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Original poster

Friends don't / won't test

165 replies

Chewbecca · 31/12/2021 16:34

Before we go out this evening.

I just think that is a little rude of them! It's for our benefit, not their own so it just seems polite to do it for the people you're seeing.

WWYD? If anything.

OP posts:
Aderyn21 · 31/12/2021 19:56

PMSL at the poster upthread who said to cancel and block - I bet they're swimming in friends Grin

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/12/2021 20:04

@VintageCookbook honestly MN is like a different world. I work in a factory, no one is asked if we've done LFTs by the bosses. It wouldn't even occur to me to ask my friends.

Justgettingbye · 31/12/2021 20:06

Me and my family/friends aren't testing unless we have symptoms tbh

bluetongue · 31/12/2021 20:46

@Potatodrivers

Isn't this new variant not picked up as much as the previous ones?

Either way, I really wouldn't think too much about it considering you're going out for a meal. It would be more understandable if you were just going to be with them in one of your homes, but not when you're willingly going to be surrounded by strangers.
Different tables makes no difference what so ever. You're all in the same airspace.

Agreed. Sounds like my mum who ‘won’t be catching that covid’ but still goes out to pubs and cafes. Good on her for still living life but I don’t think sheer will power will be enough to stop her catching Omicron even if she is triple jabbed,
ManyMaybes · 31/12/2021 20:56

Such paranoia asking people with no symptoms to test! If you are so nervous then don’t you go out.

But don’t make everyone else get tests and possibly ruin the next few weeks because of testing positive, for an illness that is now showing to be rather mild. If you are vulnerable or seeing vulnerable people then you should do whatever you need to do or feel you need to do. For people that don’t have any of these factors to consider, why should they?

lljkk · 31/12/2021 21:34

Friend is asking for results of my latest test (only took it since I was required to by Home Office). Friend obviously doesn't want to see me until I tell her the result. I somehow haven't found time to reply...

Emilyontmoor · 31/12/2021 21:53

Such paranoia asking people with no symptoms to test! If you are so nervous then don’t you go out The government are literally telling you to only use LFT if you don’t have symptoms. PCR if you do. 1 in15 Londoners had it last week, with the incidence twice in the 20 somethings, they certainly think it is not paranoid……

whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy · 31/12/2021 22:03

People asking me to rest make me not want to test. I'm a fucking grown up. I can read the news myself. I know it makes me petty but it really yanks my chain.

UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 22:30

@winnieanddaisy

DD is a nurse and she is having a party in our house tonight . She has asked everyone to test before they come as she is back in on the night shift tomorrow and doesn't want to risk leaving her colleagues short staffed .
That's a pretty risky strategy I would think. You don't necessarily test positive straight away when you have caught it and prior to symptoms. But having lots of people in your home socialising if anyone has it many will catch it. She just won't know if she's caught it before she goes back to work!
SalveVagina · 31/12/2021 22:33

OP, on a slightly different note, I had a similar situation last week with a social event. I have not done a test, and will not do one (because I can't have time off work if it's positive, so there's no earthly way I'll do one). I said I'd done one and it was negative. So I suppose that's another way round it. At least your friends are honest!

UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 22:36

@ManyMaybes

Such paranoia asking people with no symptoms to test! If you are so nervous then don’t you go out.

But don’t make everyone else get tests and possibly ruin the next few weeks because of testing positive, for an illness that is now showing to be rather mild. If you are vulnerable or seeing vulnerable people then you should do whatever you need to do or feel you need to do. For people that don’t have any of these factors to consider, why should they?

I kind of get your point but for me my next few weeks are more likely to be ruined by catching Covid than by being well and isolating for 7 days. 'Mild' only means not being hospitalised - it can still be a really nasty and long lasting illness.
bongobingo43 · 31/12/2021 22:40

I'd take it as then saying they didn't care enough about me as a friend, regardless of their views on covid

Yeah you could catch it on the restaurant but the biggest risk is those whose house you'll be sitting in & those you'll be sharing a table with.

You don't do an lft for yourself, you do it for the sake of those you'll be socialising with (as well as the general public).

Agree they're not 100% accurate so can't be relied on but can still reduce the risk so why wouldn't you? Not exactly a hardship

Bluebluemoon · 31/12/2021 22:46

Are people really doing this? If a friend asked me to test before meeting them, unless they were vulnerable or shielding, I would laugh in their face.

