To say that if you are quite covid risk adverse there are some places it’s best not to go

[Scentsandsensible]

Inspired by a few threads and personal experience.

I’m not saying stay at home and be isolated BUT... if you’re someone who is going to have a panic attack if someone gets within a metre it’s probably best to avoid

• busy shopping centres
• theme parks
• pubs

-restaurants

• busy hotels

I do get that this may sound unfair - but it’s the reality. If you feel vulnerable these probably aren’t the best places to go.

@corythatwas if you have to travel for work and are risk averse - it’s not really the hotel that’s the issue - it will be the communal areas where people gather. Which are fairly simple to avoid.

@BirthdayCakes

Yes I know what you mean, I genuinely was walking with DS on the pavement the other a day and a man stepped into the road without looking, so we didn’t have to pass each other I shouted “CAR” at the top of my lungs and rather than jumping back on the path he ran on the road and got back on the path behind me! It really shook me up to be honest! He was clearly very cautious but in that moment he had more chance of death from being hit by that car than walking past me!

[quote Scentsandsensible]@Gardenpad I’m really not surprised. Which is why I wouldn’t go anywhere near a theme park right now.[/quote]
See I've been to theme park.

I'm just careful about my own behaviour.

When I went the other week I had got off a ride and was still in my mask. Was buying a photo for ds he wanted.
Woman and her 5 teens all came right up and literally were leaning over me to see their own photo. That's on a raised screen!

I just say politely. I said it was too close any time but respect guidelines please and step back to at least a meter.

I don't see why people should live inside because others cannot control their behaviour and act sensibly.

I still think it's the ones who don't want to respect the rules that have been placed should at home where they can do as they please!

My mum is on holiday now in a caravan. She wouldn't go to theme park as isn't well enough but does go to restaurants and bars etc.

Yeah the pavement one is fair enough. But passing single file for a few seconds is fine.

But when you are walking and go single file to one side and the couple (usually young people) walking hand in hand down the middle don't do the same - that is rude and shows a lack of social awareness.

@SomewhereEast I think that’s a huge part of it. Despite the rules in place - I’ve been in pubs where people are hugging strangers, a hotel where people were starting to pull up chairs to habe a chat with neighbouring tables etc.
The thing is - it’s going to happen - rules or not.

I wouldn’t be going to a theme park at the moment personally!

But I expect places like pubs and restaurants to have systems in place to keep them safe - and have only been in one (very briefly!) that wasn’t.

The issue isn’t the people who are following the guidance. It’s the small minority of people and places who aren’t bothering

[quote Scentsandsensible]@SomewhereEast I think that’s a huge part of it. Despite the rules in place - I’ve been in pubs where people are hugging strangers, a hotel where people were starting to pull up chairs to habe a chat with neighbouring tables etc.
The thing is - it’s going to happen - rules or not.[/quote]
But it shouldn’t be happening.

The staff should be telling people to put the chairs back and if necessary asking people to leave if they don’t comply.

Venues can’t bury their sand. Not if they want to be able to stay open long term anyway!

Yeah you’re right OP - I mean shielding wasn’t shit enough For them let’s punish them a little more by restricting places they can go with family or carers. It’s really unfair for the amalritejacks of this world to have to consider the feelings and health of other people, who lets face it are probably making up their illness for a parking space, amarite?

Maybe... we could... move everyone who is shielding, vulnerable or anxious to special holiday camps and they can just live there? How’s that for a solution OP?

We can’t have the lives of statue protectors and tin foil hat wearers and sunbathers with no physical boundaries disturbed can we?

Meh.

I've been to the soft play and ate, but lots of cleaning and a member of staff holding out sanitiser for your hands rather than leaving for you to do. But I won't go to restaurant and sit so close for a prelonged period. At soft play I was so far away from the nearest eater and that was for the kids.

I avoid many of those places because there are so many selfish shits who don’t think they need to social distance because they’re out in public. The selfish ones who can’t social distance are the ones who should have to stay at home, but since they won’t I stay out of their way.

@Stinkywizzleteets both of my parents have not left the house (except for a drive) quite literally since the last of lockdown. While that’s extreme - that’s what they are choosing to do to stay safe.

I’m not entirely sure how someone can go from full shielding to say Thorpe Park without accepting that’s quite a level of risk.

