I don't want to clap

[OrlandoAlice]

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.

[TheMotherofAllDilemmas]

I would say that instead of clapping we should be staying at home as much as possible to thank them by not bringing far more cases to their doors.

[ALongHardWinter]

Don't do it then. No one's forcing you.

[yellowsubmarines]

One family was outside banging on pots for about 10 minutes last night and yelling 'Where is everyone?' then the fireworks starts. Is this going to happen everyThursday night now?

[GoldenKelpie]

anotherlittlechicken that's the spirit that most people do it. I clapped for about a minute, smiled and waved to my neighbours then shut the door. As far as I know we didn't frighten or traumatise any birds or other wildlife for that entire minute (and we all live next to a massive forest).

[Iknewyouwerewaitingforme]

Just typical of this country and this website in even something lighthearted but positive- people will moan about and try to turn into a negative. I've seen enough other posts from NHS workers who appreciate the clapping- not to mention our paramedic neighbour who LOVED the clapping and turned his drive into a mini disco during it.

If you don't want to clap for whatever reason: then please- just don't! Just stop making a song and dance about it, stage your own deeply powerful silent protest and don't clap, but lots of us want to. Stop moaning!
Honestly the title of this thread " I don't want to clap" sounds like a 5 year old throwing a strop.... I only hope you can show a little more positivity and fun for your kids at home right now and not trying to zap the energy from them too.

[LouisaKelmen]

I'm not doing it- I'm following rules, but don't feel the urge to clap- my neighbours do- on the other side, they also let their child carelessly play with other neighbours- so what's the point then?
Not following rules and then enthusiastically clapping just to show everyone, that you are part of understanding and supporting community.

[weliveincrazytimes]

You make it sound like a simple choice of clapping for a minute, quick wave to the neighbours and then go back inside. That's not what's happening for all of us. In some places (like where I live) if someone chooses not to clap they are then vilified by the neighbours. I left my local FB page because the hate was getting so bad and making me uncomfortable. They then put a flyer through my door telling me to clap at 8pm, put candles and bears and cards and whatever in my windows. I was told to do it, there was no choice given. I again chose not to participate last night and my neighbour came to my drive and banged loudly on a pot yelling 'COME ON!! SHOW SUPPORT!!!'.
If people choose to clap that's fine. If people choose not to clap that should be fine too. It should be a choice.

[Fluffybutter]

not to mention our paramedic neighbour who LOVED the clapping and turned his drive into a mini disco during it
This is what I mean . It was supposed to be 1 minute of clapping on a one off occasion but it’s turned into fireworks ,discos and ridiculousness .
It more about people themselves than the NHS now it seems ..

[weliveincrazytimes]

My post was for Iknewyouwerewaitingforme

The clappers are the ones throwing a strop around here. The people not clapping are being targetted in their homes. That isn't positive community spirit and bringing it to everyone's attention isn't moaning it's telling the clappers that clapping is a CHOICE.

I volunteer free counselling for the NHS. The last thing I need at 8pm when I have someone on the phone in tears is my neighbour running up my drive banging a pot and yelling 'SHOW SUPPORT'! I AM showing support but not in the same way you choose to do so leave me alone and stand at your own house and clap if you want.

[florriepeck]

I'm a nurse, and I'm so glad to read this thread: I don't like it, and thought it was just me being a misery guts!

[yikesanotherbooboo]

I like the fact that it is something positive and that it represents shared endeavour. I also think that most carers, supermarket staff and nhs workers appreciate it. It is not obligatory and the bullies getting involved sound awful.

[Wakeupsunshine]

So have we got to do it every week now?

[TabbyMumz]

"So have we got to do it every week now?"

No. We havent got to do it at all. It started off as a nice thing, now its turning into a "who's the nasty person who didnt clap" thing.

[florriepeck]

Not RTFT, but wonder if people are going out especially to buy all these fireworks that keep being mentioned; or do some people keep a stock?

[Rosehip10]

Plenty just using this as an excuse to sack off social distancing and hang around outside drinking with neighbours for an hour.

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

People were posting on the local spotted group shaming streets who didn't come out as much - pathetic. I don't clap either because it's cringey virtue signalling and the hypocrites in my village (safe Tory seat for decades) can do one of they think I'm joining in

[CorbynsComrade]

If you want to clap clap if you don’t then don’t. Stop fucking whining about it though. As if things aren’t shit enough at the moment.

[ageingdisgracefully]

I'm also wondering where people are getting fireworks from. I can barely get hold of a bar of soap.

[MadameBee]

Can’t we have a “Clap” of both varieties topic?

This is about the 5th thread.

Can tell people are bored.

[lazylinguist]

Just typical of this country and this website in even something lighthearted but positive- people will moan about and try to turn into a negative.

If you don't want to clap for whatever reason: then please- just don't! Just stop making a song and dance about it

But the whole point is that not all aspects of the clapping are positive and lighthearted. It is perfectly valid and not 'making a song and dance' to point out the ways in which many people are using this crisis as an opportunity to virtue-signal (often through empty or misguided gestures) and shame others who choose not to do the same.

The one unpleasant and mean-spirited woman on my street (everyone else is lovely) started marching up and down the road ringing a bell a couple of minutes before 8 to summon everyone to their windows. I watched her stride past and stare pointedly at my house.

I doubt we'll achieve a concensus on what proportion of NHS workers do or don't appreciate the clapping, but clearly lots don't.

[DishingOutDone]

But if I choose not to clap, my neighbours WILL make a song and dance about it, and possibly post derogatory things on community social media etc., that's the whole fucking point of the thread!!

[tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz]

I was on the fence to begin with. Didn't clap last week but DD went into the garden and did it last night, made us smile but that was it.

This morning our Spotted FB and Next Door feeds were awash with dicks naming and shaming (granted just by street but I fully expect it thus to escalate to house numbers soon) streets whi weren't doing it, demanding people justify their absence and declaring we should "never expect NHS treatment as we don't deserve it" DH and I had to sit on our hands to avoid replying as you could just tell the knobbers was the sort who would have the last word.

I've now decided I'm not going to do it again because twats like him are making this about how good they look, not the NHS and key workers.

So yes whilst plenty like me are popping onto this thread to say it's not for me and I think, in many cases (not all) it's virtue signalling and all for the FB likes, it's actually the local Clap Stasi that are starting to get very nasty in actual real life.

As a side note, after all the safety and respect reasons why people shouldn't be using fire works, IT WASN'T EVEN DARK!!!!! Dear god, some people are thick as well as nasty.

[tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz]

Apologies for my awful typos ... annoyance and auto correct don't mix

[GoldenKelpie]

weliveincrazytimes that is truly horrendous and bullying . I am so sorry . That is not what it is supposed to be about at all.

[GoldenKelpie]

I can see that some of you have awful neighbours. I guess I am just lucky to have pleasant souls around me. Looks like it should be stopped if it is bringing the totalitarian-type response in some communities - naming and shaming - good grief!