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

[RaspberryCoulis]

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?

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?

I'm half-vaccinated, but still sticking to all the rules, at some personal cost (live alone, stressful job etc etc etc).

The thing that people like the OP don't ever seem to understand is that this disease is highly infectious, and can spread to people you don't know.

That is, we are not taking risks for ourselves when we take risks.

We are putting many other people at risk - people who have no say in the matter.

It's pretty selfish.

@MaintainTheMolehill

I liken the situation to lots of people helping push a bus to the top of the hill. Some people get fed up "I'm not pushing the bus because I'm fed up of doing it, what difference does it make" and they may be right, you stand on the sidelines, no longer pushing and it takes slightly longer. Meanwhile the rest of us pushing watch you, slightly resentful that you think you no longer need to help. So yes, you can enjoy socialising again, even though the rest of us would love nothing more.

The bigger problem comes when more and more people see what you have done and decide to follow. Before you know it, there aren't enough people to do the job so the bus goes hurtling right back down to the starting point. It still needs pushed up and people need to start again. If everyone had kept going, the task would have been completed ages ago.

I think by now in the UK, the bus has hit the bottom multiple times, lost its wheels and is currently on fire. And we've still got to get it to the top of the hill with 5 people pushing it. That's the UK right now.

The one 'rule' I have potentially broken is travelling about 9 miles once a week to more open space. Definitely not had people in the house since last Summer (2, my parents), and then with doors open for ventilation etc.

Why? Because there is a chance of suppressing this to more controllable levels while round 1 of the vaccine programme is going on. If we don't do that at the same time as the vaccine programme gets chance to embed what it's doing, we have a high chance of creating great conditions for new variants that could take us back to square 1 a few times, as well as a monumental waste of money on vaccine programme no.1. More or less everything else has been squandered due to policy. I don't think we can afford to squander this quite so early. I think that the figures quoted for possible deaths that seemed so monumental at the beginning (I think we are now at about half that quote) are still quite possible, just the length of time in which to see them could be longer or shorter depending on the speed and effectiveness of counter measures and medical knowledge.

For some months now, the scientists have said that the riskiest chance of transmission is between people in a normal house/home. That is, in small groups, between each other, inside, where it is less usual to take the precautions you would in public with strangers. The temperature and humidity counts for a lot (so 'outside' and well ventilated, professionally cleaned public buildings may prove to be many times better than a heated room in a house, or car). This sucks but my behaviour is steered because I believe these findings. Research on the transmission of Spanish Flu in America has a case study of a barracks that did unexpectedly well in terms of preventing transmission while the inmates went through months of lockdown. People asked how they did it. They said there hadn't been any particular secret, just the recommended distancing, masks and hygiene but continuing to stick it out and not bend the rules.

I don't think many of us are flawless, but I've only made an exception for a friend who's just taken her kid taken off her due to an abusive ex, and needs all the support she can get to survive.

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?

Because I care about other people's lives and if they live or die, not just me. Covid has shown how selfish a lot of people are. A lot of people care not a jot if other people survive, it seems.

I'm sticking to all the rules because I don't want to catch covid again, because I don't want anyone in my family to catch it, because I want to set a good example to my DC, and because I know what this year has been like for those of us on the frontline and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
I totally get the need to support our own mental wellbeing, I watched as a colleague had a complete mental breakdown, attempted suicide and was then sectioned. Having friends round for dinner isn't essential for your health and wellbeing. Breaking the rules unnecessarily is putting other people at risk. I'm proud to say I haven't done that.

@Womencanlift

Because we will never get out of this shit show otherwise. Look at the post summer and Christmas peaks to see what happens when restrictions are lifted. Yes we have the vaccine now but not everyone has had it to make a massive difference

And this is coming from someone who lives and works on their own and whose parents live in a different council area (also Scotland) so yes I would love everything to be back to normal but I’m not going to risk the date of that being extended by breaking the rules.

Exactly.

I hate the "do as I please" crowd.

@MrsTulipTattsyrup

I didn’t say I had to have seen it with my own eyes. I said it’s hard to keep believing that there’s any sense in continuing when I don’t know of ANYONE who has become very poorly AND the majority of the vulnerable have been vaccinated.

