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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:
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Oilyoilyoilgob · 30/03/2020 10:23

@madcatladyforever probably shouldn’t but that’s given me a great laugh 🤭 the thought of her in the boot!

EricaNernie · 30/03/2020 10:23

and there was a couple shopping, who had been chatting to the annoying man, and voicing how they had a well stocked cupboard, fgs, why go!

EricaNernie · 30/03/2020 10:24

i imagine the Londoners need to go to work on the tube, and there is a limited service?

Changeofname79 · 30/03/2020 10:25

@cologne4711 not hard of hearing but just have missed the post where you have given examples. I am not sure of what circumstances this could possibly be so will read back to educate myself! There may well be genuine reasons but I live in a city which you could walk to any part of it in an hour or so, so the people I am seeing on FB local to me do not have this excuse.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 30/03/2020 10:26

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

I'm in the shielded group which means that I cannot go outside, at all.

I asked on here yesterday if walking outside poses zero risk, as many are dying, then why can't those of us who are being shielded go out for a walk? There's zero risk right?

So, if there's zero risk can those of us being shielded go.out for a walk?

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 30/03/2020 10:26

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

TFL and the mayor really fucked up.

Changeofname79 · 30/03/2020 10:27

It's really not hard to follow though in 99.9% of cases. Stay at home other than for essential journeys. One trip out locally for exercise. Why not follow it.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 30/03/2020 10:28

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

Because they are key workers, most of whom cannot afford to live in the city so have to commute in. How else do they get to work?

The problem there was with London underground deciding to reduce the timetable and make the trains shorter.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 30/03/2020 10:29

I'm in the shielded group which means that I cannot go outside, at all.

Are you in the countryside or somewhere where chances are you won’t need anyone?

Why cannot people who are not in your group and who can go out without meeting anyone go out?

anotherlittlechicken · 30/03/2020 10:30

On a lighter note (regarding dogs going out,) this video has been doing the rounds on social media. Grin

twitter.com/Wendywoo_g/status/1243912024792477696

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 30/03/2020 10:30

Yeah, apparent they are all off sick, and their percentage of sickness is even higher than the NHS workers.

Good one.

Whatwedontknow · 30/03/2020 10:30

@cologne4711

NOT EVERYONE CAN GO FOR A WALK DIRECTLY FROM THEIR HOUSE.

I don't know anyone who can not walk out of their home and keep walking. Could you expand please?

Zaphodsotherhead · 30/03/2020 10:32

I ran nine miles the other day, didn't see a soul. I am so rural that I can walk all day and not see anyone. I walk the dog two or three times a day. Nobody sees me...nobody else is there.

OTOH, we've still got people coming into the supermarket where I work, buying a packet of Doritos and going home.... THAT is what we need to stop happening.

Choccyp1g · 30/03/2020 10:34

People who live on houseboats?

TabbyMumz · 30/03/2020 10:35

"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 toeveryone"

Yes, but they are still a request and noone is going to be affected if someone goes out twice in the middle of nowhere. The police arent even going to be there.

Changeofname79 · 30/03/2020 10:41

The people I know of who are not walking outside their houses and going in cars are definitely not living on houseboats. Surely wherever they are docked they can walk directly from their 'house' without driving (I am fairly certain they won't have cars anyway).

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 30/03/2020 10:43

Are you in the countryside or somewhere where chances are you won’t need anyone?

Depends what you mean by meeting anyone. I would certainly see lots of people because lots of people are out doing their essential things but I could easily stay at least 2 metres away which means zero risk right?

Why cannot people who are not in your group and who can go out without meeting anyone go out?

I'm assuming because there actually is a risk from just being outside despite some people deciding that there isn't. I can't imagine that medics and the government have decided to keep 1.5 million of us under house arrest if there's no reason for it.

alloutoffucks · 30/03/2020 10:44

The shielded group are being advised not to go out at all because low risk does not mean no risk. People do not always observe social distancing and a sneeze or cough can carry further than the regulation 6 feet anyway.
You are being advised not even to go outside in your garden for the same reason of how far a cough and sneeze can carry, although it does depend obviously on the size of your garden.

I am in shielded group and have not been outside my house for 10 days. It is of course survivable.

oldwhyno · 30/03/2020 10:45

Some (not all) are just people applying common sense to their specific circumstances with a sense of due proportion.

It's not really worth getting too frothy about.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 30/03/2020 10:46

The shielded group are being advised not to go out at all because low risk does not mean no risk.

That's exactly my point. So everyone who is saying I can go out as much as I like because there is no risk are wrong.

RincewindsHat · 30/03/2020 10:46

Because the point of the rules is to enforce social distancing. If you're going out more than once a day but are not encountering anyone else, you're not spreading the virus therefore the aim of the rules is achieved.

Why don't you save your ire for the people having barbecues in big groups, or the idiots who are out and about in town centres multiple times a day coming into contact with goodness knows how many people, or the morons popping into shops daily because they 'need' a packet of crisps or because they're bored? Be sensible about this.

cakewench · 30/03/2020 10:56

Honestly? The "rule" was created so there was one rule for everyone, and so people wouldn't dither over the details. Give people simple instructions and you've got a better chance that they'll be followed.

The details, though, are obviously that if you live someplace in the middle of nowhere, you can pretty much walk as much as you like (near where you live) because there's no chance of you running into any other people.

And if you're in a city centre, you need to seriously limit how much you walk, because if everyone there walked as much as they'd like, everyone would be outside and you'd be passing it around. If you live in a densely populated area, you are at risk, period. You can argue that it's not fair that the countryside people aren't at as much risk, if you like. I'm not sure how it helps.

Choccyp1g · 30/03/2020 10:57

In some countries, many people on Houseboats have to pass over other boats to get to the shore. I was trying to be funny.

Seriously, Whatwedontknow has a point. It cannot be possible to NOT be able to walk out of your house, otherwise you'd never be able to get in and out.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 30/03/2020 10:58

That's exactly my point. So everyone who is saying I can go out as much as I like because there is no risk are wrong

Well, then don’t go out. Why are you making such a fuss out of it?

Changeofname79 · 30/03/2020 11:05

@Choccyp1g yes I got that, sorry should have put tongue in cheek on my post Grin

I literally can't think of any scenario where you cant walk from your house and would have to drive. How could you get a car out if thats the case.