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Is anyone else frustrated at the lack of social distancing?

31 replies

FirstTimer2020 · 18/07/2020 08:28

I am really trying to not be frustrated about the lack of distancing because obviously people can do what they want. However, I am getting concerned about how many people are putting up pictures of them with other people on a daily basis, usually hugging and posing for photos. Some of the people even work in settings where they have to get quite close to members of the general public and that really irritates me and I feel like it's selfish behaviour. Anyone else? I feel like I'm the only person in my area following the rules!

OP posts:
DebLou47 · 18/07/2020 08:30

No because I was constantly getting pissed off at everyone's lack of abiding by the rules it was doing me no good I spoke to my dad who said "just look after yourself and your family"
And he is right there is nothing you can do

Isotope456 · 18/07/2020 08:36

I take your point but it's kind of understandable given how long people have been apart. I'm surprised about the extent to which people splash it all over social media but then I'm surprised by what people put on social media generally anyway! All you can do is follow the guidance as best you can and not worry too much about what other people are doing.

Cusano34 · 18/07/2020 08:36

The main thing that annoys me at the moment is celebrities posting photos hugging people, having parties etc 🤦‍♀️ I know that it really is just about protecting yourselves and your family and the ones you care about and we shouldn’t judge other people blah blah but it annoys me so much! Especially the ones with large amounts of followers as people will be influenced by their photos!

nannynick · 18/07/2020 08:40

We have to live with this virus being around for Years. Life needs to go on but we have to be sensible. It's getting the balance right which I feel is going to be tricky, especially as Winter approaches when we spend more time indoors.

It frustrates me that some people act as if everything is back to normal. However we can't do anything about other people, we need to look after ourselves, so we decide what we do and do not do.

OpheliasCrayon · 18/07/2020 09:42

No it doesn't annoy me.
I still distance from strangers but I'm terribly anti close contact with anyone so I always have done. But I would always distance from people I don't know.
I haven't been distancing from friends for months.
We are humans. We aren't made to have no contact. My small children aren't made to have no contact. They've been at school so of course I'm going to see the same people and be close with them out of school.
I don't post anything on social media but if I did I would have no problem with it.
Whilst lockdown probably had to happen, I don't believe it was ever for the good of us, the population. I believe it was because the government have been so disgraceful and inept in managing the NHS over the years and so their failures meant that there were potentially no space or resources
Now we have seen that a massive spike in numbers can be facilitated then, Sorry to those who want to distance and stay away from everything forever, life has to go on.

The economy cannot totally collapse, the infrastructure of the country cannot entirely stop. People cannot be forced to stay apart from people and have their mental health damaged, our children cannot be separated from others and have their mental health and development and education impacted so heavily for ONE virus. Yes I understand it's bad for some people. And before I am slammed for what I've written, I am on the shielding / extremely vulnerable list. I chose for the benefit of my families and my wellbeing and mental health to not shield and to carry on

I respect others opinions and wouldn't tell someone they are being stupid for being worried or shielding etc BUT at some point im afraid, life has to continue. Covid 19 isn't going away. I doubt there will be an effective vaccine , there may be some helpful treatments , who knows. But we are going to have to live alongside it as we do every other illness around, some of which are much more serious.

SengaStrawberry · 18/07/2020 11:01

No, I’m past caring.

TheClaws · 18/07/2020 11:10

There are many, many morons in the world than I was ever aware of before. Boredom has brought some more of them out.

DebLou47 · 18/07/2020 11:58

@Opheliuscrayon
I agree with everything apart from vaccine they are in phase 3 now even if it last 6 months it gives us time to find other treatments

Wilburgh · 18/07/2020 12:27

@TheClaws

There are many, many morons in the world than I was ever aware of before. Boredom has brought some more of them out.
Haha, this!

I don’t go near anyone other than Dh and my children anyway. I’m not a hugger and I can’t stand anyone in my personal space. I don’t think past childhood that I’ve ever hugged anyone I wasn’t in a relationship with or I’ve given birth to.

I’m just continuing to stay away from everyone as usual and never leaving the house unless I’m forced to, antisocial prick that I am. This has changed nothing for me.

elQuintoConyo · 18/07/2020 12:35

I did care about theses arseholes, but it was doing me no good. So, I let what others do wash over me. I wear my mask, socially distance, wash my hands and am not going anything that skirts the edge of sickish behaviour.

I'm worried about my job, DH's job, children's education, further lockdowns etc. We're near Barcelona, shits getting real again Sad

But if I worry about what everyone else is doing, I'd have a heart attack.

elQuintoConyo · 18/07/2020 12:36
  • dickish behaviour.

Damn automiscorrect.

