Piss off out the countryside

[orangeandbananas]

Aibu to think the idiots who have all fled from towns to the countryside are incredibly selfish.
I live in a small rural estate.
There are quite obviously people from towns and cities coming together on gatherings suddenly 'embracing' the countryside.
Ok fine; but they apparently can't stick to the public footpaths where they can all infect each other. Instead they keep coming off the footpath and walking the mile to our estate from it and hanging about.
The average age on our estate is 70+. I don't know anyone else that is under 70 and many are 90+ I haven't seen anyone leave their houses for a long time but today I saw a very elderly frail man take a walk on the estate and he was leaning on a bench when a load of teenagers came right up to the boundary of the road to our estate and I saw the man try to get away but he couldn't fast enough and nearly fell over from trying.

We live in isolation anyway generally. This is the first time we've had to deal with so many people coming through our field off the public footpath.
I wish they'd stay away. I also wish less risk people would understand what social distancing means. If they're venturing into our estate I've no doubt they're off gallivanting on to further farms etc. Which can only heighten the problems we face today. These dc are not from the rural area. I've never seen so many cars parked near the footpath. It's so daft it's upsetting.

Boris has warned we will have to go to lockdown. Is this really what people want?
Get out of the countryside if you don't live here. It's obvious so many elderly people live here. Come back in better times.

In fact just like WWII rationing made people the fittest they have ever been, lots of long walks and not enough food might in this crisis have the same effect. It could be silver lining in the nasty cloud.

It should be simple. Yes fresh air and exercise are good so open your front door and go for a 5 minute walk locally avoiding people.

This is not the time to be heading off to beauty spots and crowding them

Well of course there are going to be many more people walking. All other activities are banned and we are encouraged to get out and enjoy the exercise at a safe distance.

What are you basing your assertion that these people have ‘fled from the towns’ on?

Ps you sound like a nasty piece of work

It’s pretty “nasty” to spread the virus to rural and isolated communities purely because you want a jolly out. Also taking food and drinks from their shops which are likely to be less plentiful than towns and cities

When the government says getting fresh air and a walk is recommended it means locally. As in near your own house. People are driving hours to get to the peaks and north wales and beaches. There is no need to go there and risk the health of those communities.

How hard is it to understand that.

The countryside is open to everyone, not just those who live there. People have been told to get exercise, as long as you follow social distancing advice. What do you suggest?? People who live in towns should remain indoors, whilst people who live in the countryside can Wander at will? It’s a novelty at the moment for some, a bit like going to a gym. It will be busy for a couple of weeks, then will probably fall off. Stop being so self entitled.

Yes people are allowed to go for walks in the countryside but not just anywhere! You have to stick to footpaths. The countryside isn’t just one big park; it is a working environment. Fields are for the production of food (including ones which may be lying fallow). Of course people shouldn’t be wandering off footpaths over private land anymore than they should be having picnics in your garden.

Xenia I usually appreciate your posts and advice on MN but I think that last post, considering your exceptional financial position, is ill considered.

The Prime Minster has said walks are a good idea

If that twat says something is a good idea, then the sensible course of action is to avoid doing it.

This is the PM who thought herd immunity would sort this out, after all.

Some of us live in cities. If we all open our doors and go for a walk locally, it'll be rammed. But apparently bumpkins are banning us from the countryside! Don't want to bump into these people OP? Stay in then.

People who live in towns should remain indoors

No one has said this.

I live in a city. I went for an hour walk yesterday. We have parks nearby.

Name a town where you cannot walk locally or one that has zero parks.

I'm with you OP!

And for people saying the old man shouldn't have been out if he's isolating etc - mental health is important too - there's no reason why he shouldn't go for a walk if he's asymptotic, a long as he keeps away from other people - difficult to do it the virtually walk over him.

My bugbear is people who are keeping their children off school (they've been doing this unilaterally for at least a week here), but taking them into shops and allowing them to touch everything in sight.

A woman was in a bakery yesterday with two kids about 12/14 - they went into one of the fridges for a drink, and I swear to Go touched every identical bottles before selecting one each!. They also were wrestling with each other and falling into people.

I said "Careful lads - social distance." and got a glare from their charming mama. And they ignored me.

Little bastards!

If these idiots were only risking themselves,'d say go for it! You are splashing about in the shallow end of the genre pool anyway if you're this stupid - but they are risking everyone else as well.

Just because the virus doesn't have such a bad effect on the young, it doesn't mean that the ld and the otherwise vulnerable are expendable.

