Outside walks and people

[CharlotteRose90]

No hate please but I’m hoping I’m not the only one.

So me and my mum have been going for walks with the dog and it’s making me so angry what people are doing. Walking so close to us and not keeping distance. We’re both in the vulnerable category and I’ve said so many times to people to move away.

I completely get you don’t have to wear a mask but don’t walk next to or behind people you don’t know. The park we choose today had a massive path and people still did it. I ended up shouting at this woman for standing next to my mum and coughing.

Rant over. I’m hoping I’m not crazy

[quote NikeDeLaSwoosh]@Inkpaperstars

It’s not me doing the ‘othering’ though, it’s the virus.

I know the frothers like to advance the argument that we are all at risk from the virus, but it simply isn’t the case. The average age of a Covid death is greater than the average life span of a human. Furthermore, only 377 healthy people under 60 have died in the UK.

Also, eugenics doesn’t mean what you think it means.[/quote]
Well, we are all at risk but not at equal risk I agree. The ‘othering’ I was referring to was feeling comfortable with telling people that because they are more at risk from the virus they somehow have less right to go outside and try to use public space in a way that benefits them.

As for a Nazi eugenics, please feel free to explain further you may be right in that I misused the term. What I tried to say was that the Nazi’s attempted use of eugenics and attitudes about breeding a master race with no physical weaknesses as they saw them was part of the same attitude that made them comfortable with treating anyone seen as ‘unhealthy’ as a lesser person with fewer rights.

@Gwenhwyfar

"Even though the risk might be minuscule it's still a risk many of us would rather not take."

Do you generally avoid miniscule risks in everyday life? Do you avoid going downstairs in case you fall? Do you not eat in case you choke? Do you not cross the road? It's important to keep things in perspective isn't it?

Well I'm asthmatic and was initially placed on the 'shielding' list. So perhaps the risk is slightly less minuscule for me. I was hosptialised due to an asthma attack in 2018 and given oxygen for 12 hours. I'd rather avoid that happening again at the moment, either due to catching Covid or just asthma, given that the hospitals are running low on oxygen.

If i went for a walk and someone told me to “move away “ id be livid. If someone claims to be that vulnerable well stay at home . Id tell you that to your face too.

YABU there are so few places for people to go you need to expect to share s public park! If you don’t like it, go very early or late. There are probably people there who are nervous about dogs -they might justifiably feel aggrieved that there are so many dogs about. Would give them the same advice.

The chances of passing covid in an outdoor space are very small indeed. Unless they are coming closer than is normally socially acceptable under normal circumstances, this is not really something to worry about.

Some people have always been rude on paths, joggers and some bikers being the worst IME. That is annoying but also not particularly dangerous.

But if people are bunching up behind you my guess is they are walking faster but don't want to pass in case they bother you. So it would be polite to step aside or maybe indicate they can go round.

Of course we don’t own the paths I agree. But in a pandemic it is a bit annoying to become a destination and to be glared to for being in the place you live by someone unaware that they have blocked a bridle way with their car is pretty irritating also. That is why we all have to be tolerant

The park we choose today
You have a choice of parks.
Lucky you
Choose a less busy one

[quote GintyMcGinty]**@Blondiney* Even though the risk might be minuscule it's still a risk many of us would rather not take.*

Do you avoid every single minuscule risk in life?[/quote]
You simply cannot say that as a fact. Even though the risk might be minuscule it's still a risk many of us would rather not take.

Please see reply to PP, can't be arsed to type it again.

@MrsDThomas

If i went for a walk and someone told me to “move away “ id be livid. If someone claims to be that vulnerable well stay at home . Id tell you that to your face too.

You sound lovely. Like a person who has no respect for social distancing whatsoever. Where would we be if everyone was like you?

