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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have you thought ‘fuck it’ to lockdown because Dominic Cummings did? Poll!

177 replies

FancyARoot · 25/05/2020 07:47

Interested in how many peoples views on lockdown have changed. I know mine have and that of most of my family and friends.

YABU - nope, still resolutely sticking to the rules
YANBU - fuck it, if it’s ok for him to tour the country with a car full of coronavirus then I can go visit my mum?

Due to circumstances I can’t actually go visit my mum. But after this, if I could be doing then I would be doing.

OP posts:
Ethelfleda · 25/05/2020 08:30

Ah so THIS is why some people are frothing at the mouth over this? They want to use it as an excuse to come out of lockdown and start infecting people again? Nice.

jugglingbeans · 25/05/2020 08:32

They want to use it as an excuse to come out of lockdown and start infecting people again?

Not here, we are still minimising all unnecessary contact. We are going to work only, that puts us at greater risk so we aren't going anywhere else.

Original poster
FancyARoot · 25/05/2020 08:32

Yes he could have had the child collected but that would still have necessitated a 500 mile roundtrip

Why?

His wife has family in London. And I’m assuming he must have at least one friend nearer than Durham......surely?

But actually it’s all academic as he really didn’t need childcare.

OP posts:
Nihiloxica · 25/05/2020 08:33

They'll struggle to start infecting people again given the levels of virus in the community.

It's really only hospitals and care homes that need to be locked down now.

Do people understand that you can't spread a virus you don't have?

AnneKipanki · 25/05/2020 08:34

Labour has hundreds on Mumsnet

This is not about political flag waving. There are all sorts on here . It would not have mattered. You can be a hypocrite if you’re Labour, Conservative, Green , SNP .

pussycatinboots · 25/05/2020 08:34

Zeus he used "childcare" as an excuse to attend his mothers birthday party.
If he was so in need of urgent help his wife has a brother living in holland park.
He's a hypocrite.

But isn't all this a smoke screen...what are they really trying to hide by him taking all the flak on the front pages??

That is the question I would like answered.

OhTheRoses · 25/05/2020 08:35

Perhaps his family have greater experience of and empathy with dealing with a child/person with autism. Think about it.

mrsswayze · 25/05/2020 08:36

No but i feel like it , I know I will stick to the rules though

Ursula2001 · 25/05/2020 08:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Pleasenodont · 25/05/2020 08:38

No, I’m not going to use Dominic Cummings as some sort of rebellious renegade I wish to follow. He’s a selfish arsehole and I’m not so I’ll still try to keep myself and others safe.

Original poster
FancyARoot · 25/05/2020 08:39

Perhaps his family have greater experience of and empathy with dealing with a child/person with autism. Think about it.

Thought about it.

He didn’t need childcare. If you’re well enough to drive a 500 mile round trip, you’re well enough to chuck some wotsits at your kids and put CBeebies on.

Like the rest of the country had to when they were ill.

OP posts:
PJsEveryday · 25/05/2020 08:39

@bulletjournalbilly I've seen them on Skype. Of course I don't want to never see them , in person, again before they die. But I am taking a cautious approach.

And I'm not following the rules because I dont want to be like DC. I dont want to see them in person because I dont trust myself not to rush at them and give them hugs. They have been through a lot, as has me and my DH and DS. I also have Health anxiety and I'm not sure my already fragile mental health would benefit from seeing my dad who had CV only a few weeks ago. Many reasons not to visit, despite common sense dictating otherwise.

Ethelfleda · 25/05/2020 08:39

Do people understand that you can't spread a virus you don't have?

This may be a rhetorical question but, yes. I do understand this.
However, best estimates are at the moment that roughly 1 in 400 people have it. I’d imagine there are far more than 400 people in the UK not following current guidance. They all start heading out and before you know it, 4 in 400 have got it... then 8 in 400 etc etc
Then we are in full lockdown again and if that happens I will have to blow my own brains out.

Conquistadora · 25/05/2020 08:39

No because I’m not a selfish arrogant prick.

HorseChestnutTree · 25/05/2020 08:40

he travelled with his family for a reasonable excuse. My DH and I would have had to do the same if we both had symptoms because of childcare - luckily we didn't have to. People are deliberately misinterpreting his actions.

