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.

[quote Doublebubblebubble]@MadameBlobby

Technology has improved but people are getting sick?

What youre saying is utter nonsense

you have no idea whether this has affected me personally.

No, I dont.

But if it has - you're unbelievably naive to continue your beliefs and frankly disrespectful to the potential person who has died.

If it hasn't (yet) - you're still being unbelievably naive.

Just because you think you're right about this, doesn't mean you are.

Like, the chances of you dying of a car accident are pretty low but EVERYONE who gets in a car wears a seatbelt. Without question.[/quote]
I don’t think it was me you meant to quote @Doublebubblebubble

I would like to invent something, a bit like parking sensors, that can be deployed in shops and public areas. Perhaps a device you wear around your neck that shouts, ‘BACK UP, YOU TWAT!’ at full blast when people get too close.

I suppose a loud beep would work, too.

[quote Doublebubblebubble]@MadameBlobby

Technology has improved but people are getting sick?

What youre saying is utter nonsense

you have no idea whether this has affected me personally.

No, I dont.

But if it has - you're unbelievably naive to continue your beliefs and frankly disrespectful to the potential person who has died.

If it hasn't (yet) - you're still being unbelievably naive.

Just because you think you're right about this, doesn't mean you are.

Like, the chances of you dying of a car accident are pretty low but EVERYONE who gets in a car wears a seatbelt. Without question.[/quote]
I'll assume this was to me.

Technology has improved but people are getting sick?

What youre saying is utter nonsense

You misunderstand me. Technology has improved to the point that we have been able to isolate and understand this virus relatively quickly, in a way that we haven't with earlier incidents.

But if it has - you're unbelievably naive to continue your beliefs and frankly disrespectful to the potential person who has died.

If it hasn't (yet) - you're still being unbelievably naive.

You are entitled to your opinion. However, death is a (rather major) part of life. People die. What makes death with Covid so much more important than all of the other ways to die?

Just because you think you're right about this, doesn't mean you are.

And the reverse is true.

Like, the chances of you dying of a car accident are pretty low but EVERYONE who gets in a car wears a seatbelt. Without question.

Well, no, but okay. I'm not objecting to people wearing masks etc, I just think it's somewhat pointless. As I said, if you are truly concerned then you should stay indoors.

Are you expecting people to carry on distancing and mask wearing once the most vulnerable has been vaccinated though? I think most people are fine with carrying until spring, but the priority groups will be vaccinated before spring and once they are surely people can’t be expected to carry on? If the government say it’s no longer mandatory after then then why would I continue?

What exactly do you think coming on here preaching at people is going to do?

@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.

Hahaha. I swear this virus has made some people totally unhinged.

@OffredOfjune

What exactly do you think coming on here preaching at people is going to do?

Maybe make people realise that if we all pull together and do a little bit we can end this lockdown sooner

Or alternatively, get the lockdown-extenders all frothy about being preached at so they post here to tell us that they’re not happy.

Which one are you?

@FearlessGreatExpanse

Which one am I? You only gave one option lol. I'm not a 'lockdown extender' at all, but thank fuck i'm not a goady preacher either.

People get so defensive when they feel they’re being “preached at” - no goading needed. Very strange. I don’t know whether it’s guilt or stupidity.

"You scruffy pricks"!! 😄😄

However, death is a (rather major) part of life. People die. What makes death with Covid so much more important than all of the other ways to die?

Yes people die. However this is a new illness that has potentially devastating effects on people, and due to not encountering it before very few people have any defense against it.

The numbers of deaths that are quoted are those above and beyond the normal for this time of year. There are approximately 3 times as many deaths from Covid as there have been from flu and pneumonia combined over the same period, and as yet no details of numbers for those who's heath has been long term damaged by Covid (ONS report HERE) .

@Allergictoironing

However, death is a (rather major) part of life. People die. What makes death with Covid so much more important than all of the other ways to die?

Yes people die. However this is a new illness that has potentially devastating effects on people, and due to not encountering it before very few people have any defense against it.

