Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

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

128 replies

TheRebelle · 09/06/2021 20:43

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.

OP posts:

loulouljh · 09/06/2021 22:08

Agreed. Why go out if so paranoid..I don't know anyone keeping their distance now. That time has passed...

Trewawgy · 09/06/2021 22:10

There is a lovely takeaway cafe place near me which can only fit two customers at a time and I often find as I try to leave that the next customer is queuing IN THE DOORWAY and then huffs and puffs as they back up the two metres they insist on requiring (I just require enough space to get a buggy out of the cafe).

tootyfruitypickle · 09/06/2021 22:12

I was on a bus the other day and laughing with the bus driver how I was spectacularly failing to swipe my card properly and I said I couldn't think with the mask on- lightheartedly. Some old woman from the back of the bus shouted 'you can't get on without a mask' I had one on and I wasn't complaining, just being a bit dozy!! Stupid but it did upset me a bit.

At the same time I've had some nice chats with strangers out and about when we've been in the midst of ridiculous roolz somewhere.

User135644 · 09/06/2021 22:12

@DunnerRunner

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.

It's natural to be offended or perturbed at being barked out by strangers over nothing.

I have a bit of social anxiety and it's a fear of mine, particularly during the pandemic, that someone will snap at me. As I mentioned it happened to me yesterday.

Changednameforthis2021 · 09/06/2021 22:16

A Middle aged woman screamed “you are thick” “you are thick as pig shit” at me repeatedly yesterday afternoon because my 2 year old dc was stood looking over the bridge that she was coming over and he didn’t move out of the way within 2 seconds of her shouting at him to do so.
Fortunately for her I was too shocked to even say anything but I really regret that now. She had no right to speak to me like that in front of my 2 year old.

Novelusername · 09/06/2021 22:18

Really horrible to be barked at like that when you've done nothing wrong. They shouldn't have been standing hidden behind the door if they were so keen to keep at a distance, it's almost like they did it on purpose. I was actually running in the park and was about 10 metres away from a couple walking ahead. The woman looked around at me disapprovingly and then held both her hands out to her sides as a gesture for me to keep back. Ridiculous! I told her there was no need to do that as I was far away from her and had no intention to go near her so as to protect myself. She and her partner got really shirty with me, and it pissed me off because it's a form of bullying, these people only do it to those they think they can intimidate.

wherewildflowersgrow · 09/06/2021 22:20

We've all met one or two over lockdown. They were like this previously, but over other stuff.

And age has nothing to do with it, actually.

Suzi888 · 09/06/2021 22:21

@Freddiefox

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.

Are they? None of the elderly people I know give a damn about covid (and I honestly think some of them should!) but their prerogative. One of the school mum’s is constantly shooing people

we’re stood outside, wearing masks. We just let her get on with it.

wherewildflowersgrow · 09/06/2021 22:22

"Often older people"

"Middle aged"

Really, do get a grip on the ageism, (some) people!

Staffroomdoughnut · 09/06/2021 22:23

I can see why it’s upset you and it seems pretty bonkers. We know someone who isn’t able to have a vaccine due to an underlying condition and they are too scared to go out as they fear getting it will lkill them. I’d like them to feel confident to do something beyond their home but imagine if they did they’d be jumpy and paranoid. I’d be tempted to give the benefit of the doubt in terms of their reasons for seeming OTT: they might be genuinely afraid but needing to try to have some sort of life.

user1487194234 · 09/06/2021 22:25

Totally agree OP
I would have totally ignored him

nether · 09/06/2021 22:30

Families who have a CEV person for whom the vaccine may or may not work still need to get out and about a bit, because our mental health matters too.

I'm not trying to defend someone shouting at you. But I hate the thought that is in the thread title.

Making the most vulnerable (because by they've been dealt a shit hand by getting cancer or whatever) also those who ought to stay home because they are concerned is shitty, This isn't health anxiety, it's well founded, and it's perfectly possible to be OK with the risk if everyone is staying 2m (and not moving in ways that look as if they are about to get too close) and distinctly not OK otherwise.

The people who fall into that category (and you can't tell who they are just by looking) have had a really, really shitty time, with much stricter and much longer lasting isolation than many. And really need to be able to get out and about. It would be cruel to agree with the thread title and consign people to perpetual isolation, just because those blessed with better health want to occupy the outside world without regard for others.

