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.

I am hugelygrateful for the NHS at the moment but I didn't do it last week and won't be joining in on the weekly clapping. I felt bad not joining in last week but then spoke to my friend who works in the NHS and she said she (and the majority of her colleagues ) felt it was cringey and embarrassing.

I’ve messaged a couple of friends who are nurses about this. They don’t like it. I’ve decided not to join in.

There's someone round here who lets off loud fireworks at any opportunity. They were doing it last week and I bet they do it tonight as well.

I feel like a huge misery-guts, but I don't see how clapping in the street helps the NHS. I doubt it's going to motivate the government to provide more of the essential supplies that many hospitals seem to be missing. I've seen a few people on Twitter saying the lack of equipment is down to NHS inefficiency, I think we can assume the government will turn on the NHS if it helps them shuffle some of the blame onto someone else.

Dishing - Someone upthread talked about clap shaming neighbours, oh yeah now if you don't clap you are one of "those"

Seems to me that it works both ways, you are to feel shamed if you do clap, too, according to some comments on this thread.

YANBU for no doing it. And others aren’t BU for doing it. I guess if people feel like theyre part of something then no harm done. I won’t be doing it either though, find it a bit twee.

Last week they made a point of saying it was for health and social care, this week only was NHS mentioned. Social care staff are right on the front line, facind cases they cam't be sure are or are not covid, with no testing being done and only a tiny supply of woefully inadequate PPE. I was happy to clap once, but twice is unnecesssary.

We seem to be turning into America. This is the kind of thing they do. I'm not doing it either.

It's the same fakery you see on FB all the time. "Oh look I put a 'save the whales' frame around my picture, even though I've never donated as much as a penny to whale charities."

If it boosts the nations morale for a few minutes then what’s the harm, clap for everyone not just a specific group of people, or don’t clap it can’t do any harm either way

I have a lot of family in the NHS including my DH and my brother who was retired has gone back as requested.

I'm not clapping and neither are they. DH thinks it's really odd.

I'll cheer and clap and dance when this is all over.

NHS workers will hopefully be valued more by society.

I start my nursing course next year hopefully. I wouldn't like to be clapped weekly just because a social media trend got going. Nurses work hard all year round regardless, it must all feel a bit cheesy and fake... and a maybe even a bit "Oh shut up cheering, you have no idea"...

There was apparently a Boo for Boris in my area last week FFS.

My brother is a frontline NHS worker and he thinks it is cringe worthy. He would rather see more money put into the NHS than people standing and clapping. They should be shaking the Government by the scruff of it's neck and protesting about the lack of support and siphoning off of services it has been doing for the last decade - bolstering their rich friend's businesses and privatising where they can. Don't even get me started on their recent decision to extend the visas of those who were told to shove off after Brexit, just because they want them to stay and help. It is down right disgusting.

I agree with the PP, it is virtue signalling on a grand scale. I won't be clapping.

I support the NHS by never, ever voting Tory

I’m not, and I didn’t the first time either. It’s abit cringey tbh. None of my neighbours did either so obviously not everyone does.

There was apparently a Boo for Boris in my area last week FFS
I won't be clapping.
But I would fucking support a boo for boris.

I won’t be joining in. Once again everyone is supposed to lick the boots of NHS workers and forget there are actually hundreds of thousands of people who are daily putting themselves at more risk, working without any protection at all. Truck drivers who are unable to find anywhere to get food, use the toilet, have a shower because service stations are closed, petrol stations and warehouses, retail stores are denying them use of their facilities. Teachers who are trying to social distance hundreds of children at a time. Supermarket workers who, frankly, are doing a blinding job.

But yeah, let’s all raise a glass to nurses. 🙄

Rather than clapping to basically make themselves feel better they should vote for political parties who will invest and support the NHS rather than drive it to the brink.

So many people who through their political choices are responsible for the NHS now crowing about how theyre so proud and grateful etc........ Grateful when you need it!

We won’t be doing it. Doesn’t mean we are any less grateful or appreciative of the NHS etc.

NHS workers will hopefully be valued more by society.

Nurses already are valued by society. Far more than any other group as far as I can see. You take your life in your hands if you suggest that actually, nurses can be a problem sometimes.

It’s the other people we are relying on at the moment who need to be more valued in future.

I was thinking about the poor truckers the other day with food places closed etc.

As I said many people in my family are NHS workers. DH who has been both a nurse and ambulance service says that NHS is much like everywhere. There are super dedicated people doing a brilliant job, folk that do it as it's reasonably paid and good terms and conditions who do a decent job and step up as required. Some that do an ok job, and some that are inept or lazy etc. Same as everywhere.

Its the 'this street didnt clap' Facebook shaming after. People have their own reasons for clapping or for not clapping.

I'm not going to do it. Those involved are doing a brilliant job, but I just think the whole of the NHS isnt involved in Covid at all and lots have been told to take holiday because there isnt much to do because operations have been cancelled. I clapped last week, but dont think many people will do it this week. We all do brilliant jobs and work hard, so we should all give ourselves a pat on the back through hard times. I'm a but reticent about making every single NHS worker into a saint.

*Seeing members of the government clapping whilst their ineptitude in securing testing and PPE for NHS staff who are risking their lives, is fucking painful to watch.

The thought of hearing people clap who have voted for the Conservatives and have been complicit in the decimation of the NHS and other vital services including social care, is also fucking painful and also infuriating*

I reckon around 90% of the houses in my road were outside clapping last week (if it was only a week ago - it seems like ages).

We have a Tory MP with a sizeable majority. Unless, by some strange demographic fluke, my road is in no way representative of the constituency as a whole, I'd say that at least 50% of those people are out and out fucking hypocrites.

If I could only think of something suitably pithy, I'd make a poster and stick it in my front window.

Maybe I should download "The Red Flag" and play it very loud at 8pm.

But I would fucking support a boo for boris

I'd support giving the lying shite the boot!