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Original poster

Is everyone else really confused by Boris/government mixed messages?

128 replies

annabel85 · 30/07/2020 16:54

One day it's everyone get back to the office and pack out rush hour trains again and back to Pret and Costa for your morning coffee and lunchtime sandwich. The next it's talk of lockdown and quarantines and 'let's be careful out there'. Why not just continue to advise to work from home then where it's possible and productive to do so?

One day it's 'it'll all be over by Christmas' the next it's 'second wave will be here in two weeks'.

One day it's all get back to the shops and let's support the retail industry, the next it's compulsory masks.

We could list a whole bunch of other conflicting advice from the government and cognitive dissonance from Boris Johnson.

It's a confusing time for everyone and Boris has an impossible job in many ways but they really aren't helping matters with such confusing mixed messages.

I understand they're blindsided by events and changes (I thought they were proactive for once with the Spain quarantine tbf) but their strategy is so confused. It veers between complacency and panic on a daily basis. People don't know whether they're coming or going.

OP posts:
Iwalkinmyclothing · 30/07/2020 18:11

Thing is, pp who say they aren't confused so why should anyone else be- plenty of people are confused, very confused, and the government also needs to reach them as well as you, and are clearly not doing a good job of that.

I'm confused by "all back to normal by Xmas" at the same time as "second wave incoming", for sure.

BananaPop2020 · 30/07/2020 18:14

OP your opening post sums up exactly how I feel. It’s such a pantomime now that I just don’t believe any of it. I am embarrassed by the totally inept Government we have.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 30/07/2020 18:22

@Alsohuman

I’ve absolutely no idea what we should or shouldn’t be doing now. Not a clue. It feels like the government’s just got bored with it. They sure as hell have never heard of a communication strategy.
Try being in the CV but not shielding group. It has different guidance from the shielding group and everyone else but is rarely mentioned and the guidance occasionally just changes without anyone saying anything.

It’s mystifying.

TeaLibrary · 30/07/2020 18:26

Most people have stopped even trying to make sense of the governments increasingly confusing mixed messages.

SquishySquirmy · 30/07/2020 18:36

Interesting reflecting on how Teresa May would have handled it.
Impossible to know for certain, but I'm inclined to believe that if she was pm she would have handled it better and moved far more quickly IF shed been allowed to...
She is much more sensible and cautious than Johnson with a stronger work ethic. I can't believe she would have missed as many Cobra meetings.
However, I imagine if Teresa May had wanted to take precautions in late February/early March then she would have been undermined by certain factions of her own party - probably with Johnson as the ringleader! Outside-the-tent-pissing-in kind of scenario.
Likewise, if Corbyn had introduced the furlough scheme and huge economic measures the reaction would have been very different (much more negative).

Orangeblossom78 · 30/07/2020 18:46

Mind you I find Nicola S's approach confusing as well; going on about zero covid policy but then e.g. saying having football matches and schools back full time and other stuff opening same as England...more people to meet indoors, all seems quite confusing as well

As does Wales...with stricter rules on movement but then not requiring masks in shops...all seems a bit of a muddle all over really!

labyrinthloafer · 30/07/2020 18:58

Teresa May is not a person I admire or think is politically talented. But she would have chaired cobra, she would have stuck to the rules herself and I think she'd have sacked Cummings.

Also, because she was robotic, she would have stuck to her message Grin nothing has changed nothing has changed nothing has changed

Alsohuman · 30/07/2020 19:01

and I think she'd have sacked Cummings

Cummings wouldn’t have been there to sack.

labyrinthloafer · 30/07/2020 19:03

@Alsohuman

and I think she'd have sacked Cummings

Cummings wouldn’t have been there to sack.

Yes, you're right, but I think she'd have sacked Timothy if he'd done it, she'd (I think) have considered the rules quite important.
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 30/07/2020 19:39

@labyrinthloafer

Teresa May is not a person I admire or think is politically talented. But she would have chaired cobra, she would have stuck to the rules herself and I think she'd have sacked Cummings.

