narrow paths and loads of families/kids on scooters making social distancing tricky.

My SIL was in FB bragging about her 6am run then she drove to a beach to walk her dog in the same day. Maybe she didn’t meet another soul but if everyone did that .......

GreytExpectations · 30/03/2020 10:10

*Plain clothes officers in our area as well

Checking up on purchases*

I highly doubt this is true. Really wish mumsnetters would stop spouting stuff like this

LifeImplosionImminent · 30/03/2020 10:11

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?

THIS! x 1,000,000

1981m · 30/03/2020 10:12

Teablanket- I have two young children so it's very difficult to run with them around roads, crossing roads, sorting out scooters and bikes. They are still learning with their bikes and dd is unsteady on her scooter, we need to go somewhere safe and straight so if they fall off, want to stop or have a wobble they aren't falling into a road. We wouldn't be able to cycle/run/scoot alongside each other either as the pavements are narrow.

The pavements around me are narrow with bins, trees etc blocking them. I am much more likely to be able to stick to the distance rules in a greener area where I run, you can cross rds easily.

poppadopolis · 30/03/2020 10:12

Just to be clear, I wasn't whinging about having to stay near to the house, just pointing out that there need to be clear, unambiguous rules that apply to everyone.

Boris has been woolly and wishy washy with his information and it won't be long before everything gets tightened up to account for the "but that doesn't apply to me because.........." contingent.

LakieLady · 30/03/2020 10:12

It'll be an interesting conversation if the police stop me when I go to pick up DP later.

He's collecting a work laptop and phone so he can work from home...running the payroll ... for the police!

Bathroom12345 · 30/03/2020 10:12

No couple shopping please
No bringing the kids in because they are bored. Stupid idiot allowing his 4 year old to run around supermarket with headphones on on Saturday so he couldn’t hear his Dad telling him to stop!
No dilly dallying in the aisles and spending over a hour in there with your children meaning that others have longer to wait outside.
No getting right in the face of staff telling them why you are ‘special’ and could you just jump the queue because you only want 10 items.

cologne4711 · 30/03/2020 10:13

I am dubious that police officers are checking up on purchases. They may well not be genuine if they are, and seeking to scam people, pretending to fine them.

Although apparently (according to the Times) they've been telling off off-licences for selling Easter eggs. I thought they were overstretched. I am amazed they don't have better things to do than police the sale of Easter eggs.

GlomOfNit · 30/03/2020 10:13

But I DO live in the countryside, and it IS extremely quiet here. Sorry! We have a large meadow literally at the bottom of the garden, there are no gates or fenced off footpaths containing it to negotiate, and it's open so you can see people coming a long way off. It remains in use for dog walking, running and walking. While, as a matter of fact, we're NOT going out more than once a day for walks, would it really make a difference if we did, given that there is no way we're going to come anywhere near anyone else? Confused I am desperately sorry that many people don't have this easy close access to outdoor spaces, but I also have a son with ASD who absolutely needs the outdoor exercise every day or he will go mad and take us all with him.

People need to exercise common sense. There's a local beauty spot that's about 45 minutes' walk from us, or ten minutes' drive. We went there a couple of weeks ago, saw how busy the carpark was, turned round and came back home. Technically I suppose we could walk there but it's a bit of a risk, given its popularity, so it's off-bounds now. And we don't need to drive anywhere to walk because we have the space right here. But other people are in the middle of towns where an exercise walk means urban pavements and dodging out of the way of other people. Why is it such a terrible idea for them to drive a few minutes and find somewhere less populated?

PrimalLass · 30/03/2020 10:14

There is zero problem with going out in the countryside if it's on your doorstep. We are surrounded by fields and beaches here.

madcatladyforever · 30/03/2020 10:15

On sky news this morning - couple drove 224 miles to pick up some £15 windows they bought on ebay
Wife was found in the boot on the journey home as there was no room in the car for her AND the windows.
Obvious stay at home warnings besides, who the hell would lie in the boot for a return journey - it's like a coffin!!!

OneOfManyDays · 30/03/2020 10:16

I agree with you OP. For me, the rules are there to be followed - not to be interpreted how you see fit... which let's be honest, is simply people moulding the rules to their own wants and needs. It's a short period of time and I don't see why people can't just follow it for several weeks to see if it makes a difference.

Possibly one of the worst I've heard recently came from BIL who has been in bed for two days with corona symptoms (off and on fever, sweats, dry constant cough, headache and lost all smell and taste) feels a bit better but is still coughing like made.... decided to go for a walk because he just couldnt cope with being cooped up any longer! He's on Day 4 and coughing and spluttering everywhere. They live in a really urban area. Just totally irresponsible. Whatever I said fell on deaf ears. I just despair.

cologne4711 · 30/03/2020 10:16

it has been very clearly stated you are not allowed to drive somewhere to take your daily exercise

no it hasn't. it has been very clearly stated that you need to stay local, with no definition of local. Local clearly doesn't mean 40 miles, it may well mean 5.

I've said this before but for the hard of hearing: NOT EVERYONE CAN GO FOR A WALK DIRECTLY FROM THEIR HOUSE.

EricaNernie · 30/03/2020 10:17

i was near to tears in tesco yesterday, the shop were doing everything they could to keep the customers safe, two metre distancing, wiping trolleys, limited people in the shop, but by god some of the customers could not Care Less.
i said to a man two metres and he apologised, i said it might not matter to you but...

Eckhart · 30/03/2020 10:18

@Macncheeseballs

And the ones who say 'my dog needs 3 walks a day'. I need 3 walks a day ffs. I am a very outdoorsy person who likes walking running cycling but I haven't done any of that whilst self isolating. Why do dogs get special dispensation

Because they can only relieve themselves outside. Can you do all your toilet trips for a day in one sitting? I suggest you try, just for 24 hours. Then you'll know why dogs get special dispensation. It's because it's animal neglect/cruelty to do otherwise.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 30/03/2020 10:19

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.

I was just coming here to post exactly this. Some people are only able to say that they can go for three walks a day and not see a soul because many people are not going out two or three times a day.

Changeofname79 · 30/03/2020 10:19

Seriously @1981m you are a very clear example of someone who thinks the rules don't apply. This is a global pandemic, thousands of people dying, it is not essential to be out on scooters and bikes. Go for a walk FFS.

LakieLady · 30/03/2020 10:20

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

Quite!

I live in a hilly area, but atm can only really walk on level ground because of a knee problem. I could drive 1.5 miles to somewhere level and walk the dog there, but I don't.

Luckily, we have a decent sized garden, plus the dog is getting on and isn't bouncing off the walls with unspent energy, so it's manageable.

Mistletorpor · 30/03/2020 10:20

Two of my most virtue signalling friends (including someone in the public eye) have not been following the rules at all (am aware due to ‘close friends’ insta stories). Multiple daily posts about the importance of following the rules for everyone’s safety. Including (in the public eye friend) in the national media. Then they act with complete disregard themselves. Absolute hypocrites.

Applejaxx · 30/03/2020 10:22

Why is it so hard for so many posters here to understand that there are some parts of the country that are so sparsely populated that you are unlikely to bump into anyone whilst out on your walk?

Yet apparently it’s fine for Londoners to continue to pile on the tube like sardines...