The “I just had a sit down in the park with crisps” brigade

[Candodad]

You are the problem. The rules are simple. Go out and exercise and then go home. Just that, nothing more than that.

To be fair then problem is actually bigger than that and has been brewing for years as we increasingly become a country with rules but almost everyone has an excuse for why that rule shouldn’t apply to them/their child/family.

LaLaLandIsNoFun

In what way? I think some people are being inconsistent in what they choose to do. On the one hand demanding that only what the law says matters, on the other hand presumably following guidelines (handwashing) which isn't the law?

Think about why the restrictions are in place? Why are we repeatedly told to wash our hands for twenty seconds, and to not touch our faces? What is the reason behind that?

Now, why might sitting on a public bench and eating crisps not be a good idea?

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

How patronising!

You may be shielding but some of us do need to go out to buy food, go to the pharmacy, go to work etc. Telling us that we can't sit down on a bench and eat something is unnecessarily controlling. It's clear you're coming from a place of envy, as a pp suggests. And I was at home for 5 weeks during and after suspected CV infection so I'm perfectly capable of managing social distancing.

I am sick of stay at home and wash your hands being rudely shouted on social media. Capital letters everywhere. I know a few people have sight problems but not everyone surely. Some people shout this at everything. I am sure they do not even read what people are saying. The wash your hands is the one that normally has nothing what so ever to the topic being discussed. If people aren’t on board with that by now there is no hope.

I try to stay away from social media and posts like this. They are filled with negativity and judging. Can’t help myself sometimes. I have left so many Facebook groups. The last one because of faith/race negativity and stereotyping. I think that tipped me over edge after a bad day and ended up in tears. So I made the decision to remove myself from negativity in future. Groups like sewing for the NHS much more positive.

The regulations have not changed since 26th March. The interpretation/enforcement of them has. I worked out weeks ago that saying you couldn’t drive to exercise was overreaching the Regulations. However, I still haven’t driven for a month. I thought I know it is a small risk but there is a possibility to breakdown or being in an accident. There is AONB within walking distance I go to instead. That is a totally personal choice. I would not say someone else should not. It is up to them to decide. Someone on Facebook said that by making a short drive so they could go walking was condemning their family to death. Totally unnecessary.

I am not an expert on the virus. Surprising how many are all of sudden. There is nothing wrong with eating crisps on a bench. Personally I wouldn’t because although unlikely I would worrying about virus. I would probably sit on the grass. There is a chance virus passed about by shoes but there is only so much you can do. Shoes get left in hall. If I needed for health reasons to sit on bench I would probably take a little pad with me. Rotate them and chuck them in a corner when I got home for 72 hours.

I am not sure how true it is but it has been suggested that social distance when exercising should by 15ft for slow walking up to 65ft for fast running/cycling. Not sure on the validity of this. Like I say no expert so I just try to leave a larger gap when out if possible.

You have probably realised by now that I am on the cautious side. I know my circumstances and how I feel. However, that does not mean I go around telling strangers how to live their lives. I have no right and most important I don’t know their circumstances. People should not have to give their life story to stop people judging them.

I don't care if you sit down on a bench and eat. Do what you like. I'm not envious of that, because I don't want to catch this so have no desire to do something that could put me at risk.

Go.out and do what you.like - but don't put anyone else at risk. As with smoking, you've got every right to endanger your own health. you don't have the right to endanger anyone else though.

I don't think DS will catch coronavirus from sitting on the grass having a snack. My dad makes sure he doesn't touch the bench. There really needs to be a little perspective, let people manage their own risks.

Some people need to seek help for mental health issues. I refer to a previous thread where one poster above was “literally shaking and sobbing” at the thought of somebody buying “non-essentials” in a shop.

If anybody is sobbing and shaking reading this, please seek help.

I don't care if you sit down on a bench and eat. Do what you like

So why are you disagreeing with pp's doing exactly that whilst still maintaining social distancing? You either care or you don't.

Oh fuck off with your made up rules. Honestly grow up OP.

I'm disagreeing with the people saying it's fine because there is no risk - that isn't true, as far as the scientists know right now.

So, if people want to do it then they should do it knowing that there's a potential risk, particularly if they are eating without cleaning their hands.