YANBU

The example you give of the woman coughing right next to you both shows some people are oblivious to social distancing and what is appropriate behaviour. That is bad even in non-pandemic times.
It sounds like you are trying your best to give people space but many people aren’t giving you the same common courtesy.
Maybe some people think that being outdoors means there is no risk? 🤷🏻‍♀️

The chances of passing it on in an outdoor space can be anything from negligible to high, depending on duration of exposure, density of crowd, whether or not respiration is more forceful due to exercise/singing etc. The risk of passing it on outside is certainly not zero, although hopefully low. That isn’t with regard to the newer strain currently causing problems, I know nothing about whether that had higher/lower/similar outdoor transmission.

If i went for a walk and someone told me to “move away “ id be livid. If someone claims to be that vulnerable well stay at home . Id tell you that to your face too.

I would be very hesitant to ask anyone to move away, due to not wanting to risk a verbal exchange which would raise risk, not wanting to be spat on, not wanting to be stabbed etc. I would prefer to just pass as quickly as possible. Also, where I live passing people very close by is an occurrence on every walk I have been on and much of the time it is nobody’s fault, it is just the urban environment. However, if you are in a position to give someone space and you don’t bother to do your part, you are in the wrong. Saying whatever you want to their face wouldn’t change that.

Same as supermarkets. The only thing you can do is make sure that you move. Whish is why I'm only happy being in not too busy places. Then I know I can distance even if no one else bothers.

I do think the chances of catching covid outdoors from a passerby is low though. But understand caution.

Apologies for bold fail!

@MrsDThomas

If i went for a walk and someone told me to “move away “ id be livid. If someone claims to be that vulnerable well stay at home . Id tell you that to your face too.

Your compassion and kindness towards others is overwhelming 🤦🏻‍♀️

You simply cannot say that as a fact. Even though the risk might be minuscule it's still a risk many of us would rather not take.

Please see reply to PP, can't be arsed to type it again.

Not understanding the difference between risk assessment and facts is your problem. A potential risk, by it's nature, isn't a fact - it is something that may or may not happen.

All the studies suggest that passing covid outside in this kind of situation is not a risk - it almost certainly won't happen. No, no one can state ita a certainty. But we could compare it to other risks. Chances of you being injured in a car accident on the way to the park, for example, is probably a higher risk - driving is one of the riskier things we do.

If people want to avoid that level of risk, by all means, they can stay inside and perhaps they will be safe (so long as they don't slip in the bathroom.) What they cannot do is tell everyone else to stop driving even within speed and safety recommendations, or to stop walking on the paths in the park in a perfectly safe scenario.

thepeopleversuswork
Where do you get your data from about risk outside being "absolutely mnimal"? You just do not have enough information to make that statement and it could seriously mislead anyone on here who reads it. It is just wishful thinking because you do not know and cannot know the extent of any risk. Also you do not know the vulnerability to infection of any particular person you pass, so who are you to make a judgement about how much risk they should be put to ?

This to me is the nature of the 'entitled' attitude we read about on here - not those wanting to walk in safety from selfish other people, as is often put on here, but thinking that you have a right to assess other people's risk and act accordingly, even though you cannot possibly know.

we need better outdoor leisure facilities where there's space for everyone!!

I was walking along a high, narrow sea wall on my way for a swim to try to stay healthy this summer.

A young man and woman, deep in conversation, walked towards me without looking where they were going. I was naturally disinclined to make a suicidal leap over the edge and shouted, in a friendly voice, "would you mind walking in single file so we can distance please?"

At which point he waved his hand in my face and said "I'm not bothering with all of that, I'm young if I get it I get it" before strolling past me and brushing against me.

I turned and asked him whether he was worried about passing the virus on to others, at which point he started shouting at me along the lins of "If you're at risk you should be staying home in bed" and then, "It's people like you who will put a strain on the NHS"

Which was very cheeky as, as an older women with a disability, I need to exercise, in water, to stay fit and not be a burden on the NHS. The only way to access the sea was via the wall and surely, virus or no virus, it is polite and sensible to be careful around other people when navigating a narrow, potentially dangerous wall?

I just couldn't believe how rude he was and I'm afraid I called him some nasty names.

I have also, recently experienced a 4 person wide group of adults walking towards me and getting very offended if I sked if they would mind giving me distance.

