I've had enough

[Comicshadows]

Today I've had enough.

I've had enough of watching my neighbours go out every morning for an hour on their moped. Two of them together, no room for shopping, appear to just be going out for a jolly.

I've had enough of my other neighbours having their adult children over every few days. They definitely aren't living there.

I've had enough of hearing that my son's friend's mum and her boyfriend are coming and going between each other's houses.

I've had enough of hearing that my boyfriend thinks it's acceptable to go the local shop whenever it takes his fancy.

My son and I are at home together. We are going out in the garden every day, and occasionally take a walk around the village for a change. We haven't seen my mum or my boyfriend since before Mother's Day. I've been to the supermarket once, and won't go again for another 10 days. Why can't other people follow the guidelines?

Disclaimer: I know this is one of many posts complaining about the same thing!

The same here in Korea. We're not on official lockdown but we get daily messages saying to avoid going out, that children in particular should not meet with friends and yet every day there are kids all over the estate, when we drive anywhere restaurants and cafes are full, I see the kids continuing to go to their after schools...sometimes I wonder what the point is of me maintaining social distance since no one else is bothering to.

Schools and universities still closed as well as all government buildings but what is the point? The kids are all in after school anyway and the university students are all out drinking all day in the park anyway.

The government won't issue a lockdown and there just happens to be an election this month, what a surprise. I'm hoping once it's passed, they will do so.

People are so bloody irresponsible.

That’s weird, last post ended up on the wrong thread somehow but yes, I genuinely don’t get it. Why get so worked up about things that genuinely aren’t doing any harm?

Because where does it end? If it's ok for one person to go out on their moped, then why shouldn't we all jump in our cars and go for a jolly? If it's ok for some families to come and go between households, then why shouldn't we all do it? Why am I at home, not seeing my mum or my (ignorant) boyfriend, trying to do the right thing, if other people aren't bothering?

And I believe your other reply was to someone on this thread.

I see so many people meandering around (from my window). They all seem to be elderly, though. I don't see any young people, which is strange given the demographic of my area.

I wish lockdown was tightened up as some people are too stupid for their own good.

I don't blame you OP, I would be livid if I had to witness that. Luckily everyone I know or have seen locally is taking it very seriously. It's depressing to hear some people aren't because that will mean more infections and we're all going to feel the consequences of that even if only through tighter restrictions. I am sympathetic to the fact that there are lots of people in very difficult situations and there will be times the rules can't be applied strictly. But all the things you describe seem so unnecessary and selfish.

What is wrong in people going out on their moped? At least they won't be breathing over and touching people on their ride. They may not go very far, just far enough to reach somewhere to have a bit of exercise. That's allowed as long as there's no stopping on the journey or mixing with people. I'm also surprised you notice, I haven't a clue what my neighbours do, if anything, nor they me I'm sure.

It sounds as though you're doing everything right, you don't want to wish bad things on anyone but your neighbours and irresponsible boyfriend may catch and spread the virus.

I am not sure it is just about compliance though @Reginabambina

Many of the people 'complying' now are the same people who were going against the govt advice when they were saying carry on and keep hand washing. They are not so much compliant as just doing what they were already doing or wanted to do as soon as employers allowed.

Many people I know over 70 were locked down in just the same way they are now long before the govt told them to. That is because they can think independently; although the government said it was ok to go out, they could see that was part of a wider strategy about timing things and in fact they were already at risk going out. By the time the govt tells us not to do something, it's been dangerous for a while.

I am afraid that the vast majority of people failing to social distance (for trivial rather than valid reaons) are not sophisticated citizens of the world (we don't have that many anyway), they are just bog-standard stupid and selfish people.

Comic: Why am I at home, not seeing my mum or my (ignorant) boyfriend, trying to do the right thing, if other people aren't bothering?
.....
I think you know the answer to that one.

Being irate about others achieves nothing, try to think of other things and stop looking at what your neighbours are doing for goodness sake!
Tut tut tut tut indeed.

Comicshadows Thu 02-Apr-20 18:03:53
I'm afraid I beg to differ MintyMabel. What others are doing is important. If others aren't following the guidelines, there's a chance that the government will put in even more stringent measures.
..
The government may well do that and what a relief that will be for you, it won't be 'your problem' any more, quite out of your hands. Neither will it make any difference to how you currently live your life so you'll have to find something else to stress about.

