I genuinely don't get why people are so offended by small rule breaks at this point

[Flower234]

I'm not trying to be goady and this is not a thread about a thread, but inspired by admittedly

So basically, 1/3 or there abouts (maybe more?) have had first vaccine which we now KNOW reduces transmission. Everything is trending downwards. We've been doing this for a year- Many of us are financially, mentally and emotionally drained, but things are looking up. It's safer than it's been in a while, and it's time to consider 'opening up. I'm not anti-lockdown, but I am pro proportionate covid restrictions with the minimum restrictions to liberty necessary.

That said, how do some people genuinely take time out of their day to have a go at people for the tiniest rule breaks which will make NO impact or very little impact on transmission?

Like a single person going to a second home, someone meeting two people outside instead of one, someone driving an hour to meet a partner they haven't seen in four months for a walk... All genuine examples I've seen people go irate over

It scares me how quickly people will cite "the rules," even if they are nonsensical. Some of my 'friends' would scream at me for meeting two people outside today but if the gov said you could meet thirty people indoors tomorrow legally, would go to a house party no question.

I suppose my question is does anyone else feel like people use "because the government made it a rule" as a reason to control and rebuke others, without any aspect of critical thinking or actual science? They're not scared of covid- They don't care about transmission. They just like the powertrip.

Does anyone else feel they know a lot of people like this?

I agree. Sick to death of it all now. Beyond a joke and out of all proportion now..

When I say I follow the rules I dont mean I hardly ever go out. I'm not allowed to work at home (NHS) and another member of my household works in a supermarket so its perfectly possible to get it while following the rules. Some of us due to jobs/necessity have to mix with other people.

@Kazzyhoward
@PinkTonic

I do understand.

I understand that with no PPE, I’m told to go hang out with 36 teenagers for 2 hours; followed by another 34 teenagers for 1 hour; another 31 teens for an hour and finally 35 teens for the last hour of the day.
Following this I go supervise around 60 year 11’s as part of a recovery programme in a room. (Typical day).

So I understand that for the greater good of other people, I like all teachers are placed directly in the line of transmission.

Now, if the government are willing to do that to me, I clearly don’t need to be worrying about Covid. Because why would my own government put us in an unsafe position? Along with telling us all ‘schools are safe’...I now feel completely safe, fine and comfortable about this virus. Why wouldn’t I?

Therefore I will adjust my risk accordingly.

I work in a school & dc are in school. Because I have increased risk through that I've been much stricter with rules (except my xmas breach) eg not eating out to help out or holidays when allowed, no other mixing etc.

[quote Totallyfedup1979]@Kazzyhoward
@PinkTonic

I do understand.

I understand that with no PPE, I’m told to go hang out with 36 teenagers for 2 hours; followed by another 34 teenagers for 1 hour; another 31 teens for an hour and finally 35 teens for the last hour of the day.
Following this I go supervise around 60 year 11’s as part of a recovery programme in a room. (Typical day).

So I understand that for the greater good of other people, I like all teachers are placed directly in the line of transmission.

Now, if the government are willing to do that to me, I clearly don’t need to be worrying about Covid. Because why would my own government put us in an unsafe position? Along with telling us all ‘schools are safe’...I now feel completely safe, fine and comfortable about this virus. Why wouldn’t I?

Therefore I will adjust my risk accordingly.[/quote]
The pandemic has impacted people in different ways, some more directly than others it’s true. You happen to be a teacher. I happen to be CEV and don’t have any school age children. If I look at this from a purely personal perspective I don’t want schools to reopen as I want community infection to come down as low as possible, in order to minimise my husband’s risk of contracting the virus through going to work and bringing it home to me. That’s my priority. Not catching the virus is my priority. I can’t see my children or family either, so on that basis you are no worse off than anyone else who can’t see their family. Apparently children need to go to school though so I have to accept that that’s where the next relaxation in mixing will have to come. Unfortunately people like you will inevitably amplify the effect by self interest and political posturing.

I’m really honestly past caring.
I’m positively excited about going back to school and all the freedoms that come with that.

I am happy for the children to be back, I think it’s so important. I do worry about people breaking rules and it coming into the classroom though. Some people clearly think the rules don’t matter.

From a public health pov covid shouldn't be the only concern at the moment. But you'd think it is. I also find it concerning that people are so black and white about the restrictions. I would have more sympathy for the judgers if they also judged the government's disastrous mismanagement of the situation and were up in arms about outbreaks in hospitals, prisons, care homes. Things like going for a day trip will have no effect on the number of positive cases.

@Italiandreams

I am happy for the children to be back, I think it’s so important. I do worry about people breaking rules and it coming into the classroom though. Some people clearly think the rules don’t matter.

If the rules mattered that much, they’d matter in schools too.

The fact that simple things like mask wearing and rotas are not enforced in schools, leads me to believe that this ‘Covid’ really can’t be as bad as we’ve all been led to believe. Because no government would put their societies teachers and children in harms way would they?

So therefore, I think it’s safe to deduce that Covid is not worth worrying about.

The fact that simple things like mask wearing and rotas are not enforced in schools, leads me to believe that this ‘Covid’ really can’t be as bad as we’ve all been led to believe.

Different schools have different standards don't they? The lack of PPE for hospitals & care workers didn't make me think it wasn't needed.

