Would you be annoyed if someone did this?

[nightimebrowser]

Background:
Obviously been social distancing and taking all the necessary precautions (not seeing anyone outside household, staying in except for essential trips etc) for the past 9 weeks. My mental health has seriously declined due to this (already diagnosed with depression and anxiety) and the lockdown really has not helped plus being dropped by the adult mental health team as they don't have the resources right now.😣

My 2 friends have suggested meeting up for a walk tomorrow and having a picnic- we would obviously not touch each other and stay 2 meters apart at all times and we are going to a large, isolated open space. I know the rules are only 1:1 meetings though, would you be annoyed if you saw 3 people?

I really need this right now, I've been struggling so much. Obviously it's easier to meet as a 3 than do two separate meetings 1:1.

[SkySmiler]

Absolutely not, enjoy.

[zscaler]

No, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. Go and feel better

[YakkityYakYakYak]

I wouldn’t notice or care, so long as you are distancing and being careful (e.g. not passing things between you). I would have said differently a few weeks ago but I think it’s okay for us to start to ease off ever so slightly. Go and enjoy yourself.

[dontgobaconmyheart]

But why can you not just go out as often as you like, OP, and see ONE person at a social distance as per the rules in place for safety. If you have to make up a lie, and are going to be paranoid, I can't see how it will aid your anxiety if someone has a go at you say, or if you will be worrying about others seeing you and judging.

Lots of us are struggling, but I won't be disregarding safety at a crucial time because I 'need' to see two people at once and not one.

To answer your question would I be angry- no, and I'm not, but I don't get it either and wouldnt do it when there are alternatives on offer at this time that there is no limit on.

[1066vegan]

I tend to get fed up with people making excuses for breaking the rules and usually when people start an op like this I tend to think they ABVU.


But I don't think you're doing anything wrong. In your situation, you really do need to take care of your mental health. There are only three of you, you are going to maintain social distancing and there is much less chance of spreading the virus in the open air. I think you should go for it.

[PurpleDaisies]

I would have said differently a few weeks ago but I think it’s okay for us to start to ease off ever so slightly.

Being able to meet up with one person from outside your household is starting to ease off.

[PurpleDaisies]

But I don't think you're doing anything wrong. In your situation, you really do need to take care of your mental health.

Why does she need to meet two friends not one?

[Crimsonnightlotus]

If you are going to a deserted place on private land, no one will see you. If you are worried to be seen walking together, just go there separately?

[kyles101]

Go, have a lovely time and feel refreshed

[RusticaRubra]

I don't normally feel this way about things but right now I very strongly believe that we need to take care of ourselves and then with what's left, take care of others. I don't mean break rules, but put ourselves first.

Go and hang out with your 2 friends. If it will help you then go do it. This is really brutal and this is what YOU need right now.

[PurpleDaisies]

I don't mean break rules, but put ourselves first.

This is breaking rules though, and the country is screwed if we all put ourselves first.

[WillAshton]

I'm sure you can get away with doing it without being stopped, which is what you're really asking.

You shouldn't be doing it though. As long as there is a need for restrictions, people breaking them will increase transmission. And as long as infections rise because of this, there will continue to be restrictions in place.

[Crimsonnightlotus]

If you are feeling guilty, even thinking about lying about it, maybe better to do 2 meetings with one friend at a time rather than meeting 2 friends in one setting?
Yes there are people who may get annoyed, but those who break rules won't care. But you do care, so I can say just go, but do worry it's damaging you at the same time with guilt, which you can easily solve by making a slight change to the plan.

[frillyfucks]

"This is why corona is spreading....cos people keep breaking the rules"

No it's not. It's spreading because people aren't able to socially distance on public transport, or because they choose not to social distance in places like supermarkets. Three friends who care for one another's (physical and mental) health are not the people spreading corona.

Is common sense really so rare in the UK? No wonder we have to have such ridiculous rules when people can't take a balanced approach to risk assessment.

OP, go.

[Starch]

Yes I’d shake my head and think you were a set of arrogant bastards who think the rules shouldn’t apply to them. The same way I do when we’re shown people breaking the social distancing rules on the news.

It’s obviously easier to have sympathy here knowing your circumstances, but yes if I saw you in the street I would be

[borntohula]

@Starch you shake that head, that'll tell em.

[TurtleTortoise]

The rules have always allowed for care and support of people who need it. Given that OP was involved with mental health services until recently (and clearly booted off their books due to demand, not because she didn't need help) then she could have been meeting people like this all along for support.

I cannot understand the mindset of people who think the risk of virus outweighs everything else. They're meeting outdoors. They're distancing. The risks are vanishingly miniscule of even passing it on, let alone being seiously affected if they all caught it.

It's breathtakingly cruel for people who are at home with their own families to try to discourage someone else from having this very minimal social contact. That's what's selfish. We should be easing the lockdown according to need - people who live alone should be allowed a little more than families/couples. Maybe the government are too heartless to realise that, but the rest of us don't have to be.

[SandysMam]

It’s private land, meet the friends there to avoid being spotted, keep your distance and have a nice time. Very unlikely to catch or spread the virus as it sounds like you are clued up on transmission.

I bet all the people saying don’t meet them, live with someone else and haven’t been alone all this time. There are enough arseholes out there ignoring the rules all together, focus your rage on them, not the poor OP who is clearly conciseness but desperate for social interaction.
Enjoy your friends OP!
And yes I am vulnerable but see the bigger picture.

[Starch]

I’d even shake it sadly borntohula

[Sandybval]

OP just do it, and I am sorry you have lost support of the MH team, it's a travesty that things like are happening and it's justified because of covid. Enjoy

[PurpleDaisies]

There are enough arseholes out there ignoring the rules all together, focus your rage on them, not the poor OP who is clearly conciseness but desperate for social interaction.

She can have that with one friend.

I don’t get why people seem to think it has to be both.

[RainbowGlittersandSparkles]

No your not allowed. Sorry meet one friend in a park not two not 3! 1!

[Kamma89]

I wouldn't care or notice. How is anyone to know that you don't all live together! Enjoy yourself & take care of your mental health

[PurpleDaisies]

Look, nobody is saying stay home alone.

I haven’t seen anyone respond to why she needs to see both friends at once which is against guidelines rather than one which is fine.

[B0bbin]

If you all met up as 1:1, that would be 3 different meet- ups. If you meet up like this, it will be 1 trip. If you stay 2 metres apart I would say that you're being sensinle avoiding 3 different times. But, some people might see you and think you're taking the mick, others might see you and start bending rules themselves, maybe thinking, well if everyone else is doing it. The choice is yours. I think you deserve to see your friends.