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Original poster

Why can't people see that it is stupid to mix at Christmas?

472 replies

MagicSummer · 26/11/2020 18:36

I know that the Government had to relax the rules for the 5-day period because so many people would have broken them anyway, but can people not see that mixing families, travelling and close contact is going to cause another spike in the New Year? It makes me so cross - why can't people just knuckle down and have a quiet Christmas this year without endangering the lives of their older relatives?

OP posts:
Cantspeakpublic · 26/11/2020 23:19

@Nicknacky

Cantspeakpublic I’m working up until 6pm on 24th. If it’s ok with you I will see my family as permitted.
It is ok with me. It’s fine. Never said it wasn’t. It’s whether ultimately it’s fine for your family and only time will tell. Just as long as you know the risk then is absolutely your choice to do what you would like to do.
Quaagars · 26/11/2020 23:19

Deny it's existence or the seriousness all you like.T

Who\s denying it's existence though?
Are you reading a different thread?
Confused

veeeeh · 26/11/2020 23:20

This is being hyped up out of all proportion and is about time that things were dampened down before Christmas.

I though we were the adults in the room, not the kids.

But I am sure there are those who will wade in about their ill relative and so on. This has been going on for 9 months or so.

Just do your own risk assessment.

This will never be a normal Christmas, but most people with a bit of a brain know the issues involved and will hopefully not expose their relatives to virus.

Otherwise, the healthy parents and relatives are to blame for putting the pressure on and guilt tripping.

Pootle40 · 26/11/2020 23:21

I've said it before and I'll say it again. People experience different things in life. Personally both my parents are dead. One young from a brain tumour; one at 70 having been ill more than half her life. Nobody knows what's round the corner. Shit can happen. COVID or no COVID. Take what you can and be thankful; live in constant fear - entirely up to each us and what we've experienced in our lives up until now will shape the decisions we make.

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 23:21

No one is being "Trumpist" on this thread.

I'll ask you again Sheepandcow since you seem determined to ignore this - if my entire Christmas bubble isolates itself for two weeks before seeing one another, how is that Trumpist?

As a woman of colour I actually find it fucking offensive to be accused of Trumpism.

SheepandCow · 26/11/2020 23:21

So many drink drivers people who want to take risks on behalf of other people. So generous of them.

Pootle40 · 26/11/2020 23:22

@SheepandCow

You're right *@Pootle40* It's not 50,000. The estimated figure so far is at least 70,000.

And then there's the many thousands with disabling Long Covid. Deny it's existence or the seriousness all you like. The NHS doesn't spend on setting up treatment clinics UK-wide for nothing.

And to think, we have vaccines just around the corner. And people want to Spread Covid for Christmas.

Ugh. Can't be doing with any more Trumpism tonight.

Trumpism Grin good one. No it's not 70,000 either.
cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2020 23:23

@Pootle40

But *@BefuddledPerson* some people have made their peace with it and want to live their lives. It's as simple as that. Doesn't matter whether you like it or dislike it - we are adults living in a supposed free society. Maybe some people don't care if they catch it? Maybe they're happy with the risk? Such a pointless question originally by the OP.
There are some things that people can choose to do in terms of living their life that have little or no impact on others - buy a strange coloured car; paint their front room black; watch I'm A Celebrity....

There are things that people can choose to do with their lives that do have an impact on others, whether positive or negative. Of course, mixing with your relatives over Christmas has no impact IF everyone concerned wfh / isolates before and after, doesn't mix with a wider social group afterwards and has no children who will return to school or university. However, if you are in any way connected with others through possible chains of infection - like through the free for all that exists in schools, but also public transport and caring professions - then the risk that you choose to take as acceptable to you also affect a whole lot of other people who have NOT signed up to that risk.

Nicknacky · 26/11/2020 23:23

SheepandCow Why do you keep talking about drink drivers?

SheepandCow · 26/11/2020 23:26

We have in one corner, the experts. Scientific and medical. On the other side, we have people like Trump who don't seem to especially support containment measures (and ignore the experts). Hence Trumpism

BefuddledPerson · 26/11/2020 23:27

There's a lot of very angry people. Maybe part of the thinking behind these changes over Christmas is at some point the anger is going to get out of hand.

