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AIBU?

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Original poster

No social bubbles

149 replies

octoberbundle · 27/05/2020 10:39

Reports are looking like there won't be social bubbles any time soon. Just needed to vent, have been focusing on this to get me through, the idea that my mum could come visit and stay with me, both to see her and help look after my baby and three year old so I can work easier. Absolutely gutted that it looks like this won't be happening any time soon 😢

OP posts:
Kazzyhoward · 27/05/2020 13:40

Honestly, do people really need the Government to tell them who to see and where? Use your brain. Do what you think is best.

Well some people went to Cheltenham and Anfield with symptoms when they'd been told to self isolate.

Some people went on holiday, the day before lockdown, to countries that were already in lock down.

Some people crowded the pubs on the Friday evening that pubs were told to close.

So, no, some people seem incapable of using their brain and they do need the Govt to tell them. Never underestimate the stupidity of some people!

reeceormeese · 27/05/2020 13:42

Bubbles is an absolutely horrendous idea. Will possibly make some more isolated if they don’t happen to be in anybody’s ‘top 10’ priority. It will absolutely destroy some people’s mental health.

MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 27/05/2020 13:43

I certainly don't want to be in a social bubble, thank you! The only relative I have who I would like to see is an elderly aunt who has had people working in her house, going in and out, so I don't want to mix with her at the moment.

DH has children and grandchildren - it is difficult as I know he would like to see them, but I don't want any kids in my house who might be carrying the virus. I would suggest that he goes to see them in their house, but who knows what he might bring back. I think it's best to just stay as we are - in our own bubble for now!

sunrainwind · 27/05/2020 13:44

I'm disappointed to. I just want to take my children to one other house so they can play with others. Will comply for one more month max then give up and see them anyway.

StatisticalSense · 27/05/2020 13:45

@Saladmakesmesad
The logic is that if 15 people only interact closely with a small group of the same people, which is formally documented and therefore easy to establish contact, it is unlikely that the virus will get into the group, and even less likely that it will pass through the group to other external people. As soon as you add in other forms of contact you are not only adding in additional opportunities for the virus to transmit between groups of people, but also adding in interactions that are harder to track and trace and are therefore such contacts are likely to take longer to identify.
The virus doesn't suddenly appear from nowhere so it is a lot safer for people A-K to only have contact with each other than A having contact with X,Y and Z, B having contact with A,C, and D, B having contact with B,E and F and so on where the pattern is never ending which is likely to happen as soon as family contact is allowed even if the absolute number of interactions between people is higher in the first scenario.

PafLeChien · 27/05/2020 13:47

Honestly, do people really need the Government to tell them who to see and where? Use your brain. Do what you think is best.

there wouldn't even have been a pandemic if people had used their brain in the first place...

Ellmau · 27/05/2020 13:47

The bubble idea was never practical.

Doingmybest4u · 27/05/2020 13:48

Also gutted - I have a 3 year old and 3 month old and we’re desperate to see / get support from grandparents who live 5 hours away. I’m cross that those who have grandparents down the road will be able to see them from next week (or very soon), yet we won’t as we would need to stay together or rent close to them (which isn’t allowed under current rules). This is despite both our households isolating fully. Other households will be able to mix outside (grandparents seeing grandkids) despite kids going back to school and circulating with other children (which mine are not). I get why, know all the risks blah blah but it’s so so disheartening. Hang in there OP x

SpokeTooSoon · 27/05/2020 13:51

What if nobody picks you for their bubble???

Sad
thecatsthecats · 27/05/2020 13:57

I keep making this point because I think I'm right.

Me, my ILs, and my parents are all fully able to WFH.

We could all see one group each weekend, and fully isolate in between.

Surely this sort of arrangement is far more in keeping with contact tracing than having a set group you see regularly? So if one of them passed it to us, we'd have a whole week for symptoms appear, and none of us would need to be in contact with anyone else in between?

Plus my ILs can get to fuck if they think I'd fill up a social bubble with all their side! Grin

heartsonacake · 27/05/2020 13:57

What if nobody picks you for their bubble??? Sad

SpokeTooSoon So what if they don’t?

