AIBU to feel smug

[AbstractDot]

I was disappointed to see a friend mixing with other people in a house Xmas week (5 households) and then attending three small NYE house gatherings.

This friend has now found out one of the people they were with has tested positive and the friend is 'woe is me'.

I think it serves them right! I know they're worried about the effects of one of their household getting it and will have anxiety now but just feel if it mattered that much then don't go partying in a pandemic!?

Anyone partying during a pandemic deserve all they get.

They knew the risks that they were taking and it’s due to selfish individuals who cannot follow advice that the number of Covid patients are back to ridiculous levels again

I don’t understand why the op is getting a hard time here. These people have broken the rules they knew that there is a pandemic for fecks sake. It’s bloody annoying when your following the rules, going months on end not seeing family, or loosing your job, then you see other people not giving a bloody shit. I think the op is probably feeling quite gloaty and why shouldn’t she be? Maybe her neighbours will think before their actions in future.

You know what? I get it OP.

People are going to get Covid. I can completely understand not feeling sorry for people who get Covid because they were intentionally stupid about rule-breaking. They really do bring it upon themselves. So if a certain percentage of people are going to get it, I choose the rule breakers in my head, too.

It's frustrating and infuriating to see so many people think the rules don't apply to them ... and hard to feel sorry for any of them. People they come into contact with, yes. Feel awfully sorry for them. But not the people who thumbed their noses at the rules and then got sick from it. They're just arseholes.

Oh dear. Would you still feel smug if she or her family got seriously ill or worse?!

As my mum used to say when I was doing something stupid ‘don’t come crying to me’
I don’t know about feeling smug, but if someone is breaking the rules, they knew the risk and took that chance so shouldn’t really be moaning about.

I'd feel exactly 0% empathy for the twat, in fairness.

She's getting what she asked for.

@Groovinpeanut

This virus has certainly shown the vindictive and nasty side of many. I can't understand how someone could gloat and wish harm on others. This virus is awful, my husband has shielded since March. He had to attend a hospital appointment for his diabetes. He caught the virus and is in intensive care. You're certainly no ' friend' OP

Exactly this. Feel smug if you like. It makes you a pretty vile human being, but I imagine as long as you can feel superior to others you can live with being vile.

YANBU to feel vindicated, certainly.

Schadenfreude...imagine feeling smug about this 🙃

It's a normal emotion and brave of you to own it.

It's possible to hold two emotions at once and feel a bit vindicated whilst at the same time as wishing everyone the best.

I don’t think the OP is smug. Her friend broke the rules. Breaking rules have consequences. Her friend is now discovering her stupidity may have given her COVID. I have no sympathy. Your friend was utterly foolish. She deserves all she gets.

@AbstractDot

I was disappointed to see a friend mixing with other people in a house Xmas week (5 households) and then attending three small NYE house gatherings.

This friend has now found out one of the people they were with has tested positive and the friend is 'woe is me'.

I think it serves them right! I know they're worried about the effects of one of their household getting it and will have anxiety now but just feel if it mattered that much then don't go partying in a pandemic!?

Your friend is a prick.

The mixing has been going on for months. It's not the first time they've had a close shave. Of course I don't want them to be ill or die, I want them to live by the rules like everyone else and not feel sorry for themselves when they broke the rules and it wasn't worth the risk.

Absolutely nothing about this is unreasonable.

I'm sure OP would be concerned and sympathetic if the person became seriously ill. However, this person has been acting like a dick, putting themselves and others in danger, and is now feeling sorry for themselves because the predictable has happened.

@YesThatsATurdOnTheRug

It's amazing the swing that the public consciousness has gone through with regard to covid. If someone comes on MN and says something along the lines of 'my friend was other woman now she's being cheated on and is miserable and moaning about it' everyone says - karma, she deserves it.

Mainly because it's an important social rule that we need to maintain for our own relationships. Now that everyone is sick of the covid rules and more and more seem to be breaking them posters are gleefully loving shitting on those who try to support the rules and look down on rule breakers.

Seeing multiple households and having gatherings can kill people (the poster who's husband caught it at hospital; could easily have been from someone who was not being cautious so no idea why you're so blasé) - the OP's 'friend' is a dickhead, pure and simple. It is very human to see someone suffering the natural consequence of stupid/selfish/idiotic choices and frankly to feel that is was deserved.

Because of fuckwits like the OP's idiotic friend we'll be in and out of lockdowns for much of this year.

@PanamaPattie

I don’t think the OP is smug. Her friend broke the rules. Breaking rules have consequences. Her friend is now discovering her stupidity may have given her COVID. I have no sympathy. Your friend was utterly foolish. She deserves all she gets.

She said she feels smug.

I don't see why OP is getting a hard time.

Similar thing has happened to me with a friend mixing willy nilly. Wouldnt describe the feeling of being smug, I like the person i do kind of think 'well serves you right' - obviously hoping it stays mild though.

You can like a person and still be their friend while thinking their actions deserves consequences!

People are going to catch it.

I’d much rather it was the likes of OP’s friend, who is being totally reckless, than the poor poster above’s husband who caught it at an essential hospital appointment. I have every sympathy for him.

Unfortunately people like OP’s friend are making it more likely that vulnerable people, who need support, catch it. And they’re too selfish to care. Awful people.

Feeling smug is an unworthy emotion, really nasty, what is more it shows. I have come across people who carry on as 'normal' and believe the pandemic is a con but if any of them caught the virus I would not feel in the least smug or 'I told you so', 'Serves them right', etc. Why would I? They'd realise it themselves and there is no greater lesson than that.

Why you felt the need to make a thread out of your sense of 'poetic justice' for these unfortunate people, beats me.

Mean spirited. We don't need these negativity right now, tbh. Anyone possibly catching and spreading is a bad news for all of us.

I know what you mean OP - and you have qualified your statement to say that you don't want any actual harm to come to her, but that the anxiety that she is now experiencing may make her a bit more circumspect and careful re socialising during a pandemic in future.

Its ironic how you are being castigated for being an awful person, presumably by posters who believe that they have a superior moral compass, whilst they simultaneously insult you and name call

Anyone who catches the virus through very unnecessary mixing and partying, particularly right now given where we are, is a reckless and totally selfish idiot.

The rule on here seems to be that anyone on here who gets COVID is instantly elevated to sainthood, no matter how much of a selfish twat they are, or how many lives they put at risk. Meanwhile anyone who dares to be about them is vile, loathsome, going straight to hell etc.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

The rule on here seems to be that anyone on here who gets COVID is instantly elevated to sainthood, no matter how much of a selfish twat they are, or how many lives they put at risk. Meanwhile anyone who dares to be about them is vile, loathsome, going straight to hell etc.

Yes you’re right!

Virtue signalling at its finest!

You're happy your friend is ill? Sounds a bit psychopathic to me. Another Covid rule saint emerges...