To say some people are being ridiculously hysterical?

[YoyoYOO]

It's a serious situation, of course it is and I understand the need to slow the spread. And I understand why those at particularly high risk would be extra careful.

But honestly, some of the threads on here at the moment. It is just a constant, endless circle of people slagging off their friends or family for some perceived flouting of THE RULES, panicking and losing sleep because you're not sure if you disinfected your Amazon parcel well enough, quarantining a carton of milk for 72hrs, being called a serial killer because you sat down on some grass for 10 minutes after going for a run, stopping to talk to a family member out the window after your supermarket trip is akin to the worst crime known to man.

I've never ever read or witnessed such mass hysteria before. AIBU to think that some people are going absolutely crazy?

The most interesting part in all this is that it's all going according to plan. The government experts knew how the human element would pay out and set the level of restrictions accordingly, knowing that there wouldn't be 100% compliance and knowing that it would take a few days (that first weekend) for people to get their heads round it. It was all part of the plan. Slow the spread, just in time and just enough. No more.

I think this is the first time most people have had to deal with national disruption. I lived in an Arab country during the Arab spring when tanks were rolling and someone got shot in the head at point-blank range at the end of my street. Strangely after that, you start to take things in your stride. I am so over hearing people harping on about their friends, neighbours etc.

I think there is a difference between doing things like quarantining deliveries, wiping down food packaging, etc and being a neighbourhood vigilante.

We've got three people in the house in the vulnerable category (not shielding, but with high risk conditions, sometimes multiple). It's a faff, but we are doing all we can not to get this virus because a) we don't want to risk it and b) the health service is overwhelmed and we are likely to add to that/not experience appropriate care.

I do get really pissed off and frustrated with people going out multiple times a day and not social distancing because, due to where we live, it makes it difficult for us to get out and exercise (which we need to do because of the dog and because of our conditions). But I'm more pissed off and frustrated with people (including it seems the police) going over and above the guidelines as it's cramming people into smaller and smaller areas and that puts us more at risk. We now go out either very early or very late and sometimes see young families playing near the park (rather than strictly exercising without stopping). That really doesn't bother me. I also have to get a hold of myself when I get irritated with people clogging up the pavement to go to the local shop for their newspaper daily, because actually, maybe that isn't strictly essential but may be necessary for their mental health.

I'm scared of the virus, but I'm also scared off what people have become during this. We all need to work hard to think about what people we want to be on the other side.

I never quite understood how the Stasi wielded so much power. Now I get it! It’s quite astonishing, isn’t it?

The Stasi could do 2 things: they could imprison you and/or your family seemingly at whim, or ruin your life in other subtle ways (prevent you from working etc) or they could offer you money/goods privileges that other people didn't have.

As far as i can see none of this applies in the UK - it's just good ol' human nature. If the neighbour goes out twice (for whatever reason) an you only go out once a lot of people feel envy. They also feel inferior (or that their neighbour feels superior) and they don't like it. This is the real chance for the closet curtain-twitchers to really pull out all the stops. It's ridiculous.

I agree totally. The regulations have been set with the lowest common denominator in mind, the majority of us ought to be able to apply a little common sense.

I couldn't agree more. I have friends who are refusing to do even the most basic things like take their own children for a walk because it's against THE RULES even though it isn't, demonstrating a complete inability to understand what the guidelines are for. I have other friends who have risk assessed it, and quietly go about their business in a safe manner. I live in a rural town where most people are taking their daily walks around the obvious paths etc. I have a friend who is shielding - she drives a couple of miles away from the town to take her walks in the open countryside where she knows she's safer. To me that is completely sensible and far less risky. She has been berated for BREAKING THE RULES.

However, the obsession and hysteria around the "rules" is ridiculous. The repeated assertions that everyone must follow the rules (in fact even tighter ones that people make up) in order to have the crisis over sooner just shows that people don't get it.

Completely agree. I've just started another thread on a similar note - the fact that people don't get it makes me fear for them when lockdown ends and they won't get that it doesn't mean that the virus has suddenly disappeared.

"Going crazy"?
Go tell that to my friend Annie. Her much-adored Daddy died in the early hours of Sunday morning.

People have definitely "gone weird".
The fact that the equivalent of 5 full Ryanair flights a day are dying in the UK and people who think that might be a national disgrace are being shouted down as "hysterical" is extremely weird.

I am so sick of people on here blaming the government for all this. It is quite wrong to try and make comparisons with other countries. Never mind the government, do any of you ever listen to the scientists and experts who oare leading our decisions or do you all decide you know far more about it?

People are stuck inside bored so it’s inevitable a certain amount of curtain twitching will occur. Oh look, number 55 are having a BBQ, shall we phone the police? It’s just the British way I guess, very 1984 though. The thought police are onto you.

The threads where people go crazy are these ones. I get people want to have a go but really the ott is here.

YANBU but none of the people who are really scared and are over the top will agree with you.
And even when things will have settled down, it is unlikely they will agree because they will tell you that things haven’t been that bad THANKS TO them been so careful.

Yeah OP

Whatever

I bought a glossy magazine at the supermarket, didn’t think to disinfect it and sat down to read it immediately. I’m going to get coronavirus aren’t I?

The countrywide death rate is barely different to March 2019. Make of that what you will.

The threads where people go crazy are these ones

In what way? No one has called anyone a serial killer yet I don't think.

The threads where people go crazy are these ones. I get people want to have a go but really the ott is here.

Agreed. They all go the same way, which is why I don't understand why the OP started another one.

You have to love the people who "know"better and have very good reasons to explain why the rules don't apply to them. Of course dear, of course.

Let's not even get started on the lack of common sense, it's staggering.

It's easier to declaim your theory presented as a scientific fact than it is to read a bit about the subject and try to get real information. We are so behind other countries, it's not that hard to get some fact, but so much less fun

YANBU X 1000

@NoMorePoliticsPlease, experts don’t agree with each other.

Which is why sweden and Iceland are not in total lockdown.
Also why the ‘predictions’ of the number of deaths vary so widely.
And the reason why there is no consensus on how the best treat people who have caught this virus
eg there are some research now Saying that putting everyone on a ventilator is actually deadly - 60% which is similar to the death rate in the U.K. for people in ICU- vs treating them according to their presentation -death rate around 10%. Same with the use of vitamin C in IV etc etc

It’s a NEW virus. We dint have the research yet to be able to KNOW what is and isn’t the right thing to do. Only best guesses.

Yanbu and i think mn isn't doing enough to stop it. It's platforms like this which are the breeding ground for hysteria. And some of the posts, not all, some are really not helpful in this current climate

The countrywide death rate is barely different to March 2019. Make of that what you will.
That may be because it hasn't fully hit yet... End of March/April is where deaths really started to show.

I've been disappointed in people being so quick to judge their friends and neighbours for perceived transgressions. It's like 1984 with the thought police. There will always be arseholes who do nothing to respect rules but most people are doing their best and trying to stay sane doing it.

@byvirtue
And this is why it was carefully considered when to begin the lockdown because it was known that people wouldnt tolerate it and the economy would be wrecked, it was a very tricky balancing act

I do think that most of the hysteria is on mumsnet rather than in communities

Plenty of hysteria in my local Facebook "support" group which just became another branch of the coronastasi. MN is an accurate reflection of real life thinking.

Lockdown is not a long term solution neither is phoning the police for every perceived infringed misdemeanour of your neighbours Agreed.