He did not need to go to Durham. His BIL lives nearby in London. He also did not have the virus at the same time as his wife. So the more healthy one looks after the child until the other recovers. That is what other parents have had to do. He is not a special case.

You say you did not need to do this in the end and neither did he- he took that journey as he was planning for something that did not even happen. Most people , given the lockdown rules, would have waited to see if they both got ill, and then if there really was no possibility of them coping without help they might have asked the ILs to come to them. Not relocate the family to what is basically a second home( which is not allowed!)

To answer your question OP- I have 'thought' sod it, but I don't intend to do anything that might risk the increased spread of the virus- but I do not trust the gvt at all now though, not that I did much in the first place!

Noconceptofnormal · 25/05/2020 08:40

carolebaskin I think there's a silent majority out there who quietly think that schools should be opening, shops should be opening and businesses should be allowed to recover. That the furlough scheme is not sustainable and is destroying our economy.

But it's become very political and if you say these things in public you risk being branded as heartless.

ohtheroses definitely agree about London, and is the same for many other regions. I live in a commuter county to London and our whole, densely populated county only has about 8 new cases a day. I'm being sensible and vigilant but I'm also not going to continue hiding in my house.

zscaler · 25/05/2020 08:41

No, because I‘m not an arsehole and just because DC has been an unforgivably irresponsible prick doesn’t mean I suddenly think I have the right to endanger either people because I’m bored of lockdown.

Anyone who thinks that because DC risked the lives of other people, they have the right to risk the lives of other people too, is a massive knob.

AnneKipanki · 25/05/2020 08:42

@pussycatinboots
Yes, it was more than once . There were at least 2 trips .
True lies or damned lies ?

NoHardSell · 25/05/2020 08:44

I do my own thinking and risk assessment so, no, his actions don't affect mine. I do find it funny though, seeing all the blind followers of rules (they like to invent in their own heads) so outraged by the way other people get away with twisting them to suit their own purposes. It's mildly amusing to see such disillusionment amongst the masses.

SquishySquirmy · 25/05/2020 08:44

That's what he wants you to do! Please don't be manipulated into putting your family or community in danger!

I voted yabu because my compliance with the rules won't change and I will continue to be as careful as possible.

I have always understood bending the rules very slightly using common sense in some circumstances

  • Eg, twice daily exercise (when doing so at quiet times). Or a neighbour I know who often drove his (disabled wife) a few miles during lockdown so she could have a change of scene (not able to exercise outdoors).
Those are both genuinely harmless examples of applying common sense.

Driving across the country/relocating a family WHILST INFECTIOUS was never bending the rules. It was always very clearly against both the spirit and letter of the rules and certainly risked infecting others whatever they say.

OhTheRoses · 25/05/2020 08:45

We are also sticking to the rules. I went to collect the cat's meds from the vet on Saturday, Sainsbury's and Homebase. Went into the village with dd yesterday (lives at home) and bought takeaway coffees. Last weekend DH and I drove to the South Coast for a three hour beach walk.

We worked in the garden all day yesterday. Our gardeners have worked throughout and our cleaner returned the week before last.

DH worked in London last week out of necessity.

We all worked until 22 March. Worked from home since.

The press have reported that Cambridge have cancelled all lectures for the rest of the next academic year. That is absolutely not what the Masters of my dc's two colleges have written to confirm. Much of what the press repirts is utter boileaux and says more about lazy reporting than the actual facts.

Figmentofmyimagination · 25/05/2020 08:48

It’s not really about now - it’s more about how we respond in a second wave and a future attempt to enforce eg no long journeys etc. People will have to rely purely on their own consciences.

bulletjournalbilly · 25/05/2020 08:50

@PJsEveryday I hope you get to see them in person very soon and give them a well needed hug for all of you Thanks

Original poster
FancyARoot · 25/05/2020 08:50

Driving across the country/relocating a family WHILST INFECTIOUS was never bending the rules. It was always very clearly against both the spirit and letter of the rules

Well yes so we thought - but it turns out That actually it wasn’t against the rules at all.

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 25/05/2020 08:51

Really, @NoHardSell?

People following public health guidelines in to keep their families and loved ones safe makes you laugh?