To be shocked at how dystopian going shopping feels now?

[GratefulLove]

Today I went shopping in my town centre for the first time since early March. I just could not process how different it all is now. Last time I was in town I remember picking up a box of paracetamol and some hand sanitiser in Boots "just in case" but aside from that it all felt normal albeit a little like the calm before the storm.

Today though. Hand sanitiser everywhere, one-way systems, floor markings. Obviously I knew all this existed from social media and the news but seeing my town, my familiar town so completely different has floored me in a way I didn't expect. Shops selling hand sanitiser and masks - I expected this in Boots and other pharmacies but I didn't expect Primark to have rows and rows of hand sanitiser by the tills. I didn't expect shopping to feel so clinical, it felt like a hospital visit.

I was in one shop and there were a group of young children playing and joking around with each other. They did not have masks on and seeing them playing around just looked so normal and then I looked around and saw all the adults with masks just looking expressionless and almost soulless. It just looked so frightening.

We are months into this pandemic and I still can't believe this is all real. It still feels like a film. I don't know, with the daily conferences now a thing of the past and headlines now involving more topics than just the coronavirus it kind of felt like things were slowly getting back to normal but this really cemented that they are nowhere near normal.

Also I just want to say how much I appreciate all retail workers.

[Lindy2]

We have family visiting the area and thought we'd go out for a meal and catch up. Couldn't do it as nowhere was willing to seat us together (5 adults plus 4 children)and we would have had to be at separate, socially distanced tables and not allowed to mix between the two at all.

Why did you expect to book for 9 people when it's very widely communicated that tables must be no more than 6?

I'm not sure you've been paying attention to what's actually been happening around the world over the last few months. Things are rather different right now to try to limit the spread of a global pandemic. It's somewhat naive to expect to be able to carry on the same as before.

[Bellesavage]

My daughter and I play a game where I pull a rude face at random people under my mask and she has to guess what face I've pulled and mimic it. It reduces the tension in shopping somewhat.

[BoxhillBertha]

I guess shopping isn't my hobby. It's a practical thing for me. I've also met and chatted with friends while masked up. Bought takeaway coffee. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's not dystopian, change your mindset! It's people reacting to a situation and doing their best to help.

[Wecandothis99]

Going shopping and seeing all this makes me feel safe, I actually like that and the quiet shops. The virus can suck it but shopping right now is really ok for me

[PhilCornwall1]

Going shopping and seeing all this makes me feel safe, I actually like that and the quiet shops. The virus can suck it but shopping right now is really ok for me

I expect the owners hate that their shops are quiet though. Enjoy them whilst they survive.

[AnotherEmma]

"Safe"

Most overused meaningless word in current usage

I certainly didn't feel fucking safe when I went into a shop and they locked the door behind me.

No means of escape in a fire, but never mind, at least they are protecting me from the imaginary risk of covid in case someone else opens the door to the shop and puts everyone at risk due to the whopping 0.00001% chance of them a. having it and b. Infecting us with it!

[BoxhillBertha]

I expect the owners hate that their shops are quiet though. Enjoy them whilst they survive

What a mean comment. At least that poster is making the best of shopping. It's the posters moaning about masks and sanitiser and dystopia who put oeople off shopping!

[PhilCornwall1]

@BoxhillBertha

I expect the owners hate that their shops are quiet though. Enjoy them whilst they survive

What a mean comment. At least that poster is making the best of shopping. It's the posters moaning about masks and sanitiser and dystopia who put oeople off shopping!

Mean? It's called reality.

There are at least two shops that I know of in the town I live in closing as they have reduced footfall and cannot make enough to pay the rent on the premises and will be going online only. So yet more empty shops and staff redundant as they won't be needed. So not mean, just the reality of what's happening and as this goes in longer, will only get worse.

[KatherineJaneway]

I can understand how you feel like that if you've not been shopping since March. You get used to it.

[wanderings]

I'm refusing to go to actual shops until Boris the Clown allows more normality. If he wants us to spend money to line his pockets, having snatched away many of our means of earning it, he can whistle and wait.

