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Covid

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Original poster

People bored of social distancing

97 replies

AsMuchUseAsAMarzipanDildo · 07/04/2020 17:26

Just a moan really. My household is adhering to lockdown. When we were “all in it together”, it feels okay. Necessary and a small thing I can do to help in this horror story.

But yesterday and today, my neighbours on all 3 sides have independently had friends round to visit. It’s so infuriating to think that this will drag on a whole lot longer if people break the rules. One of these neighbours is a cardiac nurse FFS. It just all feels so helpless, so pointless to be the 1 in 4 who stays in, if 3 in 4 aren’t. Add to that today I go to my local park for a run (and yes, I stay at least 2m away and don’t spit!), and there’s a group of 6-8 teenage friends sat sharing a spliff.

Anyway, rant over.

OP posts:

FannyFernackerpan · 07/04/2020 20:03

Yes I do know how easy it is to miss things because I've done it several times. Which is why, I just carry on down the aisle, and go round the next one to double back on myself. It takes all of a few extra seconds out of my life, and means I maintain social distancing. .

If everyone stops in their tracks and starts turning back to pick up things they've missed then they are walking straight into other people, and the social distancing goes out of the window.

On my delightful shopping trip today I was treated to numerous people, walking straight at me, coughing all over the place, and making no attempt to keep their distance, so I don't give a fuck if they've forgotten something or not. Just keep walking and come back around again.
It's not rocket science.

Vargas · 07/04/2020 20:06

Everyone around us seems to be adhering to the rules. I certainly haven't noticed any visitors to our neighbours.

There might be some neighbours ranting about me though. I went out for my daily walk in the early evening, ran into DH who was cycling home from work (key worker). We chatted a bit, closer than 2m, and I had to laugh at a couple walking nearby shooting us daggers who obviously couldn't know that we also share a bed.

Vargas · 07/04/2020 20:08

A friend had a good idea. One way system for supermarket aisles. No dodging back, just circle round again, as some on this thread already doing.

Duchessofblandings · 07/04/2020 20:09

Know how you feel. Was gardening today and there was a conversation going on in the garden next door between at least 5 people, when only 3 live there.
We’ll be isolating until this is well and truly over, whatever it takes.

Original poster

AsMuchUseAsAMarzipanDildo · 07/04/2020 20:10

Hercwasonaroll not at all reporting people for sitting on park benches. But sharing a Sunday roast or a barbecue (glasses, cutlery, door handles etc) when you work in a hospital with patients who are already very compromised doesn’t seem like a good idea. I haven’t reported anyone because frankly I think the already decimated police force have enough to deal with.

But I do think we have all have a collective responsibility - to prevent as many deaths as possible, to protect the NHS’s functioning (and the psychological trauma to its staff), to the children who should be in school and all the people who face losing their jobs or businesses if we don’t get a grip on this.

OP posts:

Esptea · 07/04/2020 20:11

Neighbours had a BBQ with family who don't live there at the weekend. There are kids playing football in the park opposite and I've seen numerous people lying about enjoying the sunshine. I spoke to an elderly relative today who had had 3 different sets of visitors into the house and thought that was fine as they were all self isolating too. SIL also had friends over when we videocalled today - unbelievable.

FannyFernackerpan · 07/04/2020 20:12

The risk of catching it while out shopping or walking is TINY.

It would be even tinier if people kept their distance and followed the very simple instructions. How hard is it? What makes them exempt? Do you think they've made up the edicts just for the hell of it? Put staff behind perspex screens, put social distancing markers in place etc. They've done all that because the risk is so 'tiny' it's not even worth bothering about.

Oh yeah and tell that to the bloke who nipped out to Tesco and came home and it gave it to his baby son.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/stay-home-warns-dad-after-21820429

Original poster

AsMuchUseAsAMarzipanDildo · 07/04/2020 20:15

Vargas ridiculous to look daggers at 2 people together outside and I genuinely don’t make assumptions about people out and about (except for the large group of teenagers who’d clearly met up to smoke weed), but I know my neighbours well and otherwise have always gotten on well with them... which is why I was so surprised to see all 3 houses breaking the lockdown. I figure if even otherwise lovely considerate people like them are no longer following it, who is?!

OP posts:

Taddda · 07/04/2020 20:16

Some of you are so freaking sanctimonious, I bet you're the ones reporting people on Facebook because they sat on a bench.

No, I'm the one stuck inside my flat unable to get outside my own front door because of the constant comings and goings of my neighbours and their visitors....

I can't complain, I'm in the minority, they're all doing it, but we're the ones stuck in because of it.

People popping out is fine. You are allowed outside fgs.

Obviously not everyone....

Carbosug · 07/04/2020 20:27

I'm worn out with idiots who don't seem to get it. Today had a couple bringing a big buggy into a small local grocers plus 2 women walking around with a toddler each. Had an idiot charge up behind me on the footpath talking away into her phone, and a woman letting her child wander away from her and up towards others while she stood chatting to a friend.

