Anyone else just worn down by illogic?

[CountessFrog]

Examples of completely illogical ‘roolz’ everywhere - they give me ‘rule fatigue.’ I may even have reached ‘Peak Roolz.’

For example. On holiday last week I entered a shop that apparently had a one way system. It was a small shop, and because everyone was directed left on arrival, they had crowded into a narrow area in the left, thus ensuring no social distancing.

I didn’t know about the one way system, so I noticed the crowd on the left and headed to the right of the shop to browse and stay away from people. The shop assistant shouted that I wasn’t following the one way system And I needed to join the crowd in the left (I left after that).

Second example. In same small seaside town, We were there for two weeks. On our last night we went to a chippy on the seafront that we’d used three times already. They only accepted cards. They made you queue outside, allowing one customer in at a time. Fair enough.

However On this occasion they were now ‘cash only.’ I had no cash, so I asked to place my order and go to the cash point or find DH who I knew to have cash.

They refused this. When I returned with the cash, the shop was empty so I went in. But silly me, I was still breaking ‘the roolz’ Because they had another (less obvious rule) that you couldn’t go in if they were busy doing something. So she was busy battering fish, and this meant I wasn’t allowed in. Because any fule know that’s a dangerous situation.

Ice cream shop where you had to wait outside and stand behind a line when they let you in. Couldn’t see the ice cream flavours from behind the line. Was allowed to ‘step forward two paces.’ Second time I visited, whole family in the shop, primary aged children literally licking the glass counter. No objections raised

I’m totally over the roolz. Anyone else?

The National Trust is alienating its members and is going to have a huge drop in renewals this year because everyone is so pissed off with them.
I get that it has been really tough for them but it’s been striking how much better independently owned historic houses have been at getting things open and making visits pleasant. I presume it is mainly because they can make their own decisions, quickly, and don’t have a slow moving central organisation breathing down their necks.

I don't understand why places like the NT don't do a mix of pre-booking and walk up. An art gallery we considered visiting in Cornwall was doing this. Then if you want a guaranteed place you pre-book but if your visit is dependent on the weather / the mood of your kids / how your trip to your final destination is going, you can take your chances as to availability. We've been lucky enough to have 2 weeks away in the UK this summer but only visited one EH place whereas we would have visited 3 or 4 EH or NT if could just turn up.

I agree national organisations just aren't able to be as 'agile'.

I've just been inside a shop which had a line 2 metres away from the till which I apparently have to stand behind at all times. With genuine confusion I asked the lady at the till how I am meant to pay because I couldn't reach the card machine or anything without stepping over the line.

With a look of total seriousness she explained that I must lean over the line to reach the card machine etc. I had to keep my feet behind the line but basically stretch forward awkwardly to try to pay. It was challenging, a bit embarrassing / humiliating and above all completely pointless.

@firstimemamma things like that are so disabilist, and ageist. Are they expecting 80 year olds to do that?! What about people with broken limbs, osteoporosis etc etc.

WHAT IF YOU'RE JUST TOO SHORT!!

Hell I slept awkwardly after a heavy gym session and I'd say I'm too stiff to lean over like that today!

@bigcatlittlecatcardboardbox you make a good point, I agree. It's boots so lots of old people buying medicine etc and no self-service option.

Ironically in a bid to try to keep my balance I think my face got a bit closer to the till than if I'd have just been allowed to stand normally! Nightmare!

Maybe they think you spread the virus via your feet.

I went back to my hairdressers this morning. Last time I went was just after hairdressers had re-opened, and staff were wearing visors and customers were given facemasks. This time round, staff were wearing both visors and masks. Why, I asked? Because masks are now compulsory indoors. But in that case, why couldn't they take off their visors?? Roolz, I was told.

My hairdresser told me that she has been warned of a £3k fine if she is caught without mask and visor, so they are wearing them for that reason, at least.

[quote bigcatlittlecatcardboardbox]@firstimemamma things like that are so disabilist, and ageist. Are they expecting 80 year olds to do that?! What about people with broken limbs, osteoporosis etc etc.

WHAT IF YOU'RE JUST TOO SHORT!!

Hell I slept awkwardly after a heavy gym session and I'd say I'm too stiff to lean over like that today! [/quote]
DH saw this actually happen in our Boots, they asked an old lady to stay on the line and lean forward. So dangerous.

@middleager I hope someone parodies these roolz.

We are hoping for Philomena Cunk, she'd do it brilliantly. Also some of the current rules are worthy of the historic medic sketches from horrible histories.

@profpoopsnagle that poor lady, I'm sorry to hear that. I found it tough and I'm a fit and healthy 30 year old so I dread to think how she must've felt.

There are so many ridiculous rules on this thread which are OTT and / or achieving nothing. I don't know whether to laugh or cry reading them!

I am actually quite upset about this one as we haven't had a pizza for ages and are going to have one tonight. Dominoes can do a Hawaiian pizza or a Tuna Supreme pizza (don't judge me on my pizza topping choices ) but can no longer do a half and half pizza. They can do a create your own pizza however just can't putting the toppings on separate halves. Just whyyyyyy??

