Why is it so hard for people to stay at home

[pissedoffretailworker]

I have just got home from work. It has been manic today! People have queued for hours to come buy crap! I feel like people just aren't listening and are just freely out shopping for all these goods that are not essential. Browsing for over an hour in store and buying goods that we really shouldn't be selling.
This board and my other social media are full of people justifying their need to go buy gardening supplies or paint or walk their dog 6 times a day. As if they are special 🤷🏻‍♀️
Mental health is cited as a reason for people to continue to be selfish and put their own desires first instead of doing what is needed to help the nhs and protect the vulnerable.
I am feeling more and more angry at these people. I wish I could stay at home and keep my children safe. I certainly wouldn't be taking them to the shops to buy crap. My kids have not left the house other than to play in the garden since the 9th of March. I only go to work. I'm lucky in that I have a reoccurring delivery slot from a supermarket and have done for a long time so don't need to go shopping. I know I'm the grand scheme of things I'm better off than some people but I'm so stressed by other people's lack of care. What will it take to get these people to listen?

My idea of hell is going to the supermarket (usually have a weekly delivery) so don’t understand anyone taking their time or popping in for cushions etc. Are you sure these people aren’t buying essentials and just putting a few other items in their trolleys whilst they’re there?

We’ve managed to get a delivery from a farm shop and milkman and I’m relying on that really. It’s quite easy to exercise without going near anyone round here and that’s all we’re going out for.

I’m actually surprised at how well me and my 2.5 year old DS are managing. We’re extremely lucky in that we have a garden but I thought I’d feel a lot more trapped than I do. I have a long-standing anxiety disorder and a big part of managing it is getting my 3 days at work, when I can read on the bus, go to the gym at lunch, chat to my friends there. I was crying my eyes out with fear before lockdown and it’s actually more peaceful than I anticipated. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I miss everything out there so much, when DS point blank refuses to go for a walk, when I’m trying to answer emails on my phone or take a work call with him screaming or throwing things. But we are managing. It’s shown me that he actually needs very little to be happy.

I never forget those whose mental health is breaking under lockdown, those in abusive homes, those without outside space, those who are completely alone. But I do think very little of people who are just taking the piss. Five bus drivers in London have died of the virus because they had to go to work.

I still have to go out every day to work. If I have to spend 9 hours somewhere other than home, I can't really be annoyed at someone going to B&Q or The Range.

@pissedoffretailworker you are very fortunate to have a spacious garden for your DC to play in safely. Bear in mind if people live in cramped conditions, in flats or small closely packed social housing, it is going to be extremely hard for them, and they can't be expected to stay indoors cooped up. People in larger houses with more space are more likely to comply because being at home isn't such a chore.

It was reported in the news today that people are having to pay a high price for the current lockdown to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed, it is taking a toll on family budgets, people's MH deteriorating and relationship breakdowns. That's really sad. People's lives are already shattered, but the worst could be yet to come.

It's hard not to get angry at people, but none of us know what their reasons are for being out, it could be their only bit of happiness in an otherwise grim situation.

I have just got home from work. It has been manic today! People have queued for hours to come buy crap! I feel like people just aren't listening and are just freely out shopping for all these goods that are not essential. Browsing for over an hour in store and buying goods that we really shouldn't be selling.

I'm lucky in that I have a reoccurring delivery slot from a supermarket and have done for a long time so don't need to go shopping.

Is this for real?

@Haworthia one very simple way of doing so is make it only food, drinks, cleaning products, toiletries, kitchen equipment and medical supplies can be bought.

I can't see any possible good argument for buying anything outside that.

Lottery tickets, newspaper and certainly home decor items are absolutely NOT essential. Perfect transmitters of the virus though!

I cant get another delivery until April the 20th and my last one was about 3 weeks ago. I usually have one fortnightly.

Luckily I have a brexit stockpile 🙄 so im just nipping to the corner shop for bread and milk

Have farm shop ordered and meat from the butchers but they have a back log so no idea when that will start

Kids have been out once since school shut to the field across the road at night. We are also lucky enough to have a big garden but lots of people around here don't and children need to get some fresh air

I think it comes from not being vulnerable. I’m guessing most people who are venturing out flouting the rules are those that will explain “they are okay” if they catch it they’ll be fine. But it’s not about them it’s about the people who won’t be okay

If the shop is open, then customers are allowed there. Up to the shop to manage queues.

Mind you, I think the range should be shut

Myself and my DS have not been out since the beginning of March, so lucky enough not to need to go out, my DH has been lucky enough to work from home, so we have kept pretty isolated. I have asthma and a suppressed immune system.

My DH has had to do all the shopping, he does it once a week but goes to 2 shops to do the shop. He told me all the measures shops had put in place, queuing on markers on the floor and also the amount of people not listening and needing "advising" from staff to follow their system. He says some do have a complete lack of care.

What will it take ..... I think some people simply will just not listen, no matter what, I think some feel they are not letting the government rule them or take away their rights, or it's not that bad or like the old fella by us simply doesn't understand it and just smiles and nods when I ask him to stop trying to give my DS money and I'm ok for the local paper for a few weeks (bless him)

I did share your frustration when we were last out and still do when you hear some people justify their outings. On the whole though now I think it's sinking in with most.

OP i assume you work in a supermarket? Aren't you lucky having a recurring delivery slot when I can't get any more slots from any supermarket for my my mum who's vulnerable.

I ventured into the "non-essential" section in Sainsbury's last week as I needed to get a football and some tennis balls plus craft supplies for my DC's. I walked past the cushions etc on the way and had a "YOU CANT BUY THOSE" moment, but actually it would have made no difference to the time I'd spent in there if I had grabbed one.