OpheliasCrayon · 18/07/2020 13:04

[quote DebLou47]@Opheliuscrayon
I agree with everything apart from vaccine they are in phase 3 now even if it last 6 months it gives us time to find other treatments [/quote]
It would be great if there is a vaccine and I hope there is. But I think it would be more realistic to assume there won't be, rather than pinning all our hopes of normality returning on one

DdraigGoch · 18/07/2020 16:24

What other people do is not my concern as long as it doesn't affect me. However, I work in public transport so have been refusing to depart when trains are overcrowded (I mean overcrowding in the usual sense: i.e. full and standing). Social distancing went out of the window long ago.

Hairydogmummy · 18/07/2020 16:30

It really does yes. My sister was one of the ones ignoring the rules and hugging our mum and dad and letting her kids hug them. Little did she know that the next day her and the kids would start with Covid symptoms. Luckily my parents are okay but it could have been a very different story. She has now gone off on hols even tho BIL has not completed his 14 days quarantine. I'm furious she put our parents at risk.

cantkeepawayforever · 18/07/2020 17:17

As a medically vulnerable older teacher, unable to socially distance and not allowed to wear PPE at school, I rely on everyone in my 'bubble' following the social distancing rules (especially inside) in order to keep myself healthy and thus keep the school open (which is what I want to happen, because children need to be in school).

So I do find it frustrating that people aren't social distancing, while at the same time complaining that schools won't be back to 'normal' and certain things are still shut.... because it is making it so much more difficult to deliver what people want (full school etc reopening) in a safe way.

winterinmadeira · 18/07/2020 17:28

I am with you but it will eat you up with all the rule breaking / entitled people out there. I have told all the family that annoying as it is, if they can’t regulate their behaviour then we must in order to stay safe and protect ourselves. And call them out if you feel confident to do so.

NerrSnerr · 18/07/2020 17:39

@DebLou47

No because I was constantly getting pissed off at everyone's lack of abiding by the rules it was doing me no good I spoke to my dad who said "just look after yourself and your family" And he is right there is nothing you can do
This is the same for me. I found myself looking through Facebook thinking 'they're not social distancing' or 'they shouldn't have met up' and it was driving me mad so I am letting it go and concentrating on me and my family and it has done me a world of good.
Chaosreigns123 · 18/07/2020 19:34

Not really, like a pp I'm just past caring what anyone else does.

I did at the start.

Although I really sympathise with cantkeepawayforever when you're relying on people to be careful to not take illness into a school setting.

We've all got to get on with our lives, but we are trying to be careful and sensible.

I don't really get the obsession with hugging. Why has everyone got to hug everyone else.

1990shopefulftm · 18/07/2020 19:55

It was making me annoyed for a while, but I m trying to focus on that all I can do is try to take as little risk as possible to keep me and my unborn son safe, I m also asthmatic and I know if I got sick because I couldn't resist going to the shops or hugging someone that I'd always regret it.

I try to remind myself that no amount of getting annoyed at other people will mean getting the labour and post birth experience I d like and so although it's not till October I m doing my best to be prepared that it's probably not going to be what I d hoped for.

cantkeepawayforever · 18/07/2020 20:27

Although I really sympathise with cantkeepawayforever when you're relying on people to be careful to not take illness into a school setting.

Thanks. I think it particularly annoys me because of the prevailing narrative that schools haven't fully re-opened because of teaching unions. They didn't re-open fully - or opened late, or not at all, or opened then closed - in some places because cases are still too high, which is nothing to do with the teaching unions at all, and a LOT to do with not following guidelines (either in a specific location / place of work or in an area).

Trackandtrace · 18/07/2020 22:21

Trouble is those not social distancing arent just putting themselves at risk. They are putting us all at risk. Shielded child here and very concerned so not out and about at all. Essential trips like to chemist scare me as some there is always a risk some idiot will push past or be coughing away without a care. Yes it could be fine but it may not be.
If everyone took care it will make it safer for all.

Yes there are always risks but this virus is still largely unknown with long term effects. I can not understand some peoples attitude. Especially the view that thise who are at risk dont count

SengaStrawberry · 18/07/2020 23:20

I am sticking to the rules and in a higher risk group but I can’t control what everyone else does. People who are at risk will minimise the risk to them by ensuring they stick to the rules. They can’t expect or rely on everyone else to do it for them.

TheMurk · 18/07/2020 23:27

Why are we trying to manipulate human nature?

It won’t happen.

You can put in place temporary measures to achieve a particular goal. But long term you will not stop humans socialising, and you won’t keep them 2 metres apart.

Entire industries have been built around people enjoying being together in groups in close proximity.

It’s instinctive.

BakedBlossoms · 18/07/2020 23:30

No sorry. I was prepared to socially distance from family for a couple of months at most. Not until a vaccine is found. I'm seeing family and close friends as normal now.

Alicatz66 · 18/07/2020 23:53

I'm pretty much back to normal.. but I'm still keeping my distance from my 89 year old dad ... I'd never forgive myself if I harmed him.