Nicknacky · 26/11/2020 23:27

SheepandCow Why do you keep talking about drink driving?

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 23:27

On the other side, we have people like Trump who don't seem to especially support containment measures (and ignore the experts)

Except I do support containment measures and will be isolating both myself and my son before and after the Christmas period. So your argument does not hold water.

Quaagars · 26/11/2020 23:28

WTF why are we back to drink drivers again lol

SheepandCow · 26/11/2020 23:29

Why drink driving? Because people keep talking about choosing to take their own risks when it comes to potentially spreading or catching Covid. And, just like with drink driving, they're choosing to risk other people as well as themselves.

cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2020 23:29

@Nicknacky

SheepandCow Why do you keep talking about drink drivers?
It's an interesting - if extreme - parallel example. It says 'It is a free country. I can decide what risks I want to take. Everyone who got into the car with me agreed with the risks when we set out. I've done it before, we haven't had any problems. It's not fair to stop me having the freedom to drive with my friends to see my dad' - but it affects those who chose not to take that initial risk, who did not sign up to get in that car.

I am of a generation when drink driving amongst people my parents' age was both normal and socially acceptable. It was socially condoned, almost funny. No reasonable person thinks like that now.

As i say, an extreme but interesting parallel example.

SheepandCow · 26/11/2020 23:31

I'm glad you're going to do that @Sandyplankton
Unfortunately many other people won't be. How can they when the schools won't be closing in time to allow parents of school age children to do so. Good for you for doing it though.

Nicknacky · 26/11/2020 23:31

SheepandCow I feel I have to point out the absolute obvious to you as you seem to struggle, but drink driving is a criminal offence,

Pulling a cracker with you dad is not.

I know it seems similar but it really isn’t.

cantkeepawayforever Yes, that’s an interesting parallel. Not in the slightest bit similar but interesting all the same. If you compare the two then you are an absolute idiot.

justgeton · 26/11/2020 23:32

Because people are stupid.

friendlycat · 26/11/2020 23:32

Well there’s certainly going to be a big spike end of January which is always a dark and depressing month.
We’re going to look to the future and the hope that the vaccine brings and celebrate all the birthdays and firsts of a new born family member and Christmas then.

But I accept those with frail and elderly relatives and others coping with severe difficulties may choose otherwise.

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 23:33

How can they when the schools won't be closing in time to allow parents of school age children to do so.

I'm pulling mine out early because I'm in a position to do so. Others also in a position to do so could do the same.

Quaagars · 26/11/2020 23:34

I feel I have to point out the absolute obvious to you as you seem to struggle, but drink driving is a criminal offence
Pulling a cracker with you dad is not

Exactly
Although if we're sticking to the letter it should be a very long one in order to keep to the social distancing rule Grin
Maybe a gap in the market for foot long crackers?!

Nicknacky · 26/11/2020 23:34

Quaagars😂😂😂

cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2020 23:35

@Sandyplankton

On the other side, we have people like Trump who don't seem to especially support containment measures (and ignore the experts)

Except I do support containment measures and will be isolating both myself and my son before and after the Christmas period. So your argument does not hold water.

I think that anyone doing 14 day isolation - and either only seeing those who have similarly isolated, or isolating for 14 days afterwards - around mixing is, actually, OK. It's what i would do if I could - but don't have the 14 days required.

It's those who will go to school / work until the 18th or later, mix until the 27th and then return to school on the 4th, having 'met up with lots of friends because we couldn't leave them out after just seeing a few of the family over Christmas, and anyway they'll be back in school soon' who are more problematic, infection-wise.

SheepandCow · 26/11/2020 23:37

@Nicknacky
Another obvious is that there's a difference between legal and moral.

There's a reason why we have one of the highest death rates in the world (and a poorly performing economy).

In many countries, gatherings that could spread Covid were and are illegal.

We all know they made the right choice. Their laws enabled them to successfully contain.

Which is why they can (safely) have a genuinely proper Christmas.

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