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Oh god. Back to having a walk then???

340 replies

ssd · 20/09/2020 22:33

As the highlight of the day.

AKA another lockdown looms....

OP posts:
Ilovemypantry · 21/09/2020 10:10

@Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd

Fuck that. Fuck not seeing friends and family in your own home. Fuck 'social distancing'. Just don't do it. They don't have the power to enforce these stupid lockdowns that just kick the can down the road.
It’s people like you who are fuelling this pandemic. Just grow up and do the right thing...this is not just about you.
worldgonemad2020 · 21/09/2020 10:11

@lifestooshort123

No trick or treating? I agree, hallelujah! Banging on strangers' doors while dressed inappropriately and begging for sweets to rot their teeth? Alternatively, gobby teens banging on doors threatening to egg the windows if they don't get money? What's to like about this trashy US import! And as for the poster who felt sorry for the poor little mites missing out - really? 😂
Halloween, has it's roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain. It originates in Ireland. The Irish brought it to the USA. What do you have against Americans anyway? I'm sure you don't mind when Americans celebrate for example a British Royal wedding (or could that seen as a trashy British import there?). Have some respect for other people's culture and kids at Halloween are hardly begging!
notanoctopus · 21/09/2020 10:14

I find the whole ...ooh we are going to make an announcement in a few days time rigmarole a draining PITA. If they e got a plan, say it! It's not like numbers are going to go down in the next few days is it? Just state the plan ffs!

Ilovemypantry · 21/09/2020 10:15

@Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd

Spare the guilt trips, Redolent. They don't work on people anymore. Nor do the attempts to shame people. And remember not everyone is in the UK and using the bloody NHS. And if people don't want to work for the NHS anymore, no one is forcing them to stay. 'Oh, but then who will do the job!' Why do people always think they are irreplaceable?
You really are unbelievable 😡
MiniTheMinx · 21/09/2020 10:25

Lovemusic33, I'm likewise limiting social contact outside of working. For two reasons, my own health and that of the people I support.

Dillo10 I agree with your sentiments. I think the true meaning of Christmas is corrupted. It really shouldn't be about money spent, putting on a show of how much has been spent, and going out to spend some more.

I live in Lewes and for me, my family and friends bonfire is a far bigger thing than Christmas. I know lots of people who will still be going out on the 5th. I'm sort of interested in the idea that Bonfire will be returned to its true historical roots. No organised marching, no ticket sales, police unable to police it. Last year was better than previous the years because travelling into lewes was made difficult for spectators. We don't want spectators, we don't want police and security everywhere. Lewes has always been sticking two fingers up to authority throughout its history. Bonfire was always a form of protest rather than a celebration.

wanderings · 21/09/2020 10:28

@Thewiseoneincognito My advice to anyone struggling to find light in this dark tunnel is to learn to accept what is happening is beyond your control. Believe me, once you start to accept it, things become much easier to deal with. It might be that we can't do much about the virus, but we can do something about the lying, bumbling clowns whose wages we pay: write to our MPs (I've done this several times), and REMEMBER the way they've handled this when there's an election.

I wish I could think "oh well, nothing we can do", and I don't deny that the virus is, to some extent, a threat (but less so than the government are making it out to be). But I think that the way the government is handling it is a much bigger threat than the virus, and I just can't look away from the idea that "accepting we do not have control" is exactly what the politicians want us to think: it's how they oppress the public, make them say "oh well, nothing we can do about it". Because the government have PROVED that their main methods of persuading the public are deception and fearmongering, we need to make it clear that we will not accept such tactics; the moment we say "oh well, nothing we can do about it" means we lose sight of that.

If the government had instead communicated with honesty, by not lying that the virus wasn't a threat in the first place, or even admitted that they didn't know, not U-turned all the time, not hushed up Dominic Cummings's transgressions with "it's time to move on", contradicted themselves all the time "masks are useless - now they're mandatory", and come out with stupid slogans all the time, I'd have more time for "we can't do anything about the virus". We have to fight for our right not to be treated as idiots and doormats, by our political servants.

Let us not forget that the government gave themselves sweeping new powers. Whoever speaks to us next is unlikely to mention that: they'll be busily distracting us with Covid, while tacitly making these powers more permanent. I will not think "oh well, nothing we can do" when government takes liberties like this.

loobyloo1234 · 21/09/2020 10:36

I don’t go out mingling or having my hair or eyelashes done, i haven’t been in anyone’s house other than my mums

Whilst I have complete sympathy with NHS staff, care home workers and so on that are effectively on the front line, how can you berate people for doing what they are allowed to do? The Government have said, we are allowed to get our hair and lashes done, we are allowed to see family (limited numbers) - so why not concentrate on those who don't comply?

Splodgetastic · 21/09/2020 10:44

@notanoctopus maybe they are not saying it because they got a big ticking off from the speaker in the Commons for announcing to the public before Parliament.

