to be angry about this

[ffswhatsnext]

We've just moved to a new town and one of the neighbours is putting a weekly note through the door about the clapping for the NHS. We have two dogs and two young children.

Last week people stood on the doorstep and clapped, as is their right, but we've just had another note through the door saying it is going to be a weekly event and asking if anybody has got any musical instruments or fireworks

This is beyond a joke, we have dogs and small children to deal with. Fireworks?! Musical instruments?! At bedtime?!

Maybe worth a bit of an eye roll, but angry?! Tad OTT!!

Sounds like they are trying to build up a community spirit and you never know when you might need your neighbours.

And your neighbours might be front line workers that need to sleep or very ill due to all sorts of reasons, including COVID19. How about you show them some bloody respect, instead of all the bullshite virtue signalling that is actually showing nothing but the bloody hypocrisy of many involved.

I’m all for showing the NHS our appreciation but last week, the TV footage of people clapping showed lots of families in their front gardens standing very close to their neighbours. Definitely not 1-2 metres away 🙄

It will totally take away from the importance of the message if it is done weekly. Also as many nhs staff keep saying, clapping for them is lovely but they would prefer adequate ppe

THIS ^

An probably half of these "clapping for the NHS" will be out and about because they "need" an avocado or summat equally daft. The NHS would rather you stopped indoors if possible, kept your distance if not.

YANBU. No to fireworks, so distressing to animals.

Tape up your letterbox. I wouldnt be wanting my neighbour on my doorstep regularly at the moment.

We clap every night was 8 for 18 days but it only lasts 2 min, no musical instruments btw we’re not allowed exercise and if your not a key worker you can’t go to work anymore.

Well i did think today when there was a video on the news of neighbours in a street all dancing to music... "what about the person at no.10 who is trying to work from home" or the other neighbour who works nights as a keyworker and is trying to sleep. People get carried away with things.

We would be better not voting Tory than clapping

it sounds like the episode of friends when ross had to give monitor for the man who was leaving the block he had moved into.

then phoebe ended up contributing to his leaving present and i'm sure it was Stanford from satc who was playing the man who was leaving.

in answer to your post. empty vessels make the loudest noise, etc.

I am a frontline NHS worker and find the clapping annoying, embarrassing and cringeworthy. (Obviously just my view, I don't speak for all of us).

I am troubled by the general fetishisation of the NHS. This is not the same as respect. I can't have a conversation with anyone working outside it without being patronisingly thanked for my service. It reminds me, uncomfortably, of when I used to live in the US and military workers were fawned upon ("heroes") while simultaneously being screwed over.

It's the job I chose, trained to do, and am paid for. Fund us properly, treat us politely and let us get on with it.

I am troubled by the general fetishisation of the NHS. This is not the same as respect

The same fetishisation which has led to people being underpaid for the hours they work and the responsibility they undertake because it's "a vocation".

You are right Quicklink - it isn't respect, or admiration. It's a way of justifying screwing people over.

I can't have a conversation with anyone working outside it without being patronisingly thanked

Your perception may be that people are being patronising, I can assure you they’re not. You do a job the vast majority of us are incapable of doing and there are many of us who owe our lives to those who work in the NHS. I wouldn’t be here without it, it gave me 43 years and counting I almost didn’t have. My gratitude to it and the people who work in it has no bounds.

I just wish we paid you what you’re worth and deserve.

It was always meant to be "clap" for the NHS. Not "burn your house to the ground". Why do idiots always have to go one further?

Aah, fireworks and dogs don’t go well together. Can you ask them to tell you what time it will start and finish so that you can make sure your dogs cope? It might make them think twice, or it may just give you a heads up that you need to sit under a table consoling your dogs.

My old dog was terrified of fireworks, he wasn’t frightened of much else, it was horrible seeing him shake and cry, so I feel your pain. Also think they should be banned, apart from organised council displays.

I don't think it serves any purpose other than virtue signaling for those that take part.

It's like people have to be seen to be supporting, volunteering, donating, etc, nowadays.

What happened to just doing those things quietly without telling the world and his dog?

You should be doing this just because, not for the public kudos you get from telling everyone.

It does nothing to help the NHS, and if they start including fireworks, could actually strain key services, and therefore, key workers more.

That's my (scrooge) opinion anyway

I agree with you OP. As a parent of small children, the first one filled me with utter fear.

It's a stressful situation for everyone. Throwing in a weekly evening wake up for my kids would tip me over the edge.