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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Crowds in the parks yesterday

409 replies

Mrgrinch · 31/03/2021 10:42

I've been seeing pictures and videos of the amount of people gathering in the sun yesterday and I am genuinely shocked.

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?
Do they want to continue going in and out of lockdown forever?

I really do understand the people who just want their freedom back, I want mine too. But the pictures of Hyde park yesterday look like something from a music festival. Not to mention the mess left behind this morning.

Should I just shut up because transmission is low outdoors? Or is this a sign that warm weather means people ignore all the rules?

OP posts:
mum2jakie · 01/04/2021 08:33

@User133847

As soon as the sun comes out people think everything is back to normal. Every time.
Absolutely - a great boost to our mental and physical health and a perfect opportunity to socialise in a low risk way. And every time, people make predictions of imminent doom that don't materialise...
User133847 · 01/04/2021 08:46

@mum2jakie

At this stage I agree. Now we've passed the 12 month mark and the vaccine roll out has gone well, people want their lives back.

MinnieMous3 · 01/04/2021 09:00

Will any of the doom mongers actually say what they think the consequences of yesterday will be in three weeks?

UrAWizHarry · 01/04/2021 09:06

@User133847

As soon as the sun comes out people think everything is back to normal. Every time.
And?

Rates are low. Half of the country have had the vaccine and many more have anti-bodies. We know that transmission of the virus outdoors without extended contact is virtually nil.

The doommongering about people going to the park when it has no impact on the situation needs to stop, and that includes all the twats in government downwards.

boobot1 · 01/04/2021 09:37

@Iheartmysmart

The littering is really awful and I do judge them massively for that, but for being outside on a lovely sunny day after what feels like forever being locked up no way.

And if you believe the images in the media then just remember how manipulative they’ve been throughout.

This on both counts
BoJoHoNo · 01/04/2021 09:50

@ismiseeire

I thought that the best descriptor of the effect of lockdown was a Mum on this site who had a young girl, maybe three and a baby born in lockdown. The baby had never been held by anyone but her and her DH. The young child burst into tears at a playground when another child approached her.

This is their developmental years! How the fuck are they going to come out of this half normal?

People like you OP sicken me. You've lived your life. A year out of 40 or 60 (no idea how old you are) is nothing compared to a year in the life of a baby or a child.

Exactly. Obviously we can't predict what the full aftermath of the lockdown will be, but there have been enough studies to show there's a need for babies and young children to be socialised early on in life. Otherwise they can find it difficult to develop relationships with others and it can impact the development of motor and intellectual skills.

Similarly, the absence of human contact has been linked to deterioration of cognitive function. I expect the majority of those calling for endless lockdowns are fortunate enough to live with or close to family they can visit. If you were elderly, lived alone, had no nearby family and hadn't had a proper face to face conversation with someone in over a year, you would probably feel very differently about continuing the lockdown.

Original poster
Mrgrinch · 01/04/2021 10:02

Thank you to those who who have posted. I can definitely see that my anger was misdirected. I should have focused it on those who left the litter etc, not those who were just enjoying some much needed time outdoors in the sun.

I have just seen that some parks have been closed due to tonnes of litter, fights and fires. This is so sad. I just can't believe that people think it's okay to behave like that purely because we had 2 days of sunshine.

OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 01/04/2021 10:32

OMG op.
Q Aibu
A broadly yes you are
Reply ok I’ve had a think and changed my view a bit and thank you everyone.

Not exactly a first for mn but bloody hell pretty rare ! Grin

The whole thing is a mess and it is so shocking that after a year of pining for nature and being outside anyone at all would crap all over it. If this year has done nothing it’s to show we can’t keep doing that we can’t bugger up wildlife habitats etc etc or we will be in never ending cycle of such pandemics etc.

Ohwhataprogramme · 01/04/2021 10:45

Well done OP for listening, agree the mess is distressing, folk outside not so.

ShaunaTheSheep · 01/04/2021 10:57

Thank you for listening OP

AnyFucker · 01/04/2021 13:35

Common sense prevails 👍

Stratfordplace · 01/04/2021 13:37

Good luck to them, I hope they enjoy themselves.

