Are people who are going on holiday this year selfish?

[Meltinthemiddle]

Just saw a big row unfold on my FB feed because someone posted they've had their vaccinations and can't wait to go on holiday and they quite a few negative responses calling them selfish 🙈. I just wondered what others thought?

I don't think it's selfish as such but I do think it's unnecessary.

@C00lChat405

To holiday in their home country or abroad ?

I don't work in the NHS, but if I had spent the last year covered in PPE for 12 hour shifts & caring for sick people. I would think that a holiday would be a welcome break. As long as they have travel insurance & are aware that lockdowns may occur at short notice

I went abroad last September just as everywhere was locking down and literally everyone around the pool worked for the NHS in some capacity, there were also lots of people who had first hand experience of COVID deaths and quite a few transport for London workers who told some torrid tales of being spat at or abused trying to enforce COVID measures. You have as much chance of catching or spreading COVID in your local Tesco’s as you have in other place so I for one will hopefully be jetting off later in he year

It's probably jealousy tbh - jealous they haven't had their jabs yet and jealous that they aren't going on holiday. If people follow the rules with testing and quarantining then I don't see the problem. I will be going away again this summer if at all possible and I will test and quarantine properly.

I personally think it’s unwise to travel abroad for a holiday at present. However I would not use the word selfish and I never get involved with FB rants.

As per normal I think this government is giving out very mixed unclear messages.

Holidaying responsibly and within the rules when it comes to any quarantine period I don’t have a problem with
Already know of people who have no intention of quarantining on return from amber countries if it’s still a requirement because they can’t afford to do so/don’t have holidays to allow them to - those people yes are wrong and arseholes

a bit, maybe? I'm not sure the terminology is helpful. If they're going to a green list country, following the rules, being careful... then, no.

Amber list - tricky, that one.

I've decided not to travel at the moment. I can certainly understand why people want to. I also work in a sector that is very, very directly affected by lack of travel. But I do think we should be avoiding it at the moment if we can.

@Odagled

The word “selfish” has been lobbed around so much in the last 12 months it’s almost lost it’s meaning. I must have missed the day when we all became altruistic saints, all doing stuff for the greater good.

No, going on holiday isn’t selfish (and no, I don’t have one booked myself).

This. I've not booked a holiday, not because I am particularly unselfish, but because I don't want to have to cancel it again/do tests/do quarantine/sit in long queues at airports etc.

No.
Very much hoping to go abroad. Just had Covid, caught from DS who caught it at school. So he’s now got some antibodies. DH and I both double vaccinated and I have also had it so lots and lots of antibodies.
We need a break.

I think there's a difference between holidays and visiting family too.

If people want to travel abroad and it’s permitted then that’s fine. What really annoyed me last year was a colleague who went away on holiday and the rules changed midway through and she had to quarantine on return. She whinged day in day out on pretty much every form of communication going how unfair it was. She’s off again at the end of the week and is already complaining about the queues to get back in. I’m sorry but you pay your money and make your choice as far as I’m concerned. Suck it up and stop fucking whinging.

I don’t think it’s a brilliant idea, and I also don’t think the govt should be allowing it. It’s more likely to keep the pandemic going and bring in variants that anything we could be doing domestically.

However I wouldn’t call people selfish exactly for doing what they’re allowed to do. I also think “selfish” isn’t always bad.

How are we using the vote here @Meltinthemiddle? Are we agreeing with you? You haven't said what you think yet.

Thread 30,000 plus on this. Sone say yes, some say no. Each one of us will decide what to do. Christ, when did this site turn into this swamp of dull stupidity?

I think it depends how we go with the June 21st deadline - if (as it looks likely) Europe and the US seem to be going into the phase of simply living with it alongside vaccination programmes (of which we are leading the way).

Unless a VOC appears in Europe or the US what actual difference does it make as long as you make the travel process as safe as possible.

And it is here where I think there is work to be done. You cannot have the scenes at Heathrow where crowds are mixing from green and red list countries. Once you have that bit sorted I am not entirely sure where there is an increased risk going on?

@Iheartmysmart that’s all very true though!

When I say selfish isn’t always bad, I guess my U.K. break is selfish too on the reckoning of some people, but I’m still going on it! Many things we do are selfish - all holidaymaking is! We don’t do it for altruistic reasons.

I've got a family holiday booked (actually it was last years holiday, booked way before we'd even heard of COVID, that I had to roll forward, or just lose my money) If I can go - and it's a big if - then I will. At the moment the government are giving very mixed messages and all the time that they allow travel I can't get claim on my insurance.

Given the amount of testing, quarantining etc that will be necessary to go to another country, you would be more likely to contract COVID from someone in the local pub / school / Tesco than from me, returning from a week in Greece.

I think it's yet another way of blaming a specific group of people for the shit-show that this pandemic.

I think it's madness that foreign holidays are allowed, and doubt very much that people will isolate as they're supposed to, so Yes, I think it's selfish to go abroad on holiday

Near us, some schools have gone back to blended learning at home due to overseas travel leading to higher Covid levels

Not selfish but absolutely unnecessary yes! I suppose it depends on how Covid and the lockdown has affected you and your family. If you've lost friends or family your occupation or business then it understandable that emotions run high on this subject. For some it's been business and life as normal for other it has destroyed lifes, livelihoods, and relationships.

What’s selfish about it?

If people have had the vaccine it’s about time it started having some perks.

@Plumbear2 I totally agree with your comment!

Not at all, I think they are optimistic and possibly taking a risk (what if they take C19 to destination?), but quite frankly why should they not travel if the govt is allowing them to?

My personal risk appetite is stopping me from booking a hol until at least next year, I’m a bit envious but not resentful at all of those travelling.

It’s within guidelines.

If you spread the virus to others, by acquiring it on a holiday, then yes, it's selfish to have taken that holiday.

I know a few people that have family abroad. So for some of them, it is not a proper holiday, but visiting elderly, sick relatives

No:

• they are supporting the tourism industry and therefore some of the economy
• the government is not prohibiting it, or even advising against it much and the buck stops with them!
• As long as they are following the (woefully inadequate) rules post holiday they are doing nothing wrong.

Do I think anything but essential foreign travel should be allowed, No. Do I think those doing something completely legal and above board are selfish and wrong? No.

In fact, our govt had been double deciding (for want of a better term) throughout the pandemic.

Like BJ’s two ref articles they keep saying:
Hug granny but be careful
Go away but don’t. Or be careful.
Go to the office but stay home.

Remember when BJ said we could exercise as far as we want last year?

Then absolved himself of the scenes at various beaches because ‘use your common sense’?

Whatever the result they have an out prepared, so after the horrific year some people have had I say good luck to them with whatever they want to do, within guidelines.