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?

Lots of stations are on reduced service/closed at certain times - surely making it busier on the trains and stations which are operational?
Lots of places have reduced hours. This made sense st the start of the pandemic when there were staff shortages because everyone was self isolating. Now it makes no sense and just increases crowds at the times when they are open.

We were at Gatwick yesterday and there was a perfect example. The usual “snake” style queue set up for passport control has been changed so there is an empty row left between each line of people.

But obviously this means the queue only holds half as many people. So there is an enormous bottleneck crowd jostling to get into the queue.... all standing far closer together than if the queue had been left as it was.

😖

@unmarkedbythat

Do you think "don't you know there's a pandemic" will become as ubiquitous a phrase for us as "don't you know there's a war on" was for my grandparent's generation? My nana used to laugh about how for years and years after the war finished, any attempt to complain about anything was met with that response on autopilot.

Whatever the crime or antisocial behaviour they are commenting on, our local police always say how disappointed they are that people would do this ‘in the middle of a global coronavirus pandemic’.

I am going to say that to my kids next time they leave the milk bottle on the table.

‘But subsequent investigations suggested that in most cases the outbreaks were linked to the social aspect of those choirs (sharing food and drink in breaks) rather than the singing itself. ‘

I hadn’t seen this, thanks.

I really feel for mums/dads/carers doing the school drop off at primary and not allowed to hang about to chat to other parents.

It's 'against the rules but what about parents mental health? I went through a really tough time after a divorce etc when DD was in primary and was depressed and the school gate was the only place I saw adults sometimes all day for a cheery word and feeling like I was half way normal dealing with everyday issues...

Yes, I know what the rules are, but such day to day interactions can be really important for people...

At secondary now, with covid parents are not allowed in the school AT ALL. what does that say if they get bullied. you need to speak to a member of staff etc. It is as if parental rights have gone out of the window.

And yet, we were good enough to be teacher, cleaner, IT expert and bottlewasher since March with home schooling.
Yes, I know, bit of a rant there...

The pub with one occupied table and when we came in they sat us on the adjacent table. When I asked if we could sit somewhere else they said they were filling up from the far side so that people coming in didnt have to walk past our table to get to theirs.

I did witness an irate pub 'bouncer' trying to shepherd a group of lads around the arrows after they'd had a few pints last weekend. The more wound up he got, the more hilarious they thought it was to go the wrong way.

The pub is huge, and was pretty empty. Really made me chuckle, and a lot of people in the pub were chuckling with me.

Great thread

Went into a shop recently which I’d never been in before. Had seen a gorgeous dress in the window with a sale sticker so went inside to have a look and decided to buy the dress so I took it to the only obvious cash desk in the shop. The staff member behind the desk was on a phonecall and I was happy to wait. Eventually she hung up and told me that till was out of use because they can only have one till during the pandemic and I’d have to go to the shop next door to pay. I was confused and there were no signs offering further explanation but I eventually realised that the shop was indeed connected to the next door shop by a doorway in the far wall. There were 4 steps up to the doorway and due to the angle, I couldn’t see into the other shop at all, so I went up the steps, turned the corner and ended up smack against a customer already there, to the left of the doorway. Another customer in shop 2 but to the right of the doorway then had a massive go at me, telling me there was a one-way system and I needed to both wait my turn and keep my distance. So I retreated down the steps to a point where I could see her but not the people on the other side of the doorway, therefore I assumed that when she moved past the doorway, it would be my cue to move on through. Stood there for a while, trying hard to look friendly towards this other customer while we were both waiting and not understanding why she still seemed so pissed off at me. Eventually she exploded at me again, telling me I had to get out of the way. Finally the penny dropped and I realised she wasn’t following the one-way system around shop 2 but was trying to come down the steps (which I was now blocking) into shop 1. So I apologised and scurried backwards, trying to explain the confusion from my vantage point. Then was helpfully reminded by shop 2’s staff member, when I eventually got to pay for my dress, that I need to follow the rules because there is a pandemic.

A few weeks previously, I had visited my (former) favourite independent bookshop. Sign on the window said only 6 customers allowed at once but the windows were darkened so the only way of determining whether I could enter was to, you know, enter. So I went to the door and peered inside to do a headcount, to be met by the manager running towards me making shooing motions with his hands and telling me to wait outside. After a few minutes, he came outside to “apologise” and kept repeating that I couldn’t come in because they could only have 6 customers inside. Yes, I said, I saw the sign and was trying to adhere to it but couldn’t tell how busy the shop was from standing outside. He responded to this by jabbing at the sign and repeating “6 people only”. I tried to remain pleasant while I explained over and over again but he eventually left me to it and went back into the shop. After another few minutes (still no-one had left) he came back out again to tell me that there was no point in me getting annoyed and I would just have to wait. I wasn’t annoyed and had said several times I didn’t mind waiting. It was a nice sunny day and I was happy to be outside. Then a bloke came up. Looked at me, looked at the sign and then made for the door. I called to him that I was next in the queue and there were already 6 people inside. Again looked at the sign, looked at me. Asked me how I knew there were 6 people inside and suggested I was waiting for no reason. Told him I had already checked inside and the manager had asked me to wait. Clearly this wasn’t a good enough explanation so he headed in anyway, only to be marched out by the manager seconds later. Manager then gave me an earful for “letting” the bloke go in when he had already explained the rules to me and it was therefore up to me to manager the queue behind me. This was the point I walked away. And tweeted them later to explain why I would no longer shop there.

