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AIBU?

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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:
lightisnotwhite · 08/12/2021 18:23

You can't get wound up about the Prime Minister defending people breaking the law?

What would the Prime Minister have to do to get you wound up?

Things that make a difference?
Defending people breaking the law is done all the time, thank goodness because many people use their common sense depending on the situation.
I pleased if it’s the police that let you off speeding because you have an emergency in the back seat or the train guard that lets you on without a ticket. A stupid out of hours work do with people you’ve been with all day isn’t a danger to anyone.
You know “ no Christmas parties” was a rule because some people would have absolutely taken the piss. And If they had said only people who have been in the office all day, half the country would have complained about that being grossly unfair to all the work from hone peopke and thrir mental health etc etc.

velvetstar · 08/12/2021 18:25

It wasn't just 'government advice' though was it OP. It was the advice of scientists, doctors and people responsible for ensuring the nhs wasn't overwhelmed.

The fact that selfish people decided to ignore that and are now mockingly asking why people listen to Boris Johnson is deliberately goady. Or maybe it's just wilfully ignorant. You tell me OP

Tereseta · 08/12/2021 18:26

Handy little diversion from the health bill, privatisation sliding in quietly while everyone focuses on this.
This government is all smoke and mirrors

ChipsAndKetchup · 08/12/2021 18:28

You need to change your username to 'one rule for them, and me'

jgw1 · 08/12/2021 19:02

@lightisnotwhite

You can't get wound up about the Prime Minister defending people breaking the law?

What would the Prime Minister have to do to get you wound up?

Things that make a difference?
Defending people breaking the law is done all the time, thank goodness because many people use their common sense depending on the situation.
I pleased if it’s the police that let you off speeding because you have an emergency in the back seat or the train guard that lets you on without a ticket. A stupid out of hours work do with people you’ve been with all day isn’t a danger to anyone.
You know “ no Christmas parties” was a rule because some people would have absolutely taken the piss. And If they had said only people who have been in the office all day, half the country would have complained about that being grossly unfair to all the work from hone peopke and thrir mental health etc etc.

So its ok to break some laws. Does that apply to all of us?

Since you have more TVs than you absolutely need, I presume you won't mind if I come round and take one.

Unloved21 · 08/12/2021 19:40

[quote LaCerbiatta]@OneRuleForThem you enoyed the freedom and privilege of a nice family Christmas BECAUSE everyone else or many people followed the rules. Do you get that? Do you get that there was an actual reason for all the restrictions? Your parents were possibly alive and with access to a still functioning NHS BECAUSE many people behaved like sheep and followed government advice.

Same thing for all the anti vaxxers, the only reason you're leading a normalish life is because everyone else got the vaccine!

This is what fucking enrages me with these liberals, is how they expect all their personal freedoms not getting that what they do impacts others and is impacted by what other people do. Apart from being amazingly selfish Angry[/quote]
applause applause applause

lightisnotwhite · 08/12/2021 20:05

So its ok to break some laws.
Does that apply to all of us?

Of course it’s morally ok to break some laws.

Someone mentioned the two women going for a walk. When it was illegal to go out unless absolutely essential. Lots of people said that getting in your car, buying a Costa and going for a walk with a friend was acceptable. Their fine got overturned.

Having rules are essential for society. Not being sanctimonious over every transgression is also just as essential.

dollbaby868 · 08/12/2021 20:22

I just saw this post on Instagram. So true lol

AIBU to not understand the outrage over the government’s so-called Christmas party?
prynaithda21 · 08/12/2021 20:25

It was not the only instance of government saying one thing and doing another, in this case the day before Christmas plans were ruined for many people.

If it means the end of Mr Johnson's period as Prime Minister, it won't come a day too soon. Any one of the likely replacements will be better, work full-time, and have some moral values.

fakereview · 08/12/2021 20:35

If it means the end of Mr Johnson's period as Prime Minister, it won't come a day too soon. Any one of the likely replacements will be better, work full-time, and have some moral values

Well I can't disagree with your first sentence.

I am not so sure about the second though.

CSJobseeker · 08/12/2021 20:38

@fakereview

If it means the end of Mr Johnson's period as Prime Minister, it won't come a day too soon. Any one of the likely replacements will be better, work full-time, and have some moral values

Well I can't disagree with your first sentence.

I am not so sure about the second though.

I agree. None of the potential replacements are appealing.
fakereview · 08/12/2021 20:39

Is now a good time to point out that at about the same time the government was taking schools to court, yes really for wanting to close in order to keep pupils and staff safe

Yes I do remember that. But it wasn't to keep pupils and staff safe, it was to avoid catching covid and spoiling Christmas. My son's sixth form college went online for the final week of term for that reason. Of course we know how "not spoiling Christmas" ended.

In fact before today's announcement, many businesses were cancelling their Christmas parties, for the same reason - people don't want to go, get covid and have to isolate.

SpookyScarySkeletons · 08/12/2021 20:40

@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!!
It wasn't advice. It was law.

