Is this right??

[happykicking]

Just browsing social media (as you do) and came across a post from a friend who is out having lunch with three of her other friends.

I know there's nothing wrong with the above, BUT in the picture the four friends (none of whom live together but live with their own families) are not socially distanced and are standing with their arms around each other. Is this ok to do in England?

I'm in Wales, here we can't do this. We can meet up outside but must keep socially distanced (unless we're meeting up with one other household who are in our bubble).

I'm just curious as to what's going on in England?

But the virus hasn't gone away and it's not going to if people carry on ignoring government guidelines, surely?

^ neither have all the lifestyle related diseases (lung disease, heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, not to mention accidents associated with alcohol etc) which kill far more than CV. Do you get equally worked up when they 'break guidelines' and eat/drink too much or smoke at all? All of those diseases have an impact on society beyond the individual.

I haven't been within 2 metres of anyone outside my household since March - except my gynaecologist yesterday! - I just can't get worked up by this & don't understand the need to bitch & tut & moan. If it winds you up so much say something, unfriend/snooze them or just get over it.

I guess you live very healthy op, eat your five a day, maintain your weight in the healthy range exercise moderately daily, don’t smoke and don’t ever drink more than the recommended limit with breaks in between.

Good for you. The vast majority of us interpret the guidelines and apply to us and ours as appropriate.

You do know that they aren’t going to be arrested for hugging right!

Op are you a bit envious about them going out and having fun together?

It's the first post (on my personal social media) that I've seen of people not social distancing.

It's been so long since I've seen people together and touching that it surprised me. As the friend is in England just wondered if this was now ok to do. I don't see any of it on my timeline so don't know.

I'm obviously aware of people who have shared cuddles etc. with loved ones in real life as they've told me. If I'm being honest it did shock me at first. It's a scary time!

@Bluntness100 of course I am envious! I'm just trying to do what I feel is the right thing.

Maybe I need to relax a little.

@torydeathdrug You’ve made very good points.

@sirfredfredgeorge you've also made some great points, thank you.

It’s guidance and no longer law for a reason. I follow 95% of guidance. I wear a mask in enclosed spaces already even though I don’t have to. I still won’t go to my parents house if my brother is there because it’s more than one household. However, when I’ve been in my parents house we have broken social distance though I do remind them we’re not really supposed to. I also have 1 friend who I’ve broken social distance with, we both agreed to it. But, because of that I’ll not be rushing to hug my vulnerable gran for example and I won’t be doing similar with other friends. I’m very aware of social distancing from others and still go out my way to do it e.g. crossing the street, keeping back when getting off public transport etc etc... I’m only human and doing my best I guess.

@happykicking

But the virus hasn't gone away and it's not going to if people carry on ignoring government guidelines, surely?

The virus is not going to go away full stop.

We are going to have to live along side it , like we do with many many other diseases, which are more, or less dangerous to people, depending on who you are and your individual risks to things.

So, we could follow eveey single rule to the letter, destroy people's mental health, livelihoods, destroy am entire generation of children and their education, and mental and social development..

Or , we could take reasonable precautions and live with it.

We are social beings. And taking it away for one illness in my opinion is not right

Maybe it was right initially at the peak of the virus, although we were too late , but it isn't going away any time soon , probably not ever... So we have to live with it. Take our own risk assessments, follow the actual Mandatory guidelines (although I think they're largely too little too late and pretty pointless) and carry on.

The world can't just stop indefinitely

So yes, people will meet up. And people will post about it

Report to the Police immediately and DON'T send her Christmas card ever again.

@OpheliasCrayon 👏 👏 👏 At last, someone who speaks sense.

@OpheliasCrayon 👏 👏 👏 At last, someone who speaks sense.

I've seen that too - but it's up to them. If you don't want to touch anyone then don't.

[quote userxx]@OpheliasCrayon 👏 👏 👏 At last, someone who speaks sense. [/quote]
I don't know anyone in real life who doesn't feel exactly the same as me.

Apart from one person but I don't talk to them anymore as they got really rather nasty.

I haven't hugged a single person since before this all started. Some of us are following advice.