Jux · 21/09/2020 10:44

It's our own faults. I really hope dd's allowed to stay at Uni.

Splodgetastic · 21/09/2020 10:44

(Why Parliament can't sit on Fridays through Mondays at this time is beyond me. Most people have to show a bit of flex in their working hours these days.)

ChodeOfChodeBall · 21/09/2020 10:46

@Ranunculi

It’s just ripping the plaster off faster That will involve the breakdown of essential services because too many people will get sick at once. The electric and internet will go off. Possibly the water too. Shelves will be empty because food hasn’t been delivered. Emergency services will be unavailable. People will panic and there will be anarchy. We need to keep infections at a level that allows society to keep running.
Ranunculi, I'm afraid this is complete scaremongering bollocks.
MiniTheMinx · 21/09/2020 10:51

loobyloo1234, in May having you lashes and hair done was considered to put you at risk of contracting Covid. By August these same activities do not constitute a risk.....because government said so. The risks are the same. I do not need to consult Matt Hancock to determine for myself whether I want beautiful hair or to limit my potential contact and reduce the risk of contracting Covid. Whilst lockdown necessarily entailed shutting down non critical business, and the economy requires non critical economic activity to resume i can still think for myself and I'm free to point out that the former privileges human health above the latter that puts the economy first. But more fundamentally the latter puts first a system that doesn't support human welfare. If the economic system doesn't serve the interests of humanity and human life what is it serving? And if saving the economy is in direct conflict with serving human life then why save it at all? And why do the government swing from pole to pole? because death and ill health will cost this economy just as dearly as putting health before profit now. There is no easy way out.

52andblue · 21/09/2020 10:51

@wanderings - thank you for your very insightful post.

The Govt is about to renew its sweeping powers under the Coronavirus Act it passed in March. Lady Hale (until recently head of the Supreme Court) is concerned.

Sweeping powers are much easier to bring in than get retracted.

Dillo10 · 21/09/2020 10:54

I don’t go out mingling or having my hair or eyelashes done, i haven’t been in anyone’s house other than my mums

That is your choice. No need to act like some kind of martyr.

Does it cross your mind that hairdressers and eyelash technicians need to work and feed their families too?

It really gets on my nerves when people dismiss these types of activities. I understand they are not essential in some ways, but they're very much essential to the people who work in those industries.

Graciebobcat · 21/09/2020 10:55

I can't stand this blaming people for Covid transmission. Yes there are always some people who flout the rules but there has been very good compliance overall. Compliance with the rules which are also:

  • Get back to work
  • Get back to school
  • Eat out to help out

So we've been doing this like good little citizens and of course the cases have gone up. This was always anticipated. The only way we can ever be in some way normal is to have a "World Class Track and Trace System" that we were promised six months ago but because the government got posh multiple organisational failure Dido Harding to run it, it was bound to fail from the start.

But of course it's the fault of people in Manchester seeing their families.

TBH I'm far more worried that government is taking the country to hell in a handcart which seems a lot more likely than me anyone in my family getting seriously ill. It seems to me like businesses are working very hard to keep the economy going and all the government do is come along with complete idiocy and fuck it all up with things like Brexit and policy on Covid.

Tolleshunt · 21/09/2020 10:59

No trick or treating? I agree, hallelujah! Banging on strangers' doors while dressed inappropriately and begging for sweets to rot their teeth? Alternatively, gobby teens banging on doors threatening to egg the windows if they don't get money? What's to like about this trashy US import! And as for the poster who felt sorry for the poor little mites missing out - really? 😂

That was me, lifestooshort, because I’m capable of being happy that others are happy, even if it inconveniences me.

My five year old loves dressing up and going trick or treating. Where we live, there are a couple of streets where many of the houses decorate and have sweets ready. The atmosphere is amazing and the little kids love it. Those who don’t want to participate don’t put decorations out and they are left alone. I’ve never had problems over the 20 years I‘ve lived here, not a single egg. So yes, I’m sad that this pleasure will be denied to my small child, when she’s already missing out on so many things and living a very restricted life. Given she can’t go to soft play or museums or the cinema or see her grandparents, exciting events like Halloween, bonfire night and seeing Father Christmas have taken on even greater significance. Pleasure matters, and contributes to good mental health.

I’m sad that she won’t get to experience them this year. She will soon be too old to be into them, and we’re losing one of those years. I’m sorry if trick or treaters have upset you, but even more sorry that you can’t empathise with small children and begrudge them pleasures in an otherwise shitty year.

As for it being American..... and?

IcedPurple · 21/09/2020 11:00

I don’t go out mingling or having my hair or eyelashes done, i haven’t been in anyone’s house other than my mums

Give yourself a big pat on the back, but it doesn't make you a better person.

loobyloo1234 · 21/09/2020 11:00

@MiniTheMinx

My point is, it is allowed. There is no evidence that these things have caused a spike. Unless you know otherwise and can magic an article up on this?

