Page 3 | If you bend the rules people will die

wanderings · 19/01/2021 20:34

This is why I now don't listen to radio or watch TV at all. If you turn on the radio, you're almost guaranteed to hear "pandemic", "covid", "virus" within one minute.

If it is repeated too often, it becomes background noise. Do any regular Tube travellers notice the "see it, say it, sorted" slogan any more? Probably not, because it is now background noise to them.

Also, in subtle ways, the government has done a lot of bullshitting the public, and the public knows it, mostly with the government's inconsistent messaging and U-turns. They've done it both ways: in January the virus was "nothing to be afraid of". We had "masks are ineffective" followed by "masks are mandatory". We had "it would be inhumane to cancel Christmas", followed by the classic Saint Boris U-turn. This month, Boris told us "schools are safe" and "schools are vectors of transmission, and must be closed" on the same day. So far we've had "the vaccine changes nothing"... and at some point, I'm sure we're going to get "loooooooooooooook! The vaccine is working!! Things are better now!" when it suits Boris.

This hopelessly muddled messaging is why many of us simply do not trust what the government says.

PregnantGotCovid · 19/01/2021 20:55

@Jourdain11

And actually, I didn't need to "ensured my children know the importance of following the rules to keep more vulnerable people safe". They have enough common sense to figure it out! However, I'd rather that they didn't feel that they were murderers for going outside occasionally and breathing.

If your children feel they are murderers for going outside occasionally and breathing, I'd suggest they need some support in understanding the rules, as literally no one has said you can't go outside occasionally and breathe

Original poster

Miarara · 19/01/2021 21:16

@PattyPan the messaging is a huge part if why my friends daughter is feeling like this. As @Burpeesshmurpees and @SchNurse has said it's becoming increasingly common. They're being told about the need to avoid 'germs' and the 'virus' that they can't go and see friends and family, that there is no soft play etc, that things aren't safe, its easy to see how some kids will turn this into something obsessive. She was fine pre lockdown, and even in the first lockdown, it started when she went back to school. I just think the wording of messaging is getting to a really unreasonable level which can be harmful to kids and the vulnerable.

OP posts:

Flaxmeadow · 19/01/2021 21:20

Telling kids over and over again if you do this people will die is damaging

Yes but the way a parent reacts to the harsh realities of life can also be damaging. All we can do is cushion the blows

Children are very perceptive, they know something is going on and hiding things can be counterproductive. Sometimes they might see a news item that maybe they shouldn't have and all we can do as adults is explain things truthfully, but in a way they can understand, and always reassure, reassure, reassure

"Yes its quite serious situation, hhmmm (casual) yes true, and we must try our best to help our elderly people and wash our hands, but children arent affected and we have some fabulous wonderful scientists, hospitals, doctors etc working on this all the time. They are so clever and now lately things are happening, vaccine etc, which is great news and it's absolutely amazing how people are joining together across the world and the science is interesting too (a move into positive simple science chat). How wonderful is that!"

I dont mean go on and on about it, but just sum up any conversation on a positive vibe.

Children worry and want answers but they are also resilient and I'm not sure how much hiding the (simple age appropriate) truth helps them

Original poster

Miarara · 19/01/2021 21:27

@PregnantGotCovid I'm glad your child is handling it so well however others are not.

And I don't genuinely believe you can shield kids from all of it. As @Jourdain11 said they're on billboards. Kids were also getting messages at school about it with bubbles etc. My DD is only 2.5 but that means she's spent a third of her life thinking its normal that we can't visit people, the area i live in only had restrictions relaxed for 3 weeks in July. At her age I can shield her from the messages, i was just so shocked that on the radio every 20 minutes it was repeated if you do this people will die. I'm a pretty level headed adult, ive followed all the rules, but these messages even start making me feel a bit anxious, and then annoyed. School age kids and teenagers you can't shield from it all. As pp said, its a whole generation, they're individuals, of course lots will be fine but a large number won't be.

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LetItGoGo · 19/01/2021 21:28

Avoiding having the soundtrack to daily life punctuated by repetitive messages of doom is not hiding the truth though.

