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Original poster

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

906 replies

Candodad · 21/04/2020 07:56

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
puptent · 21/04/2020 08:48

You would be apoplectic at my local park, OP.

It was a lovely sunny day on Sunday and families were out strolling as well as picnickers, tree-climbers, kids playing football, people feeding the squirrels, people doing workouts, people sitting on benches and on the grass, people taking pictures of the flowers, crisp-eaters. The only difference was, quite a few were wearing masks and there were no gaggles of french school kids chasing pigeons.

Oh, my local is St James' Park btw. The only intervention by the (armed) police was to tell people to get off their bikes under the Horseguard arch. I think different authorities must have different approaches. Perhaps Westminster police have a different/more moderate brief.

Brogley · 21/04/2020 08:49

to those picking relentlessly at the failure of others weather it be organisational or personally finding problems, spreading fear but no solutions

Oh the irony...

tiredanddangerous · 21/04/2020 08:49

I think people just need to be sensible about it. Disabled/pregnant/elderly, fine. The men sitting round the lake fishing when I go for my daily exercise, not fine. Not that they give a shit.

Dollywilde · 21/04/2020 08:50

@primaveravez

none of us have died from not having a stroll

Well for starters that’s wrong, due to the knock on effects of extended lack of exercise on mental and physical health, yes people would die as a result in that scenario.

And if people are unable to leave their houses full stop (which they’re not, as far as I’m aware every country under extreme lockdown has some facility for people to leave their houses to eg buy food) then stopping to rest wouldn’t be an issue, so I’m not sure why you’d bring it up on this thread as it’s irrelevant.

It’s also a straw man argument as OP is arguing about what “the rules” say and your scenario isn’t currently part of “the rules”.

ImHappyHopeYoureHappyToo · 21/04/2020 08:50

Me too. Stuck to every rule and suggestion to protect my vulnerable and at risk family. We'll done me, pat on the back! Except its not worth sh*t if so many others refuse to stay put whenever possible. I'm really trying to be positive but after getting abuse at work and seeing so many posts about people's 'right' to be out and do what they want, I'm starting to lose hope and patience. Lock down is still in place. It's not sanctimonious to expect everyone to follow the rules and be safe. Sitting 2m apart is of course OK and according to new advice, it's OK to take some food and sit and eat it but what if everyone in the neighbourhood did that? People near me seem to be stretching the guidelines because they're bored, we all are! What happened to #stayhome?

MinkowskisButterfly · 21/04/2020 08:51

Some of the comments on here are ridiculous! People need to read the info on the leaflet posted up thread before being dicks to others (yes that includes you @Candodad)

Carbosug · 21/04/2020 08:51

People like you just muddy the water op. There seems to be so many made up petty rules circulating in social media it must be hard for a lot of people to work out what is and isn't allowed

Brogley · 21/04/2020 08:51

None of us have died from not having a stroll and filled roll in the park or a little sit down and a satsuma

I'll put money on it that people have died due to not being allowed out at all particularly from domestic abuse, suicide, and not seeking timely medical attention for non-CV19 illnesses.

LaurieMarlow · 21/04/2020 08:51

Where we live (not UK) you are not even allowed out of your home to exercise. None of us have died from not having a stroll

I think the long term implications of this for physical and mental health are quite significant.

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 21/04/2020 08:52

@Dollywilde that's working with assumption that there is regular cardio and only occasional bag of crisps. Which, of course would be fine🤷🏻
You see, you say it's fucked up to see crisps as baddies undoing exercise, I think it's very odd that they are seen as normal part of meals and normal part of the day. And that people can't last hour or two without snacking (again unless they have medical conditions).

catwithnohat · 21/04/2020 08:53

from those whose lifestyles have resulted in them being unhealthy and therefore a burden on the nhs, it was stretched before this and your choice is stretching them further

Judgemental or what, your halo must be choking you.

