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Original poster

Inauguration too touchy feelie?

117 replies

TorringtonDean · 20/01/2021 20:59

Just watching the American Inauguration. There is little social distancing, everyone is too close together and they are shaking hands and hugging. Joe Biden, Obama, Clinton, Bush, Lady Gaga, J-Lo and all their hangers on. The virus will spread like wildfire. And the Democrats are meant to be in favour of social distancing! It’s making me deeply uncomfortable.

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dragonsmoke · 21/01/2021 07:02

@TorringtonDean

The jab doesn’t stop you spreading. This seemed like a super-spreader event. It also normalises hugging and hand shaking. Most people will think “oh well, they can do it so why can’t we”.
Really? 'Most' people will have watched the ceremony and will have thought 'ok cool, I can shake hands with everyone again'.

Of course they won't!!

torquewench · 21/01/2021 07:03

Oh gawd, even a 90 minute "star studded spectacular" TV show to follow the all day tv coverage. This is government, not entertainment.

GarlicSoup · 21/01/2021 07:07

Crikey OP try standing on Lego in your bare feet, that’ll make you feel ‘deeply uncomfortable’. I’m sure they will have all undergone testing.

cyclingmad · 21/01/2021 07:43

You are aware they are saying cloth masks don't offer much protection, so unless your wearing the proper one or a medical one your protection isn't that great.

LaceyBetty · 21/01/2021 07:46

Does anyone have any idea how bad it is in the US and how few people feel the need to follow any rules? It is not like here in the UK and yes, I for one think people will see the inauguration and think it is ok to hug if you are wearing a mask.

Ednafrommooneyponds · 21/01/2021 07:52

With regards to the showbiz, it's hardly a new phenomenon. Aretha Franklin sang at Carter's inauguration and every inauguration in my lifetime has had at least one famous singer. Elton John may not have played publicly at Harry and Meghan's wedding but he did at the reception and he was certainly in public at Diana's funeral!

torquewench · 21/01/2021 08:20

I wasnt invited to the reception, so can't comment on that. But fwiw I thought at the time of the funeral (which I didnt watch, I was travelling) that he was probably the best they could do at short notice 😉

CarboMama · 21/01/2021 08:24

It's not great to hug and shake hands in front of the nation when these behaviours spread covid and kill people.

Dontjudgeme101 · 21/01/2021 08:49

@Toilenstripes

MN loves to piss on a parade.
Totally agree with you!
contrmary · 21/01/2021 08:52

It doesn't matter whether they've all been tested and all been vaccinated.

It's the message it sends out - that it's fine to have social gatherings, to shake hands and to hug people.

And the fact it is being done by people who claim to recognise how serious the pandemic is makes it all the more outrageous.

Original poster
TorringtonDean · 21/01/2021 09:39

I can only assume some posters are American. Here in Britain social gatherings are banned and no work gathering would have hugging - not even handshaking. I can only assume being used to Trump’s disastrous handing of the pandemic means Americans have no idea how to behave. Keep a 6ft distance and no physical contact!!

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phoenixrosehere · 21/01/2021 09:50

The rules are completely different here than in the States. The rules are different from one state to another also in the States and even in different cities and counties within the states. Each state is allowed to make their own rules concerning the virus and choose which guidelines to follow for their state.

They are still allowing travel throughout the US. Many of my family members and friends there have been able to drive up and get tested for COVID and get their results quickly.

Can’t exactly criticise them about how they are social distancing when here in the U.K. a mass majority can’t even manage that most of the time.

LaceyBetty · 21/01/2021 09:53

@phoenixrosehere

The rules are completely different here than in the States. The rules are different from one state to another also in the States and even in different cities and counties within the states. Each state is allowed to make their own rules concerning the virus and choose which guidelines to follow for their state.

They are still allowing travel throughout the US. Many of my family members and friends there have been able to drive up and get tested for COVID and get their results quickly.

Can’t exactly criticise them about how they are social distancing when here in the U.K. a mass majority can’t even manage that most of the time.

My family in the US despairs at how badly people are behaving and will barely leave their houses because of it. The virus is out of control there. Not to say it isn't here, but they are just as bad, if not way worse.
Original poster
TorringtonDean · 21/01/2021 10:02

The rules might be different in the States but the virus doesn’t behave differently! Trump failed to tackle the situation but Biden has pledged to do so. Political leaders are meant to lead by example - this was a BAD example.

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phoenixrosehere · 21/01/2021 10:08

They are, however are they breaking their guidelines and rules for that area?

They haven’t been stopped or told (at least from those I’ve talked to all over the States) that they couldn’t or shouldn’t touch or hug people. They have been stressing mask-wearing and sanitising for the most part whereas here it has been mask-wearing, social distancing, limiting contact, and yet neither side is that much better off than the other.

phoenixrosehere · 21/01/2021 10:09

And our political leaders haven’t been that great either so..

LaceyBetty · 21/01/2021 10:17

Very true. I am not sure of the rules for DC specifically. I think my family wishes they would make such a rule, but there may not be.

derxa · 21/01/2021 10:17

They got carried away and they didn't set a good example.

Original poster
TorringtonDean · 21/01/2021 10:22

We have the more infectious Kent strain here. However people still travel (in spite of bans etc) and it will be there soon. Also they are closer to Brazil and more likely to get that strain. The behaviour I saw in a pandemic was madness. Biden said himself more Americans have died from Covid than in two world wars. Yet he hugs people and touches everything! No point sanitising the podium when they were al touching the handrail and then handshaking with onlookers.

For example blown instruments at a funeral are banned here. Yet they had trumpeters playing over everyone’s heads.

As for bad behaviour here - two wrongs don’t make a right.

OP posts:
AnotherBoredOne · 21/01/2021 10:27

Such a celebration I'm glad they hugged

AnotherBoredOne · 21/01/2021 10:31

@torquewench

I thought it was widely assumed that he's only KH's trojan horse anyways?
Yep
Original poster
TorringtonDean · 21/01/2021 10:36

She will be president within months if he keeps carrying on like this in a pandemic.

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Original poster
TorringtonDean · 21/01/2021 10:38

President William Henry Harrison died one month after the inauguration in 1841 - from pneumonia caught at the ceremony!

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gwenneh · 21/01/2021 11:03

@TorringtonDean

She will be president within months if he keeps carrying on like this in a pandemic.
How so, when he’s been publicly vaccinated already?

Many of the attendees likely were as well.

Original poster
TorringtonDean · 21/01/2021 11:18

The vaccine doesn’t make him immortal though. And vaccinated or not he could spread it! Have they really all be vaccinated so quickly? Regardless of that it’s the example that counts. How come I as an able-bodied 50something with a family to support can’t go in to work as I will have to wait months for vaccination?

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