I stated clearly in my OP I’m not saying stay home - but a busy pub or tourist attraction probably isn’t right if you are vulnerable - just like it wouldn’t be advisable under usual circumstances for someone with a compromised immune system.

I don't think avoiding those places even means you are risk averse. It just means you understand the science and can see the risk is excessive in some places.

We like to spend a fair amount on leisure activities and the places winning our repeat custom are the ones that have managed to make the experience still enjoyable while also as safe as reasonably possible. so we have done lots of watersports hire and similar activities, and bought takeaway quite a few times.
We tried the cinema once and won't be going back. We tried Hollywood bowl once and won't be going back. We tried ice skating once but won't be going back.

I'm not risk averse I have tried to take a balanced and informed approach to risk and these places were barely even paying lip service to reducing spread.

I agree. Although it's not the way things should be, I accept that if I go somewhere then people won't be following the rules. I can only control my own behaviour so I will avoid crowded places where possible.

YABU, people are supposed to SD where possible and if they cant they should be the ones to stay at home. I've been out, theres only 1 pub that once entering I left as there was no SD. Otherwise I've been out to eat a few times and been able to SD, my DD (ASD) has asked people to step away from her when they were stood right next to her in a queue where there was loads of room. Tbh she hates feeling people right next to her anyway, especially when they stand so she can feel them physically, but its ridiculous in the current situation.

I feel sorry for people who are vulnerable, having to be careful or indoors for months then finally going out where people are supposed to be SD and for no reason aren't.

I agree OP though within each sector there are places that are better than others - a little tearoom has far less space to play with and budget than big chain pubs. We choose wisely taking my parents out

@Scentsandsensible the risk of spread outdoors is vanishingly small. Could you help your parents find some quiet places where they could go for a walk or just sit outdoors? It must be incredibly hard to be still living so locked away

@NeverTwerkNaked that’s a thread in itself. They literally will not go out.

I fucking love social distancing.

I hate people (other than close friends and loved ones) getting within a metre of me at the best of times. Now I feel perfectly entitled to ask the arseholes who stand so close behind me in queues that I can feel their breath to give me some space.

I'm very polite about it though, and they usually oblige.

Thankfully, the 3 local pubs we go to all have good systems in place and are doing table service, so no need to stand at a crowded bar.

I think it's better advice than a lot of people will allow: just because something isn't fair doesn't mean it's not sensible.

The reality is that some people aren't capable of adhering to social distancing guidelines, others could but won't, and even those who are both willing and able may still fuck up sometimes. I certainly have. There's no point pretending any of this isn't true, simply because we don't like it.

So the choice is to either potentially expose oneself to people behaving unsafely or to not go. I've chosen not to go to the pub even though I usually like it, because it would be naïve to expect drunk people to social distance properly. If I change my mind and go, it'll be at my own risk.

@PiataMaiNei you’ve summed up exactly what I mean - but far more succinctly.

On the whole I agree with you op. I am not particularly paranoid about covid, I'm not in an ultra-high-shielding group.

But I have avoided anywhere crowded because I don't need to go to anywhere crowded (apart from the supermarket which can get a bit too busy at times for my liking). I choose to keep myself socially distant, so haven't been to the pub or out for dinner (let alone on a flight or on holiday!) because that's what I prefer. If I chose to go to Alton Towers or somewhere I would take responsibility for my own choice.

I have elderly relatives who are in the ultra-high-shielding group. They have been out for walks but that is all, it's a great shame for many of them. But I would NOT expect them to go somewhere very crowded for no apparent reason just now ... they still need to be cautious if they want to avoid catching the virus. They can't expect everyone else in society to do it for them.

No, I don't agree at all, I am nervous yes, but want to do things with my little boy, as its good for him to get some normality back, and be around others at a safe distance. So I've been to the zoo, although felt quite anxious, many people weren't keeping their distance. We're all supposed to be following the social distancing guide lines, hardly fair for you to suggest that nervous people should stay home or avoid these places. We have a right to a nice day out while feeling as safe as possible. If some people can manage it, why can't everybody.

@Nicecupofcoco as someone said upthread - while things may not be fair - they are still sensible.

"If some people can manage it, why can't everybody."

Because that's just unrealistic! Remember the woman who was shocked at so many people on the beach at Durdle Door? She seemed nice enough didn't she, but she totally didn't get it.