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 21/04/2020 08:53

Let me just add that I did not say I would be against people sitting and resting. It's just the snacks which struck me. And not even due to any lockdown stuff. Grazing in UK is fascinating.Blush

cheekybekky · 21/04/2020 08:54

Rules are that you can stop and eat during a long stint of exercise.
So YABU

Pinkginhelps · 21/04/2020 08:54

If I lived in a flat or house without a garden, I would sit somewhere outside for a little while every day. Even in cities and large towns, it's possible to find places to just sit a safe distance away from others and take in some air and feel the sun on your skin.
I'm not suggesting full on picnics. A little bit of sense and less judging and nosiness from the Rule Makers of Faceache and Mumsnet would make this situation far more tolerable for everyone without causing mass death or the NHS to collapse.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 21/04/2020 08:54

I do wonder why so many can’t go an hour without a snack. Water yes but food whilst exercising?

Children manage at school to do PE etc without food so they don’t need to stop for crisps and fruit after a walk/scoot etc.

Bflatmajorsharp · 21/04/2020 08:54

It's not the people going for a walk that are the problem.

The primary problem is a potentially lethal virus that is sweeping the world.

The secondary problem (for the UK) is that our government has systematically ignored guidance from scientists about how to reduce contagion and death rates ie test and trace and PPE.

'Staying at home' is not a level playing field. PPs may not have died from staying at home, but lots of women have through DV.

Another problem is the lack of coherence in the information provided from the police about what they deem to be acceptable. The OP on the thread that you're talking about is correct that the police did advise that people can stop for a rest and snack during exercise.

That OP didn't 'think she was special' - she was following the rules as they have been provided.

LemonScentedStickyBat · 21/04/2020 08:55

As long as you take your crisp packet home with you

Littlemissdaredevil · 21/04/2020 08:55

I’m 37 weeks pregnant and my midwife encouraged me to go out for a walk. I may need to stop occasionally for 1/2 minutes whilst I’m waddling with my toddler Smile

Dollywilde · 21/04/2020 08:55

@OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow well bearing in mind we know nothing of the frequency of the crisps or the cardio it’s a bit of a jump to get to ‘well they will have undone that persons day’s exercise’. It’s healthier for someone to do a 300 calorie burning walk and eating a 300 calorie bag of crisps for them to skip the crisps and the walk so on balance I’d rather see people eating crisps in the park from a public health (non CV) perspective.

PurpleFlower1983 · 21/04/2020 08:56

Read the guidelines, it’s allowed.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 21/04/2020 08:57

When will people understand that a) 'lockdown' is not intended to prevent individual people from catching this virus. We are most of us likely to get it at some stage. Pandora's box is open, containment is no longer possible. And b) The Rules are not for people to amend, make up as they go along, and then loftily impose upon other people. No, OP. It's people like YOU who are the problem.

arethereanyleftatall · 21/04/2020 08:58

Yabu.
Stop being so judgemental.
Other people have different lifestyle to you, and have a different opinion. That's allowed.

Brogley · 21/04/2020 09:00

We took the DC to the nearby rugby field yesterday with a stomp rocket. DH and I walked and paused every few paces to stomp the rocket which the DC then went running off to fetch. It was good exercise for them as they were running and jumping as well as walking, more entertaining for them than just walking, they had a good laugh and got some tension out. Before we left we sat on the wall and had a drink and an apple each to give them a few minutes rest before the walk home. DH then took DS1 out for a walk with a weighted backpack before bed as he was bouncing off the walls and showing signs of overload so he needed some quiet time and heavy work. All within the rules.

People need to mind their own business a bit more and stop thinking it is their responsibility to police others. Unless someone gave you a tin hat and a clipboard and appointed you as Warden then it's not your responsibility.

fishonabicycle · 21/04/2020 09:01

It's disappointing that so many posters on this site have totally fallen for the 'blame each other' line, which is being cultivated by the government to shift the blame from themselves and their poor response to this crisis.

EvilPea · 21/04/2020 09:01

I struggle with this. I can see an argument for not encouraging people to gather in nice places. But I’ve seen plenty of videos of people sitting on their own on beaches, in the park. Just relaxing, being moved on.

Now common sense says I can’t see a problem. If you’ve no garden at home and just want to sit and watch the sea, enjoy the fresh air and outside. I cannot see the issue. But there obviously is an issue or they’d allow it.