Flowers24 · 01/04/2021 13:42

Rates arent 'low' people are still dying and we still have loads of cases !

mum2jakie · 01/04/2021 13:48

@Flowers24

Rates arent 'low' people are still dying and we still have loads of cases !
2 new cases reported in my LA area last count. I think there's more chance of me injuring myself falling down the stairs at home than catching Covid from a walk in my local park. I'll take my chances, thanks.
HandyHarry · 01/04/2021 13:49

@Flowers24 rates are low! I'm not sure what data you're looking at?

Alsohuman · 01/04/2021 13:54

@Flowers24

Rates arent 'low' people are still dying and we still have loads of cases !
Cases are now less than 5,000 a day - and decreasing every day. Deaths from all causes are below the average for this time of years, with covid on the death certificate below 100 a day. For God’s sake look at the facts.
Ohwhataprogramme · 01/04/2021 14:00

Flowers24

Jeez, you'd have us all locked up until there are zero deaths would you? Get real

AnyFucker · 01/04/2021 14:05

Rates arent 'low' people are still dying and we still have loads of cases !

Death rates are currently below the average for this time of year.

UrAWizHarry · 01/04/2021 14:10

@Flowers24

Rates arent 'low' people are still dying and we still have loads of cases !
Yes, they are.

Yes, people are dying and will continue to do so, but there comes a point where that balance tips from excess deaths due to covid to increased problems associated with extended lockdowns.

If we are at a point where the NHS is able to return to normality than what justification is there for draconian measures?

ChocOrange1 · 01/04/2021 14:19

@Flowers24

Rates arent 'low' people are still dying and we still have loads of cases !
People die every day, of all sorts of things. You need to get used to the idea that a small number of people will die of covid from now on, probably forever.
MmeLaraque · 01/04/2021 14:29

Interesting stuff. The UK has been in lockdown for weeks, which is has lowered covid cases .

I read Michael Rosen's book yesterday. www.amazon.co.uk/Many-Different-Kinds-Love-story/dp/1529109450/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&crid=3O6LULUUMSENM&keywords=many+different+kinds+of+love+michael+rosen&sprefix=Love+mic%2Caps%2C165&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1617281173&sr=8-1

A few quotes from that book resonated with me, and may well do with people here:

They've announced that schools will be re-opening in September.

There must be evidence coming in that the Coronavirus only travels as far as the school gates, gets sulky, turns round and hurries off.

And this one:

Someone posts a tweet saying some of the Covid stories are untrue, lurid and unnecessarily scare people.

I post back: I made up my Covid story. In reality I was hiding under the table.

The person replies: Of course I wasn't saying you made up your Covid infection but, you're 74."

But you're 74

I think about "but"

What is "but" about being 74?

For those demonising others for taking heed of science, and treating this horrible virus like the indiscriminate killer it clearly is:

Someone writes me a tweet about lockdown:

I care, right now, about all the kids in the country and how badly they are being affected by this ridiculous imprisonment. You should care about them too, if you are half the man you used to be.

I reply; I'm not half the man I used to be. I'm busy trying not to be dead.

The people responsible for your woes, and those of our children are not the ones being wary of this virus. They are the ones in government who ignored the WHO warnings that this virus was coming, and people needed to take precautions.

The selfish bastard, criminally incompetent Johnson, who didn't give a shit about this virus, and has allowed it to rip through the UK population, whilst pretending to give shit what anyone thinks of him.

Instead of dumping on those who understand that this virus will be with us for the forseeable, direct your ire at him and his team.

The govt has had a whole year to support schools in taking covid measures. Instead, they left schools to get on with it, and then gave incredibly short notice that all schools would re-open. Not just some, not phased, but all.

Just as the UK lockdown is supposed to ease, France is closing schools and restricting travel again.

WouldBeGood · 01/04/2021 17:29

Michael Rosen is never done bleating on.

Yes, he was unwell snd it’s a shame, but it doesn’t make him some sort of Covid guru.

Yogalola · 01/04/2021 17:33

No doubt it’s all the non vaccinated youngsters gathering and having COVID parties. Trouble is if you’re young you want to party. No excuse for the litter, as surely all the Wokes are environmentally conscious and wouldn’t want to contribute to global pollution?

Dinkydody · 01/04/2021 17:37

This

sashagabadon · 01/04/2021 17:37

School reopening has gone really well imo. Maybe could have happened earlier but what’s done is done now. We are all doing twice weekly tests and my kids are v happy to be back with their friends.