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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Christmas needs to be cancelled.

661 replies

AlternativePerspective · 19/11/2020 08:40

So the suggestion to make it possible for the world to go and be super spreaders at Christmas is to stay in lockdown until Christmas, then open up for five days, then go back into lockdown for another 25 days (at least), five days for every day we’re out of lockdown.

Are people really that desperate to have a get together they could have at any other time of the year, maybe in the summer when this pandemic is under control, that they’re willing to spend months in lockdown to achieve it? Really?

My personal opinion is that it is our duty as a society to have a low key Christmas regardless of whether they take this ridiculous measure or not.

I understand that for some they want to see family at Christmas, but these ridiculous suggestions have gone too far.

Just cancel Christmas and give us an extra bank holiday next year to make up for it.

OP posts:
BamboozledandBefuddled · 19/11/2020 13:28

@MsSquiz

We were all happy to plan a low key Christmas until MIL was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given around 8 weeks to live, which takes us up to Christmas week. And all 4 grandkids have their birthdays in the 19 days before Christmas (including DD's first birthday)

We will be spending Christmas Day at SIL's house, all together, 4 kids & 7 adults. Hopefully MIL will be with us and there will be a touch of normality for the children.
Other than the 3 school age children we are all pretty much isolating anyway to allow us to visit her at the moment.

That won't change, regardless of what anyone tells us to do!

And you, and people like you, are the reason why I'm not going to be bothering about following the regulations any longer. Just don't start crying next year if your family can't get medical treatment, or if the schools are shut.
GetOffYourHighHorse · 19/11/2020 13:30

'think a lot of people have had enough.'

We all have, no one is having a great time. The fact is if relatives end up in hospital or sadly die all because of a knees up in a pandemic then it gets even worse.

Lweji · 19/11/2020 13:33

Probably not actually. There have only been a handful of cases where people have got it again and there is with anything

Well, reported cases. That´s what I said on my post. There are more cases than those reported.

But, reading again, it looks like he has it now, so he will probably be safe during Christmas. But that depends on the immune response that he developed.

But by Christmas he won't be giving it to anyone, anyway.

MsSquiz · 19/11/2020 13:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Bookworming · 19/11/2020 13:35

Are people really that desperate to have a get together they could have at any other time of the year, maybe in the summer when this pandemic is under control, that they’re willing to spend months in lockdown to achieve it? Really?

Yes

Sleazeyjet · 19/11/2020 13:36

@Lweji

Probably not actually. There have only been a handful of cases where people have got it again and there is with anything

Well, reported cases. That´s what I said on my post. There are more cases than those reported.

But, reading again, it looks like he has it now, so he will probably be safe during Christmas. But that depends on the immune response that he developed.

But by Christmas he won't be giving it to anyone, anyway.

He’s my father. He’s not a he. Not the cat’s father.
Lweji · 19/11/2020 13:36

If people really are happy to spend months in lockdown, can they spend 14 days quarantining before getting all together for Christmas?

Safer and putting your money where your mouth is.

Sleazeyjet · 19/11/2020 13:37

@Lweji

If people really are happy to spend months in lockdown, can they spend 14 days quarantining before getting all together for Christmas?

Safer and putting your money where your mouth is.

Yes. We have done.

But that’s still not enough for you.

Lweji · 19/11/2020 13:37

@Sleazeyjet

You really need to calm down quite a lot.

Sleazeyjet · 19/11/2020 13:38

@Lweji you need to not be not so rude quite a lot

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 19/11/2020 13:38

I've long suspected the UK's inability to get to grips with Covid stems from two main factors; an incompetent government, and the fact that a huge proportion of Brits regard rules and restrictions as something that other people have to adhere to. This thread just reaffirms that.

WhentheDealGoesDown · 19/11/2020 13:39

Fucking Hell, its still 5 weeks to Christmas, MN will combust when we get near the actual day.

ChloeCrocodile · 19/11/2020 13:39

I find it so rude that Eid and Diwali were 'cancelled' and we are making all this fuss about Christmas. Especially when for a probably sizeable portion of us (myself included) its really not about religion at all.

Christmas is a secular event in addition to being a religious one these days, so it is pointless to compare it to Eid or Diwali. Easter provides a far better comparison for those two. As a practising Catholic, Easter is by far a bigger religious festival than Christmas too. Easter celebrations were cancelled. We couldn't attend church services or spend time with family - I spent it completely alone because it was before support bubbles had been invented.

