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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I a arsehole for NOT clapping!?

102 replies

Glitterzzz · 09/04/2020 20:14

Just that really. Yes I appreciate the NHS and always have done and can only imagine what all of the staff are going through up and down the country but I just don’t feel the need to run out and clap on my doorstep! On my street we have no escalated to bringing out pots and pans to bang with wooden spoons and fireworks.. I know within minutes the videos will be uploaded to Facebook from mine and surrounding streets to ‘ show off ‘ the turn out ... part of me feels like a arsehole for not following the trend and the other half just cringes when I hear it all going off..

OP posts:
StillWeRise · 09/04/2020 20:42

but what about those of us who ARE following the rules AND didn't vote Tory, are we allowed to clap then? Some of us may even be key workers too.

Samtsirch · 09/04/2020 20:47

I don’t clap.
But I ful appreciate and support the NHS, in fact I don’t know anyone who doesn’t support them !

Ticklemelmo · 09/04/2020 20:47

I've not done it once, I have a 1 month old baby, first 2 times I was dealing with a cry melt down and tonight she was fast asleep on me.
I have a family of NHS workers and I appreciate everything they do, but I find the whole thing cringy and completely pointless.
I hate the pressure as well, I'm on a Facebook group for my housing estate and the comments in there about being disappointed about people not clapping just makes me want to not clap even more.

Samtsirch · 09/04/2020 20:48

fully
Not ful

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 09/04/2020 20:55

I worry about fireworks given the risk of accidents adding to the burden. Everything else is optional. Do it, or don't do it. Whatever.

There are other things to do of course (loads and loads of people are making scrubs, for example).

gingganggooleywotsit · 09/04/2020 20:57

yes.

snappycamper · 09/04/2020 20:59

It's bullshit.

I'd quite happily pay more tax for a properly funded NHS and social care system. I'm sure the staff would prefer that. Clapping is utterly ridiculous.

x2boys · 09/04/2020 21:02

Some people like it I used to work for the NHS lots of my Ex colleagues are posting how uplifting they find it ,

Disfordarkchocolate · 09/04/2020 21:02

I don't. I've worked in the NHS, as has lots of my family. I don't need to make my thoughts on the NHS or all the key workers. I'm always grateful. Especially now with a parent in the hospital.

Ghostlyglow · 09/04/2020 21:03

No you're not. It's cringe. Someone was singing "somewhere over the rainbow" on our street....

Timetospare · 09/04/2020 21:03

I didn’t clap. I have always supported the NHS and social care by never voting Tory.

BanKittenHeels · 09/04/2020 21:03

I’m front line NHS (although shielded) and it just feels like the something from 1984. Everyone waiting so they aren’t the first to go in the house, it’s like the 2 minutes of hate.

As someone working front line the rest of the time, I’d just appreciate some ACTUAL respect, fewer of my colleagues being assaulted (DH and I have a total of 26 assaults in 14 years) and people not voting Tory.

BanKittenHeels · 09/04/2020 21:04

Someone was singing "somewhere over the rainbow" on our street 🤮

HoffiCoffi13 · 09/04/2020 21:04

but what about those of us who ARE following the rules AND didn't vote Tory, are we allowed to clap then? Some of us may even be key workers too

Of course. You can do that you want 🤷🏻‍♀️.

YouTheCat · 09/04/2020 21:05

I'll stick to showing my appreciation by not taking the NHS for granted and not voting for twats who want to dismantle it.

DFAMA · 09/04/2020 21:07

Ya so nbu! I hate it, its patronising and implies that the poor fuckers on the frontline have made a choice to forgo decent pay, work life balance and basic fucking safety in exchange for a clap every week. Half the idiots out cheering will continue to vote tory and make no noise at all when their "heroes" are forced to endure further cuts. Sanctimonious bollocks. I love the nhs but I show that in the ballot box

KenAdams · 09/04/2020 21:08

Yet here you are telling us all about it to get your attention. Well done for being different and telling everyone about it.

Clymene · 09/04/2020 21:10

My NHS frontline friends really appreciate it. So don't do it if you don't want but do know that it means a lot to people who are risking their lives.

DFAMA · 09/04/2020 21:11

KenAdams you know this is an anonymous forum don't you? Confused

x2boys · 09/04/2020 21:11

As I recall The NHS was no better under Labour who actually started 'the cuts in the first place ,so who should we vote for to save the NHS?

LunaL0veg00d · 09/04/2020 21:13

My street also do 'dance on your doorstep' on Sundays at 7pm. It's excruciating.

shineaflight · 09/04/2020 21:14

@c3pu did you really do that? Confused

I know clapping on the doorstep is a bit cringe but I still couldn't be THAT neighbour

unchienandalusia · 09/04/2020 21:15

Yeah I'm finding the "I'm not clapping!" People as ducking tiresome as those who are announcing that they are. Do. Or don't. Just fucking the shouty mcfuck about it either way.

c3pu · 09/04/2020 21:22

@shineaflight

Yep. I found life improves significantly when you stop giving a fuck about this sort of thing.

If it makes it any more palatable, I didn't specifically time the watering of the garden to coincide with the clapping, but I certainly wasn't going to stop and hide indoors till it was over.

daisychain01 · 09/04/2020 21:23

You don’t need to start a thread about to to try and get validation about why it’s ok not to clap. Either do it or don’t do it 🙄 I don’t get why so many MNers are against it though. We were out again tonight, as were quite a lot of out street and it was fun.

I agree.

We are slow off the mark and tonight was the first time we really noticed people were clapping. We're on the edge of our village and we were sitting in the side of our garden, which looks out onto the main road through the village, when it got to 8pm it suddenly started (horns, saucepans, clapping) and we found it so moving we stood up and joined in.

I think it was the commitment and emotion that people put into it. You'd have to have been pretty hard hearted not to have been affected by it.