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AIBU?

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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:
Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 31/03/2021 12:34

i agree @MitheringSunday

AcornAutumn · 31/03/2021 12:35

@MitheringSunday

Observing this from third-wave Europe and feeling rather envious of the UK's current position, I'm noticing something manipulative that I can't quite put my finger on about the cycle of restrictions ease - pictures of actually or ellegedly packed public spaces - howls of condemnation.
Why are you envious?

Some posters have said that personal life hasn't been restricted in European countries, i'm not sure if that's the case.

bookworm14 · 31/03/2021 12:37

Oh give over, OP. Risk of outdoor transmission is minimal, and we are being encouraged to meet people outdoors. I’m sick of the cat’s bum-mouthed curtain twitchers judging other people for enjoying themselves in a low risk way. Stay at home if it bothers you.

Kokeshi123 · 31/03/2021 12:39

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?

We learned that outdoor transmission is very hard, that the virus appears to be fairly seasonal, that the vaccine works, and that zoom lenses do a really good job of making thinly populated spaces look like a mosh pit.

Frazzled2207 · 31/03/2021 12:40

@ClarkeGriffin

The mess left behind is what pissed me off most. If they want to go out and potentially catch a virus that may kill them, more fool them. But do they have to leave behind shit tons of rubbish? No. They aren't animals, they have brains, they just don't use them.
Agree. This is what horrified me.
PurpleWh1teGreen · 31/03/2021 12:42

Went to a local park yesterday. It was fabulous to meet somewhere without masks and enjoy the sunshine. Felt very safe as people were sticking to their own groups.

Fortunately, I didn't see any litter either.

UnlikelybutTrue · 31/03/2021 12:43

DP past Woodhouse Moor in Leeds yesterday on the bus and said it looked like Glastonbury. The rubbish left behind today is grim. I totally understand people needing to get out into the sun especially those with no garden but there was no attempt at keeping any distance there yesterday. It was ridiculous

DarkMatterA2Z · 31/03/2021 12:45

Most city centre parks are crowded because lots of people live in flats in urban areas. People aren't breaking any rules by going there.

The littering is a different matter Angry.

ClarkeGriffin · 31/03/2021 12:46

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

The littering and the barbecues are very sad to see.

Who raised these people? Who taught them it's ok to go and dump your rubbish without a care in the world and to incinerate your local parks?

Yeah considering how 'save the earth' mn can be, I'm surprised there aren't more people annoyed by that. Plus, there will be at least one parent whose child helped cause that mess on here I'd imagine. I'd be embarrassed if my kid contributed to that.
Hardbackwriter · 31/03/2021 12:53

I think that often what happens with the littering is that only a small minority just leave their rubbish where they sit, but that loads more put it next to or on top of full bins, which means it goes everywhere and amounts to the same thing. You always see it when it's really busy because there are never enough bins to cope with that.

Todaytomorrowyesterday · 31/03/2021 12:53

Liter annoyed me.

My mother in law meet up for a coffee with a group yesterday in bath, she never made the papers funnily enough the camera only chose the young people. Though she did annoy me complaining that the park was busy and young people out and about without a jab 🙄 my response was like you were enjoying the outside and socially meeting friends you hadn’t seen for a while.

user1497207191 · 31/03/2021 12:56

@LST

Did you not learn anything from last summer? Ya know, when the numbers kept going down even though the country basically opened back up? The rubbish being left is just pure scum, but I dont blame them for anything else
Except the numbers DID start increasing in August!!
LST · 31/03/2021 13:01

When 'eat out to help out' was encouraged? Where you were allowed to eat INSIDE?

notalwaysalondoner · 31/03/2021 13:01

Do you have a garden or balcony OP?

randomlyLostInWales · 31/03/2021 13:04

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?

To go out when you can - last summer we were happered by where we were and restrictions on public transport being lifted very late and very quietly. I think it made winter harder for us all. Our children are a year older and only youngest seems to like to still do family days out now.

Though having said that we are being very cautious till our Y11 has sat her not exam exams.

We saw headline like this from nearby city - an lovely area surrounded by huge number of flats - you could see people in groups socailly distance though the headline didn't reflect this.

MitheringSunday · 31/03/2021 13:05

AcornAutumn - it has (been restricted), but in different ways from the UK.

Envious because our figures are currently rocketing, hard restrictions are likely on the way and vaccinations are up to the dizzy heights of 10%

WouldBeGood · 31/03/2021 13:08

One thing we have learned is that frothing over outdoor events as a catalyst for a surge in cases is wholly wrong.

YABVU

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 31/03/2021 13:09

The mess left behind is appalling. The rest is fine.

CloudFormations · 31/03/2021 13:12

Remember this manufactured outrage occurred last year too, and it turned out it was all a photography trick and that the people in the photos were actually all miles apart from one another. Don’t fall for the ruse again!

thevicarstroketwice · 31/03/2021 13:12

@Kokeshi123

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?

We learned that outdoor transmission is very hard, that the virus appears to be fairly seasonal, that the vaccine works, and that zoom lenses do a really good job of making thinly populated spaces look like a mosh pit.

why did we ban outdoor spots then.. that's the problem.
AcornAutumn · 31/03/2021 13:12

@MitheringSunday

AcornAutumn - it has (been restricted), but in different ways from the UK.

Envious because our figures are currently rocketing, hard restrictions are likely on the way and vaccinations are up to the dizzy heights of 10%

My understanding was that you can still meet indoors even under the toughest lockdown, is that correct?

Our dropping figures and high vax rate don't change the fact that it's illegal to meet indoors.

thevicarstroketwice · 31/03/2021 13:12

Come on, I have seen large groups every time I have been outside, let's not pretend they don't exist or are new.

ClarkeGriffin · 31/03/2021 13:13

@Hardbackwriter

I think that often what happens with the littering is that only a small minority just leave their rubbish where they sit, but that loads more put it next to or on top of full bins, which means it goes everywhere and amounts to the same thing. You always see it when it's really busy because there are never enough bins to cope with that.
Take it home then, or find an empty one. Its amazing how many people drive to places near me, go for a walk and picnic, see a full bin near their car and put the rubbish next to the bin, rather than in their car and in their own bin. There isn't an excuse, it's just laziness and stupidity.
CloudFormations · 31/03/2021 13:13

(The littering is shit though)

MiaChia · 31/03/2021 13:13

Why are people leaving litter everywhere? Who are these people? I thought young people were massively into saving the planet? Are pensioners flinging rubbish around like crazy? If so, why? I honestly think we need to study this because who’s going to pick it up before the rats move in? I resent my tax being spent on picking up litter when I take mine home and always have.