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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don't want to clap

341 replies

OrlandoAlice · 02/04/2020 09:35

I do support the NHS, I'm massively grateful for everything NHS workers are doing at the moment and to everyone who still has to get up and go out to work and keep things going during this crisis. However the clapping just seems a bit pointless to me. As a one off it was fine but to make it a weekly thing feels forced and I resent feeling emotionally blackmailed into doing something so redundant. The Doctors and Nurses I know personally find it cringy and would rather people follow the advice, donate, or volunteer.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 02/04/2020 09:37

I'm a nurse, and I'm not doing it. We've never been so quiet.

Chillyourbeans · 02/04/2020 09:37

I think as a one off it was quite nice but as a regular thing it strays into the territory of cheesy virtue signaling.

AuntieMarys · 02/04/2020 09:38

Don't do it! We aren't. And I am not going to be guilt tripped into doing it by other people.

Frankiecandle · 02/04/2020 09:38

Don't then. No one is forcing you.

Seventytwoseventythree · 02/04/2020 09:39

Doctor here - totally agree with you. I don’t mind if people want to do it be don’t feel obliged. Many of us are at work at 8pm anyway. My neighbour clapped effusively last time but also plays loud music at night and keeps me up when they know what my job is, and I have explained and asked them not to. Makes their clapping feel fairly disingenuous when it would be more useful to let me work having slept properly.

WellThisIsABitShiteIsntIt · 02/04/2020 09:39

YANBU. It’s pointless and cheesy.

LouiseTrees · 02/04/2020 09:39

This one is supposed to go out to all other key workers too so that’s why I’m doing it but I agree after a certain point it would be virtue signalling. In Spain they do it nightly though.

Rubyupbeat · 02/04/2020 09:40

Dont do it then, I doubt anyone will notice!

pigsDOfly · 02/04/2020 09:41

Yes, I agree. I thought it was a nice idea as a one off but don't see the point every week.

Not sure I'll be doing it again this week.

formerbabe · 02/04/2020 09:41

Don't do it...it's not compulsory

MarshaBradyo · 02/04/2020 09:43

Not sure about every week. It will peter off, better to do one big go.

twinkletits99 · 02/04/2020 09:43

Lots of people are volunteering that the government have suspended applications. Thousands of people are in groups helping their communities. There are 11k people just in my postcode group. I think people really are rallying together. I'm from a medical family and everyone appreciated the claps. I think it's a good idea, but appreciate others don't.

MouthBreathingRage · 02/04/2020 09:45

No I wont be. It's completely self indulgent and certainly becoming a virtue signalling event. It does nothing to help key workers, they need more equipment and people to stay safe, not a pointless weekly clap.

Shutityoujamtart · 02/04/2020 09:46

They do it every night where I am (not UK). They also use air horns , war type sirens and bang saucepans together. I’m a nurse and I certainly don’t do it .

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 02/04/2020 09:46

I dont like it. In the beginning in Europe it was genuine and a novelty. Now it is cliched and meaningless. People think they are doing something good so their conscience is clear. Desnt always mean they will do other considerate things. Public shows can be just that

frumpety · 02/04/2020 09:47

I think most people in the NHS would rather have a good supply of decent PPE.

Original poster
OrlandoAlice · 02/04/2020 09:47

@twinkletits99

OP posts:
Original poster
OrlandoAlice · 02/04/2020 09:48

Sorry post malfunction!

OP posts:
LuluJakey1 · 02/04/2020 09:50

The majority of the hundreds of thousands volunteering to help will never hear anything else about it. There is no capacity to organise this - they can't even organise distribution of PPE or tests to the NHS, never mind using hundreds of thousands of untrained people. It was another stunt to keep us all onside by creating a 'feel-good/Dunkirk spirit' factor.

Wakeupsunshine · 02/04/2020 09:51

As a one-off fine but not weekly.

BentBastard · 02/04/2020 09:51

I agree. Once off was nice but every week is unhelpful. As a PP alluded to, it makes people sit back with a clean conscience thinking they've "done their bit" when in fact they've done fuck all.

I'm one of the volunteer responders and I certainly don't want or need a clap. Anyone who does has probably volunteered for the wrong reason.

I'm sure I sound a misery but this is how I feel about many awareness raising stunts, not just the clap.

Fluffybutter · 02/04/2020 09:52

Agreed . We did it last week but every week will make it less special.
Some cock in my neighbourhood is going to play ‘heal the world’ and then ‘you got the love’ through massive speakers at 8 tonight .
Makes me fucking cringe as the local Facebook group are lapping it up

Peppafrig · 02/04/2020 09:52

I think as a once off it was meaningful I'm not sure doing it every week has the same effect.

Knowhowufeel2 · 02/04/2020 09:52

YADNBU.

I think it's pointless virtue signalling that makes people feel smug about themselves, but actually does nothing to help the NHS.

It's very much 'Look how lovely I am, doing this!'

I didn't join in last week, and tbh, I didn't even realise it was going on as I'm not on SM that much. I'd heard about, but not details, etc, as I hadn't paid much attention to it..

If I'd known about it, it wouldn't have changed my lack of participation though.
I find all this frame stuff online (for profile pics, etc) and posting about helping people to be self serving and cringy.

It feels like people just want to prove they care and want to show everyone how nice they are, rather than just getting on with it quietly.

EasyTarget · 02/04/2020 09:52

Yanbu. It's virtue signalling at its best.