The numbers of deaths that are quoted are those above and beyond the normal for this time of year. There are approximately 3 times as many deaths from Covid as there have been from flu and pneumonia combined over the same period, and as yet no details of numbers for those who's heath has been long term damaged by Covid (ONS report HERE) .

And yet there have been other years where there has been a massive excess death rate, and no one got upset? Bad flu years. The average death rate for Covid is, what, 82? I'll count myself lucky if I get to 82.

@TableFlowerss I totally agree. Im incredibly angry about the way the public has been lied to , emotionally blackmailed, guilt tripped and gaslighted over this. And the way they put out stories in the media to gauge reaction. Like this one. Get ready for the backtracking on Christmas.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9047335/NHS-bosses-warn-Boris-Johnson-easing-Covid-rules-Christmas-spark-wave.html

"Technology has improved but people are getting sick?"

If we had had the internet and social media in 1984/85 the early days of the HIV?AIDS epidemic when some thought you could catch it off a toilet seat or cutlery i wonder if there would have been a lockdown.

@onedayinthefuture

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.

And use some apostrophes.

@Bewareoftheblob you do realise that many of the COVID deaths will be flu / pneumonia.......miraculously those numbers are lower.....now why would that be......

If I’m in the supermarket and someone comes right up next to me, without a mask, I have no business being upset with them or asking them to stop, is that what you mean?

Supermarket aisles aren’t big enough to maintain a 2m social distance at all times and not all disabilities are visible. It’s inevitable that you have to pass in aisles, sometimes both be browsing the same section.

You have no idea if that person has medical issues too, if they have a reason for not wearing their mask or if they’re just oblivious.

The world doesn’t revolve around you and everyone needs to get their shopping so no, you shouldn’t really be ordering people around. If this has happened more than once I’d suggest you’re being unrealistic about it and should shop online.

@Mousehole10

Are you expecting people to carry on distancing and mask wearing once the most vulnerable has been vaccinated though? I think most people are fine with carrying until spring, but the priority groups will be vaccinated before spring and once they are surely people can’t be expected to carry on? If the government say it’s no longer mandatory after then then why would I continue?

No - I’m saying while it is still mandatory, please do it in public even if you’ve stopped in private/among consenting groups of family and friends.

Once it is no longer mandatory, no I am not asking or expecting other people to continue to wear masks. I do hope they will respect others’ personal space - but the normal amount of space, not 2m.

As for @OffredOfjune (great name by the way) What exactly do you think coming on here preaching at people is going to do?

• I didn’t and still don’t think of it as preaching. I thought it was a polite request.

• I never thought about what it would do. I’m impulsive, I thought it, I posted it.

@Mousehole10

Are you expecting people to carry on distancing and mask wearing once the most vulnerable has been vaccinated though? I think most people are fine with carrying until spring, but the priority groups will be vaccinated before spring and once they are surely people can’t be expected to carry on? If the government say it’s no longer mandatory after then then why would I continue?

This. For some people, masks and lockdown have been a comforting, cocoon like, phenomenon, but they know they'll stand out more when the rest of us stop and I think this is probably quite anxiety inducing for them. Even the idea that people will go back to "normal" once vaccines have been rolled out to the medically vulnerable is very upsetting for some and I think properly funded services are going to needed to coax those with residual anxiety out into society again.

"Scruffy pricks" 😂

@PuzzledObserver that’s fine then, as long as no one expects people to do those things when it’s just guidance and not mandatory it’s fine. Sounds like we are going to personal responsibility once the most vulnerable are vaccinated so the majority will stop mask wearing and distancing in spring. I’ll keep it up until then but not after.

Thank you @Mousehole10

I’ve just reread my OP - I thought it was clear that I was only talking about while the rules are still in place, but I can see there is something later on which people might take to mean I am talking about for ever.

I’m not talking about for ever. Hell - I don’t enjoy wearing a mask! But I will, until it’s no longer legally required. And I would also do so if someone specifically asked me to when visiting their home (or whatever), even if it’s no longer a legal requirement.

And I want to hug my mum too :-)

So much animosity on this thread.

Shame people arnt as passionate about the environment.