I could have avoided them by walking into the flooded, wet and muddy field in my nice clean shoes but why cannot people just be a bit considerate of others?

If it's possible to just step aside into a path or someone's garden then I just do it. It is not always possible and I need to get outside to exercise.

Also I don't understand why people crowd against others in a pandemic when it's completely uneccesarry.

It's one thing to be somewhere when it suddenly gets crowded, I don't like those situations and just try to get away ASAP, but why are people so selfish in situations where paying attention, being considerate and walking in single file for just a few seconds, rather than in a group, is easy to do and keeps others safe?

I appreciate that people have made sacrifices, I have made many sacrifices to keep others safe, but it doesn't mean that I'm suddenly going to just breeze into other people's space and put them at risk if I can avoid it.

Nope, it’s just rude to shout at people. There is nowhere else to go than for a bloody walk, obviously there will be quite a few people.

It is annoying when people walk 3 abreast, filling the width of a pavement. That's always been annoying. Also when people stand far apart to have a chat, one against the wall, and one on the curb. They clearly want to maintain social distancing, otherwise they'd be stood next to each other, and yet they force everyone to walk between them, halfing the social distance. Why can't they both be by the wall?

Just got back from a walk with DH (live in central London). Why do couples refuse to let go of each others’ hands when walking on narrow pavements? We’ll always walk single file under those circumstances. I guess we’re just not In Luuurve enough...

If you’re all that worried about catching something well you should all stay at home. Its the open air, countryside. Go out to enjoy it, not worry.

Not understanding the difference between risk assessment and facts is your problem. A potential risk, by it's nature, isn't a fact - it is something that may or may not happen.

@ChestnutStuffing I wish that was my problem and not my dodgy asthmatic lungs but thanks for your concern, it's much appreciated.

Totally agree. We are supposed to be social distancing at 2m but Jane walking her dog thinks she knows better because she believes the risknos rwduced outsidenso she'll do what the Fuck suits her and to hell with guidelines, advice or anyone else.

With this new variant she should all be distancing as much as possible.

@hoodathunkit

I was walking along a high, narrow sea wall on my way for a swim to try to stay healthy this summer.

A young man and woman, deep in conversation, walked towards me without looking where they were going. I was naturally disinclined to make a suicidal leap over the edge and shouted, in a friendly voice, "would you mind walking in single file so we can distance please?"

At which point he waved his hand in my face and said "I'm not bothering with all of that, I'm young if I get it I get it" before strolling past me and brushing against me.

I turned and asked him whether he was worried about passing the virus on to others, at which point he started shouting at me along the lins of "If you're at risk you should be staying home in bed" and then, "It's people like you who will put a strain on the NHS"

Which was very cheeky as, as an older women with a disability, I need to exercise, in water, to stay fit and not be a burden on the NHS. The only way to access the sea was via the wall and surely, virus or no virus, it is polite and sensible to be careful around other people when navigating a narrow, potentially dangerous wall?

I just couldn't believe how rude he was and I'm afraid I called him some nasty names.

I have also, recently experienced a 4 person wide group of adults walking towards me and getting very offended if I sked if they would mind giving me distance.

I could have avoided them by walking into the flooded, wet and muddy field in my nice clean shoes but why cannot people just be a bit considerate of others?

If it's possible to just step aside into a path or someone's garden then I just do it. It is not always possible and I need to get outside to exercise.

Also I don't understand why people crowd against others in a pandemic when it's completely uneccesarry.

It's one thing to be somewhere when it suddenly gets crowded, I don't like those situations and just try to get away ASAP, but why are people so selfish in situations where paying attention, being considerate and walking in single file for just a few seconds, rather than in a group, is easy to do and keeps others safe?

I appreciate that people have made sacrifices, I have made many sacrifices to keep others safe, but it doesn't mean that I'm suddenly going to just breeze into other people's space and put them at risk if I can avoid it.

I’m afraid I’m with the man in this instance.

If you are older, and disabled, then you ought to be at home.

The improvement to your health brought about by swimming is likely to dwarfed by the risk to you (and the additional pressure you would put on the NHS) if you catch the virus.