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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Customers in supermarket queues buying 2 items

774 replies

justasking111 · 06/05/2020 14:13

After a week of emptying cupboards reluctantly went out this morning. Standing in Tesco queue, two over 70s ladies behind me. one had given the other a lift. What do you need the driver said, oh just some cheese and a newspaper. They were not switched on by social distancing either despite the clear marks on the pavement.

Now I do think if you are over 70 and determined to get out well on your head be it. But for two items, for christs sake.

AIBU I being unreasonable to think that if you go to a supermarket it is to seriously stock up not for 2 items?

OP posts:
TinRoofRusty · 07/05/2020 18:51

I would like to find whoever it was who decided to apply the term 'shield' to this virus and jinx them with a permanent Langlock hex. Irritating AF!

TheRosesAreInBloom · 07/05/2020 18:51

I feel you are being misunderstood OP. For what it’s worth I fully appreciate your point.

TinRoofRusty · 07/05/2020 18:55

I feel you are being misunderstood OP. For what it’s worth I fully appreciate your point.

Oh, god, yes, start an ageist, sneery, judgy thread about total strangers whose circumstances you know nothing about and get roasted, so misunderstood and unfair Hmm.

MyWitzEnd · 07/05/2020 18:56

is 10am early?!

NiteFlights · 07/05/2020 19:02

A lot of elderly people still read a newspaper as their connection to the world they don’t have TVs or radios?

NannyOggsWhiskyStash · 07/05/2020 19:03

I think people should get off their high horses, you are quite right, they are in a high risk group and obviously think rules don't apply, meanwhile everyone of working age is making a huge effort to protect that age group. YANBU.

Thighmageddon · 07/05/2020 19:06

I think people should get off their high horses, you are quite right, they are in a high risk group and obviously think rules don't apply, meanwhile everyone of working age is making a huge effort to protect that age group. YANBU.

I'm fairly sure those still of working age and amazingly enough over 70sstill work and still working are doing it to pay the bills rather than for some altruistic reason.

I'm selfishly protecting my own high risk, furloughed arse from home.

Willow2017 · 07/05/2020 19:10

I think people should get off their high horses, you are quite right, they are in a high risk group and obviously think rules don't apply, meanwhile everyone of working age is making a huge effort to protect that age group. YANBU.

What about the people still working at 70? Are they magically different to the others who arent?

amispeakingenglish · 07/05/2020 19:16

Very judgemental and ageist. It's up to them, they are adults. If you want to protect them wear a mask. You can't expect older people to stay in indefinitely many are very fit and active. My Dad is 87 and I meet him in London regularly for trips to museums etc and getting him to sit when people offer him a seat on the tube is hard! He goes on long haul holidays where he is also very active. He has less joint problems than I do. Not since lockdown.. lol

winniestone37 · 07/05/2020 19:16

I think you should bugger off back to whatever rancid mean hole you came from love.

sourcreamnchives · 07/05/2020 19:19

All right Karen 😂

Nurgleturtle · 07/05/2020 19:22

working for a supermarket i can confirm 95 percent of the 60s and over are coming in every morning for a newspaper and other none essential items including a single lottery ticket etc, and most are not abiding by social distancing especially where staff are concerned never mind amongst themselves, and the amount of arguments weve tried to avoided over it is unruly i have never wanted out of retail as badly as i have now

MacBlank · 07/05/2020 19:25

What a sad life you have. Go on, back to your cave.

Sorry but if all you got in life is to worry about other people's shopping habits, I'm actually sorry for you.

As someone who has mental health problems, I can't just stay in day after day. I HAVE to go out, away from the 4 walls. If all I NEED to get is ice cream and milk, that's all I'll pick up.

Standupthisisnotateaparty · 07/05/2020 19:28

Next time take a photo and send it to the mail with #covidiot attached.

Cantata · 07/05/2020 19:33

Same here, @MacBlank

LoveIslandVirgin · 07/05/2020 19:43

@Nurgleturtle 95%?? What? You can CONFIRM?? You actually stand there with your census printout and calculator and have worked this out? Nah. Didn’t think so.

Wise up.

NiteFlights · 07/05/2020 19:48

JFC LoveIsland, how about a bit of respect for one of the shop staff who are working day in day out for not very much money so that the rest of us can go shopping - whether for essentials or not.

Honestly, there are some selfish so-and-sos on this thread.

LoveIslandVirgin · 07/05/2020 19:56

No, I don’t accept that. Shop staff who judge customers aren’t “heroes”. Nor are those in my local Sainsbury’s who stood shoulder to shoulder during the minute silence last week. Or the one who walked over to me and stood 3 inches from my face and told me to stand ON the line, not behind the line in the queue. Or the three who blocked my exit from the toiletries aisle because they were huddled to talk about TV.

I have big respect for the majority of shop workers but, without calculating a precise percentage, I can’t say that all of them follow the rules they insist customers follow. I never return to those supermarkets that flout their own “rules”. My family are too precious to indulge the MINORITY (again not attempting to calculate a percentage) of shop workers who think they’re immune to catching the virus and passing it onto their own loved ones or mine!

xelle1702x · 07/05/2020 19:59

Why does anyone have to comment on other people? Live and let live. You and they would be happier that way.

Isaidnomorecrisps · 07/05/2020 20:08

Responders are being so nasty here.

This is partly how the question was worded - you’ve jumped on how it was written.
I’m not being passive aggressive etc or maybe I am - shoot me.
Point is that the Govt cares about over 70s getting sick - and so sharing cars and popping out for odds and ends when someone could have picked up is a silly thing to do - but their choice.
Second, Govt wants to keep the R below 1. Standing closer than 2m and also sharing cars (if not a household) is an offence (right I think??). It’s their responsibility to do this correctly and the supermarket should have been onto it. I would have said something because I don’t want to catch it (again).

Thighmageddon · 07/05/2020 20:15

Point is that the Govt cares about over 70s getting sick

For one reason and one reason only.

I don't think the government have done a bad job, whatever party in power would've made mistakes but I'm no Tory and there's a potential reason for keeping the older members of society alive.

user1490954378 · 07/05/2020 20:16

@ LoveIslandVirgin it's the online shop with the 3 item restriction. We do our weekly shop online to avoid being in the supermarkets, as I have a compromised immune system and sometimes breathing issues due to a medical condition. Hubby does go to get extra bits, as we run out of some things half way through the week, as we have 5 children, including two teenagers, heaven help us!!

Alsohuman · 07/05/2020 20:19

there's a potential reason for keeping the older members of society alive

It’s not potential. They don’t want their voters dropping like flies.

1forsorrow · 07/05/2020 20:23

Point is that the Govt cares about over 70s getting sick Well they shouldn't have sent people with covid out of hospital into care homes to infect vulnerable over 70s then, funny way of showing they care.

They don’t want their voters dropping like flies. All the over 60s I know are labour voters, the only conservative voters I know are in their 40s. Please don't assume every over 60 or 70 or whatever is a conservative voter. Some of us hate them.

Xxxparisxxx · 07/05/2020 20:29

Maybe offer to do their shopping for them?