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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to remind you that we are actually allowed outside?

396 replies

Pishposhpashy · 04/04/2020 23:25

I am following social distancing guidelines.

I am not seeing friends or family.

I am getting nearly all my food delivered online.

I am going out once a day for my allowed daily exercise. Yes, to my local park, because I live in London, in a flat with a 4 year old and no garden.

I am constantly seeing threads on here berating "idiots" for "flocking" to parks and suchlike. But the thing is, if I go to the park for my walk, and see other people there - they aren't "idiots", they are people doing the same thing I'm doing - their ALLOWED daily exercise!

I mean, if you have a garden, bully for you. But I don't, we are allowed out, and I will continue to take my son for a walk in the fresh air once a day.

OP posts:
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Polly02 · 05/04/2020 00:54

It is dystopian. People are starting to feel controlled and angry. I don't imagine this is going to continue working for much longer.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/singing-stops-italy-fear-social-unrest-mount-coronavirus-lockdown

Notwiththeseknees · 05/04/2020 00:59

I think you should appreciate the freedom you have been given within the guidelines you have and don't take the piss. (Not directed at you OP)
One of our group members here in France is moaning like mad that she was fined by the police today €135 she says it was because she put the wrong date on her form. She accidentally transposed the day and the month. She was also riding her bicycle and had ticked the "I am out for exercise box" box and although within the permitted 1km of her house, riding a bike for exercise is not allowed. She is allowed to go to the shop on her bike or visit a vulnerable person or even go to the doctors on her bike. But not exercise. Lucky it wasn't €270 really Confused

YgritteSnow · 05/04/2020 00:59

I am also amazed at how many couch potatoes have suddenly discovered a love of exercise

People keep saying this. Maybe it's people who finally have actual free time to use to exercise now? People usually do busy and tired and exercise the first thing to be dropped. It's a good thing. Maybe healthy habits being established now that will last long term, which will be great for the NHS won't it?

ThatFriendsReunion · 05/04/2020 01:05

It is dystopian. People are starting to feel controlled and angry.

it's been 2 WEEKS Hmm
People are getting angry because restrictions are increasing due to selfish idiots. No one really expected people to use their brain and show common sense, but it would have been great if they had.
Instead, beaches and forests are closed, parks are closing, DIY shops that were opened for emergency repairs have shut, and you can expect a lot more things to stop.

If Joe Public hadn't decided that rules didn't apply to him we wouldn't be there. If we are at risk to be forbidden to go more than half a mile from our house, then absolutely do report any idiot who is not following guidelines!

WforWumbo · 05/04/2020 01:06

This isn’t directed at anybody I just genuinely want to understand... isn’t it worth avoiding any crowded places anyway, for your own safety, regardless of what the government guidelines are right now? The virus isn’t going to affect people less if they obey the law. I’m personally choosing to stay inside with my DC because I’m scared they’ll get sick. I’m not bothered about what exercise the government say they’re allowed at this time, I want them to exercise during a long and full life.

BeijingBikini · 05/04/2020 01:10

isn’t it worth avoiding any crowded places anyway, for your own safety, regardless of what the government guidelines are right now?

Some people don't consider the risk to be that big, or to be worth it for the mental health benefits of exercise v.s. the mental breakdown of not going out at all. It's something like 0.2% chance of death for under 30s and even lower for kids. People with no pre-existing conditions are very unlikely to get severe illness. Something like 92% of the deaths in Italy were in very elderly people.

BeijingBikini · 05/04/2020 01:11

The Daily Mail will publish the youngest death of every day, but statistically it is very rare for children to die.

GreenLeafedLemon · 05/04/2020 01:40

Had to laugh at the Fb pages, people out and about, complaining about others doing the same.

Some women I know were complaining about more cars on the road, at the end of the month, while they were driving to the supermarket, not having been out for days.
I did say, the other people driving, had probably just been paid, and not been to the shops for days too !

It’s always the same ones who make these complaints too.

bottlenose301 · 05/04/2020 01:49

I know people who don't feel scared about catching the virus because they are young and healthy. I find that a very selfish point of view because they may be ok, but what if they kill someone else they pass the virus on to?

Not to mention there are young and healthy people dying. Yes maybe a minority but enough not to want to play Russian Roulette surely.
Like I read on here once, if someone offered you 100 smarties but you know there was one in the 100 that would kill you, would you still eat the smarties?

Marchitectmummy · 05/04/2020 01:54

Op you are of course free to go out for your daily exercise, the government have allowed us to do so however you are responsible for the health of you and your child so think carefully about the risks and at least try to exercise at unpopular times.

I can name a few people we know who have also been out exercising, and have been doing so while they are within the isolation period following suspected C19.

They are clearly in the wrong to be out however they are and you could be passing them while avoiding stepping in the road.

happyandsingle · 05/04/2020 01:59

I saw the picture of the park where everyone was "flocking to".
All I saw were some people well spaced out and respecting social distancing.
I think the media are responsible for getting ppl in a frenzy, now you feel like a criminal for stepping out your front door.

happyandsingle · 05/04/2020 02:00

And if I hear the mantra "stay safe,stay home" one more bloody time I'll scream.

midwesteaster · 05/04/2020 02:14

I live in Chicago a major US city, our parks and bike trails have been shut for a while now.
If Brits don't take more care this will happen in the UK as well.
Life isn't pleasant on stricter lockdown but it is perfectly doable.
If it needs doing the country will cope.

Merrymumoftwo · 05/04/2020 02:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LesFleursDuMal · 05/04/2020 03:30

*I know people who don't feel scared about catching the virus because they are young and healthy. I find that a very selfish point of view because they may be ok, but what if they kill someone else they pass the virus on to?