I also wasn’t stating an argument, I was stating how I feel.

I have seen a couple of friends (one I work with, one has a serious suicide risk) so I suppose technically rule breaking.

But I tend to believe that getting rid of covid isnt the only thing that matters. It's a virus, doing what a virus does and to the vast majority is nothing more than a couple of weeks of feeling crook.

Unless you are CEV, I just dont understand the terror.

Because I care about other people's lives and if they live or die, not just me. Covid has shown how selfish a lot of people are. A lot of people care not a jot if other people survive, it seems.

Conversely, I don't really believe people are so utterly altruistic as they say they are - every sacrifice for the greater good and for the community at large. We're all selfish to some degree, it's human nature. You care about your nearest and dearest far more than you care about random strangers you've never met. That's not selfishness, it's human nature.

I have to take the people who say they are making sacrifices for the greater good or people they will never meet with a huge pinch of salt. Because they're not really, they are either protecting themselves, or their immediate family. Nothing wrong with that - but don't dress it up as something it's not.

@JackieTheFart

Because it costs me nothing to follow the rules?

And I’ve had two speeding tickets so make of that what you will

This made me laugh.

Yes we are following the rules because we are in a position to do it.

I know of friends that can't stick to the rules for a variety of reasons and I hope by doing my bit it frees them up - sort of levelling things out.

I'm too damn tired to judge anyone now.

@Chloemol

Because

1. It’s the law
2. I don’t want to get it

3 I don’t want to pass it onto my family and friends, or indeed strangers 4 because I am thinking bigger picture, and am prepared to do what’s necessary for the good of all of us 5 because we are nowhere near out of this, and people like you make me cross

This just about sums up my thoughts too

Cases are rising in Scotland. Driving over the border or outdoor gathering I can't get worked up about but indoor gathering is against the greater good.

Because it's something that I can do to help get this thing under control. The possibility of our health care system collapsing is real and the consequences of that would be dire for everyone.

Because it’s the law. Because a personal risk assessment is not an appropriate measure for a communally transmitted disease. Because the death count is high already. Because I want my life back and to see family and I understand in order for this to happen I have to temporarily give up some freedoms. Because I am aware that I do not have all of the information on a macro level to make an appropriate risk assessment. Because there are many people in a much worse position than me who have sacrificed more (financially, mental health, family, security, hopes of business) and the least I can do is commit to another month or two of these measures. Because while I do not trust those in power, at this point in time I do think they are taking proportionate steps...

I’m sticking to the rules. Possibly more so because I’ve seen the devastation COVID-19 can cause. My friend lost her parents within a couple of weeks of each other to it early on in the pandemic. She then lost her uncle to it in this January. Her family has been blown apart by it. Every time I think that I’d like to see other people I think of her and her family. I can’t imagine how I would cope if that happened to my family.

Btw her parents and uncle were just normal elderly people, not particularly old, no terrible health problems, very active, not over weight, not smokers, just very unlucky.

A friend of mine has also had it really badly. He did have underlying health issues but has been in and out of hospital for months with long COVID. The doctors say he has had it 3 times (according to him - I’ve obviously not heard this directly) and he has blood clots and massive issues with his lungs.

I do wonder if I hadn’t seen it so close to home whether or not I’d be taking it quite so seriously. Other people’s experiences have definitely made me more rule abiding.

I do acknowledge that some people’s lives make it easier to stick to the rules than others. I’m one of the ones who can stick to the rules without a detrimental impact to my mental health. So while the scientists are telling us that is what needs to be done I’m going to follow the rules.

We can't see family as they are over the border - and frankly we're being ultra cautious till end of May when Y11 child will have finished the tests and assesments that are going to form her GCSE grades.

I think it's inevitable they'll have isolation next term at some point which is a worry as many teachers said in on-line parents evening any time lost will be a huge issue but I really don't want just her out missing assessments.

She is the child wanting to go out - but she's only meeting up outside with one friend from another household which is allowed.