Flaxmeadow · 19/01/2021 21:32

Avoiding having the soundtrack to daily life punctuated by repetitive messages of doom is not hiding the truth though

I agree but then I haven't heard any repetitive doom laden messages, and I watch the news a lot.

Original poster

Miarara · 19/01/2021 21:35

@Flaxmeadow I totally agree about talking about stuff they see and putting a positive spin on it. I just think it's very hard to do that when the message has now become people will die. I get that you can talk about the fact that if you follow the rules people won't but

That's not true because people have caught it while following rules and
Means they might then be worried about all their actions, I spoke to someone in the park, did I break the rules? Type scenarios.

I think I just don't want to hear the constant messaging of it when I just wanted some background music.

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Billie18 · 19/01/2021 21:37

@Miarara

How is this an advert played on the radio all day???!!!

I'm really concerned about the messages kids are hearing about covid and the long term affect this is going to have on their mental health.

I already have a friend who's 5 year old is showing OCD behaviours - thinks a fork must be washed if it touches the table, wants to wash her hands again if she's touched the table, won't eat food if it's touched her hair, parents fork etc.

The strength of the government messages I think is so inappropriate at times. You don't have the option of shielding kids from it, my friend said this behaviour started when she went back to school after 1st lockdown as they were constantly told about things needing to be clean. I've been listening to smooth fm this afternoon, I don't normally listen to the radio, every 20 minutes a government advert about the covid rules that ends in. If you bend the rules people will die this is allday. Being drummed into people with health anxiety and to kids. Surely this messaging could be really damaging to vulnerable people and is irresponsible. Telling 5 year olds if someone bends the rules people will die seems really inappropriate.

That's so terrible about about your friends daughter. It's so worrying...

Flaxmeadow · 19/01/2021 21:39

Yes it's a balance OP, and it's not always easy though to grab the remote control in time.

yawnsvillex · 19/01/2021 21:42

My DD actually said to me this evening, do you think we will be banned from breathing soon?

Billie18 · 19/01/2021 21:53

@Flaxmeadow

Avoiding having the soundtrack to daily life punctuated by repetitive messages of doom is not hiding the truth though

I agree but then I haven't heard any repetitive doom laden messages, and I watch the news a lot.

BBC news tonight led with a documentary piece about hospital staff. The objective was clear in that the voice over kept referring to those that were skeptic about the numbers affected by coronavirus, the age of those requiring treatment and the need for a full population lockdown.

I counted 7 female NHS workers filmed crying including the head of the mortuary who referred to a never ending supply of dead bodies. Last night some grave diggers were pictured digging graves but this was not included in tonight's news. Only two patients were described one in their "mid twenties" and one 28. A crying consultant talked to camera telling people to social distance. It was beyond doom laden. I felt that the individuals affected were being exploited.

Onlinedilema · 19/01/2021 22:04

To put a different slant on this I was a child of around 12 when Aids was in the news all the time. I remember quite clearly the adverts and the "Don't die of ignorance" campaign. I was absolutely petrified of the disease, even though I wasn't having sex , and this was believed to be the main way of catching it. We heard about how people could catch it from having a blood transfusion or going to the dentist. Quite frankly the possibility of me or my close family contracting the disease were minimal to say the least. Even so the fear stayed with me for a long time. I can't imagine how children must feel now when covid is certainly a virus they can catch and can spread.

NeedWineNow · 19/01/2021 22:17

I agree. We usually have Smooth on during the day but we've had to switch as neither one of us can stand that advert. We know this is serious, it has been for the last year, but the tone of this is so inappropriate. I think it will have the opposite effect and turn people away from complying.

KeepWashingThoseHands · 19/01/2021 22:22

I’m getting seriously concerned at this message. Travelling say 10 miles to go on an outside walk when you’ve been isolated indoors for months is bending the rules and results in people dying apparently. Yet despite southern England being put in tier 4 on Boxing Day and a week later the whole country locked down (ie. the govt knew how bad things were) it was within the rules for someone I know to travel to Dubai on Xmas Eve for a family holiday. Shockingly they brought back COVID along with groups they met there, becoming symptomatic on the flight so who knows who else was put at risk.

