If you’re this worried about catching the virus you should stay at home

[TheRebelle]

Today I was in a lovely National Trust property with my 4 year old, masked up and lathered in hand sanitiser, walking around chatting we went through to the next room where, unknown to us, a couple were standing behind the door and the man put his hand out toward us and barked Stop! Two meters! And then turned his back to us. Now I had no intention of going any closer to him anyway but was it really necessary to shout at us, he could’ve at least said would you mind keeping the two meter distance from us please? Or some such, it really upset me.

Don’t let it upset you, some people are utterly obsessed with covid rules and let them dominate their lives. No one is catching it from a fleeting walk past someone at a less than 2m distance but people have been conditioned to believing that every stranger is a filthy infected person and there is no reasoning with people like that.

It says a lot more about the state of their life than it does yours. But I do agree if people are this paranoid they should stay at home not inflict their unfounded anxiety onto others who are just trying to enjoy life. Some women told me today when I was walking with my friend and our babies that it’s was “the law” to walk in single file on pavements and we should have moved out of her way sooner... she was also wearing a mask and plastic gloves outside in 26 degree heat which says it’s all.

I'd be cheesed off too. It's not worth any more of your emotional energy, though.

I do think some people are going to look back on this and cringe at how ridiculous they have been this man will be one of them

I agree they were rude but also that if it 'really upset' you then is it possible you're a touch on the sensitive side? I would have smiled blandly and just carried on to where I wanted to be in the room or if they persisted pointed out that people couldn't see them behind a door. Don't let jt play on your thoughts hours later

To be fair though your 4yo was presumably not masked

He does sound rude. Even allowing for the fact some people have health issues and want to be a bit more careful. I don't think he should have stayed at home though. Just find a way to conduct himself better.

Of course they are over the top. But everyone has had a great deal of stress and I would probably just mutter to myself and throw in an eye roll but then let it go

He was probably a pompous entitled bossy boots before covid, and this is just another way for him to show it.
Just roll your eyes and be thankful you don't live next door to him, work with him, or volunteer on the same committee as him! That's what I do when I come across these types!

No, they shouldn't stay home. If you are coping better than they are, then you can cut them a bit of slack.

What did they really do to harm you? They sounded stressed/cross and put their arm up. None of us know what their mental or physical health situation is, or how lockdown has affected them.

Don't let them upset you - you did nothing wrong but there is no need to hold on to this incident.

I won't make excuses for people behaving like that, OP. It's rude, intimidating and hysterical. Some people love the opportunity to 'other' us and by now they ought to get a grip or stay in. Men shouting at women who are so obviously protecting others by wearing masks are especially cunty. He was stood behind a door ffs!

But you won't get much back up from most people attracted to threads like this

"To be fair though your 4yo was presumably not masked"

You don't know this! Some 4 year olds really hate wearing masks and it would be a huge struggle to make them.
But some 4 year olds are fine wearing them for shortish periods of time, and some kids even like masks! My dc is a little older, but loves her mask as it has her favourite TV characters on. She wears hers inside shops etc and I see plenty of small kids wearing masks. Which is NOT to deny that some children hate them, but I dont think you can presume that op's son wasn't wearing one.

Honestly don’t worry about it, people (often older People) are relishing the opportunity to tell people what they should do. Don’t give it any further thought.

I agree OP

There has been a study I read today that says that the most judgemental /moral high ground types are the people most scared of catching covid .
Myself and DP...live and let live ,caring not a jot types -followed all the rules to the letter ,both caught it ,very bad .DP almost died .5 days in ICU .Happy we are still alive !!,non judgemental ,not scared .
I feel sorry for some people .

That guy needs to stay the fuck at home and I'd have told him so.

@Ostara212

That guy needs to stay the fuck at home and I'd have told him so.

This ^ I have no time for people like this now. Get on with life (while respecting the roolz obviously) or fucking go home.

@Ostara212

That guy needs to stay the fuck at home and I'd have told him so.

This.

Yeah he should absolutely go home and stay there instead of acting the goat in public (it’s always women these men shout at isn’t it?) Also, why is it always the rules lovers who don’t seem to really understand them? You don’t need to maintain a two metre distance with a mask on. As if anyone has been maintaining a two metre distance anywhere since about last June anyway.

Don't pay him an iota of attention. Roll your eyes and carry on as you were

Some people have used the pandemic as a way if exerting control over others. Plus its the 1m plus rule if you have masks on. Hes just embarassing hi.self, take no notice

@nellly

I agree they were rude but also that if it 'really upset' you then is it possible you're a touch on the sensitive side? I would have smiled blandly and just carried on to where I wanted to be in the room or if they persisted pointed out that people couldn't see them behind a door. Don't let jt play on your thoughts hours later

That would have been pretty much my reaction too. If challenged further I would have informed him that I had as.much right as he did to be in that room

Two suggestions for him:
If you are concerned about a minimum of 2m then moving further into the room would have been a sensible approach
Perhaps just stick to the grounds where you can easily be more than 2m apart.
Another suggestion to him would be not to be so fucking rude: a polite request for someone to give them a little more space is all that is required.

Something similar happened to me yesterday funnily enough. It was waiting for a train. Someone barked at me "stay back" like I had the plague. I didn't cough or anything to produce that response. I said "i'm about 2 meters away from you". "2 meters isn't enough, no wonder we're in a third wave is it?".

I didn't even know what to say.

Some people are just dicks. C'mon you must know this. I was at the carwash the other day and as the door to exit was rising slowly I heard the man in the car behind shouting Come on to me impatiently, just a nob

A bit OTT but so is beingvso upset by it.

Its about respect for others as we come.out of this...on all sides. He was over dramatic and you offended by that. Of he'd kept on, yep that's rude. His reaction was not ideal but probably fed by anxiety. He can't be enjoying life as much as you are right now

Everyone is in a different place as we emerge from this pandemic. People like you and me may have been going about our business throughout or for a long while but someone somewhere is going out for the first time today, out for their 3rd or 4th time on recent weeks and still adapting. It's easy to forget that when I've been so "normal" for a while.

I think it's a bit cruel to say don't go out if that uptight. No one is going to get used to resocialising if they just stay home for ever. We all need to just give everyone a bit of slack and respect that where some people are totally chilled others aren't.

I have met people a bit like this and mainly I feel very sad at how scared people still are.

Although if someone had shouted at me I think I may have lost the plot back, it's just all a bit much.

Now that we have vaccines, masks , hand sanitiser, I can't be doing with this kind of reaction or ridiculous rules anymore , time to get on with living .