Thank you @FrenchPastry. People keep saying "it's temporary" and "it won't be forever". Does Boris know this? He has hardly said anything to reassure us that these measures will come to an end. "Normal by Christmas" may yet be disproved, he said nothing about masks being temporary, and he thinks we've forgotten "we can turn this around in twelve weeks"...

[Freddofrogshop]

I actually think things are slowly improving.
I've noticed in most the shops I've been in the last week or so, the one way signs have gone, as have the 2 m floor markings, and the places feel more relaxed.
No queues, hand sanitizer if you want it and wear a mask. That's all.
I think everyone knows to social distance now, and we dont need floor stickers showing us how to do it.
It takes the stress away, being able to retrace your steps if you want to

[BoxhillBertha]

Yes it's reality, shops will close. So good for those people still shopping and making the best of it. Our town is actually quite busy now. Zero covid cases and none in the local hospital.

[BoxhillBertha]

It's never occurred to me to blame Boris Johnson when I have to wear a mask.

[Londonlassy]

Wearing masks here in Australia not mandatory where I am but highly encouraged (NSW). I wear it because it’s absolutely the right thing to do but it’s claustrophobic and it sucks the joy out of the small pleasure that was pottering around the shops. I think everyone of us has days when this new reality slaps us down to the ground

[Aridane]

I actually prefer it this way; it’s more orderly, places are cleaner, people are keeping their distance. It makes shopping so much easier and a much smoother experience.

I agree - food shopping at peak times is no longer the jostling scrum it used to be. However, shopping as a leisure activity has gone for me - though I stop like browsing the open air food markets And selecting the odd delicacy

[Aridane]

I also hate the hand sanitizer to use whenever you walk in a shop. Some of them are really sticky & leave your hands soaking for ages!

Er - bring your own?

[Friendsoftheearth]

You will get used to it, but I don't enjoy shopping anymore and only go now when I have to, it is an uncomfortable experience. I stick to activities that do not require masks, and open air markets have become my new favourite shopping destinations!

[Minesril]

Why does everyone compare this to the handmaid's tale? There are other dystopian books which don't involve women being raped!

I don't mind the mask wearing. We went to John Lewis to buy some lights (brought our first home in oct and are very excited to turn it into our home!) and had a great time choosing them.

[StealthPolarBear]

Can you imagine trying to explain handshaking to our grandchildren / great grandchildren? I suspect they'll understand what it was but not why we did it!

[KatherineJaneway]

It's never occurred to me to blame Boris Johnson when I have to wear a mask.

We'd never have to wear them if Corbyn won, dontcha know

[happylittlevegemites]

I’ve always hated shopping, so haven’t missed it :D

I have always work a mask at work (clinical setting) but now wear one all the time. You learn to smile with your eyes and laugh with your shoulders. A genuine smile is more than turning up the corners of your mouth. Non verbal cues ARE a bit trickier. But it gets easier with practice.

[Yester]

Having spent much of my childhood in a communist state I think your idea of dystopian and mine differ somewhat.

[speakout]

I understand OP.

I am one of these people who smile at at strangers a lot especially women of my own age- just a little acnowledgement of a probable shared life experience of planet earth.

I really miss that. We can't smile, in fact we are scowling behind our marks, in fear that someone gets a little too close, or coughs.
I don;t want to pick up products to read labels, I feel touching stuff then replacing them on shelves is being judged.
I was never a fan of shopping anyway, and I avoid them as much as I can now.

[SnuggyBuggy]

I get what you mean although I think we should keep the hand sanitizer, be good for winter bug season in general. I used to love a good mooch round the shops and a coffee but now I only do boring essentials.

[Goyle]

I live in London, and went to the West End with DD recently to fetch school things. Foyle was busy, no fucks given to SD and it's crammed as full as it ever was with tables full of books in it.

Marks and Spencer Pantheon store was DEAD. No changing rooms open, which made me realise why it was dead. Why schlep all the way into town to buy clothes when you can't try them on first? You might as well order it online, try it on in your own bedroom, and if you don't like it, return it in the post. Cheaper than the cost of an Oyster fare on the tube and bus. The assistant said, if the clothes don't fit, just bring them back for refund or exchange. This is very odd to me.

Oxford Street overall was quiet. It was dying on its arse before lockdown anyway. Compared to my local "town centres" in South London that are busy all day, I mean.