There are many other examples of what’s been within the rules but stupid as f*k vs what’s bending the rules. What are largely law abiding sensible people are being accused of something unspeakable and it serves a purpose to have people at each other’s throats for minor misdemeanours, completely missing the bigger picture issues.

I like so many others have followed the rules for what 10 months now and will not be manipulated or held responsible for systematic govt failures to take timely and sensible decisions that DO result in people dying.

Flaxmeadow · 19/01/2021 22:23

Was there no warning beforehand about the news report Billie18?

Shaniac · 19/01/2021 22:33

I agree op and people catching covid arwnt always at fault as much as people want to pretend they are to blame. An example i live in a rented flat, we had a boiler issue 2 days ago, builder or maintenence guy came out to fix the pipe, hes text today to say he is covid positive so i was stood next to him in my flat without a mask and now i may catch it. Not my fault.

Agree about the messages causing mental health issues. In my own situation i am diagnosed with severe ocd since the age of 5. Although i always displayed signs it was after a lecture on an afterschool show about washing your hands everytime you did anything or you would get parasitic worms and become ill. It fucked me up to the point i would wash my hands hundreds of times a day until they bled, would shower 3 times a day, would vomit up food if i became convinced i hadnt washed my hands enough before eating, changed 5 times a day and became very unwell. Im seeing the same thing happen in a few kids in my life and even my adult cousin who has become pretty mentally unwell from it.

Its too much.

LetItGoGo · 19/01/2021 22:34

@KeepWashingThoseHands agree about travellers flying on holiday. I contrast this with local travel in your car for example, where you are not actually interacting with people thus it being impossible to spread a flipping virus, being made illegal!

Watchingbehindmyhands · 19/01/2021 22:48

The strength of the government messages I think is so inappropriate at times. You don't have the option of shielding kids from it

Turn the radio off?

mum133566 · 19/01/2021 23:27

I agree with you 100%

AnxiousAlpaca · 19/01/2021 23:35

I’ve only seen the one with Chris Whitty which pops up on ITV now and then. That one isn’t too bad. Some of these radio ones sound genuinely terrifying though.

WanderingFruitWonderer · 20/01/2021 03:15

I agree that such messaging is everywhere, and hard to avoid. It can be very distressing, especially as I genuinely believe that most people are doing their best, as much as their personal circumstances allow.
I follow the rules, and believe all three lockdowns have been unavoidable. However, I do think we're inconsistent. Non-compliance to the current rules may cause death, but of course, may well not, if said non-complier doesn't have Covid or catch it. But also, other things people do may cause or contribute to death - driving reduces air quality, which over time harms others; every time people consume certain non-fairtrade goods, they could well be contributing to slavery and death. So many other possible examples too...
It's IMPOSSIBLE to be perfect in this world. We all just need to do our best to be harmless and helpful - normally and now. The messaging does indeed need to be re-thought, as in itself it could do terrible damage. Besides all that anyway, the vast majority of Covid cases are transmitted in the workplace, which isn't their fault. Oh, I can't wait for all this to be over...

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 20/01/2021 03:38

Honestly, it's nothing like as 'in your face' as the public service announcements in the 70's were. Then AIDS.

We all coped.

& better still nagged our parents to stop smoking.

Kids will notice the adverts more if their parents aren't complying with the rules & hopefully nag them.

Supermarket transmission is quite high now- yet people still 'pop in' for the odd thing - like the complete idiots they are. It's a shame these adverts don't make them think twice.

Bar of chocolate v Covid. Hmmmmm

Angelofdeath · 20/01/2021 04:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sunshinegirl82 · 20/01/2021 08:55

No, the adverts don't make me think twice to be honest. We haven't socialised for months apart from a very occasional park visit with two under 5's in the wind and rain.

I shopped for 4 families during lockdown 1, have had a child at nursery and school from June until they closed recently, have been working in the office everyday and am now also trying to homeschool whilst working a high pressured client facing job so if I want a bar of chocolate I'll have a bloody bar of chocolate!