To feel like the only person following the f***ing rules??!!

[Stressingismyhobby]

I know the social distancing rules are contradictory, confusing and mostly bollocks but I don't think I'm above them and follow them as closely as possible.

But hardly anyone else I know does. I've just seen a picture of a friend wearing a mask in a taxi...to go to her friend's house with a load of other friends. All pictured together huddled on the sofa.

A family member keeps posting pics on FB with her kids gathered with all their friends.

And I've been invited to a party in a week's time at someone's house with lots of other people.

Videos of kids running to hug both their grandparents (my kids would love to do that!)

We met with some friends outside a week or two ago who also (without us knowing) invited other people so our group was bigger than 6.

I had to say no to giving someone a lift in my car the other day.

And so it goes on.

I feel like I'm the boring, goody two shoes who's always having to decline invites or say things like "I'm not really sure we're supposed to do that yet" etc only to be met with sighs or rolled eyes. I'm constantly being put in situations that make me feel uncomfortable. I'm made to feel like the bloody fun police who is making live difficult for everyone!

Anybody else feel like this???

@EnlightenedOwl - so are you happy with the current rate of infections? Deaths? The 'r' rate? Because it seems to me that countries who have waited to be told what to do are doing much better than us.

I think people are forgetting that now the government guidelines say we can be in bubbles with 2 households. I agree that some people have been taking the p* not keeping themselves as safe as asked but we can't all judge based in a picture. I think OP that your friends are probably totally fine with your decision and rather than them rolling their eyes like you think they are probably just missing your company and can't help feel a little disappointed. Dont feel bad, your staying safe, they are just doing things a differently.

@LettyBriggs - so you think it's ok to just lock old people away? Never mind them, they're old, it doesn't matter, they can give up life? How do you think you'd feel if you were old? Pretty horrible attitude.

I simply don't understand people disregarding the rules, do they believe they're made up for no reason? What's the argument for not following the guidelines?
@cardibach I do totally understand what you're saying...

@Stressingismyhobby

You are not being unreasonable at all. Thank you for posting. I despair at people saying "I'll do my own risk assessment" or "That's your choice, I'll make my own choice". Well no. You're not an epidemiologist. This is not how public health policy works.

Why does the UK have the highest # of deaths in Europe? Why does the UK have the highest # of cases in Europe? Why are cases no longer declining? Why does much of the UK now have R rates of over 1?

So unless you're a virologist, infectious disease expert or other public health expert, please stop " making your own risk assessment " and follow the ( pretty lax) government guidelines.

[quote luckylavender]@EnlightenedOwl - so are you happy with the current rate of infections? Deaths? The 'r' rate? Because it seems to me that countries who have waited to be told what to do are doing much better than us. [/quote]
Deaths mainly in very elderly or very compromised or at end of life. Now that puts a different perspective on it doesn't it

I don't spend hours fervently studying rates and charts.

@Whycantibeapuppy

YANBU. I’ve been invited to the pub 5 times since they opened. You can’t pay me to go. I do the weekly shop masked up and I’m usually one of about 10 about of the shop that is. I still step away from other people to give them space when walking the dog. I believe the second wave is imminent and I plan for me and my family to survive it!

What a miserable life you have

Wow. I have had a break from mumsnet for a bit and now I remember why.
So many nonsense figures quoted here.
For us in England, our luck with a second wave will depend on the weather. If it stays fine for the summer, then hopefully our R number will stay low and we’ll see very few new cases (transmission is greatest in people inside and less than 2m apart for more than 15mins).
We should be doing what Scotland has done and be aiming for near-elimination, so that we can treat outbreaks using the usual communicable disease control measures.
No one knows the medium or long term impact of this virus. We are bloody stupid as a society if we take a punt that it’s probably all going to be ok. We do know it causes long-term lung damage, has neurological effects and causes death (and no, it’s not just in people who were old/going to die anyway, ffs)
The quicker we can get infections down low, the quicker we can get back to bloody normal.

@Mimi85

I simply don't understand people disregarding the rules, do they believe they're made up for no reason? What's the argument for not following the guidelines? *@cardibach* I do totally understand what you're saying...

See, that seems a contradictory point. That’s why I’m disregarding the, I do now think they are made up for no reason - otherwise they wouldn’t just abandon them for schools, surely?

