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AIBU?

AIBU to not understand the outrage over the government’s so-called Christmas party?

778 replies

OneRuleForThem · 07/12/2021 22:33

I feel like this is only an issue if people automatically followed guidelines like robots. We were “told” not to visit our own families over Christmas. Nobody tells me whether I can or can not visit my own family, so I did, and had a lovely and nice normal Christmas last year.

It seems people are up in arms over the fact that Downing Street allegedly (do I have to say allegedly?) had a Christmas party and flounced the “rules” without social distancing. My only reaction is…And? And so? So what? Did anyone expect the government NOT to do something like this? I don’t know why people are up in arms over it tbh. It’s not like this government is brand new to people and they didn’t have prior information that this government backtrack and “do as I say not as i do” ALL THE TIME.

I really don’t get why people are so outraged by this. My main reaction is…why did you listen to them in the first place expecting them to be some kind of moral leaders? AIBU?

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LizzieSiddal · 07/12/2021 23:16

People didn't do it 'just because Boris told them not to.' They went on the advice of government and scientists who are supposedly the experts and made their own responsible choices to try and protect their loved ones.

This! Don’t you understand that people were trying to protect their families and also the wider community. My MIL had her cancer operation cancelled on Jan 8th because there was no bed available due to Covid. She didn’t get it until august!! If people get Covid and end up in hospital it affects OTHER people and their treatment. That’s why most people follow the rules!!

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jgw1 · 07/12/2021 23:15

@OneRuleForThem

I feel like this is only an issue if people automatically followed guidelines like robots. We were “told” not to visit our own families over Christmas. Nobody tells me whether I can or can not visit my own family, so I did, and had a lovely and nice normal Christmas last year.

It seems people are up in arms over the fact that Downing Street allegedly (do I have to say allegedly?) had a Christmas party and flounced the “rules” without social distancing. My only reaction is…And? And so? So what? Did anyone expect the government NOT to do something like this? I don’t know why people are up in arms over it tbh. It’s not like this government is brand new to people and they didn’t have prior information that this government backtrack and “do as I say not as i do” ALL THE TIME.

I really don’t get why people are so outraged by this. My main reaction is…why did you listen to them in the first place expecting them to be some kind of moral leaders? AIBU?

I would also be breaking the law if I came round yours and took some items I fancied. Would that be ok too?
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DaphneduWarrior · 07/12/2021 23:15

@MasterBeth

No, I don’t feel like a mug for choosing to try and protect my family, my community and my country by restricting my social interactions at a time of a pandemic. I would do it again.

(We might all have to do it again if selfish, thoughtless, reckless cunts think their own freedom to party is more important than the lives of thousands.)

Everything @MasterBeth said.
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budgiegirl · 07/12/2021 23:15

If the majority of people who responded have said they weren’t surprised , why did you listen? I just don’t understand that

Because the rule was a good one. To protect those we love and the wider community. Just because Boris and his cronies are arrogant enough to break the rules, doesn't mean that I will also be that arrogant. It shouldn't be a race to the bottom.

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Ironingtsunami · 07/12/2021 23:14

It's not about being docile. It's about caring, and not wanting to feel responsible if anyone you'd been associating with became ill, and God forbid, died. I didn't visit (elderly) relatives at Xmas or travel halfway across the country like I usually would, because I didn't want to put their lives at risk, nor add to the pressure of people who have no choice but to work in service industries that I'd meet along the way.

I don't want to be in a race to the bottom with those vile freeloaders. I can still support a media giving them hell for failing in their duties (yet again) and hope that it might influence some people to vote differently next time.

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DaisyNGO · 07/12/2021 23:14

I can keep repeating £200 fine and OP will ignore me. Yes, we know the govt don't follow the rules but....£200 fine, hospitals, care homes etc who literally will not let visitors in. What do you want then? Break down the doors?

Really feel for posters on here. Night all. Flowers

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OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/12/2021 23:14

Students were fined £10,000 for hosting parties. The queen sat on her own at her husbands funeral. Countless people stayed apart from loved ones, some never saw them again. People thought they were citing in the best interests of the community while the goevernment didn't give a fuck and partied away.

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KingDangerMouse · 07/12/2021 23:13

You know it's not actually about listening to Mr Johnson, who, as most people know has at best a questionable relationship with the truth. It was about understanding the risk presented by the virus at that time to other people, especially the vulnerable and taking appropriate action, which was to minimise transmission by restricting social contact.

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OneRuleForThem · 07/12/2021 23:13

@Dishwashersaurous

To follow your logic.

The government not going to follow the law.

Therefore no one should follow the law.

What is the basis for which laws you choose to follow..or is it none. And therefore anarchy

The “law” was: do not visit your family at Christmas. That is insane! Of course I wasn’t going to follow it, especially said by someone like Boris Johnson leading the Conservative Party!!
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OneRuleForThem · 07/12/2021 23:12

@logsonlogsoff

I. Am be arsed with arguing anymore with people who are too thick to understand why this is causing such anger. Your government - my government are taking us for
Mugs.

Thats what I said in the OP and the basis of it
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logsonlogsoff · 07/12/2021 23:11

I. Am be arsed with arguing anymore with people who are too thick to understand why this is causing such anger. Your government - my government are taking us for
Mugs.

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Dishwashersaurous · 07/12/2021 23:11

To follow your logic.

The government not going to follow the law.

Therefore no one should follow the law.

What is the basis for which laws you choose to follow..or is it none. And therefore anarchy

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OneRuleForThem · 07/12/2021 23:09

@goodgollygosh23

OP you sound a bit thick to be honest.

