If there was no end in sight for ending lockdown would you protest?

[GreyFrenchique]

Disclaimer: I'm not organising anything of the sort and have no plans to attend one.. I'm a regular poster which MN can verify but I've NC.

My post is prompted by a conversation I had with my friend tonight who is, like many of us, sick and tired of living this way.

If the 'roadmap' set out on Feb 22nd is bleak and offers no encouraging plans to end lockdown, would you attend a protest if there were one? Wearing a mask obviously.

YANBU - yes
YABU - no

Yabu

It's impossible to predict what will happen. I don't get the need for plans when they are impossible to make

Define ‘bleak’? If you’re expecting pubs to be able to fling open their doors in March, quarantine rules to disappear and is all to be able to hug each other in big groups then YABU. There is still a long road ahead, the virus doesn’t disappear and until the vaccine is fully rolled out, there will be restrictions.
A protest would just insult all those working their arses off in healthcare to keep as many people alive as possible.
If schools don’t open in March I’ll certainly be depressed and worry about the mental health of my children but unless the govt completely lose the plot (I know, we could debate this all day!) I’d say their policy so far hasn’t been strict enough so I very much doubt they’ll delay opening up a day longer than they need to.

Would you rather they promised all sorts of stuff that they cannot guarantee and then uturn later?

Protest what exactly? The virus? Or the fact that the government are acknowledging the virus exists and taking measures to prevent our health services grinding to a halt?

What exactly do people like your friend want to happen? We can’t open up if doing so will mean our hospitals are overrun.

No. It wouldn’t achieve anything anyway. Unless wanting to get arrested is the aim.

This is a once in 100+ years scenario. Covid doesn't care if you decide you've had enough.

In the end, yes I would. As temporary measures these things are rough but just about justifiable. Governments can’t institute permanent bans on seeing family, forming relationships, travel etc. It’s against human rights and an abuse of their mandate.

AStudyinPink
In the end, yes I would. As temporary measures these things are rough but just about justifiable. Governments can’t institute permanent bans on seeing family, forming relationships, travel etc. It’s against human rights and an abuse of their mandate

^^This

It’s all very well protesting against the lockdown but what are you planning to do about the virus?

I would have thought it more likely people will just individually break rules as it suits them rather than a collective protest.

Yes I would and I think there will be civil unrest by September if there isn’t an improvement.

If the vaccines prevent serious illness as they seem to do, then once the vulnerable are vaccinated it is time to get basic things going like kids back to school - properly - and people able to meet inside in small groups.

I accept that large groups won’t happen for months. But this current lockdown is having a horrific effect in many, many sectors and I won’t sit on my arse for much longer watching that happen.

AStudyinPink
In the end, yes I would. As temporary measures these things are rough but just about justifiable. Governments can’t institute permanent bans on seeing family, forming relationships, travel etc. It’s against human rights and an abuse of their mandate

This We are under house arrest and although I k ow we are doing it for the greater good. If this stops being that case I will protest.

" We can’t open up if doing so will mean our hospitals are overrun."
This could be countered by
"we can't stay closed while our economy gets destroyed"
Why does the first overrule the second?
If you start asking me about when I need hospital treatment but can't get it, what about when your loved ones can't get jobs and their businesses go under, houses repossessed?

I think people wouldn’t protest, but more break rules. It would start off with meeting in the park on a sunny day “accidentally”. (We had an invite down the park recently but had to politely decline -play date). Then people would further test the rules, back gardens, houses but distanced etc. Home pubs. Home bars. Barbecues.

People don’t mind wearing facemasks indoors, but if we had to wear them outside, we probably wouldn’t, or take them off when we think no one’s looking.

Eventually people would be breaking so many rules it would be difficult to manage.

It's impossible to predict what will happen. I don't get the need for plans when they are impossible to make

I agree with this - I'm hoping they will reduce restrictions soon but the numbers on the worldometers are still through the roof

Yes, I would ultimately. For me, the restrictions are nonsense anyway when I need to go to work to essentially babysit key worker children. And these children are out, mixing with their friends after school meaning my "bubble" is enormous. But I can't see my mum, my daughter is isolated from her friends, I can't get a haircut or go out to take part in my hobbies. I'm about at the end of my tether and think that unless we start to see some sensible freedoms, there Will be unrest.
I'm tired of being told what I can and cannot do because it's so dangerous - but conveniently work is perfectly safe.

For me it’s more that the longer term consequences of isolation, no real education, compromised healthcare, no ability to meet, marry and reproduce, would just be unacceptable. In the end, we’re doing this to protect others (fine) but that has limits. Am I going to sacrifice my child’s education? Am I going to sacrifice my child’s ability to meet a partner and have children? Am I going to sacrifice her ability to know her cousins and grandparents? Erm... I’m not, no. At some point one’s responsibility to strangers butts up against one’s first and chosen responsibilities.

(Joking aside, I'm not in the UK and I do think the rules there have been insane and that it might be time for a revolution)

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

If the vaccines prevent serious illness as they seem to do, then once the vulnerable are vaccinated it is time to get basic things going like kids back to school - properly - and people able to meet inside in small groups

Interesting that you don't see the conflict between getting schools back -properly- and people meeting in small groups.

No, I wouldn't want to risk arrest or be caught up in anything that turns violent. If the DC weren't back in school by September then I would.

If it carried on for too long I would probably just quietly break the rules and see family and friends as usual.

StepOutOfLine

So you are happy to put up with this indefinitely?

Ah, I've just seen your next post, you aren't even living with these restrictions. What was the point of your first post?

@DaisyHeadMaisy

Ah, I've just seen your next post, you aren't even living with these restrictions. What was the point of your first post?

You have no idea what restrictions I'm living with. Clue: Italy.