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Original poster

To not clap anymore

220 replies

HerstoryInTheMaking · 30/04/2020 20:24

I really liked when it first happened. A lovely clap to show appreciation. But now its morphed into who can make the most noise. People playing music, letting off fireworks.

It just feels wrong, people are dying included health staff.

Dont get me wrong I love the NHS, love the heros who are saving lives and im more than thankful but it seems to me now this has become about attention seeking and whats worse is people filming themselves clapping.

OP posts:
PhilSwagielka · 30/04/2020 22:13

YANBU. I've stopped as well. I used to work for the NHS and it's been good to me, but 1) I had a really shit day today culminating in me having a meltdown outside the supermarket because of a batshit psycho woman who was threatening to have some poor bloke killed and kicking off at security, 2) it's raining, 3) I'm autistic and it puts me into sensory overload and 4) I hate that it's become a regular thing and people are being pressured into it. Fireworks and pan banging are a thing now.

Anyone who tries to shame me can fuck off. I vote Labour. I pay tax. I support the NHS. I don't need to virtue signal.

DesdemonaDryEyes · 30/04/2020 22:17

I find all the ‘I voted Labour’ a bit Bleeding pointless as well.

user1494055864 · 30/04/2020 22:17

I didn't clap tonight, I usually do, but last week there were some really pathetic comments on our local Facebook page, and I felt it had turned into a really twattish competition, and people had completely lost sight of why we were doing it in the first place. Thankfully, nobody set off the weekly firework this time! So I may go back to clapping next week if people are starting to behave!

LittleCandle · 30/04/2020 22:18

We clapped for the first time tonight. We have never done it before because we forgot. This time, the TV was not on and one of the dogs started barking. We went out and joined in. It was very civilised and felt very friendly. Not everyone on our street was out, but nobody was judging and there were no stupid things like banging pans.

Will I do it again? It depends if I remember. Nobody cares if you clap or not.

randomer · 30/04/2020 22:19

Rain stopped that the Blitz spirit here. says it all.

Sparkles333 · 30/04/2020 22:20

I feel better now, i think I'm the only one on my street that doesn't clap and feel bad about it.
I have been out and done it at the start.
A few members of my family are key workers so i do care but i just don't want to be out on the street every week.
I have donated to Tom Moore and his walk though as i thought that would be more helpful.

pigsDOfly · 30/04/2020 22:20

I don't clap.

I clapped the first week.

The second week I was having a really down day and just didn't feel like going out and clapping, this happen to coincide with all the competitive noise making: fireworks, screaming, banging on saucepans and so on.

Had to spend 20 minutes cuddling the dog to calm her down. The same thing has happened every Thursday since.

Much quieter this week, so I think people are beginning to lose interest.

notacooldad · 30/04/2020 22:21

@aquashiv
I moaned about the shit trumpet player
What trumpet player is this? 😂

thegreenlight · 30/04/2020 22:22

Being a teacher I can confirm that some of the most fervent clappers and bunting hangers I know are fucking horrible in the way they speak to key workers (and if they will speak to teachers aggressively about minor things I can’t even imagine what they are like when nurses and doctors don’t give them their own way) and are only using this clapping thing as a way to feel superior over and cause fear to their neighbours.
A coworker of my husband was walking his dog during the clapping as was verbally abused by people on the street last week. I bet those same people were charming when forced to wait in A and E or for a paramedic before this all happened. Total virtue signalling for some.

Karcheer · 30/04/2020 22:23

i clapped the first week, but then people started setting off fireworks and it freaked the cat and dogs out, so i stay inside with them now. Im also not sure how safe it is really, lots of front doors are really close to one another and i think neighbours are getting quite close to each other.
It would be better from a window imo.

ShutUpaYourFace · 30/04/2020 22:24

I'm confused by what this has got to do with being a Tory or Labour voter?
The clapping is for the NHS isn't it? not Boris?

Mummyshark2019 · 30/04/2020 22:25

It's stupid. First time ok. Weekly is ridiculous.

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 30/04/2020 22:31

I live in a tiny rural community - 5 houses all drives very well socially distanced. If we don't clap, I'm being antisocial with my neighbours/friends (genuinely love these people I've lived near for 22 years). We've been staying out too for a socially extremely well distanced chat(shout, I'm the youngest by far at 56!!)/drink at least 5m/10m apart. I was actually pleased the weather was bad tonight so I could clap, say hi and go back in! Maybe I'm just antisocial.

