To think if you’re that paranoid about covid perhaps you should stay at home

[bagpuss90]

Apologies for yet another covid thread . Just for the record-I’m a trained nurse -I’ve also taught infection control . I’m very respectful of the two metre rule. I’ve stuck to the rules throughout. Yesterday I was out with my dog - there was a man and woman ahead of me . I wanted to overtake them as they were walking very slowly. They were not old people by the way. I walked well over two metres away from them to do this. Probably more like three metres. We were on a piece of open space .The woman began shouting at me about covid. Telling me there are rules. I pointed out I was nowhere near her. Her husband actually told her to calm down. I accept she may have underlying health issues. I also accept people are scared . But am I being unreasonable in thinking that you can’t go out and shout ( throwing lots of droplets out then anyway) at anyone remotely near you - you just can’t . If you really are that paranoid then perhaps stay at home. I’m sure I will get flamed here.

People like that need to realise they need help rather than attacking innocent people

They could be receiving help. A cure is not always instant.

I agree OP and I don't think you are being judgey. I am unsure as to why I have to pander to other peoples' overanxiety. I don't think people should have to stay indoors but they should choose quiet places to walk. I've had people give me filthy looks because we've both been on the same narrow path. Well don't choose narrow paths to walk!

The chances of catching it outside at all never mind in the circumstances the OP describes are very slim and this sort of nonsensical behaviour has to stop.

[quote Divebar2021]**@Blueeyedgirl21

I can remember a thread in Lockdown 1 where the OP was in a “naice” village and was offended that people from a nearby modern estate were walking near her house as part of their exercise.[/quote]
Oh yes - because she'd paid £100K more for her house to keep away from them

I agree with you OP. I follow the rules 100%, but dramatic folk like that do my head in.

That's a good point....people with anxiety shouting at other people with anxiety. It is just presumed the people being shouted at don't have anxiety!

Maybe people should just stop shouting at other people, period.

I agree with you OP. I would not be sympathetic about someone shouting at me about something utterly ridiculous.

I agree with OP. I am cev and was out for a walk a few weeks ago and in a wide country lane encountered this couple. They started yelling “Get back! Shielding!” with their palms out. There was absolutely no need for it. I was miles away and just walking past minding my own business. It was quite upsetting and I guess they just thought themselves highly important, more important than anyone else.

I also dislike the obnoxious notices on two people’s drives round here. One has a chain across the drive and complicated instructions for delivery drivers, including ringing a bell and leaving items in a box - it would be funny but the demands are so rude and entitled.

I bet the shouty people are too nervous to shout at the intimidating gangs of youths who barge past as if they own the pavement...

Personally I don't think it's a good idea to shout at total strangers however anxious or paranoid you feel (and I feel like that a lot) because you don't know if that person may decide to punch you or be carrying a knife.. but strangely the shouters only seem to pick on women who don't look threatening!

That’s true. Annoyingly I keep thinking of good comebacks to the shouty couple but at the time I was thoroughly taken aback and slunk on my way as if I were the one in the wrong.

This thread is really weird.
OP was nowhere near the woman, obeying the roolz, didn’t retaliate. A stranger shouted at her in the street and she’s in the wrong??
Would it be the same if the shouting lady was a man? Are we supposed to assume that everybody who might shout at you on the street has mental health problems and should be treated as such?

I've seen this a few times. Not so much the shouting, but the absolute paranoia. I find my reaction is to be both sympathetic and irritated at the same time. I do feel sorry for people who have become this scared and worry about when, if at all, they'll ever be comfortable going back to a normal life. I also feel irritated that I had to walk into the middle of a busy road with my dog because two women with masks were clearly terrified of walking past me.

I also find the people who get traumatised because a 5 year old, at butt height, accidentally gets too close on a path. Honestly, just have a little empathy for children who are still learning how to navigate muddy pathways and take a sensible approach to risk analysis.

OP was nowhere near the woman, obeying the roolz, didn’t retaliate. A stranger shouted at her in the street and she’s in the wrong??

