A plea to those who have/will stop sticking to the restrictions

[PuzzledObserver]

Loads of people on various threads have said things like I’ve had enough, I’m seeing my friends, once the vulnerable are vaccinated I’m not wearing a mask etc.

This has been going on a long time, the idea of it going on much longer is unbearable, I get it. But, I want to make an appeal to you on behalf of those who are more vulnerable and are not willing to throw caution to the wind.

If you, and your friends/family, want to get together in private, or in the open air, in defiance of whatever rules are in place at the time - well, as long as you’re all consenting adults, that’s your business. Actually, it’s not solely your business, because one or more of you could then go on to pass the virus to someone vulnerable, but that’s not my main point here.

My point is, whatever you decide to do amongst your friends - when you are out in public, please respect the wishes of other people who have made a different decision to you.

Please carry on wearing your mask in the supermarket and on the bus. Please keep your distance from people who are clearly trying to keep theirs from you.

You want to make your own decisions about risk? Fine. You don’t get to make that decision for others, and that means you have to keep away from anyone who is not choosing to be close to you.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

I find these threads as annoying as the ones from people saying they will disobey rules. Hate folk preaching.

Really don’t give a shiny shite if you find them annoying and hate preaching. We’re calling out those who’s actions have an impact on others, and that impact could be death.

Our preaching, however annoying you may find it, is not causing deaths. And the more we stick to rules now, the faster we’ll get back to normal - and the economy can begin to recover.

So PreachMacDo-Gooder here is going to carry on. And it’s socially distanced preaching too.

Why don't you just preach at yourself and leave others alone?

@BananaPop2020

Thank you and I’m sure you’re right. I have Asperger’s and am not good at finding right tone. I’ll try to be fluffier.

if all these do-gooder Covid police are all ‘following the rules’ they love so much, why are they all getting it??
Because you scruffy pricks keep getting in our faces regardless of us 'following the rules', you're not wearing masks, you're not socially distancing because you're too selfish / lazy to wait 30 seconds while someone gets off the bus / picks up some apples etc.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

I find these threads as annoying as the ones from people saying they will disobey rules. Hate folk preaching.

The assumption is that it’s only a year/the economy/money/mental health/a mask/a young person’s freedom.

At what point do we say “enough”?

I have done all that is asked of me. But I still think the price is far too high. I have done is more people seem to want these restrictions and do my view is in the minority. But longer term I stand by my constant gnawing gut feel that we have done more harm overall

This is exactly how I feel too.

@Orangeblossom77777

Because I’ve already preached at myself and now I follow my preaching. So I’m sharing.

@Anyoldname12

if all these do-gooder Covid police are all ‘following the rules’ they love so much, why are they all getting it?? Because you scruffy pricks keep getting in our faces regardless of us 'following the rules', you're not wearing masks, you're not socially distancing because you're too selfish / lazy to wait 30 seconds while someone gets off the bus / picks up some apples etc.

Wow.

It looks like a couple of people have misunderstood what I’m saying, so I’ll state it differently.

While the rules about social distancing and masks are in place, I am asking you to respect them in public places. Even if you you are tired of them. They are there to limit the spread of a disease which clearly has more impact on some than others.

If you want to go to the park/your friend’s house, whatever - while the rules say you shouldn’t, then as long as your friends are happy with it, do what you want.

But when you go to the supermarket, or on the bus, AND SD RULES ARE STILL IN PLACE, please respect them for the sake of people who need to go to those places too and want to do so as safely as possible.

If the rules have been withdrawn, that’s different. If, at that point, I am still nervous, then would be the time for me to stay at home. But I won’t be, because by then I will have been vaccinated.

@FearlessGreatExpanse I don’t think you need to be fluffier, it’s not that sort of topic 🙂. Maybe just a bit less angry with your language. I have a mouth like a sailor so I try to be hyper aware of how I come across 😂

@FearlessGreatExpanse sorry where did I share MY view on it? I am wearing a mask, will be taking the vaccine and listen to the science ( although against lockdowns ). So before you bite.. make sure you’ve read the comment properly. I’m just stating how people NOT following the rules shouldn’t really affect those who are.....

@BananaPop2020

I know and I do agree. I just find it enormously frustrating when people can’t see the problem. It’s so clear to me. Amd I also don’t really like being called a do-gooder - I follow rules (as long as they are rationale) and I don’t see why that’s a bad thing.

But no more swears from now on.

@Anyoldname12 😂 and I’m the scruffy prick LOL

@FearlessGreatExpanse to be honest, I have a similar view. I think half of these rules are utterly ridiculous BUT I have not broken any of them and will carry on doing my bit.

