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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you're still sticking to ALL the rules/guidance - why?

999 replies

RaspberryCoulis · 27/03/2021 10:50

Will start by saying I am not sticking to the covid rules any more. Obviously I can't go places which aren't open. But we have had people in the house, kids are going out with friends probably in larger numbers than are permitted, we're crossing local authority boundaries which is supposedly illegal in Scotland. Why? Because we've been in lockdown for a year, cases here are very low, and some things are more important than Covid.

But on every thread there are people claiming that they are sticking rigidly to every single rule and guideline, never breaking ANY rule. They would probably say I was a selfish covid-denier who was hellbent on murdering their granny.

So if you're sticking to all the guidelines and rules, without fail - why? People who are clinically extremely vulnerable (officially) I can understand in part if they're not vaccinated. But the rest of you? Is it because you're scared of Covid, or scared of your neighbours, or scared of breaking the law by mistake?

OP posts:
CaptainMerica · 27/03/2021 13:22

I'm not really scared of covid (though, I don't want it, thanks). Not massively concerned about the law. I have no neighbours to worry about.

But when this is over, and we are looking at the death toll, I want to know that I did everything I could to keep that as low as possible.

It is not easy, and things like not seeing my parents when they would happily break the rules to visit are very hard. But it is the right thing to do, IMO.

rookiemere · 27/03/2021 13:22

@Figgygal you've listed how you've broken the rules and then said that you're trying to follow the rules - at least take what you're doing and own it.

oblada · 27/03/2021 13:23

Ultimately the government never expected 100percent adherence to the rules so I don't give minor breaches much headspace.

Ohdeariedear · 27/03/2021 13:24

Strikes me OP that you and other people starting threads like this are just looking for validation that you are right and everyone else is wrong.

LAMPS1 · 27/03/2021 13:24

I’ll tell you why I’m sticking to the rules, seeing as you ask.
Primarily because my family live overseas and I want to get to meet my new grandchild before I die.
I don’t want to get ill, spread the virus further, put the nhs at risk or cause worry to my overseas family on top of their other covid burdens.
I see the bigger picture ...the more of us who stick to the rules, the sooner this situation will improve, (not only for me ...but also for the selfish people who think they are above the rules and happily flaunt them.)
It seems to me that your OP has a hint of disdain for the likes of those of us who abide by the law and you somehow see us as out of touch with reality ?
I’d prefer to align myself to science rather than to ignorance.

OverTheRubicon · 27/03/2021 13:24

@sausagedogststandupandtakeover

I'm letting my (primary age) DC's meet with friends in the park so I'm "rule breaking" in that respect. I genuinely think that the risk of them catching / spreading it outdoors while playing football with tow friends is tiny so the benefits outweigh the risks. We haven't had anyone in the house / haven't been into anyone else's houses since lockdown began, as that is where the risks are.
Same here. There's a huge difference between people catching up with granny for an outdoor walk (which I'm not doing, as mine live overseas), and having people in the house.

The vaccination rate is still not near 100% for the vulnerable as many can't have it, like my friend who has 3 young DCs and is undergoing chemotherapy that should let her live another 10 or more years, but only if she stays well.
The protection rate is also not.100%, especially when only 6% of the population is fully vaccinated.

I think this shit is both stupid and selfish.

merryhouse · 27/03/2021 13:24

I'm sticking to the rules because I have no reason not to.

I have a nice house with a little garden and fields and a footpath 200 yards away. Everyone in the household likes everyone else. I have a car for a big shop every 2 or 3 weeks and can walk to the shop for top-ups in between.

My sons are old enough to continue their education entirely without my assistance, either with tech advice or with supervision. I don't have a job. My elderly parent lives with a sibling 200 miles away.

I have decent tech and internet connection.

ceeveebee · 27/03/2021 13:24

To be honest the main reason i am still sticking to all the rules is because I am terrified of the school having to be closed again due to COVID cases. Already had my DS class at home once already and it’s a nightmare to manage homeschooling and work

Elai1978 · 27/03/2021 13:25

The guidelines and the law are 2 separate things though. I’m sticking to the law and taking a common sense approach to the guidelines.

Figgygal · 27/03/2021 13:25

I do own it thanks
I could have just said yes absolutely I follow all of them
I can’t say I do but apart from driving out of local area by 10 minutes none of them have been planned unlike ops pride of flouting the rules proudly

en0la · 27/03/2021 13:26

Because we aren't selfish idiots.

user1471539324 · 27/03/2021 13:26

@Alsohuman

You’re deliberately missing the point. Beating covid paves the way for economic recovery and normal health services. We cannot continue in cycles of lockdown and resume normal services with social distancing measures in place. We need herd immunity through vaccination and people adhering to restrictions until we get there. It will be a long road before global recovery but like other pandemics before it, it can be beaten.

tigger1001 · 27/03/2021 13:27

@JinglingHellsBells

Children are meeting up outside - does it really matter if there are 5 or 6 13 year olds rather than 4?

