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Original poster

UK doing ok

188 replies

ExmoorPony · 01/09/2020 07:49

A lot of people seemed to love the fact our infection rates were so much higher than the rest of Europe.

Not so now! So much for Spain's strict lockdown and mask wearing policy.....it didn't work!

OP posts:
Lweji · 01/09/2020 15:43

That seems like a fun thread.
"Enough with the silliness!" Grin

TheSeedsOfADream · 01/09/2020 15:44

Yes, it does come across as far more likely to be an expat on that "greener grass" than a Spanish poster!

Pixel7777 · 01/09/2020 15:46

Oh I see. I would have thought saying "English people' would be quite odd coming from someone form England, but there we go.

MJMG2015 · 01/09/2020 15:46

@Nellodee

I thought it was the doom mongers who were accused of being gleeful. This could have been a very positive message, but it is incredibly spitefully written.
^^that.

Why, just why??

DianaT1969 · 01/09/2020 15:57

You really do post some strange things OP. I'm hoping you've been at the gin. The alternative is that you are smug and posting grinning emojis on the subject of people ill and dying.

IcedPurple · 01/09/2020 16:00

Spain is very reliant on tourism and it is hardly surprising that young people in particular from all over Europe flocked to Spain this summer for nightlife / sun / sea / sex etc. They do every year. And infections amongst the young rose. Not rocket science.

Except that some of the worst outbreaks were in places like Aragon and Galicia, which are not magnets for 'flocking' foreign tourists seeking sun, sea and sand.

Namechangr9000 · 01/09/2020 16:02

It's not the world cup, I cant imagine any country feels competitive against another - its shit for nearly everyone!

IcedPurple · 01/09/2020 16:09

@cologne4711

There was a lot of posts on here from people from other countries saying how much better they were doing and how the UK was so awful

Smug ex-pats are always a pain. They're so pleased with themselves for moving overseas and getting away from all the irritating things in UK society (of which there are many) It distracts them from all the irritating things in their adopted country's society (of which there are many). Nowhere is perfect and smugness is nasty.

Tell me about it. I've lived abroad in several countries and I find that the 'smug expats' are even more annoying than the ones who hate the country they're in (perhaps they're there because of their partner's job or got married to a local and now feel they're stuck) and spend all their time slagging it off.

I have a friend - otherwise a very nice lady - who lives in Spain and every time she comes back to GB she can never shut up about how every single thing is so much better in Spain. Which isn't possible of course. All countries do some things very well and others not so well. These are the type of people who post silly stuff on their FB - for example, back in March I saw pics allegedly showing frenzied 'hoarding' in British supermarkets compared to calm, well-stocked Spanish supermarkets. Aside from the fact that it wasn't obvious when or where the pics were taken, nobody bothered to point out that at the time Spanish shops had (perhaps armed) guards controlling entrance at the door. So no, the Spanish aren't more 'civilised' than the Brits. If they were, there'd be no need for the guards, would there?

Pixel7777 · 01/09/2020 16:20

I have a neighbour who is from Spain and recently returned, did not quarantine, but goes on about how much 'safer it felt' because of 'the masks' and moans about people here not wearing them outside. She is elderly, and kind in other ways but it gets a bit wearing hearing about how much better Spain is. Also, apparently another 'great thing' is that they use local markets for fresh foods.

bibbitybobbitycats · 01/09/2020 16:21

Is Spain locking down again? I thought that had been ruled out now?

anuffername · 01/09/2020 16:24

[quote Pixel7777]To be fair, we have had a few posts like this in the past, from the gloating Spanish!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3967705-Masks-GET-A-GRIP?pg=11[/quote]
That thread was absolutely not about the Spanish gloating.

The OP was making a very good point about the fact that so many MN threads at that time were along the lines of "why I shouldn't have to wear a mask". Nowhere did she dispute that some people have very valid reasons not to.

There were some very nasty and ill-informed responses from people who clearly missed the whole point of the post.

I posted there as I also don't live in the UK and was firmly told that nobody was interested in my opinion as I "don't pay taxes in the UK".

Pixel7777 · 01/09/2020 16:27

Well, I am not sure if the OP on this post is gloating, but in fact is pointing out negativity of posts on here during the lockdown, about how awful the UK was - everywhere else was doing it better...

now things have changed and maybe we should not have been so reverential about other countries!

cologne4711 · 01/09/2020 16:28

I really don't understand wearing masks outside. Perhaps in cities or where there is a lot of people gathered. But it seems excessive and potentially counter productive

I'm glad it wasn't mooted when we were at the height of lockdown, what with all the hysteria about "virus shedding joggers". You can't run and wear a mask. Well, I can't, anyway.

Pixel7777 · 01/09/2020 16:32

In particular, there was a lot of talk from some posters about how we should have had a 'harder' lockdown, strange really considering locking up children indoors for weeks would really be child abuse and little risk from going out in the open air.