Nearlyalmost50 · 27/05/2020 13:59

As others have said. Once non essential retail opens, you’re telling me I can go shopping in Zara but not see my family? Pffft

I've seen this a lot, but the two things aren't necessarily similar. There was a lot early on about viral load and the amount of time you needed to be in the same small space- about 15 minutes.

One of the issues with families is they are used to being very close for prolonged periods.

That doesn't mean I think no mixing should occur, people with nannies can have them there, that's one household mixing with another, but in general, close contact mixing of generations IS more of a risk than popping quickly into Next or Zara with a mask on.

manitobajane · 27/05/2020 14:00

I was always picked last too @manitobajane* and never got to be the picker.

Same. I would always be there waiting and then I'd be the only person left and the picker would go "I suppose we'll have to have Jane"

PafLeChien · 27/05/2020 14:02

See how many people are happy to go shopping, and live pretty much as normal, or see (at least around here!) how many neighbours have overnight visitors around here - and a lot more since the half term started, I think the concept of "bubbles" is very unrealistic.

If numbers are staying low, it's a good thing, people can safely ignore the guidelines the way they are doing now and we should all be free in a few weeks.

glueandstick · 27/05/2020 14:03

My kids are giving granny a hug this weekend. We both work from home and only visit a shop once a week. Granny and Grandpa don’t even do that. So fuck it.

I can sit on crowded transport and go to primark but we can’t just have two households that are effectively isolated see each other?

bulletjournalbilly · 27/05/2020 14:03

Just get on with it OP! From Monday I'll be mixing with 15 / 30 other families as DC go back to school.

Use your own risk assessment

PafLeChien · 27/05/2020 14:06

I'll be mixing with 15 / 30 other families as DC go back to school.
realistically a lot more when you include siblings, and the people that are already mixing with the families of the children yours will be mixing with...

highmarkingsnowbile · 27/05/2020 14:09

What Needa and 99Victoria said. Just use your common sense.

manitobajane · 27/05/2020 14:10

@heartsandcake So what if you don’t? Nobody’s going to know and you’re not going to be any better or worse off than you are now.

Your empathy is overwhelming. Of course you would be worse off, you might have a friend who you meet sometimes now (at a distance) but then they decide that you won't be in their social bubble and so they won't be seeing you.

Can you imagine the embarrassment of asking somebody to be in your social bubble and getting repeated rejections? I won't be asking anybody to be in my social bubble for that reason.

Snowbear20 · 27/05/2020 14:11

Surely it makes more sense to change the guidance to allow some socialising as otherwise people will make their own rules. At least if they put something in place people are more likely to comply than just so whatever they like?!

Needamanicure · 27/05/2020 14:11

"PafLeChien Wed 27-May-20 13:47:38
There wouldn't even have been a pandemic if people had used their brain in the first place..."

Actually there would have been.

matchboxtwentyunwell · 27/05/2020 14:11

A and B, but then neither can mix elsewhere. Should make it fun for A couples where 'her' parents want to be B, but so do 'his' parents ...

bulletjournalbilly · 27/05/2020 14:12

Exactly @PafLeChien so quite frankly I'm not pissing around waiting for the government to tell me who I can and can't see

userxx · 27/05/2020 14:12

Can you imagine the embarrassment of asking somebody to be in your social bubble and getting repeated rejections? I won't be asking anybody to be in my social bubble for that reason

Way too much overthinking going on here! Surely it will be a case of BBQ at mine on saturday, see you there. Who is actually going to ask about bloody bubbles!

PafLeChien · 27/05/2020 14:14

you might have a friend who you meet sometimes now (at a distance) but then they decide that you won't be in their social bubble and so they won't be seeing you.

well, you need to grow up, sorry. People have families, commitments, and other friends, shared hobbies, shared sport, children who get on better together, you won't be on top of the list for everybody.

The reverse is true, if several friends ask you to be in their bubble, you'll have to pick one and reject the others. Maybe you'll make a pity choice, maybe you won't. It's not worth being depressed about it.

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