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Covid

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Original poster

Got told off for observing social distancing

71 replies

dellacucina · 26/04/2020 16:37

Just want to get a gripe off my chest!

I went to the local corner shop for some milk. There was a family of 5 people including two children standing directly in front of the entrance. A little boy appeared to be upset about something.

I stood quietly and waited. I bided my time by putting on a mask. After a while, one of the women noticed me. She said, "It's alright love. We're not waiting."

I stood, waiting for her to get the idea that I didn't want to get so close. She seemed annoyed and gestured to the door, telling me to go ahead.

I responded (possibly sounding irritated), "I can't go in. I'm waiting for you to move."

They all chorused, "You can go!"

I said, "You need to be 6 feet away."

They angrily jeered at this.

The man snapped, "Can't you see that we're sorting out our child?" I responded that I had been waiting, and was just responding to them.

They yelled at me and said I didn't need to go on about it and how rude I am. Then the man said that he hates Americans (I have an American accent).

This lockdown is really bringing out the best in people!

OP posts:

Bringringbring12 · 26/04/2020 19:16

Are you American or do you just have an American accent?!

JudyCoolibar · 26/04/2020 19:20

Good grief, I must make a note that adjusting a mask is passive aggressive. I thought it was just, well, adjusting a mask.

LesLavandes · 26/04/2020 19:23

You were not rude. I'm facing this kind of thing all the time.

I live by the beach and there were quite a number of people sunbathing. Small beach.

Eventually police turned up but a couple of groups didn't leave.

I am not a curtain twitcher but desperate for people to do what they are asked so we can get over this quicker.

I wish we initially had had a harder lockdown

PeanutDouglas · 26/04/2020 19:32

@JudyCoolibar most people with a brain (or who weren’t trying to make a point) would just say “excuse me”

Bounceyflouncey · 26/04/2020 19:35

People hovering in doorways is irritating at the best of times, let alone in situations like this.

Nomorepies · 26/04/2020 19:37

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

StillWeRise · 26/04/2020 19:43

in these kind of situations it might help to speak as if you are trying to protect them rather than simply protect yourself. Of course, social distancing is to protect everybody but stupid people will take offence at you trying to be distant from them - because they take that as implication that they are infected (=dirty)
Bonkers I know
But, as it's pointless trying to educate people in a shop doorway, and you actually want to go in, it might work to say something like

scuse me, you might want to move a bit further away, don't want to give you any of my germs, hahah

THEN they might see it's in their own interest to move

puffinandkoala · 26/04/2020 19:49

The people blocking the doorway are rude CFs but in the OP's shoes I would not have waited, there was no need. I am not going to give them the virus by passing within 2m and they are not going to give it to me if I pass within 2m, even more so if you wear a mask or face covering.

The 2m rule is to avoid you coughing, sneezing or spitting over people.

Not sure what all the comments about the mask are about though. You don't need a mask on outside. I put it on when I enter a supermarket, and take it off when I come out. It's far too hot to breathe in it walking around.

Original poster

dellacucina · 26/04/2020 19:51

@PeanutDouglas I actually thought they looked a bit rough and I didn't want to get into it with them.

OP posts:

PeanutDouglas · 26/04/2020 19:54

@dellacucina 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

HazelBite · 26/04/2020 19:54

A woman stopped in the doorway of our local shop last week, whilst there were two people waiting to go in, She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that there were people waiting and stood there with her empty buggy tutting at her little boy who was riding his scooter around those waiting.
I stood there wondering why she had bought her buggy with her when her son was riding a scooter!

SleepingStandingUp · 26/04/2020 19:57

She said, "It's alright love. We're not waiting."
I stood, waiting for her to get the idea that I didn't want to get so close.
Tbh I think you were rude at this point. She spoke to you to say go ahead, you just stood there and essentially ignored them, either staying at or pointedly not at them. Why not say at that point "oh I was waiting for you to sort your little boy out as I can't get through"
Standing there ignoring them just comes across as passive aggressive and rude.

But yes, they were the far more rude.

RedAzalea · 26/04/2020 19:59

lol this thread has made it to reddit!

Suchawitch · 26/04/2020 20:00

If I were you I would call the police and explain to them about the abuse you received x

And say what? They were ill-mannered and inconsiderate? On another thread they aren't coming out for death threats, they are hardly likely to come out for this!

SleepingStandingUp · 26/04/2020 21:17

I think it was sarcasm

MindyStClaire · 26/04/2020 23:18

I stood there wondering why she had bought her buggy with her when her son was riding a scooter!

Because they were out for a walk that was longer than the son can/will ride the scooter or walk?

OP, they were incredibly annoying to stop in the doorway, but I would've just walked past them. A split second at less than 2m was vanishingly unlikely to do any of you any harm.

Amelietaylor · 27/04/2020 07:37

Ok, they were arses, but The mask isn't much good if it can't protect you in that situation where you would have been within 2m of them for under 10 seconds

Unless it's a fp3, which I assume it's not as the OP would have done more research on masks if it was, the mask is to protect OTHERS from the wearer. If it's not comfortable to wear & she's keeping her distance from others outside, the benefit of wearing it outside isn't huge, the benefit of wearing inside the shop is significant (if she has COVID-19, but any of us could be asymptomatic or pre symptomatic, so wearing it is a courtesy to others, just in case)

People questioning her use of the mask really need to inform themselves about mask, their purpose, their effect & how to use them

...the expectation that you wear one in public, especially in shops & on public transport will be here before you know it.

It's not going to stop the spread, but it will help to slow it down.

@dellacucina. You weren't rude, but as others have said, an instruction -rather than a request, especially in an American accent is going to annoy a LOT of Brits (& others).& especially in this climate people will snap.

middleager · 27/04/2020 07:50

I was 3/4 down an alleyway when a couple started to walk up, saw me and waited at the entrance.

Not to the side, but the man actually resting his arms on the metal entrance to the alleway, which meant I had to navigate squeezing past.

In another alleyway a woman walking her dogs was stood chatting away. She called us on, which meant passing her and holiding our breath in desperation.

I'm no longer using alleways on my walks.

middleager · 27/04/2020 07:52

And my failing phone is rarely adding the first 'y' in the word alleyway...

vintagemoo · 27/04/2020 12:16

I thought the lady sounded quite nice telling you that they weren't waiting. Why didn't you just explain you had an issue with moving past them at close distance? Does sound rather passive aggressive.

What do you do when you have to pass people in the aisle?

HavenDilemma · 01/05/2020 21:53

@ANoiseAnnoys I get the accent is a bit annoying

Excuse you?! How dare you?!?!

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