HTH Hmm

fakereview · 08/12/2021 20:41

@bakebeans

I think you are forgetting about the amount of fines that were being dished out for people not conforming to the rules. Some received fines of £10,000. So yeah people have a right to be very upset.
I think most of them have been overturned.
Draineddraineddrained · 08/12/2021 20:48

You are actually amending your query as you go along. You started off saying "why are people outraged". You're now trying to turn that into "why are people surprised".

I am rarely surprised by the nefarious behaviour of Tories. I subscribe very strongly to the Nye Bevan "lower than vermin" premise. I am nevertheless at a pretty perpetual simmering boil of fury at the things they do, the lies they tell and the naked, shameless hypocrisy. This is because I am still engaged to some degree in society rather than just my own personal experiences, a position you seem to regard as rather twee. Fair play to you, you're not only libertarian out there. For the same reason I followed the laws and guidance issued (where supported by the science). For the same reason, whilst I by no means expected the Tories to follow the rules they set for others, I do feel a sense of dull fury when once again their contempt for the nation and people they supposedly serve is revealed, and I will support any and every effort, however doomed it may be, to bring the fuckers to book. See also Dominic Cummings' little jaunt to Barnard Castle. No I don't suppose anyone thought for a minute he would stint himself in any way for the benefit of others, he's a fucking sociopath. But the REAL offensiveness of that affair is the attempt to exculpate him by the govt because they found him useful. Likewise I don't suppose anyone is surprised Downing St broke the rules; what would be shocking (shocking, not surprising) would be if having been caught so incredibly red handed, literally NOTHING happens to anyone.

I daresay you will affect to be utterly bewildered by this post too, and once again assert that if everyone just decided to beat the Tories at their own game and do whatever the fuck they like regardless of any consequences for anybody else, there would be no issue here. Carry on!

JoieDeLivres · 08/12/2021 20:52

"I did not say any of this though. I asked if people were really surprised that the government adopted a “do as I say, not as I do” attitude, especially when there areloadsof threads on here most weeks about the government doing just that, and also how this government has no standards. I’m not trying to prove how cool or edgy I am?? I don’t think people are fools, but I did wonder why people are so surprised by what has come out. I didn’t realise asking the question would get such a strong negative reaction from people. But as someone pointed out earlier in thread and I agree with, I think mostly it stems from people being angry at themselves for being taken for mugs (Im NOT calling people mugs, but think that is how people are feeling generally at this ‘revelation’). It’s just my opinion on the whole matter. I’m sorry if people don’t like or agree with it."

OP you've also repeatedly asked "why" people "listened to the government" when instructed to comply with covid restrictions. I think you know why they listened: because obeying the law, by and large, is what people want to do. But I'm REALLY glad that you looked after number one last year and that you're feeling so good about it - still! - that you've popped onto mumsnet to bait a load of strangers.

Draineddraineddrained · 08/12/2021 20:53

@prynaithda21

Alas when I was looking at the front bench today and saw lined up behind BoJo the sycophantic Sunak, the cold dead eyes of Dominic Raab and the condescending smirking eyes of JRM, I feel like we are utterly fucked whatever happens. Unless Ken Clarke comes out of retirement and saves us all. The only semi-humane and respectable Tory I can think of, they should have him stuffed.

Vivana · 08/12/2021 21:03

Because they broke the law simple really.

Thatldo · 08/12/2021 21:25

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prynaithda21 · 08/12/2021 21:26

@CSJobseeker none of those likely to become leader are appealing, just not as bad as Mr Johnson.

notanothertakeaway · 08/12/2021 22:07

@Ifartglitterybaubles

We lost my sister to Covid, she was 47. We couldn't go to the funeral because we were following the rules at that time. My mum watched her daughters funeral on facetime because she couldn't travel the 300 miles as she was shielding. She died of Cancer 6 weeks later. WE followed the rules this Government set whilst they threw parties and laughed about it. If you honestly can't understand why this is an issue or why people are angry then I don't know what else to say.

I can't even... I am beyond angry.

@Ifartglitterybaubles

So sorry for your losses

OP, your thread is so very tone deaf. Many of us followed the law because we were trying to do the right thing

I don't know why you feel the need to sneer at us

BonnesVacances · 08/12/2021 22:07

I'm not surprised. I fully expected a story would come out about how someone in government flouted the law over Christmas. But that doesn't make what they did was right. Nor does it stop me from being very angry about it.

OhGiveUp · 08/12/2021 22:38

Oh well, the police have said that they won't investigate it due to ' lack of evidence '.
So another case of do as I say and not as I do 🙄

14spanners · 08/12/2021 22:44

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Peregrina · 08/12/2021 22:44

Aren't the Police supposed to look for evidence first? I know that it often happens that they find evidence of a crime being committed but that they can't proceed because the evidence is not strong enough to stand up in court.

I don't doubt if this had happened under a Labour Government they would have made damn sure that they looked for evidence.

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