@BellaintheWychElm

I am actually quite upset about this one as we haven't had a pizza for ages and are going to have one tonight. Dominoes can do a Hawaiian pizza or a Tuna Supreme pizza (don't judge me on my pizza topping choices ) but can no longer do a half and half pizza. They can do a create your own pizza however just can't putting the toppings on separate halves. Just whyyyyyy??

The fuck?! Seriously?!

Is there a member of staff to administer each topping in Domino’s?

Maybe there's some warped idea of discouraging people getting to close by sharing pizzas.. because it's clearly not possible to share a pizza with one type of topping!

Just been out for a coffee. Waitress said in a very abrupt manner that we had to wait while she deep cleaned the table......we waited.

She sprayed the table and wiped it with a cloth.

Brilliant. Covid sorted. Why say 'deep clean' if all you're doing is what should be done anyway. And why do the chairs (where people touch to move in and out) not get cleaned? Who knew chairs didn't attract Covid? It's all beyond ridiculous. And don't get me started on the arrows and the one way systems....

@CountessFrog

Is anyone else (like me) just staying at home because they’ve tried going out and it’s too tiresome?

I’ve gone to online for everything. I originally thought that staying in would be bad for my mental health, but I find going out is worse!

Please find and read my earlier post (15:31 yesterday) - and thank you to yhose who commented, offering understanding and support.

I had spent many many months learning how to go out (lost my vision) and just as I completed my tedious long white cane training giving me indipendence on just THREE ROUTES kickdown struck.

I feel suicidal every single night but during a bad 24 hours I get really scared of my feelings... Because people are cunts and need to tut, whisper, shout etc at the very quiet patient idiotic gormy looking woman with a strange long white stick and stupid dark glasses who doesn't know if/where there are stickers/sanitisers/arrows/people/lines/spaces/2m gaps and on it goes* I have no family here to help and my personal assistant is ashamed of sighted people when I pluck up courage to goo out with her. I feel worthless. Fuck covid.

*I hate that word, but what else is strong enough?

Yes, NT is particularly bad.
We went to a place last week. Booked online and arrived at lunchtime (our timeslot). Had a nice cream tea outside (gigantic wait as literally one person serving in the whole cafe!) then wandered off to the walled garden, to find it closed at 1530. "Because of Covid.". Went back to cafe, it closed at 4pm and shop was never open. "Because of Covid". We did know in advance that the house was shut.
So that entrance fee was worth it then.

@Pixel7777

We had an email from the primary school saying they were sending books home

"They have been quarantined for over three days and the child was the last person to touch them"

My kids' school is doing this - I asked if I sent in end of term cake for the staff to say thank you (I often do this) would the cake have to do 72 hours in the time-out corner as well? The members of teaching staff on the video call tried desperately to stifle giggles while the head looked very flustered and was like "No, we never let cake live that long in here!"

(I sent in those individually shrink wrapped Mr Kipling cakes and Mini Rolls - taken directly from Tesco to school to make them as Covid-secure as I could)

Spliffing.

People are indeed cunts. I’m sorry.

I understand about NT because I work in a similar business.

Firstly they need to limit numbers, hence booking slots. They also rely on volunteers to staff their properties. You would not believe the rules, regs, risk assessments required to open (or get volunteers in). Many of their permanent staff will be on furlough to save money.

I think they have been BRILLIANT. I am a member and have been once a week since they started reopening, it's been a godsend. Their online booking system is a bit rubbish but to have set that up in Eventbrite at short notice is very impressive.

To expect 'normality' and say you wouldn't renew is just churlish. They will be struggling so much. Don't do it please.

Queued outside in the rain today as it was one-in one-out at my Currys PC World, which is lterally huge - like absolutely cavernous. Got inside...maybe 20 customers. Next store is opposite, quarter of the size, no queuing outside, hundreds of customers. I just don't understand.

I did post this on another thread but thought I’d add it to the RuleZ thread too

Our GP receptionists have changed since donning PPE and standing at the door to the surgery! As someone on my other post pointed out, some have become like nightclub bouncers they need to be a bit more flexible in their approach, it really is as if the power has gone to some of their heads!

I won’t bore you with the details of my experience, suffice to say I hope I don’t have to repeat it again anytime soon!

I work for a university and volunteered to go in and help the estates team put up signage in preparation for the coming semester. I feel for the poor First Years. They'll be wandering around for hours like they're in a Syssiphian maze. There are hundreds of signs everywhere announcing one way systems that end at stairwells to floors you don't want to go to. I can definitely see the students adhering to it. #sarcasticface

@profpoopsnagle

twitter.com/andrewlawrence/status/1285171360139026432?s=20

twitter.com/andrewlawrence/status/1289107223264874496?s=20

I got shouted at by a woman in my local M&S petrol station for going the wrong way round the one way system. The reason I had to was because they had blocked the exit route with cages. According to her I needed to wait until they finished unpacking them leaving my three kids to kill each other in the car. Funny how she didn't shout at the big guy who walked the same way in front of me.

I've also seen so many one way systems that end up nowhere or make no sense whatsoever.

I've stopped my national trust membership as it was something that I just about afforded and now I can't get bookings I can't see the point of having it.