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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not join in with the social distancing street party tomorrow.

131 replies

GJAK9729 · 07/05/2020 20:07

Our local village are doing a social distancing street party tomorrow and everyone on the community website is quite excited about it.

Me and dc have learnt about VE Day and why it happens this week. We have made some bunting to put up.

But I really don’t want to join in with the street party. We generally keep ourselves to ourselves. We know our neighbours but not really friends with any of them. Our neighbours are quite a sociable bunch and we are not.

Plus our eldest child has additional needs. I can’t fully trust him to remember to socially distance and I would be a nervous wreck about him being out the front. He has no sense of danger plus he’ll get over excited which often turns him into a bit of a nightmare.

Aibu not to join in?

OP posts:

Rosebel · 08/05/2020 10:35

Our nearest neighbours have invited us to a social distancing bbq today. Only about 6 houses but I don't want to go. I'm pregnant, feel like shit and can't see the joy in watching everyone else getting drunk.
However because we feel we should make the effort we will have a drink in our own garden, which is what everyone else is doing. Would rather not but want to stay on good terms with neighbours

Thymelord · 08/05/2020 10:51

We will not be taking part. I can't think of anything worse. It's bad enough that the clapping has now got the added joy of fireworks and blasting from car horns.

Alicemovedtothecity · 08/05/2020 10:56

We will be hiding all afternoon with the windows closed and blinds down

Our village are having street parties been advertised for a few weeks every where, All lovely if you get on with your neighbours but we don’t! Haven’t spoken to them in over a year because of a argument we had over them being dick heads with their 4 cars! I was in the right for what it’s worth!

The other neighbours we don’t really talk to apart from a hello etc we are just all very different people and very different ages with nothing in common we all keep ourselves to ourselves so I can not see them doing anything either (well fingers crossed, it looks all quiet at the minute not a piece of bunting in sight)

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 08/05/2020 11:09

I really wish there was very heavy rain, today. It’s the only thing that will prevent the numpties that will spread the virus when they insist on being too close to others.

Stonerosie67 · 08/05/2020 12:37

I really wish there was very heavy rain, today

Well, hurrah there isn't! It's lovely and sunny here, we've got our bunting and flags up, our tables and chairs are in the front gardens ready, and we're looking forward to a catch up and a couple of gins. We are all adults and more than capable of staying in our own gardens, we won't be spreading any viruses anywhere. Just celebrating VE Day, and the chance to see people, even if we will have to shout!
If you don't want to do it then don't, but don't criticise those of us who do, and are taking steps to do it sensibly.

FTMF30 · 08/05/2020 12:38

@T0tallyFuckedUpFamily You sound like a complete miserable killjoy. . . but I wished the same.

gdrcclmn · 08/05/2020 12:41

I won't be joining in ours either. My neighbours have invited me and said "everyone is keeping their distance" but it's the same people who exercise outside twice a day and share equipment, as well as one who's got his parents round to help him do some gardening

I hate "organised fun" and im socially awkward so I wouldn't join in regardless of covid-19.

Rosehip10 · 08/05/2020 12:48

@Stonerosie67 "Hurrah!" Daily mail reader hey?

PhilSwagielka · 08/05/2020 13:32

I'm glad it's sunny, tbh, I had a nice walk earlier.

I only saw one house with bunting and another with the Union flag in my area. I honestly thought there was going to be loads of bunting and people in '40s outfits and stuff but I barely saw any.

LakieLady · 08/05/2020 14:43

There is no sign of any VE day activity in my road at all. No bunting or anything.

My end of the road is almost entirely adult-only households although there's a house with older teen and another with a younger teen. This half of the road doesn't do the Care for the Clappers on a Thursday and I very much doubt if anyone will be doing anything for VE day either.

The other half of the road is completely different, lots of primary age kids, always out in the road playing chicken with the traffic on scooters, playing hopscotch, football etc pre-lockdown. They are big on the Thursday clapathon, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did something.

It's a bit weird really, it's like two different streets but the whole road is only about 200 metres long. I'm glad I live in the refusenik, non-participant end. We're friendly enough, look out for each other, ask if anyone has stuff to go to the tip if they're going and have a bit of space in the car, we're happy to chat when our paths cross but we don't socialise together.