Vivi0 · 19/11/2020 13:40

And you, and people like you, are the reason why I'm not going to be bothering about following the regulations any longer. Just don't start crying next year if your family can't get medical treatment, or if the schools are shut

The poster you have quoted has assessed her own individual situation and made a decision based on that as far as it relates to Christmas.

You could do the same, but no, you have just decided that you won’t be following any regulations going forward.

I think you’re the reckless one here.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 19/11/2020 13:42

'He’s my father. He’s not a he'

'He's not a he'? But you've just called him he. Anyway. I can understand anyone with a sick relative will be projecting quite a lot here. Maybe you need a break sleazy.

MadameBlobby · 19/11/2020 13:43

Personally I am not fussed about Christmas. If the rules allow then If my parents are comfortable we will have them over for Christmas lunch. If not we won’t. I’ll go and stand in their garden with their presents. No biggie.

But equally the government don’t actually own us and to suggest they can tell people how to celebrate Christmas is ridiculous. This has all gone on for 9 months or will have by Christmas. There’s been fuck all else enjoyment of anything else all year and it’s laughable that people think that everyone will do what the government say at that time. People may understandably feel they’ve done enough of the government’s job for them this year but that foregoing a family Christmas is a step too far.

As with everything else I will follow the rules because I care about my own family members but I can’t control what others do. The threat about “time off” over Christmas leading to more lockdown is all lies as they’ll lockdown anyway whether they get the time off or not.

ilovesooty · 19/11/2020 13:45

@AriesTheRam

People will do what they want
Unfortunately yes. Unless people have a relative who they know to be suffering from a life limiting condition where this will be their last Christmas I don't see why people can't exercise some responsibility and stay the fuck at home.
MsSquiz · 19/11/2020 13:59

I presume my last post was deleted for swearing at a PP?!

Anyway, the rest of my deleted post still stands.
Me and my family have made our own decision and stand by our decision to spend Christmas Day together, why don't you have the courage of your own convictions, and stand by your own decision to not follow the regulations any more?! Don't use my family as your excuse, @BamboozledandBefuddled

Belladonna12 · 19/11/2020 14:03

@Lweji

Probably not actually. There have only been a handful of cases where people have got it again and there is with anything

Well, reported cases. That´s what I said on my post. There are more cases than those reported.

But, reading again, it looks like he has it now, so he will probably be safe during Christmas. But that depends on the immune response that he developed.

But by Christmas he won't be giving it to anyone, anyway.

I'm not so sure that there will be that many more reported cases. I'm sure the media would have jumped on any opportunity to report on it. It's not the sort of thing that will be kept quiet is it?
unicornbrush · 19/11/2020 14:05

Get a solicitor and draft everything to divorce. Then you are ready. You understand what will happen and you can go from there.
I would not sit spring imaging anything will change it won't do you will have to make the changes.

unicornbrush · 19/11/2020 14:05

Wrong thread sorry!

Lweji · 19/11/2020 14:09

I'm not so sure that there will be that many more reported cases. I'm sure the media would have jumped on any opportunity to report on it. It's not the sort of thing that will be kept quiet is it?

In my friend's words, they don't have time to write about it.

There has been one case reported in the media where I live and that is because they had the test done at the same private laboratory.

Sitdowncupoftea · 19/11/2020 14:15

Maybe the vunerable and elderly should be the ones choosing who they spend Christmas with. This virus has brought out the selfish entitled me me's.
A minority have been constantly instructed to shield and have done since March. Many others have not followed guidelines. And yes you can catch covid twice. I know two people who have had it twice and far worse the second time. I know 9 people who have died of Covid since February. They have not died of underlying illness nor were obese or elderly they died of covid. People need to take this serious stop being selfish and think of others. The NHS can't cope now. If the whole country has family gatherings for the sake of it thats one huge spike in February. The only ones in my opinion who have followed guidelines are the vunerable and ill they should be allowed to see family.

Lweji · 19/11/2020 14:25

Even if my mum wanted to spend Christmas with all of us at the same time, I'd kick myself if she got it because of it.

I have been spending time with her. I really have no need to spend a whole day over Christmas.
And I'm sure she can cope with one Christmas without the whole family together. We all can.
Not sure she'd cope so well in a ventilator, though.

IMO, it's a cop out to say the elderly relatives can choose and are adults.
Of course they will feel left out if everyone is meeting without them. And they will choose to risk joining in.
I think it's up to us to say that we are not getting together, but will cooperate to make their Christmas as good as possible, but also safe.

Tararararara · 19/11/2020 14:26

I know two people who have had it twice and far worse the second time.

You must have friends all around the world then as there have only been 5 confirmed cases of people catching it twice in the world.