To be annoyed at people shopping in families/couples?

[Nicknamegoeshere]

So I went to the supermarket to do my weekly shop today. Left the baby and my OH at home as I understand the current rules re Covid to be shop alone where possible.

Now I totally respect that in certain circumstances there has to be exceptions to this rule e.g. for lone parents, shopping with a vulnerable person etc.

However, there were a huge number of large families (with both parents) shopping today, lots and lots of couples (young/middle-aged) etc.

Why are so many people blatantly ignoring the guidance?

‘@Stripesnomore yes, that's shop workers. Who are in close proximity of each other for long shifts.’

They have to stay 2 metres away from each other. They are not in closer proximity to each other than they are to the customers. The number of customers increases the risk to the workers.

I shop with DH because we enjoy cooking together so it's usually an extension of that. We also don't drive so it takes two of us to get it all home unless we can get it delivered (which is nearly impossible right now).

I'd like to know the difference between "ignoring" and "blatantly ignoring", please.

@MrsMomoa So because it isn't the law I just ignore the fact that I'm putting everyone at greater risk of Covid spread by not shopping alone (just because I fancy it)?

I don't take DC but for a big shop DH comes too.

This is mainly as we shop for my DPs and DGM (between 75 and 95 years old) and I tried to do it alone but got confused between what we needed and what they needed and ended up forgetting tons of stuff and with the limits on items having 2 households with 8 people meant I was having to do multiple trips.

So now DH comes too, we shop with seperate trollies and go around alone, but help each other out with things we can't find. We then meet up to go to the tills together.

I much preferred before when I could pop in during the week and my DPs did their own shopping as we never seem to get it 100% right but as DGM lives with them they are staying indoors as much as possible and we drop their shopping on their doorstep.

@grapewine

This type of thread has me wondering how some people ever coped without guidance and rules from the government, and how they will again.

I wear a mask, sanitise etc, etc and I live alone so go shopping on my own. But I couldn't care less if other people take their friend, partner or parent. As PP upthread: humans will act like humans.

I think some people are loving being told what to do and controlled by the government. Quite scary really.

[quote Nicknamegoeshere]@YoBeaches As an anxiety sufferer myself I respect that. I find shopping really cathartic and it gets me out of the house. However, I don't need to take my husband and three kids with me to do so.[/quote]
Good for you. You'll appreciate not all sufferers experience the same.

@Stripesnomore Totally agree with you. Of course more customers = more risk to everyone!

YANBU OP. I never understood why it was a thing pre-Covid. When my DB and I were little, my parents used to leave us with DGP as we hated it and they hated us hating it. I really don’t get it. Judging by what I see/hear in the supermarkets these days, DC still hate it but for some reason parents insist on taking them 🤷‍♀️.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

@Nicknamegoeshere. You can see that plenty of people are stupid & selfish

Stupid and selfish, going about their business, not breaking the law?
Have a word.

Hope you didn't have any "non-essential" items in your trolley OP, because I mean, how dare you spend longer than you need to in a supermarket than necessary because you were purchasing frivolities right? I mean it's the difference between a grandparent dying or not, right? The sensationalism from covid police officer wannabe's is hilarious sometimes.

It's a request on the part of the supermarkets not a regulation 🤷‍♀️
I'm heavily pregnant with twins - I need DHs help so that means bringing DD. DH could go alone I suppose but then he'd spend twice as much and not actually come home with a weeks worth of meals

Everyone's circumstances are different. This second lockdown is a pointless sham anyway - let people get on with their lives and you get on with yours?

@Hopdathelf

Why does a couple need to go shopping together? It’s clingy, controlling and weird,

What a sad view to take. It’s perfectly normal for one person to help their partner or to run errands together. As you say, there’s no law against it.

There may not be a law against it but I used to be able to shop far more quickly on my own, my late OH would read all the labels! I've no real opinion about people shopping on groups as long as they don't decide to stand around chatting with other groups, blocking the aisles etc., they're a nuisance at normal times as well, that's what the coffee shop's there for.

One of my friends is like this.

She cannot leave her kids home with her useless husband, he is too useless to do a proper shop. Also if she goes alone he won’t contribute to the shopping (no joint finances).

They seem perfectly happy together and he adores her but is a 50s husband and she doesn’t seem to mind that. She also doesn’t drive actually.

We do click and collect with either one going alone for top ups.

YANBU I can't ever remember a time I took my children shopping for a day out. Its a chore not a pastime.

I’ve tried waiting outside but we’re co-joined twins and the automatic doors nearly did for us.

@MrsMomoa You might not be breaking the law if your unsymptomatic child passes Covid to my dad because you fancied shopping as a family, but I'd be pretty upset if he died.

Guidance says you’re only to go out as little as possible.

I follow that. I’m shopping every 10 days/2 weeks

I wfh and I literally see no one except my dd who stays with me 4 days out of 7.

If I don’t get out and see people it’s really bad for my mental health.

I’m already on medication.

I am doing my best to comply with all the guidance.

I can’t even meet a friend for a coffee indoors.

Why in the name of fuck should I not go and pick the bloody food I want to fucking eat without some busybody deciding I’m breaking the rules.

Oh bloody hell draughty

@Nicknamegoeshere

Don't people get why more than one person shopping increases risk? Or do they simply not care? So, in essence, people are putting lives at risk because they "like shopping together" or see it as a bit of a jolly out?!!

What exactly is the increased risk to your elderly parents of a couple doing the shopping as opposed to an individual? A couple will likely either both have covid or neither of them will have it.

If a couple wear masks, maintain social distance and don't touch anything they aren't going to buy, the likelihood of someone catching covid from them individually or together is small.

I’ll Shop With Whoever I want to thank you.

Corona has made people mad, thinking you can tell me who I go shopping with?

@draughtycatflap

I’ve tried waiting outside but we’re co-joined twins and the automatic doors nearly did for us.

Best response yet!

The important thing to remember OP is that internet threads are never representative of average behaviour and attitudes.

I work in retail and there has been a massive decline in people coming in as couples and in family groups. The vast majority of customers are social distancing and coming in alone. Those who don’t often have a reason for needing to bring someone else.

It is a tiny minority who just bring someone else because it will be more enjoyable/like the company/want a trip out together etc.

It is always a tiny group who don’t follow guidelines. If I dwelled on the behaviour of difficult customers, those who are rude or selfish, those who don’t follow guidelines, I couldn’t go to work.

You just have to remember that most people are lovely, but there will always be some who are having a bad day/had a troubled upbringing/aren’t coping etc. That is just life.

[quote Nicknamegoeshere]@MrsMomoa You might not be breaking the law if your unsymptomatic child passes Covid to my dad because you fancied shopping as a family, but I'd be pretty upset if he died.[/quote]

You're a bit hysterical OP
the chances of catching it at the shops are practically zero unless an infected person went around licking all the produce

@OverTheRainbow88

I’ll Shop With Whoever I want to thank you.

Corona has made people mad, thinking you can tell me who I go shopping with?

They're loving the power trip, even though they actually have no power over anyone.