Yes. Read the science.

See,this is interesting to me.

So I have an 11 year old and a 14 year old. Here in Scotland my 11 year old can meet up with as many under 12's as they would like and do not need to social distance. In England, as far as I am aware,that is not the case. Which set of rules does the science support?

My 14 year old can now meet up with 4 friends outdoors, but can also take part in non contact sport in groups of up to 15, including 2 adults.

So which is the science supporting? No more than 4 in a group or up to 15?

Viciouslybashed · 27/03/2021 13:27

I'm sticking to the rules because I am a sanctimonious twat according to mumsnet. In reality it's because I genuinely want to do the right thing and no one I know is up for an against the law party with me. Also is the 10k fine still a thing? Cos of that too.

Alsohuman · 27/03/2021 13:28

[quote user1471539324]@Alsohuman

You’re deliberately missing the point. Beating covid paves the way for economic recovery and normal health services. We cannot continue in cycles of lockdown and resume normal services with social distancing measures in place. We need herd immunity through vaccination and people adhering to restrictions until we get there. It will be a long road before global recovery but like other pandemics before it, it can be beaten.[/quote]
I’m not missing the point at all. It can’t be beaten. Whitty and Vallance are quite clear it’s here to stay and we’re going to have to figure out how to live with it.

sunshineandshowers21 · 27/03/2021 13:30

i’ve been going to my mum’s - she’s technically in my bubble as i have baby under one and she also looks after my older kids - most days for a cuppa. and my sister does the same. she’s also allowed a bubble as she’s a single parent so we although not legal we’re both in a bubble with my parents. so sometimes me and my sister are there at the same time with our combined six kids. we’ve all had covid, and my parents are in their 40s so honestly the risk is minimal to us. i’m also allowing my thirteen year old out with friends because he’s with the same kids he spends hours a day with in a bubble at school anyway.

MiaChia · 27/03/2021 13:31

I am not breaking the law regarding Covid-19 rules in the same way that I don't drive at 60 mph in a 30 zone. I guess you do but you are obviously anti-social and massively selfish OP 🤷🏼‍♀️

user1471539324 · 27/03/2021 13:32

@tigger1001

I think science and risk reduction often overlap but maybe the poster is meaning risk reduction here. Overall risk scorings are set at an acceptable level and each country has slightly different restrictions to make sure we mitigate risk as much as possible, hence differences between the four nations.

Original poster
RaspberryCoulis · 27/03/2021 13:32

@EasterIsComing

We are currently under a stay at home order. I would bet my bottom dollar that not all the people stating they are following the rules to the letter are still staying at home in the way they probably did last April.
The volume of traffic on the roads in the last few months compared with this time last year is all the proof you need that people are most definitely not staying in their homes as they were this time last year.
OP posts:
justasking111 · 27/03/2021 13:32

@Viciouslybashed

I'm sticking to the rules because I am a sanctimonious twat according to mumsnet. In reality it's because I genuinely want to do the right thing and no one I know is up for an against the law party with me. Also is the 10k fine still a thing? Cos of that too.
Here life gets in the way after a year, caring for grandkids is ok apparently, so these carers are exempt from the no mixing rule. We have neither received nor given covid to anyone.
SarahBellam · 27/03/2021 13:33

It’s because of people like you that we’re never going to get out of this shitshow. “Using my judgement” jjust means “I do whatever the fuck I want and try to use lame excuses to justify it”. Covid couldn’t give a flying rats ass if you’re fed up with it.

Original poster
RaspberryCoulis · 27/03/2021 13:33

@MiaChia

I am not breaking the law regarding Covid-19 rules in the same way that I don't drive at 60 mph in a 30 zone. I guess you do but you are obviously anti-social and massively selfish OP 🤷🏼‍♀️
Obviously. And according to another poster, quite likely to murder my neighbour in cold blood, because all law breaking is equal. Hmm
OP posts:
1forAll74 · 27/03/2021 13:33

I have been sticking to all the rules. ever since all the rules became mandatory., hundreds of people have been breaking some rules, as all their freedoms have been taken away, and they feel very affronted, and think that the virus had just blown away into this air.

If you can live with breaking all , or some of the rules, then that's ok, but some people may die because of some reckless behaviour from others.

1forAll74 · 27/03/2021 13:34

Thin air, !

Barcodes · 27/03/2021 13:35

Its a bit like people who speed.

In an isolated world then speeding or drink driving would be the choice of the driver, and they could risk assess the road, their car driving skill and decide the risk for their family on that journey

The problem is that other people also use the roads and might not agree with your risk assesment. The danger is their danger too

Even if you know the road well, something might have changed. Eg. People might say well we aren't seeing anyone else going to work etc but they might for example need to have unexpected contact with hcp's, a plumber or child suddenly needs urgent health care

Its not just your family that are impacted by your decisions, its wider contacts like people you work with and school class mates but also people whos names you don't even know like shop workers, taxi drivers etc