Chill!

I can empathize to an extent. I hate the people (usually young) who don't keep to the social distancing rules.

However, i like to go for short drives. I am not harming anyone, I am not near anyone yet on MN I am Satan!

Stop worrying about things you can't change. Just crack on doing your own thing.

I will be one of those people breaking the rules soon, my friend lives alone in a flat and her mental health is not good, I will invite her over to spend the day in the garden, if my neighbours are judging me, so what 🤷‍♂️

Why can't your boyfriend go to the shop? Pick your battles

It sounds like a working-class, curtain-twitching mentality to me. It's great to have a social conscience but minding one's own business has a lot to recommend it, too.

@Reginabambina
@ukgift2016
@Lynda07

All this ‘what’s wrong with me going out for a drive’, ‘they won’t catch the virus going out on a moped’ etc is missing the point. We’re being told not to make unnecessary journeys like this partly because, as a PP has pointed out, you have to draw a definite line because some people will always think they are an exception to the rules and some people will always push it and where does that end? But more than that, you may not be spreading the virus or risking catching it by going for a little jaunt in your car but you most certainly run the risk of getting involved in an accident which then ties up vital NHS and emergency services resources. It’s just selfish and stupid.

I’d love for it it be be ok to go out for a short drive. I live a fifteen walk from a beach where I could walk whilst easily observing social distancing. Sadly, DH is disabled and cannot walk there. It would take us less than five minutes to drive there. It would be lovely to do that. But we don’t because it’s an unnecessary journey with a chance, however small, of having that accident that takes up the time of a paramedic, or a police officer or a doctor or nurse that could be better spent on something else.

It’s all about not being selfish and minimising the risks.

One of my nhs colleagues is happily allowing her adult (late teen) kids to flout the rules. One splits his time between her house and his gfs house. Other kid does the same and the partners are allowed into her house for overnight stays. She hasn’t even tried telling them not to, she said she can’t really see the harm in it, as only one other household.

She’s nhs and should know better, then she posts stuff on fb saying save lives, stay home!!

@Inkpaperstars that’s a good point. I’m only spread from personal experience here in that blind compliance (as opposed to voluntary participation) is something I’ve only observed in my native friends. Everyone else I know is just doing what they think is best within the constraints of what is permitted, obviously by and large it’s the same as what the absolute compilers do but equally when it comes to entirely harmless things like going for a drive or mixing two households in isolation it’s different.

@SingingBabooshkaBadly The risks are very low. You’re more likely to end up in an accident requiring hospitalisation riding on a bicycle or walking certain routes. Especially with the low traffic levels the risks posed by going out for a drive are negligible. If you are going to follow that line of thinking then no one should be leaving their house at all until they are on the brink of starvation to get months worth of food and sleeping under their dining table incase their house spontaneously collapses in the middle of the night. There’s a point at which mitigation crosses into paranoia.

@Reginabambina Was this you? www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18341902.coronavirus-woman-arrested-breaching-dispersal-notice/

But it isn't just the risk of an accident, if you use your car you need to buy petrol, you could break down and need the AA to come to help you. It is all the EXTRA opportunities to interact with people you wouldn't have done before & risk spreading the virus to new people.

You know the only country in the world taking this seriously is Finland Why? because that tested 100% of the population knew exactly how many people had the virus and how many didn't and those that did were quarantined until they tested negative. Which meant that life for the majority of the population could go on a normal without BLOODY TWITCHING CURTAINS EVERYWHERE just listen to yourselves you are all paranoid about a virus that most will never get, and of those that do get it only a few people go on to have complications due to age and/or underlying health conditions, which is what actually kills them. The virus is just a catalyst not the killer, but because they test positive for the virus that is what goes on the dearth certificate, not the COPD they have had for 10 years or the Heart condition that was caused via smoking or obesity, or the fact that they had a compromised immune system due to cancer or the likes for the past few years. Search a document by a pathologist by the name of DR John Lee and see how the figures are weighted incorrectly. PARANOID PARANOID PARANOID

have a good day everyone

@Crazylately haha, no, I’m one of the USSR offspring mentioned above, I do a very light footed dance. As a rule I never act against express laws or order made directly to me by government officials. It’s not worth the hassle to me.