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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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?

OP posts:
MsJinks · 08/12/2021 15:28

OP - whatever your choices, views, you must be able to see why people followed the rules, even if you think it was misguided.
After 2 visits to a COVID ward I will always want to follow anything reasonable that would reduce that situation for both sufferers, staff and the wider public. At the least I also don’t want to end up in court or pay 10k fines. Don’t you find these reasons rational at all?
I am not shocked at the government any more, however, I naively expect those who set the rules/legislate to be equally accountable. At the very least don’t laugh at the public who are in the main having a shit time if not an awful time partly due to the rules you implemented. You must understand the anger that they set rules, didn’t follow them, then laughed about it?
You do you as they say, but equally most folk understand an alternate viewpoint and I’m not sure if you genuinely don’t get it, or just wanting to air your view and luck that you too could break rules with no adverse impact - at least as far as you know.

KrispyKale · 08/12/2021 15:29

Op you acted like a parasite. Letting others actions dampen infection rates.
It happens of course

But people who tried to follow rules aren't going to pat you on the back for being proactive in dumping government advice last year, pre vaccine.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 08/12/2021 15:31

But I don’t understand why people did

/////

Fuck me OP, can't you read?

Lavender24 · 08/12/2021 15:31

What they did was wrong. But I can't believe that

a) anyone is surprised
b) anyone actually followed the "rules" at Christmas

SueSaid · 08/12/2021 15:33

'But I don’t understand why people did and are now shocked that the government didn’t.'

To protect family and friends, to reduce the spread in a pandemic?! Confused

We don't know the 'government didn’t' do we? Civil servants at work may not necessarily be rule breaking no matter how much you are letting the media whip you into a frenzy.

jgw1 · 08/12/2021 15:34

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

But I don’t understand why people did

/////

Fuck me OP, can't you read?

Perhaps like Boris the OP isn't big on detail so hasn't bothered to read through the thread?
tallduckandhandsome · 08/12/2021 15:34

And sorry, but I think some people are being highly hypocritical on here. Those who are saying “well I will bloody well enjoy a Christmas this year, despite what the government says”…but that is EXACTLY what I thought last year. So why is it okay for people to reach that conclusion now but a year before and I was, according to some, BU for doing the same?

But you didn’t know the government were partying so you had no excuse to flout the rules.

Stop trying to make out you were savvy or prescient last year, you weren’t, you were just another entitled smuggo who thought the rules don’t apply to you.

Piglet89 · 08/12/2021 15:34

@OneRuleForThem your username should actually be “one rule for them and me”, if you chose to break the law by visiting family when the rest of us stayed put.

How far do you take the argument “nobody tells me I can’t see family”? Let’s apply it to some other laws.

“Nobody tells me I can’t take shit that doesn’t belong to me, so I ransacked my neighbour’s house”.

“Nobody tells me what speed I can drive at so I did 110 down the M11”.

“Nobody tells me what I can or can’t do when out and about so I smacked the checkout assistant for failing to add my club card points correctly”.

See what I mean?

KrispyKale · 08/12/2021 15:34

I'm surprised how selfish some people are. Nowt so queer and all that.🤷

jgw1 · 08/12/2021 15:35

@JaniieJones

'But I don’t understand why people did and are now shocked that the government didn’t.'

To protect family and friends, to reduce the spread in a pandemic?! Confused

We don't know the 'government didn’t' do we? Civil servants at work may not necessarily be rule breaking no matter how much you are letting the media whip you into a frenzy.

Goodness, you must have avoided the news for days if you are not aware that those who work in 10 Downing Street who are part of the government had a number of parties when doing so was illegal.

What a happy world you must live in.

HereticFanjo · 08/12/2021 15:36

@OneRuleForThem

And sorry, but I think some people are being highly hypocritical on here. Those who are saying “well I will bloody well enjoy a Christmas this year, despite what the government says”…but that is EXACTLY what I thought last year. So why is it okay for people to reach that conclusion now but a year before and I was, according to some, BU for doing the same?

I feel like people are also purposely misconstruing my words. I already said I was meaning visiting families and NOT where protocols were put in place: like weddings, funerals, care homes etc, where people didn’t have a choice because rules were set in place where they physically couldn’t get around them, but people are saying these things and asking me if that was acceptable when I didn’t say it was in the first place??

