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 I hope you didn’t clap the NHS. You’d be a hypocrite if you did.

The rules are farcical. I live in a seaside town. None of the locals are flocking to the beaches, but the government are actively encouraging people from all over the country to flock down here. I've just had a baby. I have to think long and hard about seeing friends and family at what should be a happy time. Weddings with very limited guests, funerals the same. Meanwhile you've got Rishi (who for some reason I credited with more sense) pushing people to go out for cheap meals on August, to "do our bit" for the country. Are you following that rule, OP?

I think anyone who blindly follows these rules needs their head tested to be honest.

The people who invented the guidelines dont think its necessary to follow them. So forgive me if I dont take them seriously either.

It's not our fault you lack critical thinking and want to blindly follow rules

Some pretty will follow the rules that fit with their needs and wants. Everything else is ignored . Selfish people.

*people

I also despair of people who clearly know nothing about numbers banging on about the R rate.

What's the point of this thread OP? Did you want a medal for sticking to the rules? Are you talking about actual rules or ones you have made up to revel in the misery of lockdown? You cant pick and choose which ones you like. Whether YOU like it or not people are now allowed to go to the hairdressers, meet up with other households, and stay over. If you dont want to do them that is entirely your choice but you cant criticise others for doing so.

It is so fucking tedious to still see these threads daily. They have such a dull air of superiority about them. 'But I care so much more about others' 'I'm a better human being who isn't murdering others with my selfish ways' 'Why cant everyone stay locked up at home until a vaccine'.

I bet you are one of those who is secretly disappointed that all these promised second waves havent materialised yet. I question your morals frankly.

No, you aren't the only one following "the rules" - although they are guidelines as others have said.
I have followed the guidelines and still do - that's because I feel more comfortable that way. We are actually advised to 'do the right thing' though.

The difference is I don't fret about other people slowing lifting lockdown differently, if families are huddling in their homes I'm not going to get upset about it. If someone is standing too close I ask them to move back politely; if I'm asked to go somewhere I feel is not safe for me, I politely decline....no problem, no need to fret about it, just say no.

We all have to get back to some sort of normality at some point.

However, I also choose to wear a mask and gloves when out in public, that's also my way of feeling safer (along with plenty of washing hands and distancing)...you are free to take extra precautions if you don't feel others are doing their bit, rather than getting upset about what others are doing.

Out of interest - do people think the virus has gone? Talk of "waves" seems to inflame passions on here so I'll leave aside any mention of that, but what about rises in the numbers of infection? Do you think that won't happen? Or further localised lockdowns?

Is it all over?

OP you are not alone in following the guidelines or in the way that you feel.
We as a family are following them and we appear to be in the minority. At first I felt annoyed with others who had clearly decided they would apply ‘common sense’ but not anymore.
One day my children will ask about the pandemic and what we did. I’ll be able to hold my head up and be honest with them about our behaviour and actually feel proud. There won’t be many who can do the same.

@epythymy

It's not our fault you lack critical thinking and want to blindly follow rules

This type of post is not necessary imo.

@FilthyforFirth I think it bothers me because other people’s actions affect me and affect the future course of the virus which then affects mine and my family’s life.

Out of interest - do people think the virus has gone? Talk of "waves" seems to inflame passions on here so I'll leave aside any mention of that, but what about rises in the numbers of infection? Do you think that won't happen? Or further localised lockdowns?

No I don't think it has gone, but given it looks like it is here for the forseeable, I am not prepared to put my life on hold any longer.

I keep an eye on cases in my area (which are low at the moment, SE London), and if they rise I will exercise more caution.

I went to the hairdresser because they said they were protecting me. They didn’t, it was just lip service. That’s not on.

Has everybody seen the parallel thread currently going on about lockdown having trashed the economy and being a total over reaction.
I believe it was started by a household who’d both lost their jobs and now have no way to survive.

There’s just as much anger and disgust on there But aimed in the opposite direction.

@labyrinthloafer

No, it isn’t but it makes the poster feel better 🙄

@PymChurchBeach

Out of interest - do people think the virus has gone? Talk of "waves" seems to inflame passions on here so I'll leave aside any mention of that, but what about rises in the numbers of infection? Do you think that won't happen? Or further localised lockdowns?

No I don't think it has gone, but given it looks like it is here for the forseeable, I am not prepared to put my life on hold any longer.

I keep an eye on cases in my area (which are low at the moment, SE London), and if they rise I will exercise more caution.

That seems sensible @PymChurchBeach, but I think we need to exercise more caution to prevent the numbers rising. Otherwise isn't it locking the door after the horse is gone?

I'm worried that other people not social distancing will prevent my child from being able to attend school regularly in the autumn. I do think that if numbers rise school will be the first thing they take off the table. I wish people would just wear masks and social distance indoors, its not really as difficult as some people are making it out to be. Its certainly easier than homeschooling while trying to work

So stay home @lilgreen. No one is forcing you to leave your home. But you cannot expect others to also stay home.

To answer a PP no of course the virus hasnt gone. But we know more about it now than we did in March. I think local lockdowns will happen more frequently, which is entirely the correct thing to do. It remains to be seen how badly things may or may not flare up over winter. But I refuse to put my entire life on hold to stay home until a vaccine is found, which is what the moaners on this thread really want, as that frankly could be years. If we enter another lockdown nationally, so be it, I will stick to those rules as I did the first one. But for the minute I will do all the things the rules allow me.

One day my children will ask about the pandemic and what we did. I’ll be able to hold my head up and be honest with them about our behaviour and actually feel proud. There won’t be many who can do the same.

The many could simply hold their head up, be honest and say, once we could go out, we just got on with our lives.

Lockdown has trashed the economy.

But that does not mean lockdown was wrong, because the trashing effect of an uncontrolled peak was always going to have been far worse. Even arch capitalist Tories got that, and have adopted the kind of 'spend' policy that would usually be utter anathema.

I'm not one for following rules and the UK government's so called guidelines make no sense to me, almost as if they were being made up on the spot with no real overall plan.

Work has been much more cautious since January. They increased capacity on the network, sent everyone office based to test all of us WFH early in March then told us to say WFH since then, weeks before the UK lockdown.

Since then, I have been out for a walk most days sometimes with a friend but otherwise in touch with friends (and Bookgroup etc ) via videoconference. The few times I'm been into the local pharmacy or post office I have worn a mask.

I am very grateful to everyone such as the delivery people who have made this possible for me. My life would be very different if I had younger or older dependents, so appreciate that this does not work for everyone.

It is good to know that I am probably not passing the virus on to anyone else. Does anyone else wonder whether they might be an asymptomatic spreader?

But you dont have to put your life on hold @FilthyforFirth. Don't the rules allow you to do plenty now? So if you want to shop, eat out, go on holiday etc etc you can. You just need to social distance and if indoors wear a mask. Why can't we all just stick to that?

I’m not staying at home. Didn’t say I was. I’ve been working the whole time as a key worker. The thread is about flouting the rules, the rules allow you to work and see others but safely.

I am so shocked by the vitriol on this post ! The problem with doing what people think is right for them is totally ignoring the risk they put to others ! This is a 2 way street. I follow the guidelines for to protect myself and my family but also everyone around me ! I really thought we’d emerge from this virus as a kinder country, clearly I was mistaken.