Greenpop21 · 08/05/2020 22:40

We thought we’d go out and say hello to neighbours but we’re totally blown away by virtually the whole street being out in their gardens.Was really lovely and people did walk along and chat, everyone kept their distance.

Bertie30 · 08/05/2020 22:56

Started well where I live but as the booze flowed, sense went out of the window

FTMF30 · 08/05/2020 22:59

We gave in and went out for 10mins. We didn't venture much past our drive but it was a nightmare. It was basically a street party. Quite a few have only just gone in after playing non stop loud music and getting drunk. We could hear football chanting. Loads of kids from different households playing together. It's hard to be pleasant to your neighbours when you think they're morons.

Greenpop21 · 08/05/2020 22:59

We came in after a couple of hours and it started to wind down by 5pm.

Rhodri · 08/05/2020 23:00

YANBU. It’s selfish and I hope the police put a stop to it. Staying 2m apart isn’t a loophole to be able to socialise. It’s the best we can do in the situations where we can’t avoid being around others e.g. whilst grocery shopping. But it doesn’t apply to a party, which can be avoided! It’s still not ok to have a party even if you all stay 2m apart.

TheYellowOfTheEgg · 08/05/2020 23:00

We had a distanced VE Day street party today and it was great. The weather was lovely and it was nice to talk to the neighbours and do something different for a change.

Choctimeout · 08/05/2020 23:05

In our street the resident mobile dj is still going strong, about 50+ people gathered outside over the road.

Social distancing became a distant memory shortly after their fifth drink...

I've had to come upstairs now as despite having young dc and shielding we've had them banging on the windows trying to get us to join in.

Boulshired · 09/05/2020 00:04

Our was lovely but the social distancing seemed totally out of the window by 7pm. Standing either side of a garden wall is not going to protect much. Luckily we are in an area of very low figures. But alcohol and a two metre rule is not very compatible.

Stonerosie67 · 09/05/2020 07:02

Rosehip10 no, not in a million years so you can add that to your ever-growing list of things you've got wrong....

Peggysgettingcrazy · 09/05/2020 07:56

If numbers rise again in 2 weeks.....i wonder if the Tories will get the blame for that.

Or will people remember that yesterday, people celebrated by getting drunk and ignoring the most basic of the guidelines.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 09/05/2020 10:18

We are all adults and more than capable of staying in our own gardens, we won't be spreading any viruses anywhere.

Well, did absolutely everyone behave during your glorious celebrations? No one broke guidance and acted stupid because that ‘capability’ went out, once the drink went in? See you back here in a couple of weeks. I’m sure it’ll be complete coincidence when the numbers start to raise again. 🙄

Peggysgettingcrazy · 09/05/2020 10:33

We are all adults and more than capable of staying in our own gardens, we won't be spreading any viruses anywhere.

And yet a few weeks ago we didn't trust these same adults to sit in a park bench. Or or the grass.

Stonerosie67 · 09/05/2020 11:20

Totally
We are all adults and more than capable of staying in our own gardens, we won't be spreading any viruses anywhere

Funnily enough, I can't speak for the entire country, same as you can't. I said in my post that our street were having a street party, and we did and it was brilliant. And despite what you think, we kept to the distancing rules and we stayed in our own gardens.
I'm well aware that have been total bellends spoiling it for those of us who did it properly, but don't far us all with the same judgemental, sticky-beaked brush.

VerticalHorizon · 09/05/2020 11:52

Social distancing isnt the only factor.
Sharing of materials, chairs, plates, cutlery, glasses... it lives on surfaces for hours, sometimes days.

That isnt to say all parties are bad, and everybody is an idiot. It is saying that having the parties increased the odds of some idiots somewhere making a hash of it... and that is what happened.

Rhodri · 09/05/2020 14:34

My SIL’s neighbours had a socially distanced quiz where the prize was a chocolate hamper that all households contributed to. So the winner of the hamper received a lovely basket of corona laced fingerprints! Not to mention the unnecessary social contact. Selfish and stupid.

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