Please don’t belittle people who ask questions you think are silly

[FredaFrogspawn]

Just that. Be patient - these are confusing times and people are anxious.

Absolutely. It’s better people feel able to ask and are educated.

Similarly, instead of just replying “of course not” or “I can’t believe you’re even asking this” etc, take a few minutes to explain why! It’s how people learn!

Yup - and if you are ‘fed up’ of what you consider stupid questions, don’t click on the thread.

Things have changed so fast, and so much of the media seems to be giving conflicting advice, of course people are confused.

Well said. People need a safe place to ask questions and to not be afraid to ask. This is a unique situation for us all. If we ever needed to be kind, this is it.
Stay well everyone.

But some of the questions are so stupid! That combined with the flavour often of “well, it doesn’t apply to me....”. Is rather frustrating for everyone else. This isn’t business as usual and yeah sacrifices have to be made. Much as I know everyone wants to do their own sweet thing

Oh and l think the grass mowing thread was a joke by the way. Well, l hope so

At least this isn’t yet another nanny thread. I never realised how many people have nannies

Well said. This is something we've never experienced before and there's still a lack of clarity on the finer details. Rather see people ask questions than risk anything.

Completely agree @FredaFrogspawn

Absolutely. We are all learning all the time. There's so much uncertainty and people are just looking for clarification. There is no need to be nasty and jump down someone's throat.

DH asked me if he could go to the barbers last Friday. He already knew the answer really, the barber was open for business, so I can see why he asked. These are confusing and scary and new times for us all.

Also, perhaps point people in the direction of useful government information that might help answer their question.

Already this morning I've been able to obtain a list from the gov.uk web site of business to close from another thread and it's helped answer my questions about garages being open.

More than ever we need to be kind to each other or we won’t get through this, agreed OP.

Well said

This isn’t business as usual and yeah sacrifices have to be made

Also well said. One of those sacrifices is having a bit more patience with posts you consider stupid.

I agree on general questions. There's no need to be unpleasant and people need to ask questions.

I disagree on 95% of the "am I special enough to be exempt from the guidance?" / "Please validate my selfishness" threads.
My Facebook feed is full of people sharing 'stay at home' memes, articles pointing out how selfish behaviour puts others at risk etc, and rightly so.

@Fatted do you have a link to that list? Cheers!

I disagree on 95% of the "am I special enough to be exempt from the guidance?" / "Please validate my selfishness" threads.

You think there IS a need to be unpleasant on those threads?

@captainpantbeard I'll try, I'm on my phone!

@DesdemonaRosa but typically they are questions with an obvious answer -usually no. They aren’t life or death emergency ones. “Ooh on a Tuesday l always do my washing round at my Nan’s / get my car washed / take the kids round my auntie l am ok to do that as l need to / they want me to” etc etc

@EL888 then 'No' will do as an answer. Not 'Of course not you selfish fuck people will be dying because of you. I hope you catch the fucking thing'

Which has been a response and is typical of many.

You think there IS a need to be unpleasant on those threads?
There's no need to be unpleasant but I don't think there's any need to be overly understanding and sympathetic either.

When people are told to avoid large gatherings and socially distance but they want to know if it's fine for them to arrange one last hurrah or the over 70s have been told to keep home but is it ok for me, DH, 3 DC, my brother, my sister in law and their 2 kids to all go round because it's a nice day we fancy going to the beach in the afternoon, then I can't blame posters for saying "follow the guidelines".

EL888 The response can still be written kindly rather than nastily.

Thanks Fatted

EL8888 obvious to YOU, not necessarily to everyone else. Probably half those threads they know really, just want it absolutely spelled out to confirm it.

Also remember a lot of people who are isolating are doing so without another adult at home. They’re just thinking aloud. I used to do it when I was a lone parent, I’d come on MN and post about all kinds of crap through loneliness/just wanting some interaction. Last night we watched the broadcast and Dp wondered aloud if his job would continue to be as busy (delivery driver) with shops and businesses closed, whether online companies such as ASOS would still be operating etc. Then he said oh well if I have to have time off at least I’ll be able to get the bits that need doing on the van done. Before wondering whether garages or car part shops would still be open. Then said about getting some DIY done, but would we be able to get the stuff that we needed to do it? At the end of our conversation we concluded that he probably wouldn’t be able to do any of those things but we had discussed it to reach that conclusion. I just see the ‘stupid’ questions as an online version of our chat- just people working through a thought process

100% agree OP.

The rudeness of some posters on here is borderline vile. They're suddenly holier-than-thou authoritarians who can do no wrong, so Lord help anyone who dares to ask a question.

Be glad that they ARE asking, and not just pissing off out in the world doing it!

Also remember a lot of people who are isolating are doing so without another adult at home.

This. And MN can be a lifeline for isolated people. we shouldn’t be making anyone feel stupid, at the same time as not validating that which we can see as selfishness. Your absolutely shouldn’t do that’ rather than ‘You utter fuckbadger, what bit of blah blah blah don’t you understand...’ or whatever.

Totally agree.

The responses on some of these threads are absolutely vile. It's not that they are not 'overly sympathetic' it's that they are written in a way to belittle and hurt the other poster.

I can't blame posters for saying "follow the guidelines"

Me neihter. But I do blame them for saying "FFS are you as stupid as you are selfish you fucking twat. You should be ashamed of asking such a dumb question".

Totally agree. So many people acting like asking for clarification is the equivalent of stridently announcing that you’ll be going door to door in your neighbourhood forcibly licking people’s eyeballs.

It’s always fine to ask as question. These are uncertain times, and government advice has not always been clear.

Absolutely

And dial down the drama.

I know many MNetters are loving this opportunity to be nasty AND tell people what to do (a dream for many) but telling someone they'll be arrested and fined for using their car to get their child to sleep is unecessary. As is calling someone a cunt or a selfish fuck for asking if they could go to their allotment or whatever.

As is the poster i've just seen asking MNHQ to report some of the question askers to the Police! 🙄