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

[MagicSummer]

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?

@Napqueen1234

Can we just stop with this ‘selfish’ label for anyone desperate to see their family? For whenever reason it is NOT selfish to want to see your family. For Christ’s sake.

No, it is not selfish to WANT to see your family.

I get it op. My ex is blithely ignoring all the lockdown rules and will be tier 3 next week and will carry on being an idiot.

And then I'm supposed to let ds go to his for Xmas. Sod that he puts me and my loved ones at risk. It's all about him.

I'm seriously considering just telling him no, and to come back in February.

@AlecTrevelyan006

Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid Written - Midge Ure & Bob Geldof Keyboard - Midge Ure Programmer - Midge Ure Bass - John Taylor Guitar - Andy Taylor Drums - Phil Collins Recorded at Sarm West Studios, London - 25 November 1984 Release Date - 29 November 1984 Label - Columbia Records & Phonogram Inc.

[Paul Young]
It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade

[Boy George]
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time

[George Michael]
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
But when you're having fun

[Simon LeBon (Duran Duran)]
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear

[Sting]
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears

[Bono & Sting]
And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom

[Bono]
Well tonight thank God it's them
Instead of you

[Boy George & Others]
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life (Oooh)
Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

[Marilyn & Glenn Gregory]
Here's to you

[Paul Young]
Raise a glass for everyone

[Marilyn & Glenn Gregory]
Here's to them

[Paul Young, Marilyn & Glenn Gregory]
Underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

[Chorus: All]
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

That’s nice, dear...thank you 😊.

Sure bang on endlessly about your boring mental health

That’s a truly appalling comment, perhaps the worst I’ve read in eight years of being on here.

You say you work for the NHS yet say “boring mental health”??

Missed worked for the NHS!
That's even worse if so

@Heatherjayne1972

It’s not that people can’t see it. It’s because Humans are social creatures. We need interaction with our ‘tribe’ (family )- it’s a basic human need It’s actually quite cruel to deny us this even if it is for the greater good

People will just do whatever they think is right at Christmas A lot of people have just had enough.

And because people prioritise their own social circles and have little care for wider social responsibility.

@christinarossetti19

It's possible to understand why people want to see their families and not call them 'stupid' or 'selfish' and also feel a deep well of despair at what increased mixing indoors will likely herald for January ie more cases, more deaths, more restrictions, more job losses etc.

With a hard Brexit thrown in for good measure.

Yes, I kind of understand, but I do not agree and I do know some people who don't know what they don't know (if that make sense - some people just don't know what they don't know and that can't be changed).

@Knickerthief1

It says 0.2% of confirmed cases. School age children are much less likely to have a test as they are much less likely to show vivid symptoms.

Antibody tests show children have contracted covid in much higher numbers.

The number has been misapplied. No one is lying, except in the 'lies, damn lies and statistics' meaning. The BBC is just repeating the govt statement. The govt are using statistics.

So in that case the majority of families have already had Covid in their homes since September so will still have some immunity and won't be spreading it to vulnerable family at Christmas. Whichever way you choose to read it is a positive for Christmas.

Do we know for sure how long immunity is after having had the virus?

I think people will change their minds nearer the time. We are already considering a walk and thermos of hot chcolate/mince pies with granny instead of the full blown Christmas lunch we were going to have. Very much playing it by ear.

@Heatherjayne1972
A lot of people have just had enough

It’s a shame the virus hasn’t had enough....

Because I don’t want to “knuckle down and have a quiet Christmas”. I’ve spent the last 9 months separate from family members and it’s been pure misery. I won’t go mad seeing loads of people but I sure as hell won’t deny my dc of seeing their grandparents who are in their 60’s and low risk, and my dh will see his parents too as he hasn’t seen them in a long time. I think there would be another spike come winter anyway regardless if people gather at Christmas and who knows what is around the corner so I’m going to enjoy my life and Christmas thank you very much.