@FearlessGreatExpanse I also didn’t say do gooders... I specifically said do gooder Covid police... but if the shoe fits! I’m wearing a mask, not mixing where I shouldn’t be, following precautions but also... minding my own business! As we all should be... if someone in the supermarket isn’t wearing a mask or if people are mixing with their families... that won’t affect me... I’m social distancing, wearing a mask, not mixing ??? That’s the point .....

See - I just think your preaching turns people off. It just makes people think you don’t rrally understand their own predicament.

I have friends who have lost everything. Can’t pay bills. Suicidal kids.

So they read what you right about “lazy” or - and I was gob smacked to read it - “scruffy pricks” - and I just think “wow”. How did we get here?

Do you really think those who can’t afford to stay at home are actually persuaded by this bile?!?!

I have said this before - lockdowns are for the well off to stay at home whilst the poor bring them stuff. And you know what? I have more sympathy with them than i do the self righteous, smug bores preaching on this thread.

Makes me want to stick my sodden useless mask up your shiny smug arses!!

Just so you know, death comes to us all. It catches up to us sooner or later. No one is immortal. When your times up your times up.

This isn't seriously your attitude is it? I'm not sure if you meant it this way, but it's coming across as not giving a shit about being careful around others, because y'know, if they die, they die.

I'm not sure why this is being considered such an outlandish view, it is a fairly common held belief. You don't have to subscribe to it, and I think it is a bit too black and white, but the poster did not imply that she wished everyone dead.

It’s not illegal for people to see their family and friends at Christmas. It’s been a long time coming that they are actually ‘allowed’ to see each other. Mothers/fathers who haven’t seen their teenage children for months and the like.

Absolutely no way are people going to put strangers above seeing their own family etc... they’ve been asked to do it for long enough!

People can make their own risk assessments. If your vulnerable - don’t mix.

I am nervous about catching it as I have a few of the risks but also for the risk to society as a whole. If enough people ignore the rules and spread it further, then not only will it lead to more deaths, long Covid, and an over run NHS, it will also mean that a bigger lockdown will follow in January, which is exactly what the people who want to break the rules dont want to happen. It just doesnt make sense

Wonder how some people will cope when the rules start to lift, and it is back to being more about personal responsibility come Spring

Will they still be preaching on about non existent rules?

@Bewareoftheblob again, i have had 4 people die from this.

One was 36, and a gym bunny.

Yes the others were older (mid 50s to late 60s) but that doesnt just mean their lives were worthless.

Just because it hasnt affected you yet doesnt mean it wont. Especially if youre being careless.

@Orangeblossom77777

Wonder how some people will cope when the rules start to lift, and it is back to being more about personal responsibility come Spring

Will they still be preaching on about non existent rules?

Absolutely they will. Following the rules has never been good enough, there has to be a whole level of made up ones too.

People have gone months on end without seeing people. Now, Christmas is a chance for them to potentially do so, and already they are being shamed for it and told to wait 'until April', which isn't even guaranteed ?!
How much longer do you want people to go without seeing others ?

You want to make your own decisions about risk? Fine. You don’t get to make that decision for others, and that means you have to keep away from anyone who is not choosing to be close to you

totally, totally and absolutely with you @PuzzledObserver

I have become disgusted with the selfishness of those who decide they'll ignore the basic public health regulations and take known risks - mixing indoors with those not in your household, for example - and then visit those risks on all those around them in public.

It's selfish thoughtless behaviour.

A lot of people aren't isolating properly, not because they're thick, selfish, or evil, but because they're afraid of losing their income. People going to work with the virus has undoubtedly driven infections, and they aren't doing it for the hell of it but because of real economic pressure that could have been alleviated by giving people enough to actually live on while they isolate.

For those saying ‘stay at home if you’re scared’, I would have to give up my job to do so ... or perhaps people who come in to my workplace could wear a mask, properly, while they’re there, like the vast majority do, so I and my colleagues don’t have to be concerned about potentially contacting the virus, having to isolate, shutting down the whole place, so nobody can go there, or - worse - an elderly or vulnerable person catching it when they went out with a perfectly reasonable expectation of being safe in our building?

I dislike the pretend trade-off between health and economy. Everything is linked. I don’t think anyone’s mental health, finances and job prospects are improved by catching COVID, are they?

It isn’t nice to be rude about people’s intelligence but the arguments put forward by the anti-mask do-my-own-risk-assessment armchair economists and psychiatrists are not exactly compelling.