I follow the rules though I don't agree with all of them, but according to YOUGOV survey about 80% of population agree with current restrictions but on further questioning only 60- 67% of the people keep them so there is a significant proportion of people who say they agree with rules but aren't actually following them
maybe they are breaking them in tiny ways like speaking to 3 people outside or going further than area boundary for exercise rather than having 25 people for an all night party

I am really looking forward to restrictions to easing up and I don't want to jeopardise that so I stick to the rules. I live on my own and have been lonely so it isn't easy.

I know (as I'm sure you do) that if everyone broke the rules, restrictions will lift more slowly but, unlike you, I do not believe that I am, somehow, such a special case that the rules shouldn't apply to me.

I'm not following every rule to the letter. Things happen for example my friend came to see me at home she was having a terrible time with her daughters medical needs balancing it with work and her other child. Her husband his anxiety so she feels she has to carry it all. She was at breaking point so she came here to have some peace. Yes we coild have went a walk but she needed some tlc and to be looked after not to walk about in the snow.

I go to the shops when I could order online but I'm a 1 parent household who can't work because of covid so if I didn't get a walk round asda every so often I would never leave the house apart from to walk about alone. I need it to stay OK.

But not just for the sake of it.

Unless you are CEV, I just dont understand the terror.

Because many people are not CEV, but still more vulnerable than a totally healthy young person.

Because if you break rules regularly, then sooner or later you may be responsible for transmitting it to someone who is CEV, or just unlucky.

Because even healthy young people can be seriously affected, even if they're unlikely to actually die. I know a previously healthy teenager with long Covid.

@MrsTulipTattsyrup

It’s too soon for the vaccination programme to be responsible for the sharp falls we’ve seen. And the stubborn figure of about 5k new cases a day means it’s not gone away on its own. In fact it probably points to children being responsible since the opening of schools.

So sticking to the rules (laws, in many cases) is responsible for having COVID increasingly under control.

THIS

I kept asking myself if people were sticking to the rules why have we got 5000 plus cases a day ?
And more even before schools went back.
Then I realise - People ( like you op ) weren't sticking to the rules.
So then people see this and think why should we?
And before you know it the cases and figures are spiking again.

So until people STOP DYING I'll stick to the rules thank you very much.

I'll ware a mask out , talk to my friend s / family on zoom and very much look forward ti the day when I can go for a meal, visit a theatre and
hold my 7 week old granddaughter.

Because my friend is the Infection Lead for our local NHS trust and has had the most hellish year ever - hardly seen her family and absolutely been running on empty since last April. She says it's too early and her opinion and knowledge mean a lot to me.
Also because I'm a mental health professional working with children, families, and young people, and if I don't follow the rules I can't go out and meet face-to-face with people, which leaves children with mental health problems trying to access support through a screen, or not at all.

Also I'm not selfish.

@Chloemol

Because

1. It’s the law
2. I don’t want to get it

3 I don’t want to pass it onto my family and friends, or indeed strangers 4 because I am thinking bigger picture, and am prepared to do what’s necessary for the good of all of us 5 because we are nowhere near out of this, and people like you make me cross

This, this, this!

Because I work on ICU. Most stressful time of my 30 odd year career in nursing. Never known anything like it. 1 nurse to 3 patients, 1 emergency after another, these patients are so sick.
Then I caught covid, ironically off dp. 11 weeks off work, back for 4 and now massive relapse and referred to cardiology.

It might be different for people in England, but I've given up following them properly in Scotland as it feels so damn relentless and also even if we are really good and do everything exactly as we're told, there appears to be no carrot only stick.

I've let teenage DS play football outside with his friends in both lockdowns, first time I waited until June, this time he was out as soon as the snow melted. I've now had two sets of friends round in the conservatory rather than outside. I'm an inveterate rule follower, but enough is enough and I'm frustrated by Scotland's more draconian approach than England which isn't even working any more as our numbers are higher now.

Lockdown only really works as a short term measure and DS and I are now facing our second birthdays in lockdown. Also the rules are arbitrary. Last weekend DH and I broke them by inadvertently driving to somewhere outside our city boundary- except we didn't know until I saw the council sign on the public loos. Was it really so dangerous for us to be there rather than 3 miles back inside city boundary?

OP we're certainly not the only ones breaking the rules judging from the amount of traffic on the roads these days.