She wasn't in the wrong regarding the rules. But the expectation people who shout should stay at home indefinitely is rather harsh of her. Lots of people when stressed occasionally have outbursts which involving shouting. But shouting in itself isn't against the law. Not that it is right in the context given to shout however I think it is forgivable.

There are lots of buts in your responses OP... I’m
Empathetic but... goes on to say Something displaying little Empathy. I’m sorry.... but goes on to say something you’re not sorry about*

Say what you mean without pretending you’re something you’re not.

People with anxiety or agoraphobia even, have a right to be out and enjoy the outdoors. In fact facing your fears head on with anxiety and/or agoraphobia is really the only way to overcome them. Their reaction in ordinary circumstances was over the top but people are scared and trying to live with these fears... it doesn’t hurt to have that in mind with your interactions with others. I have felt extremely uncomfortable with people approaching me, getting too close even in passing . A lot of these people don’t even seem to be thinking about where they are in relation to others or maybe they assume it’s ok because they’re outdoors. Maybe you equally need to reassess and improve your proprioception?

Don’t know why some of that is bold.

Yanbu.

I was out for a run the other week, running along an empty path. A woman opened her car door and stepped out directly into my path, I did well not to clatter in to her, only for her to shout 'social distancing!' at me. Stupid cow

I voted yanbu, but on 2nd thought I think you may be. I'm thinking of my own mum who is cev, and is likely to die or suffer even more lung damage if she catches covid. She needs walks and fresh air as she has been shielding alone with my dad for the best part of a year. She is however extremely anxious and its understandable. All the messages we hear are to induce fear, and for someone who had such extreme consequences of catching covid, the fear is understandable.
I don't know this woman, however her reaction doesn't sound normal, so likely she is either cev or anxious. In which case best to just ignore and move on. I do understand the frustration with people like this as I get annoyed with people darting out my way every 2 seconds, and zig zagging across the road to avoid everyone (live near a city so busyish). But at the same time I roll my eyes and ignore it, because ultimately its not negatively affecting me, it's just weird.

If you are so anxious that you are likely to yell at strangers innocently going about their business then yes sorry I agree with op best you stay at home for everyone’s sake

you are likely to yell at strangers innocently going about their business then yes sorry I agree with op best you stay at home for everyone’s sake

Oh dear, this would scupper a lot of people with disabilities ever seeing the light of day or integrating into society.

I would never make a fuss if someone was giving me at least 2 metres.

Under some circumstances I would say something if they were giving me a lot less than 2 metres - either say "that's not 2 metres!" as they pushed past me or just wait if they were clearly under the impression they were making room for me, but it wasn't enough.

I'm not actually that worried about Covid for myself - I know this is illogical, but I just have a gut feeling that I either won't get it or won't get it very badly, and I'm getting a vaccine soon because of the job I do. But I think people who are very careless about the 2 metres do need to be made aware, because if they're not careful around me, the chances are they're not careful around more obviously vulnerable people either.

YANBU OP, she sounds a bit silly. Obviously you can’t post anything remotely critical of covid nazis on here though because the MN covid stasi will get all upset. I CBA to read the whole thread but i bet you’ve been called selfish a fair few times.

I think if you’re going to get upset at people going near you out in the open air then you either need psychiatric help or you need to stay at home. Unless you’re in the crowd at Glastonbury you aren’t going to catch covid outside in the fresh air FFS. within a yard

Why do people who are clinically vulnerable/shielding insist on going out before 9am when those who have to go out to work are out and about and have to use the doorway. And then shout at me because I haven't walked in the road to let them pass.

Should read footway

What you did sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Unlike the stupid woman who brushed passed me huffing and puffing saliva as she ran. Then fuck me five minutes later she came the other way and did exactly the same. I’ve never shouted at anyone covid related before but I did shout at her to stay the hell away from people wheezing and spitting everywhere.

I agree. I do not go out anywhere and haven’t for 2 months. The risk is too high for me at the moment and I cannot expect people to feel the same way as me. So I safeguard myself.

This is what Coronaphobia is doing to people.

I agree OP. If people are that scared where they don't like someone walking past them even with a distance, stay at home.