I'm done with it all to be honest, but I try to keep my distance in public and people should respect you if you want to continue to follow the rules, no one should make you feel like an idiot.

OP, good on you for following the rules and who cares what anyone else thinks! Do what you feel most comfortable with. Seems like you've a pretty balanced approach so you minimise risk of getting/passing on the virus and looking after your own mental health. We're in more than we're out these days as I find dining out a rather depressing experience.

Kids are allowed hug their grandparents, under 12 dont need to socially distant so thats not breaking the rules? Your allowed up to like 13 folk in your garden?

Completely agree.
My best friend had lockdown twins after years of IVF.
I haven’t met them yet and I am so sad.

I’m a teacher. I can’t run the risk of taking any germs with me from school or taking any germs with me to school.
I’m lonely and sad.
Then little Jonny walks into our bubble on Monday morning saying there was an all night party at his house over the weekend rammed full of people. Then we get to share a tiny classroom all week where he sits forward facing in his row and breathes at me.
It gives me the rage. Then it makes me cry.

Y A N B U

I don't write that often, as anyone who recognises my name will testify.

My fiancee has been sheilding, and is very cautious. She's a cancer patient, and has an autoimmune condition (so her immune system is zero!). She often tells me off for being to friffolourls with the rules.

So nope you're not being a goody two shoes.
an ostentatiously virtuous person.

You are being cautious, and in today's environment, that's good. We need more like you.

Just don't be anal about it, or even boastful, no likes a know-it-all!

@Mimi85

Follow the rules I say, and be proud of it. It's simply not fair on the wider community to do whatever you feel like... If you do end up in hospital because of your own negligence, it's the taxpayer picking up the bill

Ah that's ok if it's the tax payer picking up the bill, I am one and I pay a shitload. I think I've paid for a visit or two then.

@NervousinYorkshire I'm also shielding and in Yorkshire. I have to go back to work on 3rd August and am feeling very apprehensive.
My daughter's gone back to work in a hotel which claims to be 100% Covid safe but she tells horror stories of staff (management mainly) not keeping proper track of which tables have and have not been sanitised and being shifted at a moment's notice to "hosting". This means standing by the door collecting details and seating non resident, "walk in" guests, not having a clue of what tables are available where, leading to her having to go and look for free, sanitised tables, vacating her post so that others then wander in off the street and, "help themselves" to tables while nobody is looking.
She comes home stressed to the eyeballs!
Nothing and nobody will persuade me out to eat for many months to come.

@Stressingismyhobby

Don’t bother arguing with people who are going on about drink driving not being comparable to COVID-19 rules.

It quite obviously is, but the people arguing against it are all - not following the rules - so instead of being logical. They got offended or angry and decided to make any excuse to back up their views. If they don’t, then they’re the bad guys and they can have that.

I’m sure there’s going to be some backlash from my comment, but everyone’s allowed an opinion (but not when the majority don’t agree, oops forgot about that rule).

They aren’t rules. They never have been. They are guidelines. Government advice. And most people started thinking for themselves weeks ago.
This. The fact that the guidelines are different in Scotland etc proved there is no absolute - YABU to complain about other people's risk assessments.

The beach gatherings were about 10 days ago. Where's the spike? No, non-existent.

The beach gatherings were about 10 days ago. Where's the spike? No, non-existent.

I'm glad there seem to be more rule followers than not here... There is hope yet!

All I want is for other people to social distance from me -so the 2m,and in situations where they can't I would like them to wear masks,properly.
That doesn't seem like a big deal,particularly the 2m.
What has actually happened when I go out,which I have done,is that I've needed to spend time and energy trying to keep distant from people who won't try at all to keep distant from me.But that's the thing that reduces my risk.Their deciding they aren't bothered impacts me.Them too,but I agree if they are prepared to risk my infecting them they can take that decision - but they are then taking that decision for me as well.
And it's over such a little thing,keeping away from people.
It won't stop you seeing your friends,or spending,it won't trash the economy...

@PhilCornwall1 my comment was to say we are all in this together, people should not be selfish....we are all blessed with the NHS so we shouldn't take the p

We are not all in this together and it is laughable to say so.

A 95 year old woman with pre existing respiratory problems) is in this with me (single parent in her thirties. Very fit and healthy. With two fit and healthy children separate to return to school).

Desperate to return to school