Because we are living in a different world, one where anyone vulnerable and intelligent is vaccinated unless medically impossible. You're just goading now and I'm sure it's all very entertaining for you. But just remember the many people who made sacrifices you didn't to protect others. Being like those over-entitled twats is nothing to be proud of.
Cornettoninja · 08/12/2021 15:37

Are we just all ignoring the fact that Boris was basically forced to put us back into lockdown in January? Yes, flouting rules at Xmas was a completely harmless action without any consequences whatsoever. Bravo.

Mammamia2020 · 08/12/2021 15:38

OP, you're a free rider, not a free thinker.
Many people made huge sacrifices, people on this thread have recounted to you what they went through: it's truly heartbreaking to read some of the comments. You have not had the grace to accept you were wrong. You are entitled to your opinion but the fact is you were wrong. Legally, morally and every other level.
If we had all behaved as you did, the NHS would have collapsed.
I would not want to be in any trench with you.
I have run out of polite words.

Octavia174 · 08/12/2021 15:40

@JaniieJones

'But I don’t understand why people did and are now shocked that the government didn’t.'

To protect family and friends, to reduce the spread in a pandemic?! Confused

We don't know the 'government didn’t' do we? Civil servants at work may not necessarily be rule breaking no matter how much you are letting the media whip you into a frenzy.

Its beyond doubt, even the Con leader in Scotland agrees, going as far as saying BJ must resign if he has lied.
tallduckandhandsome · 08/12/2021 15:43

OP, you're a free rider, not a free thinker.

I would not want to be in any trench with you.

💯 agreed

fakereview · 08/12/2021 15:43

@OneRuleForThem

I think I’m most surprised that so many people actually listened to their advice and did what the government said Confused As if I would watch and listen to Boris Johnson of all people(!) saying “do not visit your family at Christmas” and do what he said!!
I have to say I find all the fake outrage a bit tedious as well. The government has done far worse things than a few people having a party when they shouldn't have done. And it didn't affect anyone else.

The thing that really winds me up is the police behaviour during the pandemic, ranging from the relatively minor like the Derbyshire police and their drones, to the Met police and its tone-deaf reaction to the Sarah Everard vigil "cos covid".

fakereview · 08/12/2021 15:44

@Cornettoninja

Are we just all ignoring the fact that Boris was basically forced to put us back into lockdown in January? Yes, flouting rules at Xmas was a completely harmless action without any consequences whatsoever. Bravo.
That wasn't because of people flouting the rules at Christmas (or not), it was because of the rise of the Alpha variant.
tallduckandhandsome · 08/12/2021 15:45

@fakereview but that’s the point - they gave the police the go ahead to behave like that to the public whilst partying themselves, with police probably outside protecting them.

fakereview · 08/12/2021 15:46

I am a bit surprised anyone went to a party then though - I was assiduously avoiding any sort of indoor activities a year ago, eg eating outside and doing the bare minimum of shopping (we were in tier two so had fewer restrictions than some areas). It's not so much the law-breaking as the idiocy of mixing indoors!

AnyFucker · 08/12/2021 15:52

Allegra has offered her resignation. Quelle surprise.

dollbaby868 · 08/12/2021 15:56

I think I’m most surprised that so many people actually listened to their advice and did what the government saidConfused

This is a good question OP. Literally everyone I know still saw their families regarding Christmas and had a normal celebration like usual! It's only on MN have I seen people saying they stayed at home and didn't have a Christmas and blahblah. Not sure why anyone would actually listen to the government it's literally the blind leading the blind.

I agree with the poster who said people were listening to the government at the time so to see the government themselves weren't even following the rules makes them feel like mugs. I think that's it 100%!

I also agree with your last update in regards to the hypocrisy of some posters saying they'll be celebrating Christmas this year regardless of the rules this year.
It just doesn't make sense

julieca · 08/12/2021 15:57

People are angry because they could not attend funerals, visit family in hospital, or in care homes. You couldn't "flout" these rules, you had to comply. No one likes being treated like a total mug, and that is what the government has done.

julieca · 08/12/2021 15:59

And imagine saying you are surprised that people followed the law!
I am angry at that assertion. Of course most people obeyed the law. Most people are law abiding. Maybe not in your circle though OP?

H03bags · 08/12/2021 16:04

They made the rules and imposed them on us but then didn't follow them that's the part everyone is cross about.

appleturnovers · 08/12/2021 16:15

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.

So your attitude is "well we know they lie all the time so why do you care that they lied"..? Knowing they lie doesn't make it any less infuriating that they lied. What sort of weird morality is that? So people who are known for lying get to carry on lying without anyone caring? Does that mean we should only be outraged when someone who is usually honest lies?