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

[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?

@Amberflames

I really can’t get too excited about a bunch of people who were working together anyway having a bit of cheese and wine. And no, I didn’t break the rules and see my family. I was too concerned about the risk of giving them covid.

What I’m wondering is why it’s come out now, after all this time. What’s it really covering up?

Sorry should have added that although I’m not too fussed, I can fully understand why some others are.

YABU did you see that stupid woman on the news laughing about it? Disgraceful behaviour

I had a really shit Xmas by obeying the law to the letter. Sat for three weeks with my disabled children. Didn't see anyone. Didn't have anyone round.

I agree with you in a sense op, I think they’re all dishonest. But I disagree that people getting angry about politicians bad behaviour is a waste of energy. If people happily accepted lower standards who know how much more corrupt they could get.

Also people have died alone and had zoom funerals etc because of these rules given out by the government, so I can see why people are a bit sore about it.

I agree with you OP. Obviously a very unpopular opinion. No one should be sacrificing their family and loved ones based on the information we have/had about covid.

Thank you. This is how I feel about it too. I am just quite confused as to why other people don’t see it in this way.

Are you actually confused? Because it’s been explained. You may disagree, but how do you not actually understand?

The government brought in a law, stressed how incredibly important it was that everyone follow it, and then broke it. Regardless of your opinion on the actual law itself, is that not the sign of a shitty government? Can you really not see why even on this most basic level this is unacceptable? Who cares if we expect them to be crap, that doesn’t mean it’s ok when they continue to be so. It’s easy to not be annoyed with anyone when your standards are so fucking low.

The reason why you’re posting this IDGAF thread now, OP rather than a year ago is exactly why this government lockdown party is a problem.

People are emboldened to break the rules when our rulers break said rules, rules which saw many people fined and threatened by police.

The rules at times have made no sense to me, have been emotionally difficult and inconvenient to follow and have caused difficulties in relationships. But I have followed them out of respect for others.

We are a family of Tory voters, always have been.

Our Nan died aged 100 years old, at home last year, we visited her standing outside in the Garden, she didn't hug her great grandchildren, the funeral was attended by 11 i think, the rest of us saw it on Zoom.

Meanwhile, others held parties, over 800 died on the 18th of December.

We are all so angry.

OP come on you can’t be this dense. People didn’t self-isolate and not see their families “just because the government told them to”. They did it because they wanted to help stop spreading covid for the good of everyone. Some might have had relatives dying of covid in hospital and physically couldn’t be with them, while also seeing first hand what a miserable death covid brings and knowing that staying in and not mixing with people was the right thing to do. It is absolutely nothing to do with blindly following what the government says, it’s about doing the right thing for society, what is it you don’t understand about that?

People can be unsurprised at the government’s behaviour because they know they’re a bunch of hypocritical narcissists with no regard for the people they’re meant to lead, while also being furious that their behaviour proves over and over again they actively hold the public in contempt. Saying “I don’t let the government tell me when to see my family” just sounds like the kind of meaningless pseudo hard man twaddle Phil Mitchell would come out with.

The government - any government - do as they like. It's always been one rule for them and another rule for the rest of us. What boils my piss though, is that whilst they were telling us last year what we can and can't do, and people dying alone in hospitals because no visitors were allowed, and old people not being able to have their families to see them in their care homes, Johnson and his cronies were enjoying themselves, quaffing champagne and having a merry old time.

I'm ashamed to say that I voted for that buffoon. It was him or Corbyn, so nothing to choose from. Things won't ever change. The government don't care about us, the ordinary people.

You broke the rules. But you can't see why we are all so upset, those of us that didn't?

They've been laughing at us plebs the whole time. During the G8 us peasants were all wearing masks everywhere, while they partied like they did in this photo.
Locked us up and cancelled Christmas 2020, and now seen laughing at us on camera...
Any future lockdown advice will be ignored in this country

@Port1aCastis

While bojo and his band of incompetents were partying the night away with complete disregard to the rules they made someone very close to me died YABVVU and you know it

He wasn't there. It was employees at work, I bet if you'd gone into any workplace last xmas you'd have seen employees having mince pies wearing Christmas jumpers.

If it was more than that, if it was a riotous evening full of dancing and party games with Johnson leading the conga then I'd be as outraged as the next person. We just don't know the details yet do we and until we do I think all the hysteria is a bit premature.

@Rose789

To be honest OP you sound just as much of a twat as the people that attended that party. You broke the law so you could have a merry Christmas cos fuck the government? Everyone could have done that. The vast vast majority of people chose not too because they are not absolute selfish fuckers like you

I was looking for some measured way to word a similar sentiment, but frankly that’ll do very well.