Literally no one in the real world is doing this. Do you all live in weird villages reminiscent of Royston vasey, cut off from normal folk or something?

Maybe your friends can't afford to take a week off work if they test positive by some fluke? Who the hell are you to tell them what to do OP?

So sick of this inventing your own rules crap - you are basically holding people (your own "friends" no less) to ransom unless they follow your own batshit morality stance.

You do realise the chefs in the restaurant could be coughing into your food for all you know? Do you think all the waiting staff are testing?

Crazy.

lljkk · 31/12/2021 22:47

i flipping hate the tests.

Mouth ones made me gag & nose ones make my eyes water. PCR was just short of painful. Yuck.

Covidworries · 31/12/2021 23:08

@salvevagina

Lowest of the low to lie to people who have asked you to test. If you wont test dont frigging tell them you have and its negative. Here is a noval idea just stay away and admit you wont test.

If i knew a buisness were 3ncouraging their staff not to test i would report the buisness, make sure other knew and avoid that buisness that doesnt value its customers.

Wizzbangfizz · 31/12/2021 23:36

If you are that worried don't go out

Emilyontmoor · 31/12/2021 23:42

Mouth ones made me gag & nose ones make my eyes water. PCR was just short of painful. Yuck. I assume you are not female? Far worse to cope with. Several family members do daily LTF tests and twice weekly PCR working on the frontline.It all sounds a bit pathetic in comparison

Againstmachine · 31/12/2021 23:46

So people don't like doing them they are pathetic, it seems a common theme on here, you cannot dislike something to do with covid, you have to enjoy masks tests ect.

Emilyontmoor · 31/12/2021 23:54

So people don't like doing them they are pathetic, it seems a common theme on here, you cannot dislike something to do with covid, you have to enjoy masks tests ect.- Slight difference (not) between finding not particularly difficult things a bit annoying in contributing to controlling a pandemic and throwing a hissy fit at being asked.

MiddleParking · 01/01/2022 00:21

In all seriousness since you’re low on friends by your own admission then you should have a word with yourself about why that might be and rethink your friend retention strategy. It’s not up to you to ‘expect’ arbitrary shit from your friends, you’re not the prefect. If you don’t want to risk getting ill stay in your house.

lljkk · 01/01/2022 07:43

I assume you are not female? Far worse to cope with.

I am curious what triggered that comment. Do many female humans routinely all their lives swab their nose & mouth microbes -- is there a habit I haven't heard of before for other (fellow) female humans?

Marianne1234 · 01/01/2022 07:56

I saw, I think it was on twitter, someone moaning about their friend who did not want to test prior to meeting and subsequently share the results of that test, because “it’s my medical information and I shouldn’t be forced to disclose anything”.

The friend was being pulled apart on twitter for their selfishness etc but to be honest I could see their point. No one has any right to “expect” anyone else to undertake a fairly invasive medical screening test. It doesn’t matter how quick and easy said test is.

EmmaOvary · 01/01/2022 09:00

@Bluebluemoon "Literally no one in the real world is doing this."

Yes, yes they are. Just because you aren't on the off chance you 'test positive because of some fluke', sont assume nobody else is.

We visited CEV MIL and SIL over Christmas. Everyone tested daily. Why? Because we didn't want to end up passing on something to them that could kill them.

It's a sad state of affairs when people think sticking a cotton Bud up their nose for 10 seconds is a serious affront to their liberty.

friedeggandsauce · 01/01/2022 09:06

We had friends around yesterday for new year and everyone tested before coming (in fact one family didn't come as one of their party had a positive LFT)

In my social circle we always test before an indoor gathering. Why wouldn't you 🤷🏼‍♀️

bongobingo43 · 01/01/2022 09:09

@Marianne1234

I saw, I think it was on twitter, someone moaning about their friend who did not want to test prior to meeting and subsequently share the results of that test, because “it’s my medical information and I shouldn’t be forced to disclose anything”.

The friend was being pulled apart on twitter for their selfishness etc but to be honest I could see their point. No one has any right to “expect” anyone else to undertake a fairly invasive medical screening test. It doesn’t matter how quick and easy said test is.

If it's quick & easy what part of it is invasive??

Also, the results can potentially impact the people you're meeting. Assuming you care about your friends why would you not want to share?