PhilSwagielka · 30/04/2020 22:33

@DesdemonaDryEyes If it's any consolation, if I was a Tory I wouldn't clap either.

cdtaylornats · 30/04/2020 22:33

I asked a phlebotomist I know, clap or take you for drinks and a meal I asked her.

"Don't fucking clap" she said.

ItsGoingTibiaK · 30/04/2020 22:34

Just stop then. There's no need to start a thread, seek approval, discuss the pros and cons. If you want to do it, then do it. If you don't, then don't.

Cherrysoup · 30/04/2020 22:34

We clap, and will always clap. When our children's grandchildren ask what we did during 2020 they will tell them "every Thursday at 8pm we all stood outside and clapped for the NHS and Carers"

I’m dying! And we shall storm the beaches and save everyone. Just brilliant!

LangClegsInSpace · 30/04/2020 22:36

I live in a clapping street and there has been a good turn out every Thursday but there hasn't been any pressure (possibly because I'm not on FB or any street whatsapp groups).

The first week was good because everyone was frightened and we all got to poke our heads out and say 'I'm OK' and see that our neighbours were OK too. And it felt good to thank frontline workers.

It's petered out a lot since then but there was a reasonable turn out still this evening. It is just clapping and cheering in my street, no trumpets, car horns, fireworks etc.

I don't clap any more because I think the whole thing has been appropriated by the government and turned into propaganda. I still stick my head out and check my neighbours are OK.

I can't remember where I heard this, I think it might have been on the recent Panorama - a medic said, 'If we are heroes it's OK if we die.'

The whole thing reminds me of Cameron and Osborne's 'Big Society' when we were all encouraged to feel marvellous about austerity because it gave us the chance to buy beans for the food banks and run the libraries ourselves for no money.

What if instead of clapping we all chanted PPE? I know that's not the only issue but it would make a bloody good chant.

Appropriate that, fuckers.

delilahbucket · 30/04/2020 22:38

It's ridiculous and I find those clapping are the biggest hypocrites, like my neighbour who stood clapping with his girlfriend, who does not live with him, after spending several days this week at his mum's house.

Popc0rn · 30/04/2020 22:38

@ShutUpaYourFace

Because the tories have chipped away at the NHS for years. For example, they scrapped bursaries and introduced fees for healthcare students in 2015, so that nurses now graduate with a minimum of £27,000 debt.

They've slowly started privatising things in the hospitalI work in, cleaning, catering, portering, laundry etc are contracted out to private companies. The community nurses in my area have been 'taken over' by virgin care.

So from my perspective as NHS nurse, anyone who voted Tory, but is now clapping like a seal for the NHS on a Thursday is a bit of a hypocrite.

But then I'm a bit bitter at having to work with out of date PPE...because again the Tories didn't stockpile enough years ago due to cost.

Aridane · 30/04/2020 22:44

It’s attention seeking and virtue signalling at its worst.

What - the complaining about clapping?

ItsGoingTibiaK · 30/04/2020 22:45

We were given a fucking to-the-minute order of service by some do-gooder on our local FB page today:

PLEASE SHARE FAR & WIDE

Captain Tom Moore has requested on Thursday (His 100th birthday) at 7.58pm that their is a 2 minute silence before the clap.

So
7.58pm 2 minute silence for those that have lost their lives to Covid-19
8pm clap for NHS/Keyworkers
8.05pm Sing Happy Birthday to captain Tom Moore.

I was heartily cheered by the first comment, which simply said, "No"

Bertucci · 30/04/2020 22:50

We have never clapped.

I happened to be pottering about my drive this evening around 8pm. Not one household clapped. We are in a village, so spread across a road, and I don't even know if people clapped other weeks - we have certainly never heard any.

PhilSwagielka · 30/04/2020 22:56

There's this whole thing doing the rounds about VE Day as well and how we should all have parties where we put flags in our gardens and dress up in '40s gear and do some toast to the soldiers at 3pm. I live on my own. I think I'll pass.

Also, no, I'm not singing happy birthday to someone who'll never hear it anyway.

Lovely1a2b3c · 30/04/2020 23:05

It's just an organized social time really and encouraging people to gather less than 2 metres apart!