It’s a shame the virus hasn’t had enough....

And that's why we need to crack on and just get on with it. Simple.

Myself and DH work from home. We don't have any children. The only places we go is to the supermarket and to walk the dog.
My brother and his partner are the same. My mum is retired and her husband is furloughed. They're desperate to see us. We're all in tier 3 so pretty much nothing will change between now and Christmas.
How would our 3 households meeting up over Christmas pose a risk to anyone??
Meanwhile my PILs are high risk and shielding and would rather not take the risk so we're respecting their decision. It's really not hard to apply a bit of common sense.

If you feel you're a risk, don't do it. But frankly I've spent the last 9 months 'knuckling down' so you can jog on if you think you can sit in judgement of others.

There have been 0 cases in my town for weeks now.

Well that won’t be the case for long, with people coming in from all over the country for Christmas!

I’m with OP. Not just the danger to elderly relatives but to the entire country and economy of all this mixing. I really feel for small businesses who’ve now had to close twice and will doubtless have to do so again.

Those who would otherwise alone should be able to go to another household or have another household come to them - everyone else should stay put if they possibly can. I can’t even imagine what the roads are going to be like.

"Yes, I kind of understand, but I do not agree and I do know some people who don't know what they don't know (if that make sense - some people just don't know what they don't know and that can't be changed)."

Itwillendintiers - I don't understand - can you explain what you mean a bit more? What don't people know?

I think the decision made by the government to relax the rules for 5 days over the Xmas period was because they know people will do as they please anyway, as is depicted in many of the posts on this thread

When asked by journalists what their plans were for Christmas Hancock said he was having his FIL over and Gove said he was planning to go to Scotland Radio silence.

My DM is a 20 min walk away. "How dare you be so selfish"

What do you think the compliance levels in January would be if the public agreed to sacrifice their family Christmases and then another Barnard Castle type scandal broke?

It’s a shame the virus hasn’t had enough....

I wish people would stop churning out tropes like this. Oh and "the virus doesn't know it's Xmas". So bloody irritating and unoriginal.

@Rosehip10

why don't you enjoy your quiet Christmas OP and stop worrying about what others are doing?

This

@userxx

It’s a shame the virus hasn’t had enough....

And that's why we need to crack on and just get on with it. Simple.

Great logic

As long as no one is alone at Christmas, who doesn't want to be left alone, that's all I would like. I know lots of people who are relieved that they won't have all the family descending on them. I'll be having our normal quiet Christmas day , my student DS, adult DD and it'll be lovely to see them. I'll ring mum, brother etc and plan to see them when we can. I saw them in the summer when the virus was low. It's all I can do. We all don't have to have big get togethers at Christmas. My friend's parents are going to pop in to see a couple of friends who live alone, rather than seeing family as they can talk to them anytime. I think that's lovely.

Sure bang on endlessly about your boring mental health

Oh I'm soooo sorry if you consider my MH to be boring, your quite right I mean I've only lost my job, the home I grew up in and both my parents in the last 8 months. My MH should be in tip-top condition you're quite right, I mean it's not like those losses are important or anything is it?
As for you working in the NHS, with that attitude, that's as believable as me telling you I fart rainbows.

@Nicknacky

justgeton I assume you are staying home alone over Christmas?

I am actually

Justgeton Good for you. And stop with the “selfish” nonsense.

@trappedsincesundaymorn I’m so sorry you’ve had such a hideous year. And honestly as horrendously crap as it is it doesn’t surprise me I work in the nhs and the lack of compassion from (thankfully a small minority) of staff is staggering.

Because we’ve decided that those we are inviting need to be here more than the risks.
So two DC back from uni - both have had Covid.
Elderly mother who would be alone otherwise and has made it clear that she wishes to take a risk.
Foster children’s mum who has serious MH issues (hence her DC are with us) and would spend the day alone without her lovely DC otherwise.

If you’ve a problem with that, fewer fucks I could not give.