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Original poster

Strangers not social distancing in lifts

74 replies

TobysMum16 · 08/07/2021 14:52

Just got back from a morning shopping in my local town centre and am reeling.
There’s posters everywhere in the centre asking people to social distance / mask wear etc and specifically only 2 households at a time in the lifts.
My friend and I were waiting on a lift to take us up a level to the car park. We both had prams with us so couldn’t use the stairs or escalators. We got on and two other (seemingly able bodied adults) adults tried to push in with us. We politely explained that lift was full and as it was a limit of two households. We then got an earful from both people, telling us to “fuck off” that we were being stupid as everyone’s been vaccinated now (our babies hadn’t of course). Was pretty awful to be honest!
Slightly worried this is a sign of things to come as once restrictions are lifted they will be lots of people who just want to forget anything happened and others (like me) who would appreciate some extra space.

OP posts:
motherrunner · 08/07/2021 16:42

I was on duty today so had hundreds of people walk past me in a corridor - if you think a lift is tight try doing that. I guess as I don’t have the luxury of social distancing I find it crazy that people worry about people just sharing their space for a minute at most.

SonnetForSpring · 08/07/2021 16:44

@MrsLCSofLichfield

They sound like rude twats, as do some of the other posters on here. Hope you and your babies stay well, OP Flowers
Yep.
Ugzbugz · 08/07/2021 16:56

Reeling is extreme as in 11 days those lifts will have no rules.

But they were rude.

KatherineJaneway · 08/07/2021 17:02

They were very rude but for the sake of a brief lift journey I wouldn't have said anything to them.

InFiveMins · 08/07/2021 18:13

Hmm they shouldn't have sworn at you but people reacting this way less than 2 weeks before restrictions completely come to an end is astonishing. Get used to it.

LucilleTheVampireBat · 08/07/2021 18:30

Reeling 🤣

Is that the level below (lift pun) sobbing and shaking?

farfallarocks · 08/07/2021 19:06

Swearing not on but I would have rolled my eyes inside my head at your antics.

RoseRedRoseBlue · 09/07/2021 00:02

@lynsey91

Me and DH stayed in a hotel last week and the lift there had a notice saying the same and everyone abided by it.

I don't want and will not share a lift with others at the moment. After the 19th July I probably just won't go anywhere where I need to use a lift.

Personally I am sick of people not social distancing, not wearing masks or not wearing them properly and this has been throughout the pandemic.

We went to the cinema last night and there was only us and another couple. When I booked the seats it showed 2 seats booked in the second from front row. I booked the very back row as I can't sit much closer to the screen without getting a migraine.

No sign of the other couple until the film had actually started and then the come in, look around and come and sit in the same row as us! Ok quite a few seats along but really. Then the morons talked all the way through the film

After the 19th you probably won’t go anywhere you have to use a lift? Bloody Hell. Seriously?
Elys3 · 09/07/2021 00:24

Bullying mums with babies, what nasty lazy fuckers

Elys3 · 09/07/2021 00:26

Whatever happened to courtesy and patience?

beentoldcomputersaysno · 09/07/2021 03:31

@Elys3

Bullying mums with babies, what nasty lazy fuckers
This
TheVampiresWife · 09/07/2021 07:29

What disgusting individuals, talking to mums with babies like that. I'm sorry you had to go through that OP Flowers

Try not to worry, the short time a lift ride takes will be very unlikely to be an issue even if they did have covid (remember not everyone does!). I'd be reeling from the way they spoke too, but not because of any covid risk.

Also worth remembering that even people who look fit and healthy may not be able to take the stairs. No excuse at all for them being rude, bullying twats however.

Sillyduckseverywhere · 09/07/2021 07:31

If it worries you, take the stairs. Much healthier.