Because no government would put their societies teachers and children in harms way would they?

Are the families of the children who go to school somehow protected from harm?

The government don’t care about school staff. Of course they should be given the same protection as everyone else. Are you serious telling me I have no chance of catching Covid on the classroom?

@popsly

The fact that simple things like mask wearing and rotas are not enforced in schools, leads me to believe that this ‘Covid’ really can’t be as bad as we’ve all been led to believe.

Different schools have different standards don't they? The lack of PPE for hospitals & care workers didn't make me think it wasn't needed.

Because no government would put their societies teachers and children in harms way would they?

Are the families of the children who go to school somehow protected from harm?

Absolutely! The same magical force that protects teachers and pupils, will spread to families and they too will no longer have to worry about Covid. But only from March 8th!!!!

Just wondered why you left them out?

I don't think most parents believe they are sending their dc to the slaughter or that schools are completely safe. However most believe the risk to be small & the benefits to largely outweigh the risks.

@Italiandreams

The government don’t care about school staff. Of course they should be given the same protection as everyone else. Are you serious telling me I have no chance of catching Covid on the classroom?

I wouldn’t tell you that no.

But clearly society want teachers back as normal, so their children can come back to school without any additional measures. Society and government is willing to risk teachers safety for a perceived greater good (teacher absence; cover lessons; repeated isolations and all that other good stuff).

Parents and government want their children ‘socialising’ again, when we are all being told not to socialise and want teaching staff to enable this to happen.

So, I feel I have two choices:

1. Do as I’m told. Mix in school; continue lockdown at home and if I get the virus then it was for the greater good to other people’s kids (but not my own child’s)

Or

1. Fuck it. Go into school, but pay everyone else as much consider as they’ve paid us. Do as I please. Let my son visit his friends and girlfriend. At least then if I do get Covid, it’s been worth it.

Sorry, but anyone expecting me to go to school but do nothing else can simply fuck off.

*consideration

But clearly society want teachers back as normal, so their children can come back to school without any additional measures. Society and government is willing to risk teachers safety for a perceived greater good (teacher absence; cover lessons; repeated isolations and all that other good stuff).
Society does want schools back but surely that also exposes them to risk. It's not just the safety of teachers that are impacted by schools being open is it?

Go into school, but pay everyone else as much consider as they’ve paid us

Who is everyone else? The people that send their dc to school?

I understand where you are coming from, it’s not fair but if everyone felt the same I feel we are putting vulnerable people at risk. I’m pregnant and starting to be quite worried about it in a way I haven’t been up until now.

For ages I felt worried and concerned and followed the rules to the letter.

Now I feel angry and bitter and resolute.

I am looking at a return to school from a different POV to enable me to feel something different. So I have something to look forward to.

I’m prepared to take the risk, but have made it so it’s on my terms.

I will be back at school. That’s all people need to concern themselves with:

Now I feel angry and bitter and resolute.

No shit

@ILookAtTheFloor

Completely agree OP.

It's a total farce. People can undertake their own risk assessments. It's one of the reasons that there's more traffic this time than lockdown 1. People know that driving for a walk alone is close to zero risk.

I went to the supermarket once a week during lockdown 1. Now I know that supermarkets aren't huge hotbeds of disease so I go all the time (that, and I've had close contact with covid, didn't get it and I'm 3 weeks post first jab). People are doing such risk assessments all the time.

The roads aren't busy because of people going for walks alone though. It's people going round to houses.

Because a lot of people think if we are really , really good boys and girls then nasty covid will disappear forever. The more miserable we are, the faster that will happen . Extra points for demonising teenagers .

I agree, op. As a previous poster said, there needs to be critical thinking going on. I took my dc to a local National Trust site for a walk over half term. It's not far, but we did use the car to get there. A 'friend' was very rude to me about it. Despite the fact that she's constantly in the supermarket, or popping into boots or b&m for anything and everything. I've avoided more crowded indoor spaces such as supermarkets and had food and other items delivered to avoid unnecessary contact. Yet the rules would probably make me look more irresponsible.

@willowsway

I agree, op. As a previous poster said, there needs to be critical thinking going on. I took my dc to a local National Trust site for a walk over half term. It's not far, but we did use the car to get there. A 'friend' was very rude to me about it. Despite the fact that she's constantly in the supermarket, or popping into boots or b&m for anything and everything. I've avoided more crowded indoor spaces such as supermarkets and had food and other items delivered to avoid unnecessary contact. Yet the rules would probably make me look more irresponsible.

I remember in the first lockdown there was the arbitrary rule of you can only leave your house once a day for exercise. I thought straight away 'fuck that i'm going out twice, once in the morning and once in the evening'. I'd go on my own and keep my distance from anyone else.

However, the only place I was going to was the local Tesco once a week, where i'd go early usually on a Monday morning when it was empty and be in and out in 15 minutes.

But people who were 'following the rules' could ostensibly go to the co-op or newsagents every day for 'essentials' such as the Daily Mail. I'd go for my morning walk during the first lockdown and the only people about were older people clutching their newspaper. Nothing against that but it's an infection risk.

Since December I haven't been in a shop at all and get a supermarket delivery once a week. I still go out twice a day though for a walk.