I reiterate that people should not be rude.

Original poster

TheRebelle · 09/06/2021 22:30

Thanks everyone, I think it upset me so much because of the shock factor, we were mid conversation and I had no idea they were there until I heard the shouting and the outstretched arm, so it made me jump and I didn’t know how to react in the moment, it could’ve so easily been followed up with a “sorry, I didn’t mean to shout” or anything really to lighten the mood.

Some people are just weird I suppose.

OP posts:

Wellbythebloodyhell · 09/06/2021 22:36

@HSHorror

To be fair though your 4yo was presumably not masked

Nor did your 4yo need to be!

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 09/06/2021 22:37

I had someone twat moan to the lady on the till that l wasn't 2 metres away from him - l was probably 1.9m away so he was just being a cock.
Definitely think some people are using covid as an excuse to be bossy boots.

WouldBeGood · 09/06/2021 22:41

@Ostara212

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

Yep

Sick of being forced to live this weird half life for the terminally frightened. They can fuck off now.

AnxiousAlpaca · 09/06/2021 22:41

Not had anyone shout at me but last summer I’d stayed in a hotel. I was about to pass someone on the stairs and instead she stood in the corner on a small landing turned so she was facing the corner, huddled in it and said, “quick get passed” I felt bad I’d made her feel so uncomfortable but it seemed a tad OTT

travellinglighter · 09/06/2021 22:42

I was in Lidl and a lady was a the till in front of me. I queued up behind her at least a couple of meters away and she turned to me and said in a snotty voice “Can you please observe the 2 meters.” Her tone really put my back up so I said “I’m easily two meters away bur I have a tape measure in the car I can prove it if you like.” It shut her right up and she continued packing. She then pointed at the 2m sticker and said “ They are there for a reason you know.” She just wanted to get the last word the reply was easy “the rule is two meters not stand on the sticker.”

All she had to do was be polite.

TempsPerdu · 09/06/2021 22:44

I recently had an almost identical experience - also on a bridge, feeding the ducks - with my three year old. I was told in no uncertain terms that DD was a super-spreader and should be kept indoors for public health reasons.

This was the latest of half a dozen similar incidents since March 2020, and at risk of the usual MN cries of ‘ageism!’, on every single occasion it’s been an older lady doing the shouting. The first couple of times I was too taken aback to say anything, but I’ve toughened up now and give as good as I get.

At this point I don’t care how scared people are; no one gets to assert that my child has no right to occupy public space, or lectures me on how a preschooler should be wearing a mask outdoors.

pastmypeak · 09/06/2021 22:44

We have experienced this quite often on walk to school. Large outdoor space with path, older people walking around the park looking at my children like they have ebola and jumping in fright away from them or putting out there arm for spacing. I have 3 girls and we always walk single file in a path, and the girls are small and considerate. Really pisses me off. Why go walking at school run time if you are that terrified, go at 10.30!

pastmypeak · 09/06/2021 22:46

And yes Temps, has always been an older lady. I find a quick cough makes they dissipate quickly 😂

Ostara212 · 09/06/2021 22:48

TempsPerdu "The first couple of times I was too taken aback to say anything, but I’ve toughened up now and give as good as I get. "

What do you say? I have only managed "oh DO piss off" so far.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 09/06/2021 22:48

I kind of have to agree with your logic tbh, if someone really thinks they can go to a public place and never at any point come within 2m of someone else even for a fleeting second they are seriously delusional! There's 67 million of us crammed onto a tiny island ffs

pastmypeak · 09/06/2021 22:50

...and ironically they have probably had their 2 jabs whilst the rest of us have to patiently wait for our first or second

LouLou198 · 09/06/2021 22:51

Similar happened to me whilst queuing at the supermarket last week. An older woman was paying at the till. I had a trolley so there was a trolley's distance plus a bit between us. I hadn't noticed but there were stickers on the floor to indicate where I was supposed to stand. I was literally centimetres away from it. The women came nearer to me to shout at me and tell me that I was far to close to her!! It was awful, she was really rude. I had 5 year old dd with me who said in a loud voice "mummy why is that lady shouting at you?". I thought the same as you, if it caused her that much stress when I was 195cm away from her perhaps she would be better staying at home. It made me quite sad really to think this is what things have come to. In days gone by we probably would have passed the time having a nice chat whilst waiting.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread