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?

@redroses86

The communal pen is my favourite of the roolz. Arrive at a restaurant/cafe - please can you write your details here for our track and trace. Using the same pen as everyone else. It makes no sense yet has happen at least a dozen times to me over the summer.

When I returned to work a month or so ago, we were all issued with our own set of equipment to do our jobs. We were emphasised you that there was to be NO sharing, lending, borrowing, etc. We all still have to use the same pen to sign in and out of the building

I missed the Royal Mail delivering a parcel earlier this week so got the card through the door. Collection times on it from our local collection office were 7-2 most days and 7am-8pm Wednesday.

Went into town on Wednesday to collect parcel and collection office was shut with note on the door saying due to Covid collection times were now 7am-9am, and the desk was closed on Wednesday. It didn't say that on the bloody card

Same here Needwine, what’s that all about?
Covid means they can’t manage even one day of being open till 11 or 12?

Funny how last year we were all worried about single use plastic and GDPR but thats all gone out of the window this year.
Not sure why the pub needs my contact details if I'm sat at a table outside, I'm not likely to catch it from anyone else there.

It's just an excuse for people to cut services and/or be annoying.

In the past I have heard people blame a lot of weirdness on Data Protection, Health and Safety and the EU.

Fact is we have a national predisposition for inventing odd rules.

@talkingkrustydoll It was just like that when I went into Currys/Carphone Warehouse.

The floor and all aisles were just a mass of arrows all pointing in different directions. Impossible to know which way you should have been going so we gave up, as had everyone else.

I'd gone with my DD to help sort out a problem with her new phone upgrade. After all that we were then advised that they couldn't sort out the issue because the piece of equipment in the store that they needed to use had broken down. It wouldn't be fixed anytime soon "due to Covid."

We went home, cancelled the contract (was within the cooling off period) and went elsewhere. We now have a better deal.

Charity shops are the worst.

Officious volunteer on the door generally; one way system round a shoebox sized shop; person on till virtually in PPE.

Appreciate many of the volunteers are over 65 and may consider themselves vulnerable but if they are as scared as they seem to be they should stay at home.

YABU to call if the roolz.

@talkingkrustydoll

I went into a little costa within another shop yesterday and the floor resembled something from an old dance game. No one had a clue which way there were suppose to be going so gave up.

DH pointed out that our local Costa had stuck one of the set of footprints on the floor the wrong way around - so basically you enter... then turn around and leave.

He is not popular now! (with the manager - the rest of the staff laughed)

As someone who is short though I do welcome the new era of the Costa drive-thru bucket lifts that lower things down nearer to your car - they are a fucking amazing innovation!

@YewHedge

YABU to call if the roolz.

I disagree. In my mind there are two types. The rules, based on government guidelines, sensibly applied to ensure risk is minimised. These I go along with.

Then there are the roolz. These bear no resemblance to sensible, pragmatic precautions and are invariably the result of some poor sod at head office having to do risk assessments for the first time ever and not really being up to the task. These I take no notice of, or give feedback on or take my custom elsewhere depending on the situation.

There is a difference and I think most people on here recognise that.

There has been some stuff that has been brilliant...(especially lived booking my Clarks appointment online for shoes, it was so calm!) But half the time you seem to have to guess what rules are in operation.

Asda had a one way system that ended in the bakery. Morrisons queuing system seemed to confuse most.

A hotel we stayed in got over the communal pen problem by giving you a pen at check in (you needed it a various points, like ordering your breakfast).

@Noextremes2017

Charity shops are the worst.

Officious volunteer on the door generally; one way system round a shoebox sized shop; person on till virtually in PPE.

Appreciate many of the volunteers are over 65 and may consider themselves vulnerable but if they are as scared as they seem to be they should stay at home.

But then the shops might not be able to open at all. And it’s surely better for the elderly volunteer in question to be out and seeing people even if it’s through three layers of Perspex and some hazard tape than cowering at home.

Our Tesco's one way system was thwarted by the fact the store does not have an even number of aisles to it - so you ended up stuck in the beer!

@DominaShantotto

Our Tesco's one way system was thwarted by the fact the store does not have an even number of aisles to it - so you ended up stuck in the beer!

Some people would see that as advantageous!

Well while everyone else was panic buying bog roll I WAS out panic buying wine at the thought of being locked down with the kids and DH...

In June and July the school set up a one way system on the grassy area leading up to the gate, so public space not school grounds.

(Rectangle grass, path either side dotted with benches leading to two gates, one in and one out.)
Due to staggered start and finish times the benches were in use a lot, with parents blocking the paths while they were waiting. I was yelled at by the deputy head for daring to walk on the grass to get round them. I should have stuck to the system, even if it includes brushing past others not in my bubble. It was noted my many he only yelled at women, he never seemed to spot any men going the wrong way.

Our Tesco's one way system was thwarted by the fact the store does not have an even number of aisles to it - so you ended up stuck in the beer!

:-D

Today I've been a rebel. I went to Tesco and didn't wear a mask. I sanitised my trolley handle, used it on my hands and marched in. I kept my mouth closed, stayed as far from other people as it was possible to do and got on with my shopping. No one said anything and no one even seemed to be bothered. It's all bollocks and I'm done with it. I'm likely to get told on Thursday my tumour has returned so I'll be dead soon anyway one way or another

The mask is to protect others.

Went out for lunch with some friends this week. As from 4 different households had to sit outside. Not a problem but as soon as it started to rain, waitress said we could sit inside. Cutlery, wrapped in disposable napkins, delivered to table on tray for us to pick up. As was all food and drinks. But after we had finished eating and drinking, the waitress cleared away plates, cutlery, glasses with her bare hands! It’s all tokenism - businesses like being seen to be doing the “right” thing but none of it makes sense and roolz changed to suit.

But that’s fine kwest regarding cutlery as presumably she’s going to put them in the dishwasher and then wash her hands. Whereas the clean stuff has to be wrapped as otherwise she would touch it then you would.

Outside unless raining makes no sense though I guess it reduces the number of times mixed groups are indoors together (rainy days only vs all the time).

Our school pick up system is going to be interesting

Different years staggered with 10 min between.

Obviously lots of parents have kids in two or more years and 10 min is too little to go home and back again.

We are not allowed to wait in the playground between pick ups. So instead we will all be waiting on the tiny pavement 🙄 where distancing will be much harder.

oh fuck off @scruffyoak, @GinisLife tells us she might be about to hear potentially awful news and that it is all you've got to say. There's a time and a place for pious preachiness and that wasn't it.

@GinisLife, really hope it isn't bad news.

@Scruffyoak

The mask is to protect others.

Hardly the time or the place for sanctimonious preachy.

@GinisLife, I hope the news this week is better than you are anticipating. Sod the mask.

I’m really puzzled by every other toilet cubicle being closed. Presumably MDF doesn’t stop Covid. And yet Perspex screens have sprung up everywhere. Does Perspex have mysterious Covid-repelling properties that MDF doesn’t have? And if so, can we not simply line the toilet cubicles with Perspex and have them all open?