TheHoneyBadger · 21/09/2020 11:03

Interesting thread gauging where people are at in terms of fatigue and risk perception.

I’m off to teach in a minute. I’d say I was very pro lockdown and caution but now I’m expected to mix with hundreds of teenagers without a mask or proper social distancing I find the idea that it’s not safe to be a socially distanced group of 7 in a private garden seriously flawed and infuriating.

I’m teetering towards let’s just fucking get on with it because actually that’s what I have to do as a teacher.

Going to try and catch this briefing before my next lesson

loobyloo1234 · 21/09/2020 11:10

It really gets on my nerves when people dismiss these types of activities. I understand they are not essential in some ways, but they're very much essential to the people who work in those industries.

^
This

PhilSwagielka · 21/09/2020 11:21

@Treebore

How many weeks into the three weeks to protect the NHS are we now then? There's currently more COVID patients needing hospitals than there are hospitals. So, more than one each. Unless people grow a brain AND some balls, we're in this constant lock-on lock-off scenario for at least 18 months. 18 months, if you're 35, is 3.1% of your remaining years of life. Life you'll spend in limbo, trying to give 85 year olds who are close to death and extra couple of non quality extra months.

85 year olds we didn't really think about (which is why they're in care homes!) until it became fashionable to say 'You care more about the ECONOMY than OLD PEOPLE!' (i.e. until we became scared for our OWN lives, but hid the fear behind the virtue of caring for old people).

Are you always this fucking disgusting?
PhilSwagielka · 21/09/2020 11:23

@Tolleshunt

No trick or treating? I agree, hallelujah! Banging on strangers' doors while dressed inappropriately and begging for sweets to rot their teeth? Alternatively, gobby teens banging on doors threatening to egg the windows if they don't get money? What's to like about this trashy US import! And as for the poster who felt sorry for the poor little mites missing out - really? 😂

That was me, lifestooshort, because I’m capable of being happy that others are happy, even if it inconveniences me.

My five year old loves dressing up and going trick or treating. Where we live, there are a couple of streets where many of the houses decorate and have sweets ready. The atmosphere is amazing and the little kids love it. Those who don’t want to participate don’t put decorations out and they are left alone. I’ve never had problems over the 20 years I‘ve lived here, not a single egg. So yes, I’m sad that this pleasure will be denied to my small child, when she’s already missing out on so many things and living a very restricted life. Given she can’t go to soft play or museums or the cinema or see her grandparents, exciting events like Halloween, bonfire night and seeing Father Christmas have taken on even greater significance. Pleasure matters, and contributes to good mental health.

I’m sad that she won’t get to experience them this year. She will soon be too old to be into them, and we’re losing one of those years. I’m sorry if trick or treaters have upset you, but even more sorry that you can’t empathise with small children and begrudge them pleasures in an otherwise shitty year.

As for it being American..... and?

Do you have a garden at all? You can still do Bonfire Night if you do. Or you could get some sparklers. It's not the same as a firework display, I know, but it's something.
Jaxhog · 21/09/2020 11:24

It is entirely up to us. If we follow the rules, especially staying away from other people as much as we can i.e. only for essentials like school, work, etc. and NOT socializing, then we may be able to stop the spread. If we can't, then another lockdown or more restrictions are inevitable. It really is that simple.

Jaxhog · 21/09/2020 11:28

18 months, if you're 35, is 3.1% of your remaining years of life. Life you'll spend in limbo, trying to give 85 year olds who are close to death and extra couple of non quality extra months.

Unbelievable. Not every vulnerable person is 85 and about to croak. What about the cancer patients, diabetic sufferers, fit and well elderly, and young sick people? Should they just die so you can go clubbing? I've never read anything so utterly, utterly selfish.

herecomesthsun · 21/09/2020 11:30

@Treebore

How many weeks into the three weeks to protect the NHS are we now then? There's currently more COVID patients needing hospitals than there are hospitals. So, more than one each. Unless people grow a brain AND some balls, we're in this constant lock-on lock-off scenario for at least 18 months. 18 months, if you're 35, is 3.1% of your remaining years of life. Life you'll spend in limbo, trying to give 85 year olds who are close to death and extra couple of non quality extra months.

85 year olds we didn't really think about (which is why they're in care homes!) until it became fashionable to say 'You care more about the ECONOMY than OLD PEOPLE!' (i.e. until we became scared for our OWN lives, but hid the fear behind the virtue of caring for old people).

Not everyone who is extremely clinically vulnerable is 85 or over.

Some of us have young children.

We have to think as a society what is important.

Do we put more money into schools (to enable social distancing there) and into health?

Do we encourage people to work and study at home in a pandemic?

Or do we prioritise pubs, sandwich bars, commercial landlords and race meetings?

And at an individual level we can also make choices about how much risk we take. In our household, that has been about the kids going to school. We aren't socialising other than that (and the way secondary schools are, we are pretty worried about the level of risk).