Are people really "shouting" at customers or just explaining the rules? If they are shouting, they are breaking the rules themselves as you are not meant to shout (and shops are not meant to have background music, either).

I swear lots of places are just using The Virus as an excuse to do the inconvenient and stupid things they always wanted to do

Oh definitely this, like councils saving £££ by keeping the loos closed.

I really feel for mums/dads/carers doing the school drop off at primary and not allowed to hang about to chat to other parents

Isn't that a good thing? The last people I'd want to spend time with is the witch's coven of school mothers.

Maybe we need a Facebook group called Peak Roolz

Think “Covid” will be the new “data protection” ie ridiculous made up pointless rules that none too bright people with a little power will gleefully enforce on the rest of us and by saying the magic words any dissent shut down

Yes, agree with this. See also "Think 25" age restriction rules. Misunderstood and misapplied.

It makes no sense does it. Why can parents dropping off not chat at a distance there when they can in other places or in their homes? None of it is consistent and all if it is anxiety provoking and stressful

@Pixel7777

It makes no sense does it. Why can parents dropping off not chat at a distance there when they can in other places or in their homes? None of it is consistent and all if it is anxiety provoking and stressful

I assume this is because the more people standing around chatting, even at social distancing, the more difficult it is for others to walk through for their drop off times. Certainly, our school has a very limited space outside so I do understand it, even if it is a bit annoying.

The thing for schools which I think is understandable, but really hard - is the little ones not being able to have their parents with them. For children starting reception, all the usual nerves etc are just going to be that much worse. Our school isn't allowing comfort objects and that's hard enough for DD in Year 1. I think for the poor little reception kids it's going to be hell.

The rules don't bother me. I don't want a repeat of March.

But totally agree with the lack or guidance and then getting in trouble for not being mystic meg!

Or using common sense and moving away - to them be told that breaks rules and you must join the crowd on the right!

My local newsagent in 2 in shop. You cannot see if busy or people in there unless they are at till.

I looked through window other day. Newsagent smiles at me through window. So I opened door to ask if safe to enter.
Before I'd even spoken for told very briskly "you can't come in it's 2 people only - there's a sign on the door"

I went to other newsagent!

The rules don't bother me. I don't want a repeat of March.
But is a one way system in a shop really going to make any difference to virus transmission? Or closing alternate toilet cubicles? I would like to see the research which proves we arent just making our lives difficult for no reason.

It made more sense when it was just basic common sense- keep a distance and wash hands.

I would love to see the science behind the roolz.

I’m going to make my own up. Seems neither the official ones or mine have any scientific basis.

From now on, and Amazon parcels can only be accepted if my middle shutter is at a 45 degree angle.

Agreed some of it is just bonkers.

Hand Sanitiser in shop entrances gives makes me wonder when I see everyone entering touches the bottle to steady it or push the pump on top so potentially hundreds a day touch it. Same with spray bottles provided for cleaning trolleys, you pick up and spray bottle to sanitise the trolley and so you've touched the spray bottle that lots of others touched, clean your trolley and then touch it with your dirty hands

Also lots of fuss re face masks in schools but not a word about lack of toilet and hand washing facilities. DCs school toilets are grim, frequently out of order and they rarely have adequate soap or paper towels.

No one wants a repeat of March. But moving round a shop in a different direction or walking behind a crowd barrier in an empty room ain’t going to achieve that are they🙄

Our family rules
Wash hands
Use anti bac when out
Try and do outdoor meet ups
Avoid anything indoor with crowds

@KitKatastrophe

The rules don't bother me. I don't want a repeat of March. But is a one way system in a shop really going to make any difference to virus transmission? Or closing alternate toilet cubicles? I would like to see the research which proves we arent just making our lives difficult for no reason.

There has been recent studies that show its airborne more than they knew so that's the reason for masks and distance etc.

But I have often wondered how in an office and shop they suggest Perspex screens and yet when you have ready made cubicles in toilets etc they suddenly follow a difference science!

Maybe we should put clear perspex between toilet cubicles, it obviously has magic virus repelling properties which MDF, wood or brick (!) Don't have

@KitKatastrophe

Maybe we should put clear perspex between toilet cubicles, it obviously has magic virus repelling properties which MDF, wood or brick (!) Don't have

🤣