Yabu most people did follow it

London and other places had strong restrictions

Although I keep hearing wine and cheese this morning though which seems to be losing its initial shock value

Anyway of course people mostly adhered and they will be annoyed

@vickyp0llard

Thank you. This is how I feel about it too. I am just quite confused as to why other people don’t see it in this way.

I agree. I think lockdown was a massive overstep and caused more harm than good, and thought that from the beginning. Some of the most vulnerable people in society (children, people with MH problems) being forced to sacrifice their livelihoods and everything that makes life worth living for others, without being asked or voting on it. My dad got severely ill with covid, at no time did he blame someone socialising for giving it to him. I know more people who have committed suicide over this period than people who died of Covid. I fundamentally believe it's not the government's place to dictate to people what to do in their own homes and to shut down businesses - it is an endemic virus, vaccines/new medication/hygiene measures are the best tools we have but at the end of the day we have to live with it, unless we are prepared to sacrifice every Xmas and gathering going forward. It is only on MN where everyone apparently followed the rules - IRL many people I know, from all walks of life, just quietly saw their families and friends over lockdown and over xmas. I suffered from severe depression and was suicidal over the winter lockdown, not seeing family/friends may have tipped me over the edge. think it's quite naive to expect the government to follow the rules - they have shown for absolute decades that they are hypocrites, liars, do not practise what they preach and only care about lining their own pockets.

But in this case, where you think the government was massively overstepping and the covid laws were unacceptable, surely it is still frustrating for you to see the damage you’ve listed above and find out that the government weren’t even following it From your POV, surely it would be one thing for the government to bring in massively damaging laws if they really felt it was necessary and followed it themselves, but for them to bring it in, and then have a party, which suggests they weren’t actually scared about taking covid home to granny, that’s worse isn’t it? Happy for others to sit home alone in misery following their excessive laws while they flagrantly broke them?

What I’m wondering is why it’s come out now, after all this time. What’s it really covering up?

It genuinely pleases me to see increasing numbers of people who question what's behind the headline, rather than taking that headline as read
Equally it was good to see a poster on another thread who questioned why those who'd worked to terrify so many weren't apparently worried themselves

Whether we'll ever know the answers to these questions is something else again, but nevertheless it's good to see them being asked

Hasn't it come to the fore because they were having a laugh about it recently and someone posted it to twitter?

The problem is that a lot of people had no choice but to comply with the laws.

I didn't, but I had that option. There are people whose loved ones died alone, with no family around them, because of regulations that were in place at the time. You can decide you're going to your dad's house for Christmas dinner regardless, but you can't break into a hospital to see him. That's the distinction. There are people who really did suffer because of social distancing laws they had no choice but to adhere to.

I'd love to know what Van Tam and Whitty are saying about it.

From your POV, surely it would be one thing for the government to bring in massively damaging laws if they really felt it was necessary and followed it themselves, but for them to bring it in, and then have a party, which suggests they weren’t actually scared about taking covid home to granny, that’s worse isn’t it? Happy for others to sit home alone in misery following their excessive laws while they flagrantly broke them?

I think it was done under peer-pressure (rest of Europe did something similar) and because the government aren't very good and don't think their policies through very well before enacting them. This is probably why they didn't take it seriously, because a lot of them probably didn't want it brought in and didn't agree with it themselves - they just wanted to look like they were doing "something".

Of course it's awful to make the rest of the country suffer while you party on, but this is just the sort of thing we can expect from politicians. Their actions from the past few decades, and the number of scandals (remember the expenses scandal anyone? The guy expensing his £5 church donation?) means I can't honestly be shocked or upset about it, the government have always taken the piss out of the general public. I think a lot of people in this country watch BBC, blindly trust the government and genuinely believe they are all good, selfless people with the nation's best interests at heart. I don't agree. I think they have their own interests, career progression and wallets at the forefront of any decision - always.

@KrispyKale

I'd love to know what Van Tam and Whitty are saying about it.

Probably much the same as us

@OneRuleForThem

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

Social conscience.

And people who have that shouldn't be made to feel foolish by those who only think of themselves.

HTH

If this is genuine then honestly you're a fool.

Where I live people were being reported for having a few drinks in the office with colleagues on the last day before Christmas. My boss was handing out beers but people were not allowed to stay and drink them because it was social not work.

I had to choose between having my in laws round on Christmas Day or my parents (in laws won as mil has dementia and fil needed the company)