Oxford Street shops - crowds without distancing

[VenusOfWillendorf]

I've just been watching the BBC news over my lunch, and they were reporting on the shops reopening. The first shopping center they were at looked good - queue to get in but well distanced and marked out and everyone looking happy to be out and about again.

Then they went to NikeTown on Oxford street - it looked more like the opening of the Black Friday Sales! There looked to be no distancing at all - just a crowd literally pushing and shoving to get in the door.

I don't understand why the shop opened at all with a crowd like that - surely they should have remained closed and had their security (who looked to be overwhelmed) tell everyone to go home? Or does the fact that there seemed to be no distancing with the demonstrations at the weekend make the whole thing meaningless anyway?

Should shops that are unable to enforce social distancing either inside or outside be allowed to open?
YABU - They should be open, they all need the income now

YANBU - They should close if they can't maintain the rules.

China is not in lockdown.

@vanillandhoney - exactly my thoughts. Yes, I could stay in all day ordering stuff off the internet and talking to people on Zoom, but that reminds me of a dystopian novel I once read.

I want to get out there to browse, see stuff in real life before I buy it, exchange small talk with someone who isn't on a screen. I'm not going to queue for overpriced trainers, but for a lot of people it is a return to normal.

I agree OP, we are at a crossroads in the UK. The numbers of infected and the numbers of deaths - although most of these would have been infected some time ago - are going down finally. Which is brilliant. But both the government scientific advisors and the WHO have made it clear it's a dangerous moment so care is needed. It's like putting out a fire, we've put out the flames but the fire's still smouldering, it could reignite or it could go out altogether. If we're not careful we could reignite the flames and end up right where we started BUT if we are careful we might get things back under control enough that we can have a more normal life. I think distancing, mask-wearing are really crucial in keeping the fire under control. It's also important as we need the NHS to be able to treat other illnesses, if C 19 infection rates go up again it will affect the NHS's ability to treat any/all conditions.

LMAO at everyone rushing to Niketown because they're so desperate to spend money on useless shit like they're told to. Times like this I feel like I'm on the virus's side more than humanity's.

@squashyhat

Anyone who goes to Oxford Street on the first day of shop opening after 10 weeks of lockdown deserves everything they get.

Twelve weeks, not ten. Although it feels like 112. Otherwise you’re completely right.

At least we can put to bed any illusion that "life is going to be different after Covid-19" and "society is going to become more conscientious", etc. all that BS people were pedalling back in April and May.

I read an article yesterday (Sunday Times) on how shops were trying to enforce social distancing (signs, markets on the floor, hand sanitizer, putting touched goods in 72 hours of quanrantine). I did think to myself that all of the would be disregarded.

I think the actual (if not in the rules)easing of lockdown started with the 2 gov scientists who lost their jobs, then #cumgate, then BLM, then statue protesters, anti-statue protesters, far right joining in. I think it's laughable that the government still hold their daily update because a lot of people have just moved on.

yanbu
the shops should only let a limited amount of people in.

uk will likely remain a 'red' country wrt holiday restrictions.

I can get everything online, but I also want to go into our local independent shops and support them.

I agree with you about supporting local shops, but this is Nike. Hardly a small independent shop struggling.

I think people get caught in a herd mentality of - well those people aren't distancing, so why should I bother. And then it becomes a domino effect.

Also, some people seem to struggle with the concept of a virus and rather than changing their behaviour, they'd rather "brave it out". As if a virus cares, as if the virus is a sentient being.

It's like the Boxing Day sales on crack.

I'm sure they're having a sale (getting rid of summer stock? A/W is coming in now) as I saw a post about bargain trainers.

The rush is madness.

I'm not even adding COVID into the equation either.

*I wish people wouldn't go on about the BLM protests on threads like this. This is about bloody shopping!

The video of George Floyd being murdered was so horrific and so unjustified that it lead to a huge wave of disgust and outrage. I don't think it was something that could wait and it had to be used now, not in a few months when it's a distant memory for some people. Personally I wouldn't go a protest now, but I find it hard to condemn those that did.*

Your second paragraph contradicts your first, nothing in it about shopping.

It'll all calm down. No surprise that's it's madness out there.

Hopefully now people can spend the weekends in shopping centres, our local country park will go back to normal.

The shops opened so they are going to go , we need to shop to get the economy moving .
Don't forget all these staff were furloughed, some of you complaining about that well now they are back at work .
I personally blame the stores , like someone else said supermarkets sorted it quickly so they should know people are queuing outside. It sounds like they have sorted inside the store but not outside .
I'll go in a week or so when not as busy , it's the first day so it's busy like macdonalds and Ikea .

I agree with you about supporting local shops, but this is Nike. Hardly a small independent shop struggling.

But we've already seen that you don't need to be a small local shop to suffer as a result of COVID. Warehouse, Oasis, Laura Ashley, Cath Kidston and Brighthouse have already gone. Debenhams and others are in administration.

And that's not mention all the chains that are permanently closing some of their branches - our local TopShop, Thorntons and River Island aren't going to re-open at all after this.

You don't need to be a small independent to be struggling at the moment. These big chains employ thousands of people, all of whom are now out of a job and who will be claiming benefits for a good while to come. The more we spend on the high street, the more chance there is that people will keep their jobs.

@annabel85 and the far right protests. You can't really say one without referring to the other!! 🙄

I think it's a shame that people's 'normal' that they so desperately want to return to is actually just mass consumerism. The other aspects of 'normality' mentioned on the thread (bumping into friends for a chat etc) have been at our disposal for weeks. As have a very high percentage of the goods being shopped for.

The only difference now is that you can do it in a shop. Why is it better to bump into friends and have a chat in a shop than in the park/in the street? I understand it if it's raining, but... it isn't, it's lovely out, today.

The ship was pulling out of the harbour and the engines fired up when news of Cummings' holiday arrived.

@ActuallyItsEugene

It's like the Boxing Day sales on crack.

I'm sure they're having a sale (getting rid of summer stock? A/W is coming in now) as I saw a post about bargain trainers.

The rush is madness.

I'm not even adding COVID into the equation either.

It's madness but if they're helping save the economy from collapse then let's give them a clap rather than mock them.

Rather that than mass gathering protests which do nothing for the economy but cost more for the taxpayer with policing bills and still spread the virus.

Most of the BLM protests around the country were socially distanced
Do you not watch the news?

Love a bit of mass consumerism, thanks all the same Eckhart.

After the last 12 weeks, if I never have to see the cocking park again it'll still be 6 billion years too soon.

Damn those pesky protestors fighting for equality and social progress, it's the heroes buying new sneakers we need to applaud! Our saviours, what would we do without you!

@annabel85 and the far right protests. You can't really say one without referring to the other!!

I said the ship sailed with the BLM protests. And the far right protests, disgraceful as they were, only happened as a response to those.

Even beaches and parks before then, for the most part, were trying to social distance outside of their own group. The scenes in London over the last few weekends have kind of thrown social distancing out the window.

@annabel85

Oh, I agree with you completely. I'm avoiding this week like I would the Boxing Day sales, I'll be getting stuck in next week.

I'm a bit jealous that I'm not brave enough if I'm honest

Urgh. How depressing. I can't imagine anything more soul crushing than shopping for sneakers and £5 tops at the moment.

@TARSCOUT

Most of the BLM protests around the country were socially distanced Do you not watch the news?

Yes and that's why I know they weren't