Crowds in the parks yesterday

[Mrgrinch]

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?

Yes I've learned that sitting normal distance apart from in the open air seems very low risk.

Better out of doors than in.

.from people.

Just don't share lifts to get there.

Not sure why some people are being so angry, I only asked a question.

Some good points about people looking closer together because of pictures being taken at ground level.

Like I said I suspected it was a case of it not being a big issue because transmission is low outdoors.

The litter is a disgrace though.

I am genuinely shocked

Why is people heading to the park on a nice day so shocking? A lot of the busy parks seem to be near unis or student areas so not really a surprise that young people want to get out of their tiny rooms and get some air.

The restrictions are lifting and most people are glad. But I can see the kind of posters who very risk averse proclaiming shock/despair/disbelief at people actually doing normal things as the restrictions lift.

Soon it will be “omg can’t believe restaurants are busy” or how awful it is that loads of people are going to the pub. And it’s going to get really boring really quick. Just leave other people be, and stay at home if that’s what’s best for you.

I’d also echo the littering left behind was a disgrace though.

Agree that the litter is awful. But I have no issue with people going out to enjoy the weather with friends and family.

I live in a built up area , many of us have no outdoor space. We've been stuck at home for months. Threads like this really piss me off.

Litter is never good.

Personally I find it shocking and disgraceful...... take your litter home with you, scruffy fuckers.

The amount of rubbish left behind n the green space near here was appalling. The council will probably need to increase the number of bins; but if you brought stuff, be ready to take it away. Or at lease bag it and leave if next to a bin, not strewn everywhere

It doesn't help that a large part is fenced off at the moment, so some areas were overcrowded (people were in groups, but some of them were very large and people very close together). Other areas groups were smaller and much better spaced.

I think it's absolutely right that people go out, including in groups, when the sun shines. It's just so good for the spirits.

(But I think the subset who are in big, close groups are taking the piss)

Also when I said "have people not learned anything" I meant that they would threaten further lockdowns if crowds get out of hand.

From covid I've learned not to go to Primark on the 12th of April.

To be honest the only thing that annoyed me was all the litter left behind!

I do think that more bins and / or more frequent bin emptying might save money on rubbish clearance even though people should take their rubbish home.

It's really funny that people complain about this but forget they are also out contributing to the crowd even if not sitting down. My dm was complaining how busy her park was and I just said to her why were you out then and she just said it was lovely weather and wanted to go for a walk and I said so did all those people...

there was a dispersal order made near me as large groups of teens were gathering near a local seafront-people were pissed off but what can you do if you want to go ut do but not in large groups

I agree with you about the litter, but that's all.
People did this last year too, so many judgy outraged posts about people daring to sit in a public place in the fresh air..... none of them led to a spike.
I went to our local park yesterday, it was busy and parts of it looked like a festival. Closer up it was obvious that for the most part people were in groups of 6 or less and appropriately distancing. I was pleased that people were able to enjoy the sunshine and seeing their friends.
I lost a close relative to suicide in February, so anything that helps people avoid getting to that point is worthwhile.

Aside from the litter I am really happy to see young people so happy to be meeting up with their friends.

I am not shocked at all. Indeed I was surprised there were so few people when I walked past the local park yesterday afternoon.

Litter is in part a legacy of the period of time when there were no bins because of IRA and INLA terrorist activity. Not that it excuses dropping litter one bit.

If we had a competent government who had been prompt in action in September and December especially, some of the people in parks would have been people in clothes shops, because by now non-essential shops would be re-opening.

Yeah, certain death for them. Except.... If we actually learned from the past and looked at last year....not. Give over, it is not normal to be prevented from going to a park, we should stop pretending that it is.

I was surprised to see so many people on a weekday. And a lot of tourists.

I saw it as a sign of just how deprived teenagers have been of normal social life, to be honest. They must have so much pent-up energy for meeting and mixing!

Instead of slating young people for going to parks, we should all be grateful that they've sacrificed a year of having a normal adolescence to keep older people safe.

A lot of people living in Hyde Park are students (but not all). Most houses there do not have gardens or even back yards. Do you want the people to have to just sit in their houses all day when the sun is shining and it’s a lovely day?
But the littering is horrible.

The litter was disgusting people didn’t even bother to try and tidy up for themselves in some places
I don’t understand why people weren’t at work quite frankly weren’t all students surely

And why is everybody so obsessed about drinking every person they talked on the radio or on the news it’s about having a drink with friends can people not socialise without a bloody drink anymore I say that as someone who loves drinking

I wouldn’t of taking myself off to a place like that but I have a garden so I appreciate that I am luckier than most. If I had gone and it had been that busy in some of those places I would’ve turned around and not stayed I can’t see why it would’ve been enjoyable packed in like sardines which in some places they were

Christ I must be getting old

I certainly have learned a few things in the last year...

Outdoor transmission is low
Some people are daft enough to believe everything the criminal gutter press feed them
We need some hope. We need some fresh air. We need to slowly start to live again.
In a few days the good ole British weather will put an end to park gatherings
Our young people have suffered enough

That’s it really

Lockdown has never been prompted by people going out: it's the NHS.