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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:
Nicknacky · 26/11/2020 22:42

Cantspeakpublic I’m working up until 6pm on 24th. If it’s ok with you I will see my family as permitted.

Dongdingdong · 26/11/2020 22:43

FFS... do you not think elderly people are capable of making that decision for themselves OP?

User158340 · 26/11/2020 22:44

It will mean thousands more die if people get carried away for 5 days when a vaccine is close. That's the argument against it.

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 22:44

It is definitely not a good idea with older relatives, but people don't want to hear this.

People know the risks full well. My grandmother knows the risks. Hence she won't be joining us.

Older relatives can actually think for themselves, believe it or not. Stop infantilising the elderly.

Dongdingdong · 26/11/2020 22:45

The Covid mafia on this thread are welcome to inflict a shit Christmas on themselves. The rest of us meanwhile will be having a fabulous time with our families!

TheKeatingFive · 26/11/2020 22:45

The mixing at Christmas will without a shadow of a doubt increase infections and deaths further down the line

I don’t disagree, but death is a fact of our lives.

Many people do not feel that the risk of Covid is worth not seeing loved ones for months at a time.

They should be able to make their own decisions as it feels unreasonable to hold them responsible for a) viruses acting as they do and b) governments having failed to prepare for a crisis such as this one (despite being given a number of chances).

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 22:45

FFS, it doesn't have to be one extreme to the other - just because people are meeting up with parents under the rules doesn't mean it's a free for all or that they're COVID deniers or something!

Exactly my point and the stupid all or nothing attitude just makes people even more resentful and less inclined to follow the rules.

Dongdingdong · 26/11/2020 22:46

People know the risks full well. My grandmother knows the risks. Hence she won't be joining us.

Older relatives can actually think for themselves, believe it or not. Stop infantilising the elderly.

This. I’ve never read such a load of patronizing guff in my life!

TheKeatingFive · 26/11/2020 22:47

Stop infantilising the elderly.

Exactly

BefuddledPerson · 26/11/2020 22:47

@Dongdingdong

FFS... do you not think elderly people are capable of making that decision for themselves OP?
I think plenty of people make bad decisions all the time (including me).

Some of these bad decisions are legal and some are illegal.

My view is this is a public health issue and so I don't think people should be able to choose BUT I think the government has admitted it can't stop it so it may as well try to retain the appearance of control.

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 22:47

The way people on this thread were talking you'd think that all of us young'uns were breaking down the doors of our grandparents' houses demanding to be let in!!

cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2020 22:47

@ZebraStripez

We are not being offered the chance to mix at Christmas because it is safe to do so, but because the government realised that the chances are that irresponsible people will simply do their own thing anyway and they would be unable to stop that. This. It’s NOT safe. Any mixing carries an increased chance of catching Covid. It’s up to you to decide if you’re willing to take that risk. According to my husband I’m a selfish bitch because I won’t risk it.
The issue, of course, is also that having mixed with people from all over the country, children will then flock back into schools a few days later to (asymptomatically) infect each other, and (much more dangerously) infect their teachers and the ECV relatives of their classmates and staff.

It's funny how we all saw what happened with stuidents going to university and said (afterwards) 'Why didn't anyone see that coming?' and yet seem completely unable to process the fact that we are about to do EXACTLY the same but across all age groups...

I resent the fact that even if I behave safely over Christmas, I am, through my work, exposed to the most risk taking family through spending 6 hours a day non socially distanced from their child. And because of this, I am a risk to others.

BefuddledPerson · 26/11/2020 22:48

@TheKeatingFive

Stop infantilising the elderly.

Exactly

Every law prohibiting an action 'infantilises' people.
cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2020 22:49

@Dongdingdong

The Covid mafia on this thread are welcome to inflict a shit Christmas on themselves. The rest of us meanwhile will be having a fabulous time with our families!
I do hope that your families will remain healthy, and that none of them are children who will return to school to infect their teachers, their classmates and the vulnerable relatives of both.
Dongdingdong · 26/11/2020 22:49

Many people do not feel that the risk of Covid is worth not seeing loved ones for months at a time.

This. Considering the chances of dying from this “deadly” disease are about 0.1%, I will take my chances thanks.

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 22:49

Every law prohibiting an action 'infantilises' people.

It's naff all to do with the law, it's to do with all the posters on this thread saying "think how you'd feel if you gave covid to Granny and killed her", as though Granny is passive in the whole thing.

TheKeatingFive · 26/11/2020 22:50

My view is this is a public health issue and so I don't think people should be able to choose

Just how long would you advocate preventing vulnerable older people from seeing their loved ones?

Sandyplankton · 26/11/2020 22:50

I do hope that your families will remain healthy, and that none of them are children who will return to school to infect their teachers, their classmates and the vulnerable relatives of both.

So I have many friends and some relatives who are teachers, and every last one of them is intending to see family over Christmas.

Nicknacky · 26/11/2020 22:51

cantkeepawayforever You are kidding yourself if you think teachers aren’t also going to enjoy Christmas with their extended families, so stop with the guilt trip.

SheepandCow · 26/11/2020 22:52

@Sandyplankton

Yep. I mean, why listen to the world's economic, medical, and scientific experts, when instead we could follow the advice of Trump..

Oh please go away. I'm not having a maskless free for all with seventy other people. I'm seeing my mother, my two sisters and their children over christmas, all of whom will self isolate for two weeks beforehand.

Sorry to disappoint. If it's any consolation I say the same to Covid - with no success.

I have as much right to a view as you do.
I'll listen to the experts, rather than to Trump, when it comes to Covid.

cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2020 22:53

It is not 'infantalising' my extremely elderly parents - who are sharply intelligent and well educated - to discuss with them the completely obvious fact that they are at risk, that with almost every one of their descendents being involved in education we have close unprotected contact with thousands of people between us, and that therefore, a family Christmas will have to wait until they are vaccinated...

It is infantalising them to suggest that they are not capable of handling a detailed numerical discussion of the risks, and that they are not capable of putting 'head' over 'heart' on this occasion.

cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2020 22:53

@Nicknacky

cantkeepawayforever You are kidding yourself if you think teachers aren’t also going to enjoy Christmas with their extended families, so stop with the guilt trip.
None I know. All of us are far too well aware of the risks.
CannibalQueen · 26/11/2020 22:53

Because the shops are on the verges of collapse. Many have. People need a few days to spend and then be stupid together.

Dongdingdong · 26/11/2020 22:54

My view is this is a public health issue and so I don't think people should be able to choose

Perhaps you should go and live in a dictatorship. It sounds like it’d suit you down to the ground!

islockdownoveryet · 26/11/2020 22:54

@Sandyplankton

Every law prohibiting an action 'infantilises' people.

It's naff all to do with the law, it's to do with all the posters on this thread saying "think how you'd feel if you gave covid to Granny and killed her", as though Granny is passive in the whole thing.

Yes because poor granny has no say she's being forced to spend Christmas with her Covid spreading family . Look poor granny could catch Covid going Christmas shopping but she chooses to do that too .