Why don’t people realise they are part of the problem?

[Mrsfrumble]

Just seen on Facebook; a photo of a very crowded London Park, taken yesterday, with a caption about how people are such selfish idiots and stupid for ignoring advice. The photo was taken by the person who made the post, and unless he used some sort of remotely operated drone (didn’t look like it from the angle) it means HE was at the park too, and therefore contributing to the crowding! There’s lots of it on the local Nextdoor site too; people complaining that they went for a walk in the park and it was soooo crowded. Why didn’t everyone else stay at home? Not stopping to ask the same of themselves. I’m finding it really hard not to point out the hypocrisy!

Same with the supermarket situation; the attitude of “it’s everyone else unnecessarily panic buying, but I’m just trying to sensibly stock up and everyone else is getting in the way and putting me at risk”.

It’s like drivers who complain there’s too much traffic on the roads, but worse. Why are we so bad a self-reflection??

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3858083-If-you-were-one-of-them-why

"My 2 young adult DC came to my house, and stayed with me and DH for about an hour. We never went anywhere or mixed with anyone else."

...
"So I am not apologising for seeing them for an hour on Mother's Day. Especially when I see pictures of the multiple 1000s of people close together on beaches, in markets, up Mount Snowdon etc..."

because people think it doesnt matter, that other people are acting badly not them

I saw an interesting comment this morning (not sure if here or facebook) "you are not sitting in traffic, you are traffic"

Maybe he rocked up there Realised how busy it was Took a photo to prove how busy it was And went straight back home

To be fair, we more or less did this the other day.

Walked to and around our (very) local woods for some socially distant exercise, a place we go to all the time in all weathers. We hadn't been there long, when we realised it was waaaaaaaaaay more busy than we've ever seen it even on the finest June weekend. It was clearly going to get awkward to keep a safe distance from others, especially on the narrow woodland tracks. And some people weren't even
trying to stay distant, just allowing their children to run right up to others.

So we did indeed extricate ourselves and head back home as soon as we realised this.

But people are being hysterical.
In your opinion. The government “advice” is underplaying the seriousness of this, hence why they are having to introduce tougher measures by the day - because their advice is too wishy-washy, and still people won’t obey. They have tried gentle persuasion, nothing too onerous. It isn’t working. They tried that in Italy too. It’s horrendous in Italy now. My relatives are struggling with being cooped up for weeks, and they are not in a vulnerable group. Their mental health is going down the pan. They want to go for a run. They cannot. That is coming here. That is not hysterical. All we need to do is stay at home, unless essential. No beaches, no parks, no jogging, no bike rides, no group exercises in the open air. It’ll come, whether you like it or not.

So we did indeed extricate ourselves and head back home as soon as we realised this

And if you were unlucky you might have appeared in someone’s photo!

And if you were unlucky you might have appeared in someone’s photo!

Possibly!

theelements

I keep expecting my children to appear in the daily mail look At all the drunk people photos

Not now obviously...she hasn’t left the house in days

@bobstersmum

There's also some video of (another) girl licking (another) toilet seat. On a plane. To see if she catches CV

The mind boggles.

Because the government have failed to take control of the situation.

We live in a liberal democracy and in normal times we are all fiercely protective of our individual rights and freedoms. The principle 'Everything which is not forbidden is allowed' is core to our legal system. Our capitalist society has practically made a fetish out of 'choice'.

CV is so big, so frightening and is causing such rapid, enormous change to our way of life that it's not surprising people are unable to properly get their heads round it.

It's not good enough for Boris and chums to still be giving out mixed messages and wittering on about making the right choices.

It's very hard to make good choices when completely everything has become a total headfuck. I'm just amazed that all those behavioural scientists didn't predict this. Maybe they're actually shit.

We now need strong rules, strongly enforced. Making everything a choice in this situation will not only cost far more lives than would otherwise be lost but will massively increase the toll to people's mental health because it puts all the responsibility for managing this onto individuals.

Until we get strong leadership and strong, enforced measures people will continue to make shit decisions. Every hour this is delayed now is costing lives.

It's very hard to make good choices when completely everything has become a total headfuck.

^^ This.

I suppose that both politically and from a civil unrest stand point, BJ needed to give the UK the option to comply before instigating lockdown procedures.
What he can say now (like in France) is that we were given the option but did not comply with it, therefore he has no choice but to place us in lockdown.
It would have been obvious that the past weekend would be bonkers, I think the timing is cleverly done and we will get the announcement tonight or tomorrow.

@daisypond Actual advice from public health england (who I assume you agree we should listen to) is that people should go outside and get fresh air and exercise, while observing social distancing. So crowded beaches or parks are out (as are mountains where you can't find parking because it's so busy), but a walk out in the middle of nowhere, or down the pretty much deserted backstreets if your local area, where you won't come within 2m if anyone is a good thing.

So, yesterday we (my DH and our 4 year old) went out for a walk. We do this every single day of our lives come rain or shine as we live in a London 2 bedroom flat and there is no garden or balcony. Per the press statement yesterday, it is encouraged for us to get fresh air and exercise.

When we got to the large open park (which by the way is usually empty), it was rammed. We realised we wouldn't be able to practise social distancing properly so we came home.

Personally, I really wish those people who have gardens of their own would make use of them and leave public space for those of us without them, as surely that would mean there were far less people about?

Agree. I’m in email contact with our elderly neighbours so we can get food for them, this morning she commented that her and her husband had gone to a local beauty spot at the weekend and how it was awful and so selfish to see so many people there. I think they felt that because they used to go all the time and it’s usually quiet somehow they had the right to be there and the other people didn’t.

Indeed, the CMO in Scotland doesn't think everyone should just sit in their sofa and watch Netflix either. This is what she said at the lunchtime briefing.

@DisasterousManagementPlan The government have clarified this morning. You should NOT be driving to go to places.

I'm amazed that the majority of the British public who will normally drive round and round a supermarket car park to park as close as possible to the doors have suddenly decided they love walking.

This is our garden (yes, I know the grass needs cutting!) The lawn is about 6ft by 6ft. I know we’re luckier than so many London households - I’m definitely sorry that I’ve had to retract the offer I made to our upstairs neighbours to come and share it - but other than skipping or jogging on the spot, there’s not much space for exercising (DS with ADHD doesn’t have the coordination for skipping). Still, I expected we’ll be incredibly grateful for that tiny patch of green when the city gets locked down.

I understand the argument for exercising outdoors. Our lungs and immune systems are going to need all the strengthening they can get!

We’ve never owned a car in all the years we’ve lived in London and have always walked or cycled most places, so for once I’m not guilty of that waspnest!

Also, all the gym-goers are now exercising outdoors because gyms have shut.

What this behaviour has shown is that all of the people who wanted out of the European Union ostensibly to ‘save the NHS’ will not stay in to save the NHS now.

I actually don't really see the argument for not driving anywhere as long as isn't really far away. Like, we often go to these woods about 15 mins drive away which are completely deserted. No one there at all. If we drive there, walk for an hour without seeing a single soul, then get in the car and drive home, how are we risking infecting anyone any more than we would if we walked to our local park (which would be much busier)?