Original poster
TobysMum16 · 09/07/2021 08:23

To come back and clarify - I was taken aback by their behaviour. Perhaps I have lead a sheltered life, but it shocks me that some many people on here seem to think that it’s normal and okay to be that angry with strangers with only a small amount of provocation. I didn’t collapse on a heap on the floor and it’s certainly not the worse thing that’s ever happened!
I’m not massively worried about infection risk either. It was more the fact that it was already a tight spot and I didn’t want some stranger crushed in against me when it was completely unnecessary.
As for the fact rules are changing on 19th - yes I know this, but until they do change I expect others to follow them. Once they change maybe I’ll re-think my routes. Obviously I won’t be able to make the same request for space (but that’s progress I guess Hmm)
I don’t have health anxiety, but I do know people who do. They do want to take smaller steps back to the pre Covid world. This isn’t something that should just be shrugged off and told to get on with it. Some people have had some horrible experiences during Covid and they aren’t just going to forget about it over night.
I keep thinking - what if it had been someone more vulnerable: what if it had been a new mum tentatively taking her baby out for the first time? What if the person had recently lost a family member recently to it and was out for the first time in a while…. I think we all need to show a little more kindness. It costs very little to follow the rule (or if you really can’t at least show respect to those that do for the last couple of weeks).

OP posts:
minatrina · 09/07/2021 08:42

Oh, what a trial it would have been for the men to wait a few minutes for another lift! What a terrible pain for them!

OP, you naively assumed that other people would be as reasonable as you are. Sadly, this last year has proved that the British public are suffering from another epidemic besides covid: self-centred callousness

People who care about other people will agree with you. Selfish people will not.

Backhills · 09/07/2021 08:54

@Sillyduckseverywhere

If it worries you, take the stairs. Much healthier.
Did you miss the two prams thing?
megletthesecond · 09/07/2021 08:59

Yanbu. Personally I never get the lift but when I did have to at work the other week to get a box upstairs I waited until an empty one came along.

Rockpipit · 09/07/2021 09:00

I get what you're saying completely OP.

Chillychangchoo · 09/07/2021 09:01

Maybe it’s best if you don’t go out now for the foreseeable.

Rockpipit · 09/07/2021 09:08

@Chillychangchoo bit extreme don't you think. Do you think it's acceptable to swear at strangers in response to the polite and justified request made by the OP?

Londontown12 · 09/07/2021 09:14

I feel ya !!! I won’t use lifts because of this , but having a pushchair doesn’t give u an option !! I went to a city yesterday about an hour away from where I love I honest to God was shocked to see so many people in shops with no masks I’m not surprised covid is spreading x

Chillychangchoo · 09/07/2021 09:30

@Rockpipit

I don’t think swearing at strangers is acceptable no but clearly a lot of people in society do. This is why I would avoid such situations if it was going to leave me “reeling”. OP clearly has led a very sheltered life. Which she admits.

The whole world doesn’t revolve around me and if I was truly cautious about social distancing I would be wise enough to avoid places such as busy shopping centres.

SmallPrawnEnergy · 09/07/2021 09:41

@CrouchEndTiger12

Seriously?

Stay in the house then.

If you’re too stupid to not follow the rules of wherever you are then you stay at home Hmm probably safer for everyone tbh you sound like you need a nominated adult to assist in your life.
SmallPrawnEnergy · 09/07/2021 09:42

@Chillychangchoo

Maybe it’s best if you don’t go out now for the foreseeable.
Another one too thick to follow rules. How do you people not walk into traffic on the daily! “Fuck the green man, I don’t follow rules implemented for a everyone’s safety”
SmidgenofaPigeon · 09/07/2021 09:51

@SmallPrawnEnergy you shouldn’t blindly be following what the green man says at all actually. You need to take into account your own risk assessment on whether it’s safe to cross the road. Sometimes this can be achieved even when the man is at red! If there are no cars coming then you don’t have to stand there like a lemon. Teaching your children to blindly trust in the green man is very dangerous. What if a car comes speeding through the lights and they’re halfway across the road because you taught them to only cross when they see the green man?