I've seen a lot of discussion lately around using one's own discretion when it comes to the government restrictions for Covid. So I just wondered how each of you see your responsibilities individually, as it's pretty fascinating and is also, unfortunately, causing a lot of disagreement between my family and friends! (and I expect many others)
A lot of people have made many sacrifices and, I can see how everyone has a different breaking point or feels that discretion is justified when it comes to the guidelines. In many people's view the rules are seen as too strict given the current prevalence of the disease and the low death rate. Hospitals are not currently struggling to deal with cases and the economy needs to get back on track. Indeed, many simply feel that there are certain social activities that they and their close family/friends are wanting to resume, that outweigh the health risks for said participants. Furthermore, everyone has different circumstances and whilst it might be extremely important for one person's mental health to socialise, or for their children to socialise, or for the family to see a sick relative, others may have less desperate circumstances.
My own philosophy is that generally, whilst a lot of the laws have now switched to guidelines, the principle is still the same in that we should be following the protocols, not for ourselves necessarily, but for the general population. These are rules laid down by a government that we (I didn't) democratically elected, and whilst we can all find inconsistencies in the rules or find fault in them/believe them to be too severe, we're all in this together just like we were in April etc. Rather than doing this because I'm a "sheep" or scared in any way of the virus, I personally think we all have a collective responsibility and the fairest way to play my part is to stick to the 2 households rule, 6 people outside, 2 metres distancing etc. I suppose my issue with the discretion argument is that if a few households are mixing or a party is held, and those people are comfortable with the risk between themselves, that does not take into account the risk the rest that the rest of the public is willing to take. So for example, the work colleagues of the people in question, other friends and family, the shoppers, staff, people on public transport, people in bars/restaurants they come into contact with, have not had a say in the risk taken. The more freedom some give themselves, the longer it may be until certain restrictions can be lifted, or the more likely it is to lead to a second wave, also, so I do think it can have a direct effect on others in more ways than one.
I'm open minded to everyone's opinion, and I definitely feel that whilst I "generally" agree with the above view, there are certain circumstances where rule nazi-ism isn't justified and common sense comes into play. However, I do think there is a spectrum and it feels from my own social sphere that many are now meeting up across multiple households either inside a home or at a pub/restaurant, without a sense of collective responsibility.
Is that justified because the guidelines are only guidelines and personal liberty is more important than submitting to "big brother"? Or is it not up to anyone to make their own risk assessment given the potential effects on others' freedom/health?