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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hope those selfish people on holiday hurry back!

190 replies

Thisismylife1 · 20/12/2020 18:12

We are in a global pandemic, cases rising exponentially. Didn’t take a rocket scientist to anticipate that major restrictions were going to be put in place. It is not the time to take an entirely selfish holiday.

I’ve been flabbergasted at the number of people I’ve seen on social media jetting off to get some sun. We’d all love a holiday but I can’t believe people thought this really was ok!

And now flights are being suspended and people are potentially getting stuck.

AIBU to have limited sympathy?

OP posts:
Puppamumma · 20/12/2020 20:01

I see Sir Captain Tom is in Barbados with his family. I hope they are all okay but still feel it's a risk it would be a horrible turn of events if he got covid after all he has done for the NHS

Original poster
Thisismylife1 · 20/12/2020 20:02

And even in tier 3 wasn’t the message that you should only travel for essential trips - hardly allowed.

OP posts:
RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 20/12/2020 20:06

@Notimeforaname

They chose to go abroad, they now have to face the consequences of that decision even if it means getting stuck I do agree with this though. Happy to see anyone get away or get where they need to but yes that's the risk and should always be in their minds to have a plan B
Yes i agree

Especially as we’ve now all seen what happened earlier in the year when people had to hurry back before quarantine etc

Notimeforaname · 20/12/2020 20:07

I'm not in the uk so its different for us but I did go abroad for 2 weeks in August/September being fully aware that the flight home may be cancelled at any point.
I understood this and went anyway as I had enough money and connections to stay put for some time if needed. Partner going home for xmas understands too. And the flights we have booked for a weekend away at the end of January are fully refundable.
I dont think anybody is really looking for your sympathy. But yes those that go away with no back up plan during these times are taking a big risk. But that's on them, they not to let it bother you so much.

mbosnz · 20/12/2020 20:07

For some of us, who can't afford to be sunning ourselves in a five star hotel, visiting family and home is a greatly treasured holiday.

How sweet that you're not in that position.

Notimeforaname · 20/12/2020 20:08

Try* not they

Livelovebehappy · 20/12/2020 20:10

There are so many individual circumstances for people that you really can’t blanket judge everyone. There are people who are in theory stretching or breaking the rules, but when you hear their situation, they’re really not a threat of spreading the virus. People should be able to self assess and use their common sense.

TheFairyCaravan · 20/12/2020 20:11

I went to Kos in September. We were in the middle of pandemic then, too. It saved my sanity tbh. It was far safer than here. No crowded beaches, proper social distancing and everyone indoors were wearing masks. I’d spent months lying awake at night worrying about my asthmatic son who’d been treating Covid + patients in A&E.

I don’t blame people who’ve gone on holiday now. They’ve done what they were allowed to do. None of us knew that this new variant was coming. None of us knew that Boris was going to pull this rabbit out of the hat. I just hope they all manage to get home.

Yokey · 20/12/2020 20:16

If everyone focused on trying to do the best they can to stop the spread instead of pushing limits, we wouldn’t be in this mess to the same degree.

Absolutely. We could all sit at home, go nowhere, do nothing, see nobody. But they're not the rules. People are trying to preserve what they can of their lives. Who are you to decide what's right? We can make our own choices within rules.

Brighterthansunflowers · 20/12/2020 20:18

I agree, I have zero sympathy for people who May now get stranded overseas because they chose to travel in the middle of a pandemic. It’s been clear for ages that things here were escalating again.

We all need a break ffs! But most of us aren’t selfishly flying around the world potentially spreading new strains of covid in our wake

mbosnz · 20/12/2020 20:19

I thought the message in tier three was that if you were a totally vulgar rich fucker, then you could do whatever the hell you like? You know, one of the toffs and oiks, like wot rules us all?

Pixxie7 · 20/12/2020 20:22

I am very much live and let live, people are tired and Christmas was giving them a focus. Unfortunately Christmas has been cancelled for many people at the last minute. Good luck to them.

