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Original poster

The ‘essential’ police - please stop

284 replies

TheDogIsKeepingMeSane · 04/04/2020 16:50

Until we are issued what is deemed an essential shopping item ANY food/drink item is ok to buy.
I’ve been working today outside. It’s hot.
On my way home I stopped at my local independent shop & bought myself 2 bottles of cold beer.
I live alone & work alone & it felt great to chat with the shop owner (2m apart) .
When I left the shop a cyclist said me ‘ hardly an essential item is it’

Just stop it .
I’m ashamed of what my fellow human beings have become.

The beer is cold & I shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed for buying it

OP posts:
StrangerDays · 04/04/2020 21:03

Does it matter if i went for a full shop or rice pudding?

If you caught and/or passed on the virus during a food shop buying things you needed, then that's awful and unfortunate.

But if you caught and/or passed on the virus during 'popping out' for one or two items you simply fancied having, that was entirely avoidable, and against guidelines.

Ronnie27 · 04/04/2020 21:04

Enjoy your beer op Wine

Mlou32 · 04/04/2020 21:05

@Haffiana 😂 oh god, how hilariously ridiculous do you come across Grin

Yes I do know what it's like to shop with no car thanks. Give your head a wobble eh...

G3m81 · 04/04/2020 21:08

I will judge what's classed as essential because I work in retail and have to come into contact with people. We've had people come in just for Easter eggs or scratch cards and I'm sorry but they are not essential.

Cohle · 04/04/2020 21:08

What I want to say to you would almost certainly get me a ban.

I'll leave it there.

Right, so once again you're not actually going to explain what it is you disagree with me about. You're just going to make weird rude remarks. Constructive.

Mrhodgeymaheg · 04/04/2020 21:09

If you are thirsty then buying a drink is essential. The alternative is dehydration.

The man is a nob, ignore him.

LilacTree1 · 04/04/2020 21:11

G3m81

I realise you don’t have control over what your employer sells

But I’m wondering if you’d prefer the shop was closed - I’m guessing you would prefer that?

Flymetothetoon · 04/04/2020 21:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Mumto1girl3boys · 04/04/2020 21:13

@strangerdays

Oh god the guidelines, im ever so sorry

Sapphiresunrise · 04/04/2020 21:13

They want us to eat gruel and only leave the house to shop once per month..

G3m81 · 04/04/2020 21:13

@LilacTree1 nope not at all. I'm all for people shopping, everyone has to eat after all. Can you honestly say going to the shops purely for scratch cards and nothing else is essential?

BadDaughter01 · 04/04/2020 21:15

My husband had this yesterday. Popped into the co-op (walking down there so incorporating his daily walk too) and bought some bits including two pizzas and salad. Some old busybody looked in his basket, sighed and tutted. Dh gave her one of his famous Paddington Bear stares. You don't mess with the stare. She backed off. Judgy cow.

EggysMom · 04/04/2020 21:16

I cannot go shopping 'once a week'. Our autistic son has a very routine diet, eating the same thing on 7 days of the week. It cannot be bought in a larger container. I can only buy 3 of any item in one shopping trip. So I have to go shopping 2.33333 times each week in order to meet his diet.

Oh, and to anyone with children, alcohol is a necessity.

PotholeParadise · 04/04/2020 21:17

Can we agree that we should limit our shops as much as possible, whatever our own range of "possible" is?

Some people can manage to reduce it down to one shop a fortnight, and that is good for them, and godsdamned brilliant for the rest of us. Others will struggle to reduce it down to twice a week.

If we all just do our best without fucking arguing about it or making worthless comparisons between totally different living situations, more of us will get out of this mess alive.

Enough4me · 04/04/2020 21:17

G3m81 I get it and feel for you, my kids like chocolate Easter eggs and I currently have no cider in, but I'm not going to a shop for luxuries as in a couple of days I can get these with a main shop.

I'm shopping once a week or less and I'm really grateful for all the people working face-to-face probably getting it in the neck from some of the public.

Mumto1girl3boys · 04/04/2020 21:17

Schools are closed, kids arent allowed to see their friends, go to the park, play football etc fuck it lets just take easter away from them aswell, actually while we're at it we can cancel christmas also

LilacTree1 · 04/04/2020 21:17

G3m81

But if they did some shopping at a Greengrocer, then got the choc at your shop, why does that make you so angry?

I understand if you’d rather be furloughed on 80% but if you wouldn’t, then why do you mind what people buy? I shop at Aldi, they don’t do lottery.

I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to buy a ticket right now.

So you want 100% pay but a super quiet shop?

Balhammom · 04/04/2020 21:20

Bottom line is that if you take unnecessary trips you are putting other people at risk, or at least putting further pressure on the NHS.

It is incredibly selfish and should be called out.

LilacTree1 · 04/04/2020 21:20

I’m really curious to know what proportion of the judgey pants folk are in London.

I’ve only been to a shop once in lockdown but I can’t really imagine anyone in this area having judgey pants on, it’s very....down to earth here.

StrangerDays · 04/04/2020 21:23

Bottom line is that if you take unnecessary trips you are putting other people at risk, or at least putting further pressure on the NHS.

Absolutely, but unfortunately some people think they're above the guidelines that have been issued to help the situation. :(

G3m81 · 04/04/2020 21:23

@LilacTree1 there's plenty of jobs going in supermarkets across the county. If it's that easy sign up and then we'll see your opinion change. I don't want to be out of work and how you have come to that conclusion baffles me? I can only assume that something I've said has triggered you and you feel the need to go on the defensive, if I have I apologise but I won't change my opinion and I'm not asking you to change yours. I have no problem with people buying whatever they like in their weekly shop but I do have a problem with people using shops as an excuse to pop out of the house for an hour or two.

itsallamysterytome · 04/04/2020 21:25

It is not what you buy that needs to be essential it is whether it is essential that you leave the house. Once you have decided you will starve if you don't go to the shop then buy what you like. This includes chocolate, wine, cake, beer and all the goodies you need to get through this. All we ask is you stand at the ends of the checkout to unload and pack And try to come on your own if at all possible (we know some people will have to bring younger children).

Summersunandoranges · 04/04/2020 21:25

Your allowed to go to the shops!! And buy what ever you like!! Ffs!

People on MN would love to see a stall set up where you had to queue up for bread, milk and pasta only!

Alsohuman · 04/04/2020 21:27

Too bloody busy being the Sphincter Police

🤣wins the thread.

LilacTree1 · 04/04/2020 21:28

Gm381

That’s actually what I plan to do.

I just don’t get why it matters what people buy. I know from experience that working in a supermarket isn’t easy, I’m just confused by judging what people buy.

I do totally get it if people want to go on furlough on 80%, I’m cursing myself for having recently become unemployed.