Not to mention there are young and healthy people dying. Yes maybe a minority but enough not to want to play Russian Roulette surely.
Like I read on here once, if someone offered you 100 smarties but you know there was one in the 100 that would kill you, would you still eat the smarties?*

Nah. There are limits to what a person is prepared to do. I'm young, fit, absolutely healthy, never had respiratory problems, no pneumonia, not even flu. No serious illnesses. Slim, non smoker. My child is 7, had mild fewer twice in her life, not lying. Nothing else, no conditions. I'm quite certain if (when) we catch it, we'll be fine, really. And the smarties analogy is incorrect. It's not 1 in 100 (young, absolutely healthy people). It's far less.

I'm observing all guidelines, keeping 2m distance, not having any picnics/bbqs/parties, not having guests, visiting friends or relatives. Going shopping once a week, not popping out to shops for a single pint of milk, not driving anywhere to walk (just actually walking), not using playgrounds, not touching surfaces or my face, wearing a mask (if I understand correctly, masks protects others more than the wearer). Going out once a day and not even every day. Also, bringing shopping for my vulnerable neigbours.

What more do you want? What should I, perfectly healthy young person, do - stay totally indoors for how long? 12 weeks? More? Another thing is: shopping. I guess no one would argue that I should do my own shopping and not use volunteers/online slots? That's what I'm doing: going to shop myself. So I can go to a supermarket (girl's gotta eat, no?), but CAN'T go to an empty park, because it's 'selfish'?

I'm observing (quite religiously) the rules and guidelines precisely because I don't want other people to get ill and die. If it would be purely for myself, I'd live exactly as always, I'd have parties, go to movies, clothes shopping, flying, travelling, etc, as I'm not fussed about covid and not scared to catch it.

My brother had it (was diagnosed): my age, also completely healthy and fit. He's absolutely fine now. No issues. Was mildly ill for a few days with a mild cough. I suspect I might have had it too, but I cannot know for sure, as I wasn't tested. If that was it - it was nothing. Worst part of it was strong-ish headache for 2 days and lack of energy (could be not covid, though).

returnofthecat · 05/04/2020 04:21

I haven't been out at all in two weeks. I know I can, I just don't want to. It doesn't feel worth it to me (although I can feel my fitness slipping away).

I have no objection to people using the parks if they happen to live near one, and if they obey social distancing rules, but a lot of people haven't been doing so. I've seen photos of my local area which prove not everyone is taking it seriously.

I think there will be a rise in people with agoraphobia and insomnia by the end of this.

Whoareyoudududu · 05/04/2020 05:41

The chance of dying in your twenties is 0.03%. You have a far higher chance of getting cancer. I’m tired of the scaremongering now, I’m imagining so many people are unnecessarily losing sleep and possibly having panic attacks over a virus which almost definitely won’t kill them.

The risk increases with every decade but even someone in their 80s has a 82% chance of survival. Pretty decent odds tbh.

Lynda07 · 05/04/2020 06:14

Well said, Pishposh.

HoffiCoffi13 · 05/04/2020 06:38

I know we are allowed, but I have a small garden to sit in, and I don't need to have a break from my family, so I'm only leaving the house if I absolutely have to. And I think others should do the same

That makes absolutely no sense. For one thing, not everyone is you. Some people do need a break from their family. Some people need to exercise for their mental health (sitting in a garden is not exercise). You can make decisions for yourself, but you can’t make them for other people (who are acting within the guidelines).
I am taking my children (and dog) out for a daily walk. It is within the guidelines, and I have weighed up the risks and made that decision. We maintain at least a 2 meter distance from anyone we encounter. The walk does us good.

KatherineJaneway · 05/04/2020 06:39

I am following social distancing guidelines.

How is that possible in a busy park? I went out yesterday and so many people were not social distancing. I am not saying it is you not observing the rules but it is others who come up right behind you or don't move and you have nowhere to go to distance yourself from them etc.

user1480880826 · 05/04/2020 06:40

Absolutely nothing wrong with going out every day for your daily exercise so long as you are social distancing. I live in a flat and do the same.

Going to a supermarket and/or post office every day on the other hand, is absolutely madness. Totally unnecessary @JaceLancs

RosesandIris · 05/04/2020 06:49

Yesterday I watched the police shout through a megaphone at two people who were walking along a causeway to a small island. They were behaving like these people were criminals.
Yet it is very difficult to keep the distance needed on general walks as there are so many people doing their daily exercise. There is no common sense. People walking in the countryside where there are far fewer people around are in a different situation to city dwellers walking in parks and public places.
I hate the xenophobia and anger which is being generated as people turn on each other. It doesn’t reflect well on anyone. Yes there are some people flouting the rules, but the vast vast majority are being sensible.

CheddarGorgeous · 05/04/2020 06:53

People need exercise for physical and mental health and to boost their immune system. You will not do anyone any good using this lockdown to avoid exercise. We have a serious inactivity problem in this country which had led to a massive strain on the NHS.

There's a lot you can do indoors and in your garden but if you don't have a garden then don't feel bad for going outside.

We also need vitamin D from sunshine. Eyes need to look at middle and long distance to keep good functioning.

Humans were not built to spend long periods indoors doing very little.

freelancedolly · 05/04/2020 07:00

Totally agree. Local FB pages up and down the country are full of judgy, nasty posts threatening to publish photos if they see anyone - in their opinion - flouting the rules. These were, of course, the same dimwits who just two weeks ago were asking if they could still go to the pub and "it's just flu innit?".

So depressing in this country to realise we're just two steps away from being ruled by thick as mince vigilantes at any given moment.

CheddarGorgeous · 05/04/2020 07:09

Just seen this. Get your sunshine in folks:

to remind you that we are actually allowed outside?