Angryandannoyed · 20/12/2020 20:24

Honestly OP. Just get a life.

shrodingersbiscuit · 20/12/2020 20:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

jasjas1973 · 20/12/2020 20:31

@Thisismylife1

Not up to individuals, if the Govt allows flights subject to testing and/or quarantine, then its hardly a surprise that some people do so.

If on the other hand it really is a bad idea, then thats yet another poor decision by the Govt.

Knickerthief1 · 20/12/2020 20:33

We went away back in October and I don't regret it for a minute. We all had to have tests before going and quarantined for a period too. My mental health has plummeted at the moment as it does every winter. I would have got to this point sooner if it hadn't been for that holiday. I would go away again in a heartbeat if I could afford it. The worst thing about this whole situation is people having no understanding of the fact that some struggle more than others to be locked down permanently. I have ADHD and this is more than just not going to the shops for me. I've been looking at 4 walls since October as everything is shut down and right now I'm really not sure if I can keep doing this. So judge away because you're managing ok.

TheSunIsStillShining · 20/12/2020 20:33

@Livelovebehappy

There are so many individual circumstances for people that you really can’t blanket judge everyone. There are people who are in theory stretching or breaking the rules, but when you hear their situation, they’re really not a threat of spreading the virus. People should be able to self assess and use their common sense.
We can see where it led us. People are selfish morons Everyone always have special circumstances. FFS, unless your relative is dying stay the fuck home. Nobody needs a holiday! It's a construct, not a genuine biological need.
GabsAlot · 20/12/2020 20:35

some countries are starting to ban uk travellers so i dont know what happens if youre already there

i suspct alot more will join the list

Fifiox · 20/12/2020 20:35

I just got back from a lovely 5 day break balcony hot tub lovely sunny weather I got sick of looking at the same four walls.
I had a negative covid test just before I went and I'm about to have another covid test.
I don't really care if it's selfish to some people I tested negative and I was allowed to go.

Walkaround · 20/12/2020 20:37

@Thisismylife1

To those posters who are saying I’m jealous - could easily afford to be sunning myself in a 5 star hotel for the next fortnight. This isn’t about my ability to do that but the fact it’s not the right thing to do, let alone the legality. And to be clear I was referring to holidays, not those visiting family. I personally have chosen not to do so but appreciate others have a different view and our government’s inconsistent messaging over Xmas hasn’t helped on the family front.

Maybe I should change my AIBU to say if you decided to go on holiday in the midst of a global pandemic, at a point where cases in your country are rising exponentially, you deserve no assistance, consular or otherwise to get home. I had huge amounts of sympathy for those caught in spring when no one knew any better , but I am struggling to see how I can feel much sympathy for those away purely on holiday, right now. Or am I just jealous?

@Thisismylife1 - not jealous, just unpleasant.
RunnerDown · 20/12/2020 20:44

Op I completely agree. Terrible that people might carry the new variant of the virus to other countries for the sake of a holiday. There are a very few individual cases where travelling may be for compassionate reasons but no excuse otherwise

SatishTheCat · 20/12/2020 20:44

People traveling is a factor though, although not quite as significant as some people think. See this paper:

www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-01009-0?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top&fbclid=IwAR3hInYZV9zr3zfkk8sQaJfZEmB0aLg16EKacYjDDh5DeDmzj-ykKgOp430

The situation needs management from all angles if we are to beat it.

unlikelytobe · 20/12/2020 20:45

There are so many individual circumstances for people that you really can’t blanket judge everyone. There are people who are in theory stretching or breaking the rules, but when you hear their situation, they’re really not a threat of spreading the virus. People should be able to self assess and use their common sense.

This.

Lovemusic33 · 20/12/2020 20:45

I would happily be stuck in a warm country, sat in a beach, sipping cocktails rather than being stuck here 🙂

Yes, people are a bit stupid travelling but they know there’s always a risk of getting stuck somewhere as things are changing all the time.

RaspberryCoulis · 20/12/2020 20:45

I want to ban the word selfish.