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.

buttwormhole the rules haven't changed. Only one set of legislation has been passed and to change it would require an act of Parliament. More detailed guidance has emerged but nothing has changed. Again, there is a fundamental misunderstanding about what lockdown is meant to achieve. If you are vulnerable then yes, absolutely you want to try and avoid it and thus do need to restrict your movement more, and thars awful. But for those who are not, it's a balance between risk management and keeping normality going, especially for kids. As pp have said, we will mostly likely get it, or have already had it. Lockdown does not and will not kill the virus.

Councils say it's because they were too busy, but it probably has more to do with saving money by not having to send someone around the parks to unlock and lock them up each day.

The wisdom of closing parks because they are busy without thinking where all the people will go is really questionable. Some councils have been really bad at managing this.

Please explain how someone sitting on a bench, away from others, is a risk ? You have no idea what others might be suffering, stop being so judgemental. I’m heartily sick of curtain twitchers.

Oh FFS! The sooner this lockdown ends and people stops concentrating so hard on other people’s lives, the better! I think I’m going to have to delete my account, these threads are doing my head in!

Oh this thread is just beyond. Beyond what I don't know.
I wish people would just think about what they're saying and mostly quit comparing rules in different boroughs not to mention countries and get on with your own business.

@18relaxingorchid
Crossed post. FFS I'm feeling the same 😭

Yes I struggle to understand the policy of closing down open country spaces on the basis people might actually use them and worry about the longer term impacts of this. I feel sad when I see the play parks closed as they were such a lifeline to me when DS was a toddler/young child who needed to let off steam. The actual risk to under 10s is so small -that now that the numbers appear to be going down - I hope it's one of the things they open up quite quickly.

Oh and as someone who knows the calorific value of everything - a bag of crisps is usually around 150 calories ( although they are making bigger packs these days) and a half hours walk would burn around 250-300 and an hours walk about 500 calories so still worth doing.

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

The guidelines don't forbid it. Over zealous individuals like you are a problem though.

YABVU. Pharisees don’t come out looking good.

If people are so keen on following the rules why don't they follow the rules? Why do they need to make up rules. I think they are just as bad as people who decide to have a party.

OP - You’d honestly rather my lovely m-i-l stayed in doors on her own all day rather than popping out to her nearest green space and getting some happiness from watching the toddlers scooting past while she has the little rest she needs before walking home again? Really?

She can’t do that walk in one go. The fresh air and exercise are good for her mental and physical health. She loves seeing other people, especially kids, even at a distance, and it really lifts her mood. And the police, who have been patrolling the park, said it was fine for her to sit on the benches if she needs to.

Sitting on a grass on one's own in a park is not why the disease is spreading. It's because of behaviour such as people clapping on Westminster bridge, shopping in crowded town centers, home gatherings. Let's get a little perspective.

I'm 8 months pregnant, if I go out I want to be able to sit down as get ired very easily now- what are you gonna do, arrest me?

Flights still bringing in 15,000 each day unscreened, construction workers squeezing themselves into the tube but yeah, random person eating crisps on a bench

I think you're being a bit optimistic there rookiemere! I agree there's no harm in a bag of crisps on a walk or of eating them in moderation in any circumstances but it would have to be one brisk uphill walk to burn 500 calories in an hour. Most hour long runs would only burn 500, a walk is more likely 200-250 an hour, unless you're very overweight.

The rules are there because people will abuse them otherwise, but sitting on a bench presents no risk whatsoever.

There are roadworks a few miles from my house, and every night the workmen put up the temporary traffic lights. Four times in last few weeks they've been stuck on red. According to the rules, I'm not allowed to drive through a red light without the permission of a police officer.

I wonder how many posters would reverse up, pull over, turn off engine, before phoning non-emergency police line (lengthy wait) and then wait several hours for a police officer to come and give them permission to drive around a 10ft long obstruction on a straight residential road where you can see hundreds of feet ahead.

Everyone talking about exercise and a rest I never said I had an issue. It’s the “having a little snack with my family” that is the issue. I.E. a picnic!

You are the problem.

No they are not.

Everyone talking about exercise and a rest I never said I had an issue. It’s the “having a little snack with my family” that is the issue. I.E. a picnic!

Stopping to eat is not against The Rules.

Someone near us has very badly taped up the two benches next to the pond

Was it you ?

Read the advice Candodad, it is fine to stop for a snack. Stop being so judgmental, they aren't hurting anyone.

Hahahaha ODFOD, people are allowed to sit down whilst on a walk, you sad little busybody.

YOU are more likely to be a problem actually mate - you feeding on the busybody culture policing other people's behaviour and being detrimental to not only their mental health but being a reason they're reluctant to exercise properly or go and seek medical help in case Nosey Norma reports them to the police.

I'll be heading out with the children and a little picnic to enjoy on a bench in our local nature reserve today. I'll think of you OP as I take my time enjoying my sandwiches

@Candodad Have you actually read the guidelines?

My only problem with this is the very small chance that someone sitting there before you had maybe sneezed etc you touched it and then you are shovelling crisps in you mouth with your hands spreading the 🦠

So no problems with people sitting just be very careful about eating and touching your face and make sure you wash your hands etc when you get home.

And I know it’s a small risk same as most things

God, I’d hate to be such a busybody.