So why suddenly is mn full of people who think these guidelines have vanished or do not apply anymore
People don’t think the guidelines have vanished, what people are doing now is applying critical thinking. They are able to assess risk and make a balanced decision.
In this scenario the people involved came no where near any locals. The op has no basis to assume they went shopping in the local village. It’s highly likely they brought any food with them.
In addition as much as they mixed two households, no one knows if this is the first time they have been out in nearly two months, have their shopping delivered etc, work from home, and both sets knew full well they are not infected so they were not at risk to each other.
So yes as much as it is “against the guidelines” common sense also needs to be applied. And as such getting your arse in your hands over something that may have absolutely caused no one any harm is ludicrous.
As we move into phase two of this, the ability to critical think is going to be vital. The ability to assess risk and make a decision. I understand some people cannot do this. But many can.
That’s why the op has the reaction she is getting. People are using their critical thinking skills, assessing the risk, and on balance finding that although they agree the rules were broken, but in a one off scenario with little to likely no risk at all, then she has no reason to be up in arms.
In addition, the nuances in her post smack of envy. Envy of the second home, the cars etc and it feels like this is what’s driving her, not an overwhelming desire to see the guidelines strictly adhered to and deep fury they have not been,
Because if it was just about the rules she’d not be caring what kind of cars they drove, their lifestyles, etc, it would be irrelevant to her.