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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:
AcornAutumn · 31/03/2021 14:10

@kittensarecute

Restrictions are ending, folks. Move on.
Do you feel that the tiny restrictions that are changing are a good enough copy of freedom?
Lastbonestanding · 31/03/2021 14:11

It's outside. We need to stop trying to police other people's behaviour. Getting in other people's business may have been all the rage for the past year but enough is enough.

Diamondnights · 31/03/2021 14:11

@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?

If you post with your judgey pants on that tight OP, people are going to be judgey back.

Litter was awful. The rest looked OK.

MinnieMous3 · 31/03/2021 14:13

Not ‘shocked’ to see people sitting in the park at all, I hope they had a lovely time and got some much needed vitamin D.

DP and I went to a beautiful stately house garden yesterday, the weather was gorgeous and it was lovely seeing kids running about and enjoying themselves. I genuinely felt a weight lift from my chest for a bit.

Bagamoyo1 · 31/03/2021 14:13

@Salarymallory

The litter bothers me

But the groups enjoying the sun in public parks make me happy and optimistic

Me too
MinnieMous3 · 31/03/2021 14:15

@LesLavandes

I saw with my own eyes that Brighton Beach was as packed as press photos looked.

Complete lack of social distancing in queues for takeaways as well.

Sigh

Well, you were there? 🙄
LesLavandes · 31/03/2021 14:18

I live in Brighton and was walking past. So yes

MinnieMous3 · 31/03/2021 14:19

@LesLavandes

I live in Brighton and was walking past. So yes
Definitely not going for a walk on the beach then..?
Eruss · 31/03/2021 14:20

Unfortunately this country is intent on putting apartments and student apartments up on every inch of green space - meaning there is less green space for people to spread out on but also on warm days these tenants have no gardens to relax in so rely on local parks.
We are a family that are in this unfortunate position (high rents etc) so when it is hot outside we are sweltering in our apartment.

LesLavandes · 31/03/2021 14:21

Why are you interrogating me?

I have no problem with peeps going to the beach. I have a problem with lack of social distancing out of yr group.

GreenWillow · 31/03/2021 14:21

@Hadjab

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?

We’ve learned that the BLM protests that took place last year, in the warmer weather, did not cause a spike in infections.

We’ve learned that people rushing to the beaches last year, in the warmer weather, also did not cause a spike in infections.

We’ve learned that the virus is less virulent in warmer weather and direct sunshine.

We’ve learned that the camera does lie - what you see from one angle can look completely different from another.

Yup
LesLavandes · 31/03/2021 14:22

Actually I think in a group you are still supposed to social distance

LesLavandes · 31/03/2021 14:23

Oh. Get the rules changed then if you are sure the scientists ate giving wrong advice. Silly scientists

TheKeatingFive · 31/03/2021 14:26

I have a problem with lack of social distancing out of yr group.

You genuinely cant get better ventilation than on the beach.

We have clear evidence now that the risk of beach transmission is infinitesimal. I suggest you find something else to get worked up about.

LesLavandes · 31/03/2021 14:28

And I suggest you follow current rules! 😊

tangerinelollipop · 31/03/2021 14:32

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?

It seems they haven't

YANBU OP

Bagamoyo1 · 31/03/2021 14:33

It’s school holidays here, but DS went to school in the morning as they’re doing GCSE revision sessions , to make up for all they’ve missed. Afterwards he went with his friends to the park - they wandered around, kicked a ball, bought sweets, messed about in a stream etc. When I went to collect him the whole town was full of small groups of teens doing similar teen stuff. It was lovely to see. These kids have had such a crap time and DS was a different person after coming home, his whole demeanour was lighter. I welcome the outdoor socialising. Especially as it’ll be cold again tomorrow!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 31/03/2021 14:34

I walked through Richmond yesterday and thought how lovely to see groups of people sitting by the river (vast majority late teens/early 20s), enjoying a few drinks, catching up in the sunshine. They've suffered enough, stuck in with parents, or house shares/uni accommodation, for a virus that largely doesn't affect them very much.

Crack on I say, we need to start living again.

TheKeatingFive · 31/03/2021 14:34

And I suggest you follow current rules!

I’ll use my common sense, thanks awfully

SimonJT · 31/03/2021 14:34

We were at Hampstead Heath playground yesterday, there were 4/5 other children, helped by the fact that the school holidays don’t start until tomorrow. The park itself was quiet where we were, but it is a huge area so it rarely gets particularly busy/crowded.

cyclingmad · 31/03/2021 14:34

What pisses me off more is all the littering. Absolutely disgusting! We are not animals! Even if the bin is full at least collating it all by the bin is better than leaving it strewn across the park.

Remeber these could be your teenagers and young adults doing this! Do they do this st game? Of course not.

I really wish they woild bring in a Singapore style littering fine thats actually enforced.

butterpuffed · 31/03/2021 14:39

The people chucking litter around are either people who don't care about others having to pick it up , or just don't give it a second thought, so are probably the ones who think it's okay to gather in large groups and not bother to socially distance.

We all know that the chances of contracting covid are far less likely outdoors, but it doesn't mean it's zero.

lap90 · 31/03/2021 14:40

I went to a park yesterday and had a picnic with a friend. Lots of people doing the same. Police (both uniform and plainclothes) strolled through three times and didn't seem to take issue.

It was nice to see people out and enjoying themselves.

My only anger is those who do not throw their rubbish away!

ChocOrange1 · 31/03/2021 14:42

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?
We learnt that there is next to no transmission outdoors and no outbreaks linked to the beaches last summer.

Normandy144 · 31/03/2021 14:43

I think if we have learned anything in the past year it's that these types of gatherings are not causing spikes. It just isn't something I can get worked up about. People said the same after people flocked to the beaches last summer and whoops no spike. I remember when there was snow earlier this year and some residents were so angry that children were sledding on the hills (how dare they have fun, don't they know there's a pandemic!) and guess what, our cases continued to drop and there was no spike.