As previously stated it’s so easy for people with gardens, large supermarkets nearby and presumably means like a car to transport their shopping. I have none of these things. I live in a flat with young children and we have no outside space let alone play equipment. We have 1 bedroom and 1 living/playroom/kitchen. We live in London where the nearest ‘large’ supermarket is a bus ride away and we have no car. The little convenience shops are not well stocked near us and I can only carry a certain amount. We are social distancing but it’s not possible for me to spend days and days at home for the above reasons. Majority of people are trying their best.

I work in mh. Of course mh has to be considered but not used as an excuse. It’s important to get our for some put socialising can not happen it can be done in other ways

Our residents were only going out for an hour (now can only go out in the grounds as we have some self isolating)

They have serious mh issues but still it applied to them and more importantly they took this on (and it’s forensic - ex offenders by their very nature and for whatever reason they haven’t followed social rules they certainly are now excuses are not accepted and very proud to say they are being responsible more responsible than many living in be community)

If it can why are so many other people making excuses to bend the rules.

It infuriates me the excuses people are coming up with

It's a tough one. My local Sainsburys doesn't really sell much in the way of the non food products. In normal times I often take the bus down to the 'Big Sainsburys' as I call it. Do a food shop plus all those other bits and bobs that I want to get for my life - stationary, craft stuff, magazines, paperback books, toys etc. Of course at the moment I am not travelling there (it's a 20 minute bus journey) so I can't buy my non food stuff. I am managing without (although I wish I had bought more things from Hobbycraft before lockdown). The products are there on the shelves. They already exist. Their job is to be sold. The only way to stop them being purchased is to close off those areas of the shop. But where do you draw the line? For example in that Big Sainsburys the stationery aisle sells printer ink cartridges and paper. Products that people are needing for home working - so that aisle needs to stay open. However the same aisle has the children's stationery - felt tip pens, colouring books, stickers etc. Would it be acceptable to buy those at the same time as printer paper? But then why can't you buy a Lego set which is in the next aisle? Unless major supermarkets stop their daily orders of newspapers, flowers etc then they are there to be sold. To be honest are people really queuing for an hour or so to get into the supermarket to just buy a lottery ticket or newspaper? I expect it's more they are buying them at the same time as a food shop.

If an unnecessary item is on sale and I want it...it's going in my basket, unashamedly

No point getting angry at others choices, yes some will be frivolous purchases or others will be trying to get away from an abusive partner in lockdown. That trip to the shops to buy a non essential might be the only respite they get.

I have bought non essentials (craft items) because it’s given me something I can do at home during the lockdown. Incidentally from the Range.

We’re staying home & everyone I know is staying home. I live in the south west and all the main roads are empty - so are the majority of beaches (which is actually quite surprising!)

We still have a few numpty tourists who are being reported (apparently) but the majority of tourists stayed home too.

The city centre was pretty empty yesterday also.

@pissedoffretailworker I can’t speak for the rest of the country - but we’re definitely following guidelines here. And as a nurse in the only hospital in the county - I am dead proud

I understand people wanting to leave their homes and get fresh air. I really do, I know that as I have a decent garden for my children they are safe and not everyone does. I don't agree that not having those things makes people go shopping. I was asking why so many people feel the need to go to a store to browse and pick out items that really are not essential for survival. We have customers telling us they are bored, they need something to do and while I can see that being at home all the time would be frustrating and very much a pain in the arse, I don't understand why people can't just follow the basic guidelines we have been given.
Only leave your house to get basic essentials or medicine
Only go to work if you absolutely cannot work from home
Exercise once a day on your own or with other members of your household.
To get medical help or to help a vulnerable person.
No visiting other households except to drop off supplies at the doorstep
Do not have visitors to your home with the exception of carers
Where in any of that does it say go to a large store with your whole family and browse for long periods of time buying non essential goods.
I totally get going to the supermarket and buying treats while you are there or picking up a magazine. I don't understand why anyone would risk going to a shop to buy just those items though.

@Mysocalledlifexx why on earth are you not even using your garden? A large family literally staying inside for 18 days is unnecessary and sounds like hell!

I dont think I've seen this mentioned yet. But we have been isolating for nearly 4 weeks now. If I don't read the news it just doesn't feel real. I think it's a case of seeing is believing. People live in their own little bubbles and from 4 weeks isolation the only thing that has impacted me is I cant get a food shop and my income has more than halved. You can almost pretend if you don't see it - it makes it easier to think you can go out and do whatever you want.

This:

Some people have horrible homes, no gardens, don’t own a fridge, victims of domestic violence, mental heath issues, struggling with small children etc and are using getting out of the house as a coping mechanism. I’m not saying it’s right but it’s easy to criticise when you have a recurring delivery slot and potentially a nice house and garden. For some people the risks of getting covid are less (for them) than the risk of staying inside for weeks on end. It’s complex

The fault here doesn’t lie with the consumer though. There’s no point saying they shouldn’t be buying x, y and z. If it is for sale it is available for purchase.

Some people are using the time stuck at home to revamp their living spaces, give them a focus and something to do.

The legislation is quite clear and if a shop is deemed an essential shop then everything it sells comes under that banner.

@Deux agreed!

We must have shit shops in the SW as even the big retail parks are shut apart from Halfords & The Range. The Range is hardly essential but whatever

I think in this weird scenario, we can only take responsibility for our own actions... and there is nothing to be gained by getting in a tizzy about what others do or don't do, when we can have no influence over that

How can you judge op unless you have a face recognition facility monitoring people?

Eg I've not step foot in any shop for a good 14 days but some Easter stuff didn't arrive in my on line shop..
Will you judge me if I come in to buy '' crap ''