Some people are morons.

IvinghoeBeacon · 07/04/2020 20:28

“ I figure if even otherwise lovely considerate people like them are no longer following it, who is?!”

This is the thing though isn’t it. Your perception, from your home is that no one is. My perception, from my home (though actually today I was out on essential travel for food and medical appt) is that everyone is, or at least the few who aren’t weren’t noticeable to me. It’s easy to extrapolate and all we can do is look to our own behaviour

Carbosug · 07/04/2020 20:28

The 2 women were together I should have clarified

Hercwasonaroll · 07/04/2020 20:35

Everyone is allowed outside. Nothing in the guidelines prevents this.

You are choosing not to go out. That is your choice. You can wash your hands when returning home. You can ask people to vacate the area while you come out. I can't believe there are people on your flat door 24/7.

Remember that we are all mixing far far less what we were 3 weeks ago. Even if a few people break lockdown.

The virus will continue to spread after lockdown. We just need to slow the spread. We will probably all get this virus eventually.

Taddda · 07/04/2020 20:35

I suppose it all depends on where you live also-

IvinghoeBeacon · 07/04/2020 20:40

Well exactly. Perhaps I live in an area where it is easier to maintain social distancing. Perhaps I’m less observant than you. Could be any number of factors

IvinghoeBeacon · 07/04/2020 20:42

Either way, relying on individual reports of what looks to be compliance or risky behaviour doesn’t really give an overall impression of what is happening nationwide.

KatherineJaneway · 07/04/2020 20:43

@WakeAndBake

Surely the more people that get sick quick means that it will all be over sooner?

It would mean more people will die. Is that worth it so it is over sooner?

The lockdown is designed to limit the infections to manageable waves / levels so the NHS can cope with the numbers needing hospital admissions. Too many people needing treatment at the same leads to having to triage patients and, if there are not enough resources in that hospital, Doctors will have to choose who receives treatment and who is left to possibly die. Would you want that for someone you love?

IvinghoeBeacon · 07/04/2020 20:45

I don’t get the impression that people pointing out that logic necessarily agree that that is what should happen...

Taddda · 07/04/2020 20:45

I can't believe there are people on your flat door 24/7.

I live inner city. There are 5 apartments in my block, the same with the building opposite, plus surrounded by houses. We all share the same car park. I have to walk through the car park to get out through the (usually quite quiet as everyone works, usually!) estate.

No, they aren't there 24/7, but during the day yes its busy, with different comings and goings...and stayings...and chattings...and gatherings....cars in and out, communal areas inside will always have someone up and down.

Am I supposed to wait constantly at my door with my children at the ready for when they decide to disperse!? Or take them out at 3am!?

If they could go out (straight out) and off for their daily exercise then I probably could, but I can't....as I've stated...

Hercwasonaroll · 07/04/2020 20:59

You won't walk past a car park. You're sounding bonkers. Just walk past them and go out fgs.

Out of 5 flats there's always someone on the inside communal areas.... I find this very very hard to believe. Even in a previous place with 18 flats it was rare to see anyone.

But yes carry on being all holier than thou and judgy as fuck to everyone who dares to go outside.

SpillTheTeaa · 07/04/2020 21:10

I miss my mum and dad and the rest of my family and have a young baby who has just started crawling and she can only see it through FaceTime which isn't the same but I know we have to do it to protect us all. My neighbours across the street were all sat with each other enjoying some wine the young kids were even there. This happens most nights. Police drive past once but didn't bat an eyelid 🙃

SpillTheTeaa · 07/04/2020 21:10

Drove*

Taddda · 07/04/2020 21:24

But yes carry on being all holier than thou and judgy as fuck to everyone who dares to go outside.

10 flats, two opposing buildings, one communal front door, one back door I can't fit a double buggy through- What part are you failing to understand here? The congregations of visitors, the kids out playing, the communal spaces used for playing with the kids off school, that it takes me 3 trips up and down the stairs to get us out with a load of people gathering out the front- or that I'm trying to keep us safe in terms of social distancing?

SophieGiroux · 07/04/2020 21:25

@FannyFernackerpan I could've written this post myself! It wasn't a Tesco in Bristol was it?! I went there myself around 5pm and it was horrendous!! Like you say, people not following the arrows and just getting way too close for comfort. To be honest, I think people are more at risk in these supermarkets than people sunbathing in parks who are socially distancing. Get the police in the supermarkets, the risk is far higher as far as I can see - not out in the open air and people coughing and spluttering all over the place. The next person is inevitably going to walk into that cloud of sputum droplets, just vile. I'm not setting foot in another supermarket for some time as some people just don't give a shit!

SouthsideOwl · 07/04/2020 21:26

@Taddda sorry I have to agree with @Hercwasonaroll...for your own sanity you must take a break from MN and the mail online and brave the car park...

Believe it or not despite some of the absolute shocking misinformation and virtue scaremongering on these forums...most people are doing the right thing where they can.

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