THEY BLOODY WELL AREN'T!

*wear to God, not to Go

I like 5 miles from a national park in a tiny village. We have had caravan after caravan go past. Why come to a place with only a cottage hospital, potentially spreading the virus along the way?

No one is saying people can’t go for a walk but flooding into national parks for a caravan holiday is madness!

It's very similar where I live OP. I walk my dog over the fields at the back of our house every day, and quite often see nobody at all. Occasionally one or maybe two other dog walkers.

Yesterday I saw three full family groups. Two adults and multiple children/teenagers without dogs. They looked lost to be frank! Mostly not dressed for it and bumbling across the footpath in front of me, the dad in front staring down at his phone.

I just do not understand how these individuals seem to be attacking things in swarms - first supermarkets and now the countryside! Why aren't they all staying in their homes? Why aren't they listening?

*SWEAR to God, not wear

FFS autocorrect - can you not suspend hostilities for the duration of this crisis?

YANBU. It's very simple - we shouldn't be travelling unnecessarily. I live in a town - I'm staying in the town. People who live in the country should stay in the country. Then we don't risk transporting the virus to new areas.

@RHTawneyonabus do you live rurally? It's blindingly obvious those that don't live around here.
For a start I live on an estate on private land of several acres next to a farm. The likelihood that anyone walked here is minimal. I went to drop some food to a mans doorstop who's 90 years old last week and never seen so many cars by the path.
The next town down is semi rural and everyone will have large gardens. Again unless it's imperative these people need to go for a walk I don't understand why they can't simply social distance There are a great many parks and public footpaths near to us and they are clearly getting well used by what I can see from my window. Fine on any normal day, not so fine when social distancing has been recommended to protect people and obviously not just those who are less vulnerable who are clearly the ones taking advantage. On top of this due to the higher numbers of people there seems to be a fascination with our estate as described above which is not so nice when we are mainly elderly residents who are genuinely scared. Most of us are not seeing our own relatives so strangers must know it can't be nice to venture to a private place right now.

Also if you wear a fluorescent pink jacket or trainers, chances are you're not from round these parts...

Wait until Easter when lots of people who still work will be off and will completely ignore all warnings.
We're going to ignore the idiots and stay at home.Our weekly shop is done so other than milk and driving to work and back that's it.Im a healthcare worker and don't want to stop working because I catch this out and about or to give it to anyone when I inevitably do get it.

Piss off out the countryside

FUCK OFF (yesterday's latest get the fuck away from my town thread)

I get the sentiment. I'm affected too - I understand the issues first hand - but I cannot tell how much I loathe this kind of posting style.

People are allowed outside... I don't quite understand why the focus is on lockdown. Social distancing is fine. I went for a long run today, we all gave each other plenty of space, it was fine.

I live rurally and usually see very, very few people out and about (perhaps one or two on most walks or runs at the weekend). We have a caravan site about 400 yards from our village and I have noticed that it is full today - motorhomes have arrived in droves. The occupants are all walking through our very small village to the shop and back again. It is a concern as ambulances are already a very regular occurrence (I saw one this morning too) due to the mainly elderly and vulnerable population and the nearest hospital is already stretched and struggling. Most of these residents seem to depend on the shop for their essentials too and if supplies run low they'll be at a real disadvantage.

A few of the visitors are walking up in groups with their dogs and have a real holiday atmosphere about them. A family group approached me really closely when I was out running with my dog earlier to ask about the best walking routes etc and thought it was amusing when I stepped back from them. I was very polite and helpful btw before I get jumped on!!

We will be like Italy very soon. Until their parents and older relatives start being chosen to die because medical staff have to make that kind of decision then they won’t be able to see.

Going for a walk is one thing, and probably positive overall. So long as people are responsible. Using the countryside as a social venue, now that the cafes and pubs are closed, is something else altogether.

I live about 5m from a famous public footpath with an amazing view. It's busier this weekend than on an average August bank holiday!

And I saw someone spit on the ground which is one of the best possible ways to spread disease DP wouldn't let me chase him to shout at him.

@drurylanepenancence It's extra pressure on all services that will be under considerable strain very soon as it is. Rural services tend to have far less resources and be much further from central distribution. There's only 2 ambulances that will have to cover our rural areas as well as 3 acute hospitals. It's not as simple as people think. In actual fact if you come to more rural areas and get sick your ability to get urgent assistance is much lower and fewer staff and supplies. Strangely enough out in the middle nowhere is a much longer and bumpy ride than a housing estate 5 miles from the nearest acute hospital.