Nobody (that I can see anyway), has said there is no risk, just that the risk is no different from other acceptable activities, i.e, queuing, exercising, etc as long as social distance is maintained. I get the feeling you could argue in an empty room. We all get that you are not happy about being shielded, we all get that you would rather everybody lived by the same rules that you have placed on yourself...remember you are only ADVISED to shield not legally required to. You are coming across as a bitter person who thinks that because somebody has the audacity not to agree with you they are somehow stupid. I take hand gel with me everywhere I go, I use it if I'm committing the cardinal sin of eating whilst I'm out, I wash my hands regularly, short of never leaving home again (which is something I'm sure you would be thrilled about because then I would be as miserable as you), there is nothing more I can do.

If you are shielding and not coming into contact with anybody, why would you be so worried about what others are doing? CV isn’t going to sneak through your window.

If you are shielding and not coming into contact with anybody, why would you be so worried about what others are doing? CV isn’t going to sneak through your window.

Please please don't go there!

We had this discussion a few days ago.

I think it's fair to say that the great majority of people are living within guidelines as much as possible and honestly trying to do their best with balancing the risks.

I think it's also far to say that all the finger pointing at individuals shifts criticism and blame from where it belongs ie how the govt has managed this situation, and does no-one any favours.

This is a hard, hard situation for pretty much everybody.

That's it, really.

I sympathise with people shielding, must be crap. Maybe having a go at people on here is their only outlet.

But coming on here and getting angry isn’t going to change anything. I say that as somebody who has not left the house in a week or been to a supermarket in two weeks.

literally shaking and sobbing”

It its the thread im thinking of that poster also confirmed that she was joking

I get the feeling you could argue in an empty room

Never a truer word spoken

I went to the park this afternoon and I saw the following things which weren't walking or running

• an elderly couple sitting on a bench together
• two strangers sitting on separate benches over 3 meter apart having a chat
• a dad and child kicking a ball to each other
• a family feeding the ducks
• a woman feeding her young baby on a bench
• a boy eating a snack while walking along

None of these activities are technically one of the four reasons to leave the house. However none of these activities increase risk of virus transmission so what's the problem? Incidentally a police woman cycled through the park too and obviously she didnt have an issue with any if it either.

The aim isnt "be as miserable as possible so if you catch Corona you'll be glad to be dead"

Yet another awkward thread on MN where someone wants to dictate what people can or can’t do without actually reading the guidelines

I find this policing of other people so scary. Please just focus on yourself. I say this as the wife of a key worker and mother of a vulnerable child. Also the guidelines have changed as the government tries to think of a way to gradually lift restrictions so sitting down to eat some crisps is allowed by 'the rules'. Some people will really struggle when further restrictions are lifted.

Nobody (that I can see anyway), has said there is no risk,

Yes they have said that. On this thread people have said I'm social distancing, there's no risk from me sitting on a bench eating.

two strangers sitting on separate benches over 3 meter apart having a chat

Well, yes, that is a risk because they don't actually know how far apart is a safe distance and they've made it very clear that you aren't to meet up with people outside of your household. If it's ok to do this then why can't we all meet up with family and friends we don't live with but stay two metres apart?

LaurieMarlow

You've still not answered my question on handwashing. I'm assuming therefore that you are choosing to follow that advice, even though it isn't law.

I wonder why when you are on so many threads telling people not to follow guidelines only the law.

Also the guidelines have changed as the government tries to think of a way to gradually lift restrictions so sitting down to eat some crisps is allowed by 'the rules'.

Have they? I thought this was just the national college of policing clarifying the law for.officers, not new guidance from the government.

Has anyone got a link to the new government guidelines please?

I sat down on a sunny grassy bank and had a g&t halfway through my bike ride on Sunday OP - I don't give a toss what you (or anyone else for that matter) think about that.

STOP BEING THE SELF APPOINTED PARKS POLICE and piss off.

Maybe @Hearhoovesthinkzebras is the policewoman who told off a family for being in their own garden

I wonder why when you are on so many threads telling people not to follow guidelines only the law.

Oh jeez hear you’ve jumped the shark entirely.

You’re not making any sense at all.

I haven’t told anyone not to wash their hands. I’ve told you and others that it’s not your job to police people’s behaviour more strictly than the police themselves have been instructed to do.

Which you know of course.

Youre like the dog with the bone that just can’t let go.