Well done for breaking the rules and 'not being a sheep'. Is that what you want to hear?

I don’t really care to hear anything from anyone regarding what I have done - I was asking a question.
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Theluggage15 · 07/12/2021 23:09

I followed the stupid rules, some of them I had no choice about. What pisses me off is that they were just laughing at everyone, their rules which caused so much misery were literally just a joke to them.

All that finger wagging and lecturing - they can fuck off.
I’m done with it all now though, they can shut businesses etc. but I’m never going to stop seeing my family and friends again.

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Cheerbear24 · 07/12/2021 23:09

@IDontDrinkTea

YABU. Last year, the only day I could have seen my family was Christmas Day because of the laws around lockdown. Unfortunately, I was rostered for a 12.5 hour shift for the NHS caring for patients with covid, so I didn’t have any time to see my family. By Boxing Day, it was banned again.

But sure. Glad you had a nice time OP, and glad Boris did too 🙄

So sorry @IDontDrinkTea and thank you.
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milly74 · 07/12/2021 23:09

If you don't see the problem OP then there truly is no hope

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DaphneduWarrior · 07/12/2021 23:09

@Sandsnake

I didn’t listen to Boris et al, I listed to Chris Whitty and the scientists. I listened to them because I understood how much of an issue Delta was, and that we were living in a pre-vaccine world where the shit was hitting the fan regarding Covid. I listened because I knew how serious it was and I couldn’t live with myself if I knew that I was part of the problem.

I sacrificed my Christmas with my family. So did everyone that I know in my area (we were tier 4). We were helping people not to get Covid. I was not ‘robotically following guidance’.

Exactly this.

I couldn’t give a fuck what Johnson says or doesn’t say; what I do care about is protecting my family. I wasn’t going to sit on a train for three hours then go and stay with my vulnerable parents and 93 year old grandmother. Nothing to do with him, everything to do with doing the right thing for them.

I spent Xmas alone apart from my abusive ex. It was horrible. I’d still do it again.
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FromageRay · 07/12/2021 23:09

We listened because it was law. They are a joke but we listened because the consequences of not abiding by that law weren't going to affect Boris and his twits directly, it would have impacted the NHS and the people it exists to help.

WHY do you, and a bunch of tories, think you're superior?

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OneRuleForThem · 07/12/2021 23:08

@Cheerbear24
Well I won’t be doing it again. Some rules I did it for the ‘greater good’ I suppose, remember ‘don’t kill granny’?
Some rules were imposed on me; no wake for my grandmas funeral and 12 people only. Before she died in the care home she was locked in there, no visitors until she was on deaths door. She was very deaf and trying to communicate to us through a locked window once a week. Heartbreaking.
FIL died of cancer at new year and had an utterly miserable last year with being terrified of catching covid on top of chemo, living on his own, crippling loneliness, and everything being closed, all whilst the Tories took the piss on a massive scale and laughed in our faces. Fuck doing all that again

I am sorry for you @cheerbear24 I hope this doesn’t sound flippant but this is exactly what I meant by the thread in the first place. This is not the first time they have pulled stunts like this. They do it all the time. I guess I’m just shocked that so many people listened to what they said and then decided “ok, I will do what they say”. I understand about “official” things, and things that need ticking off by other people, so social distancing in shops, weddings, funerals, etc. But actually listening to the government when they said “you are not allowed to see your family at Christmas?” I don’t understand why people listened to them. I suppose from this thread I am in a minority however.

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IDontDrinkTea · 07/12/2021 23:07

YABU. Last year, the only day I could have seen my family was Christmas Day because of the laws around lockdown. Unfortunately, I was rostered for a 12.5 hour shift for the NHS caring for patients with covid, so I didn’t have any time to see my family. By Boxing Day, it was banned again.

But sure. Glad you had a nice time OP, and glad Boris did too 🙄

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SickAndTiredAgain · 07/12/2021 23:07

@OneRuleForThem

If the majority of people who responded have said they weren’t surprised , why did you listen? I just don’t understand that.

Well for starters you’re ignoring people who had no choice. If a hospital or care home didn’t allow visitors, what would you have had people do, break in?
You were able to have a “normal” Christmas last year presumably because any laws you broke were within your control (as in, you had capacity to break them). That wouldn’t have been the case if you’d had a relative in a care home and you couldn’t visit. Would you then view yourself as one of the mindless rule followers you’re so scornful of?

That won’t apply to everyone you’re talking about of course, but it’s a large chunk you seem to be ignoring when you say “ I feel like this is only an issue if people automatically followed guidelines like robots.”
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Leftbutcameback · 07/12/2021 23:06

I don’t blame some of those in exceptional circumstances who didn’t follow the rules. If my mum was dying I would have spent Christmas with her no matter what.

I don’t even really blame those students who had house parties because they were told for months it wasn’t really a risk for them.

But politicians used to at least resign when they were caught put. Now they break the law, deny it, and somehow keep their jobs. It’s unbelievable, and I feel completely powerless (and yes, I always do use my vote, but with FPTP it doesn’t work).

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SunnyLeaf · 07/12/2021 23:06

Hmm I think you’re on a wind up

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MasterBeth · 07/12/2021 23:06

No, I don’t feel like a mug for choosing to try and protect my family, my community and my country by restricting my social interactions at a time of a pandemic. I would do it again.

(We might all have to do it again if selfish, thoughtless, reckless cunts think their own freedom to party is more important than the lives of thousands.)

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goodgollygosh23 · 07/12/2021 23:05

OP you sound a bit thick to be honest.

Well done for breaking the rules and 'not being a sheep'. Is that what you want to hear?

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