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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 · 07/12/2021 23:50

They weren’t partying with “ family and friends though. They were just with the same work colleagues only with wine.

I said on the other thread that I and the people I worked with were fed up with being in work rather than at home. I was dreading catching it just before Christmas.

LunarEclipseWinterSolstice · 07/12/2021 23:50

Sorry I mean £8.94

Throckmorton · 07/12/2021 23:51

I stayed home not because the government said to but because that was the advice of scientists and doctors. If the government said don't jump off a cliff, would you jump off a cliff just because you don't trust the government? Use a bit of common sense and listen to what experts, in this case the scientists and doctors, are advising.

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 07/12/2021 23:52

It was also a massive kick in the teeth to the staff of the NHS they were urging us to protect. Having to work over Christmas in horrid conditions while the government laughed and did what they wanted.

User156 · 07/12/2021 23:53

I suppose it depends on whether you have any expectation of moral decency from the government. You clearly don’t, so it doesn’t bother you. Others think it’s wrong for those in power to be hypocritical and dishonest, and wish to hold them to account when they are.

ForgedInFire · 07/12/2021 23:54

@SammyScrounge

I hate the way Starmer and Co are shrieking with outrage. They just come across as petty. It' s boring. There are bigger issues to focus on.
They are the opposition. As a Labour supporter I am very disappointed by them, but they would be remiss not to draw attention to this. What will it take for Tory supporters to realise that their government is taking them for a mug
Coronado2 · 07/12/2021 23:55

It was the law, that's why so many of us listened. I imagine we all pay for things in shops and don't drink and drive or just walk around assaulting people too. What mugs we are hey.

Your attitude almost makes me more mad than the governments. I honestly don't expect a lot from them, but I can't believe there are people who think this is how a government should be behaving and we should just forget about it.

slashlover · 07/12/2021 23:55

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!!

So if we don't like a law and think it's insane then we should just ignore it?

Booklover3 · 07/12/2021 23:56

Weren’t that lot predominantly working from home last year?! I didn’t even think most of them were in the Houses of Parliament.

Anothernamechange3 · 07/12/2021 23:57

Even if the party consisted only of people who were already working together in a bubble, I still don’t think it was ok. Working together, sober, with appropriate social distancing measures is one thing, but unnecessarily increasing the risk with a non essential gathering with alcohol involved was quite rightly imo still against the law because it would have increased the risk of catching and spreading it. That’s aside from the fact the people who made this law broke it despite the massive personal sacrifice they were insisting other people made and that’s really not ok. I really hope you’re just being goady. And I think a little bit smug almost sneering at those of us who did follow the law (not the guidelines or advice, but the law) like it’s our own fault we missed out for just being goody two shoes. What would have happened at that time if we had all just ignored it? People who did gather were really relying on the rest of us not doing so which is pretty unfair.

Walkingtheplank · 07/12/2021 23:58

Well last December, actually the whole of lockdown, quite a few houses in my road flouted the rules each and every day. Those families saw their extended families on a daily basis, which they dont do in unusual times. I'm not sure many people were following the rules. I did, but I think many many people thought they were special and the rules didnt apply to them. Whilst the Police seemed to be keen on stopping people going for a walk in the open air, they were willing to believe that there were justified reasons for many people to visiting family inside their homes.
If the people in Downing Street thought they were special, they were like almost everyone else.

Ilovecleansheets · 08/12/2021 00:01

Sorry I've not read the full thread yet. YABU. If everyone had taken your attitude and 'had a lovely and normal Christmas' then what state would we all be in now. I despair at people like you and your flippant disregard for your fellow human beings who many, like me, are clinically vulnerable. I take every precaution I can to protect myself and others from catching Covid. I wear a mask and social distance. If only people could open their eyes and shake off their total disregard to the fact that we are in a world wide pandemic and just try to see that if we all tried harder we could possibly get out of this quicker. But no, people like you just carry on regardless and are basically saying 'fuck off to the rest of you' and I'll do as I please. You should be ashamed of yourself.

RedHot22 · 08/12/2021 00:01

I’m no more angry with them than I am you OP. You disgust me tbh

It’s because of people like you that others died without their families around them,
It’s because of people like you others are crippled financially.
It’s because of people like you that my own DM spent so much time alone

Scum

RedHot22 · 08/12/2021 00:03

and now you’re mocking those who did.
Nice.

lightisnotwhite · 08/12/2021 00:04

I don’t think staying on for a bit of wine means they didn’t also miss out on friends and family over Christmas?

The law said you weren’t to have Christmas parties purely as social events. It did have the exemptions bit. I had a few soft drinks and snacks with my colleagues at work. You could call it a party if you wanted.

Feelingoktoday · 08/12/2021 00:06

I followed the rules because I’m not a law breaker;
Because my Future MIL is at risk so I kept away and spent Christmas without my partner so that she was safe;
Because I expect our leaders not to be bloody hypocritics. I know I know more fool me! That’s why I’m angry.

TattySlippers · 08/12/2021 00:20

My family didn’t make demands to visit us over Christmas last year, despite always coming to us for Christmas dinner, because myself and DH are on the vulnerable list. As far as we are concerned they showed us love, concern and respect.

We kept in touch with them and our beloved grandchildren via WhatsApp messenger and WhatsApp video call.

I am so glad my family showed respect and considerate for others throughout the pandemic. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way

midsomermurderess · 08/12/2021 00:22

It matters because it follows a clear trend with this government: not following the rules they set for us, lying when found out, shambles, incompetence. If you can't see that, what can anyone do. Look, even Ant and Dec are taking the piss, mocking them. I believe that's known as cut through. Not for you clearly.

Booklover3 · 08/12/2021 00:23

Captain Ska did another song. I think it’s quite fitting for the Tory party.

TreborBore · 08/12/2021 00:26

They are arrogant Tory twats. I’m not surprised at all. They need to go. Stop voting for them.

Malibuismysecrethome · 08/12/2021 00:26

Even if I had been willing to flout the rules (and law) I wouldn’t have found anyone to flout them with. Everyone of my family and friends followed the rules.

sarah13xx · 08/12/2021 00:37

I do think it’s good that we seem to have actual concrete evidence (on video) at exactly what they think of the whole situation. I do agree though that I sort of presumed they would be. I said tonight Boris at this point could break into an entire street of houses, murder every person and they’d still manage to waffle their way out of it and answer each question asked about the murders with something to do with a new education or housing policy no one has any interest in. People suggesting Boris might resign. Boris hasn’t resigned up til this point, he is not going to resign over this, that’s for sure 🤦🏼‍♀️ Allegra will be out that door first thing tomorrow morning though

BewitchedBotheredandBewildered · 08/12/2021 00:38

I think OP is Boris Johnson's not so secret love child.

She/he is demonstrating exactly the same attitude that he has.

He/she sounds about the same age as he was when it was first noted by his housemaster.

Goofbawl · 08/12/2021 00:40

I know a family who flouted the rules and had a family gathering on Christmas Day last year. They were very careful about it because family is so important to them and they are so close. WERE so close. Within days, the Dad and brother in law were in hospital with Covid and the Dad died.
So yes, whilst I agree that it’s no surprise that the Tories held this ‘party’ the law was set for a reason and the fact that they were laughing about breaking it is one of the most despicable things I’ve seen from them. So YABU. The outage is totally understandable.

Nothinbut · 08/12/2021 00:43

You don't understand why people weren't selfish and didn't break the law? Really? Nice to know people like you were as scummy as the tories, ew.

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