Please tell me it’s not just me!

[Twothousandzerozero]

I feel like I’m going mad. Either that or like I’m living in a completely different pandemic to about three quarters of my Facebook friend list.

Everyday there are people sticking photos up of groups gatherings/meals/drinks/jollies where no one is social distancing - eg all huddling together for the photo, sitting close together etc etc. I’m mid 30s so it’s not all “young” people either; it’s older educated, professional (some NHS frontline!) otherwise responsible people in their 30s and 40s.

I’m genuinely not trying to shame them, I just don’t get it. It’s one thing mixing in groups with absolutely zero SD but I don’t get why people are broadcasting it online, it just feels completely at odds with what’s going on, and yet it seems to be nearly everyone I know..!

Have a lot of people just given up? Has anyone else noticed this, or have I finally lost it?!

You've lost it!

No I feel the same as you OP and the fact the many people are behaving like this is all done and finished, is why rates are rising

Nope. You aren’t going mad. I’ve always seen people who doing this but I am NOW seeing different people joining the ranks. People who were very compliant before, educated, well off and intelligent people who I’m shocked to see suddenly behaving just like all the ‘selfish chavs on the beaches’ they were flaming weeks ago

I see people posting about wearing masks then standing huddled at runs, saying it's great Ireland is nearly back to normal, this when we have ads on the radio every 5 minutes saying 'youve done your part, and we thank you, but we're not there yet' and then telling us about social distancing, hand washing, coughing etiquette etc. I'm in bed at the moment with suspected covid and I feel like turning into one of those troll people (I wont though!!)

YES, exactly this! I think the sudden u-turn from certain people with absolutely no explanation is the most baffling thing!

In April they were calling anyone who walked their dog twice a day all the selfish bastards under the sun and writing preachy statuses ordering everyone to “stay home” and now they’re putting selfies on swigging cocktails in crowded restaurants with groups of mates all huddled round - but NO ONE references this at all??

With such mixed messages, it's not surprising. I take the attitude that if I'm going to be exposed to 180 secondary school students per day next month, I'm going to enjoy summer with my nearest and dearest because I won't be exposing them any more than I have to in autumn.

@stayathomer - hope you can get plenty of rest and start to feel better very soon.

But I am so with you on the huddling-at-runs photos, they have me ITCHING to troll, and I am the least trolly person ever, normally!

It's not just you op. I'm in Northern Ireland, and in my area no one seems to be bothering with social distancing, or hand sanitizing. Lots of people going into shops simply strolling on by the gels and sprays left out. Yesterday on my way into a local supermarket, I had to squeeze past 5 women all with trolleys who decided to stop and have a chat in the doorway. I'm a cleaner, and I've had clients tell me they would not be staying out of my way in one room, while I cleaned as it's 'over'.

I despair of people.

Its not just you and we will very soon be back to square one

Not just you op.

No one seems to give a damn anymore.

Lots of people going into shops simply strolling on by the gels and sprays left out

I wash my hands at home before I go out and again at home when I get back. Why would I need to use anti BACTERIAL hand gel against a VIRUS when I am washing my hands? It is utterly pointless unless you can't wash your hands any time soon.

Though I am not sure why people are huddling so close together for their selfies when you know they're not from the same household/family.

I agree about the hand sanitiser in shops.

At the moment I'm not going on any shopping sprees. I go to one shops then home. So wash my hands before I go out, I use my own alcohol sanitiser before I enter the shop, then I sanitise once back in my car. Then wash my hands immediately on returning home and again after unpacking shopping.

Why would I want to touch a grubby bottle in a shop that everyone had touched.

I work on a covid ward (No covid patients for 2 weeks and likely to return to normal on Monday) so have been up close and personal with the virus for months. The initial fear has gone. Many of us now realise the reality isn't nearly as bad and media and SM have made it out to be. I'm still following the rules but all for people getting back to normal as safely as possible.

Not just you.

Lots of people stopped giving a shit a long time ago.

I've seen this too @Twothousandzerozero. You're not going mad, I've seen groups of friends taking group photos all huddled together, its totally unnecessary and I don't get it!

I see this, and now we are all heading for local lockdowns.

Some days it's like I hallucinated a pandemic all on my own.

@cologne4711

Lots of people going into shops simply strolling on by the gels and sprays left out

I wash my hands at home before I go out and again at home when I get back. Why would I need to use anti BACTERIAL hand gel against a VIRUS when I am washing my hands? It is utterly pointless unless you can't wash your hands any time soon.

If it's the right one, which it should be, it will kill the virus.

@ChavvySexPond

Some days it's like I hallucinated a pandemic all on my own.

I’ve felt that way so many times, especially when I speak to Dh family!

@Twothousandzerozero definitely not just you!
If you look on social media now, you wouldn't know there was still a pandemic on. I'm early 30s and nearly 6 months pregnant so have been very careful throughout this whole thing. Yes, I'd love to go and browse in TKMaxx again or go to the cinema for a date night with my husband but I just don't feel it's safe yet. I've got friends that have been abroad, met up in pubs, gone on nights out.... I know we can't stay shut up forever but the one caveat point of allowing some return to normality was that people still had to social distance/wear mask/show some common sense.

I know... I keep looking at posts of one particular friend who is vulnerable and kept her children off school from early March (being quite vocal about it) She’s now having parties and gatherings and living her normal life while I’m still avoiding people as much as possible! 🤣 I feel like I’m in a different reality.

Yes I agree. I think some people think it’s the holidays so it doesn’t count. On another thread there are many posters who have heard people on holiday moaning that they have to use hand sanitizer and masks in shops as they ‘come on holiday to get away from all that’ lol the numbers are just going to shoot right back up

We're in a group of friends of 7 couples: they're all going for dinner together in a hotel next week and sharing cars to get there and back. We're the only ones to have declined; I don't get it!

I feel ya, OP. In March I came down with an unpleasant illness which made me feel short of breath, heart palpitations, fever for weeks, vv tired. I am not 100 per cent now. I have heard there might still be something circulating,maybe. I could catch it again, maybe not. My employer seems reconciled to less than half of staff returning to the office, possibly ever. So nah, I'll pass on the pub and gatherings for now...