Also, because she was robotic, she would have stuck to her message Grin nothing has changed nothing has changed nothing has changed

Covid means Covid
labyrinthloafer · 30/07/2020 19:42

Yes exactly! She would have said covif means vivid, lockdown means lockdown before showing Cummings the door Grin

labyrinthloafer · 30/07/2020 19:43

Or maybe covid means covid bloody autocorrect

Orangeblossom78 · 30/07/2020 19:45

I think it is wrong that vulnerable people are not getting more support and basically told to get on with it..

Shielding should have some ongoing support practical and financial if needed

Older people should be able to access support to get shopping etc if needed as well, maybe using the volunteers signed up previously

Especially if cases rise why are they not considering this.

megletthesecond · 30/07/2020 19:45

No.
The government are happy to let people risk their health as their guinea pigs. Johnson and Cummings do not care what happens to a lot of people.

I am keeping out of the way as much as possible and doing my best to get us through to next spring in one piece

Lelophants · 30/07/2020 19:46

If you read between the lines it's pretty clear: get out and about to spend money, but it's still not safe.
That's it.

BoredHoolet · 30/07/2020 19:46

On the mixed messages thing - it’s messy but I does make the point the Everything is Changing and Nothing is Certain.

That’s a really bad message for any leader to sell. But it is a truthful picture- it is a mess, the scientists and data disagree, and everything keeps changing.

Orangeblossom78 · 30/07/2020 19:46

For all of UK as far as I know rest are not offering such support either...

MrsMeg1 · 30/07/2020 19:49

I was just saying this today. It’s back to normal by Christmas then don’t all be deluded it’s not going anywhere - not that I thought it was!

somewhereovertherainbutt · 30/07/2020 19:52

@ParisianLady

I don't think it's hugely mixed, it seems fairly clear:
  • go to work if it's safe for you to do so, WFH otherwise
  • wear a mask indoors where social distancing isn't an option or when travelling by public transport
  • meet up to 6 people outdoors
  • meet with one other household or bubble indoors
  • quarantine if coming back from certain countries
  • maintain social distance where possible
  • international travel isn't without its risks
  • the above rules can change at any time

Yes they've made many mistakes along the way, and changed their minds, but I can't say I'm hugely confused about the current rules and advice.

Yes but pubs are exempt from mask wearing, where the face to face contact is prolonged - chatting - (often inside) and made worse by drinking. Yet retail stores are mandatory mask wearing places - it must take 5 mins max to get your clothes put through a till (thinking about the 15 mins rule of viral load). Therefore - inconsistent and unhelpful in actually preventing infection.
labyrinthloafer · 30/07/2020 19:54

@Lelophants

If you read between the lines it's pretty clear: get out and about to spend money, but it's still not safe. That's it.
That's a depressing but probably accurate summary.

What a lucky break we got Johnson to 'lead' us through this.

Janaih · 30/07/2020 19:54

I'm pleased to read agreement re Teresa May, was worrying I was losing my red creds!

somewhereovertherainbutt · 30/07/2020 19:54

@BoredHoolet

On the mixed messages thing - it’s messy but I does make the point the Everything is Changing and Nothing is Certain.

That’s a really bad message for any leader to sell. But it is a truthful picture- it is a mess, the scientists and data disagree, and everything keeps changing.

So why masks in shops but not pubs for example? The science is clear.
Alsohuman · 30/07/2020 19:55

@BoredHoolet

On the mixed messages thing - it’s messy but I does make the point the Everything is Changing and Nothing is Certain.

That’s a really bad message for any leader to sell. But it is a truthful picture- it is a mess, the scientists and data disagree, and everything keeps changing.

Yet Jacintha Ardern managed so well.
Notfeelinggreattoday · 30/07/2020 19:56

@somewhereovertherainbutt how would you wear a mask in a pub and eat or drink ? Of course they cant be worn and most pubs you will be sat at your table away from others you are t allowed to wander around , the rest of europe and the world dont have face masks in eating places , quite hard to eat through a mask !!!

JulyBreeze · 30/07/2020 19:57

I've heard two scientists on the radio today, at separate times, saying they haven't always understood the messages either!