Maybe there is some worry about fresh air or something with the masks outside as well, who knows...

cologne4711 · 01/09/2020 16:32

There are articles in the European press about this. Literally "English people are selfish - is it any wonder they are so resistant to wear masks". It's embarrassing. As a nation, as a society, it's time to grow up and just put the mask on like everyone else

Oh yes there was this little gem. As if anyone outside the UK was remotely interested what the "English people" were doing. All they were, and are, worried about, is how they get the virus under control in their own countries.

And of course, the anti-mask protests in Berlin never happened. Nobody in any other country has ever complained about mask wearing. Ever.

QuentinInQuarantino · 01/09/2020 16:33

I don't think Spain reopening for tourism necessarily caused Covid spikes - the areas suffering are not touristic places. How many of you have been to Zaragoza for example?

Being in Spain, and being obliged to wear a mask at all times apart from at home, I see that people are not socially distancing. Like the mask is a sort of magic barrier.

OP what a delight you sound, ner ner ner-ing that more of my countrymen are sick than yours.

Kaktus · 01/09/2020 16:35

There are articles in the European press about this. Literally "English people are selfish - is it any wonder they are so resistant to wear masks". It's embarrassing. As a nation, as a society, it's time to grow up and just put the mask on like everyone else

Interesting. As I said, my whole family are in Spain. I asked if they saw anything like this in the press and they said no, the Spanish press were far more interested in the awful situation there than anything that was happening over here.

cologne4711 · 01/09/2020 16:35

there was a lot of talk from some posters about how we should have had a 'harder' lockdown

Yes, all the whinging about people going out for exercise. I didn't think going out for 4 hour long bike rides was quite in keeping with the spirit of the rules and said at the time that I thought going out for an hour was probably sufficient, but that was my opinion and what worked for me.

Anyway now we know that transmission outside doesn't really happen, we could have saved ourselves hours of complaining and arguing on here, and the Spanish and other countries could have allowed more outdoor exercise.

cologne4711 · 01/09/2020 16:37

How many of you have been to Zaragoza for example

Derailing the thread slightly but Michael Portillo went there on one of his Great European Rail Journeys that was broadcast the other week. It looked lovely!

QuentinInQuarantino · 01/09/2020 16:37

Also, just to clarify. Although the Spanish lockdown was pretty shit at the time, once we were allowed out it has been quite quickly forgotten. I was really concerned for my DCs but there's no damage done. It was sort of tempered in the weeks after by being able to spend days on the beach that they'd usually be at school. I on the other hand am a dress size bigger Sad

Pixel7777 · 01/09/2020 16:39

I have read that one of the reasons for spread was the strict lockdown and fatigue from that. Sadly.

IcedPurple · 01/09/2020 16:39

@cologne4711

There are articles in the European press about this. Literally "English people are selfish - is it any wonder they are so resistant to wear masks". It's embarrassing. As a nation, as a society, it's time to grow up and just put the mask on like everyone else

Oh yes there was this little gem. As if anyone outside the UK was remotely interested what the "English people" were doing. All they were, and are, worried about, is how they get the virus under control in their own countries.

And of course, the anti-mask protests in Berlin never happened. Nobody in any other country has ever complained about mask wearing. Ever.

Ah yes, all the 'laughing stock of the world' comments. As if people in the rest of the world were obsessed with what was happening in a small island in the North Atlantic. It was an offdd form of British exceptionalism, with its target supposedly British exceptionalism!

You'd swear that every other country was led by responsible, competent govts presiding over civic minded, well-informed populations. When in fact you'll get the same mix of 'Covidiots' and ultra-paranoid types just about everywhere. And these same people are whining about their government's response just as much as Brits were. Very few of them gave a toss about what was going on here. Why would they?

Original poster
ExmoorPony · 01/09/2020 16:40

@DianaT1969

You really do post some strange things OP. I'm hoping you've been at the gin. The alternative is that you are smug and posting grinning emojis on the subject of people ill and dying.
Whose grinning at people dying? Snowflakes
OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 01/09/2020 16:42

I do think Whitty was good at flagging up our lockdown fatigue and need to go outside.

Many didn’t want that at the time but had got that right I reckon.

Having said that there’s no point with all this in thinking it’s over and done with. Any country can get in the mire. Victoria, Aus has had a harder time than other states.

Original poster
ExmoorPony · 01/09/2020 16:42

@Pixel7777

I have a neighbour who is from Spain and recently returned, did not quarantine, but goes on about how much 'safer it felt' because of 'the masks' and moans about people here not wearing them outside. She is elderly, and kind in other ways but it gets a bit wearing hearing about how much better Spain is. Also, apparently another 'great thing' is that they use local markets for fresh foods.
Aaahh yes. Local markets with fresh food..bat burger anyone? .mmm yum so fresh it's still alive
OP posts: