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Original poster

Are you sitting outside when meeting friends?

155 replies

ParrotsAteThemAll · 15/02/2022 18:55

If a friend was coming to your house for a coffee and chat but announced on arrival they would only sit outside how would you feel? They are not CEV, double vax and awaiting booster, person the are visiting is triple vaxxed and negative LFT. They are not isolating, still working, shopping and fit and well.

This is in the UK.

OP posts:
whataballbag · 15/02/2022 19:49

Honestly, I'd ask them if they are alright.

I had health anxiety badly pre covid. It got a million times worse during covid and I honestly believe if someone had sad me down, asked if I was ok because I was clearly very very ill I would've come out of it alot sooner.

I got so bad that I didn't see DP for 18 months. Flat out refused. Fell out with ex because he let one of his work friends touch his phone and wasn't sure if he had sanitised. Cried for 4 solid days because I lent someone a lighter (rubbed it in hand sanitiser after) and was concerned that the lighter covid had somehow got from lighter, to hand, to cigarette to mouth and I was obviously going to die imminently.

It sounds so ridiculous now looking back but I was clearly very mentally unwell. I wish someone had said something to be sooner because it all seemed so reasonable in my head.

Alliswells · 15/02/2022 19:50

@AuntieStella

Yes, I'd be fine wth that

Then again I have a garden umbrella and fleecy blankets (and hot water bottles!) so wouldn't be wet or cold.

But why? Why not just go inside where it's already warm?
TWmover · 15/02/2022 19:51

I'm not doing this but if I had a friend that had anxiety around meeting and was asking to meet outside I would do my best to compromise and flex to make them feel comfortable so that we could go ahead. So many negative comments here around the position of the friend asking this yet there were so many posts over the past weeks and months about the mental health impact of covid and lockdown but when confronted with someone who may still be struggling with it all, many reactions are quite unsympathetic.

mummykel16 · 15/02/2022 19:51

@ParrotsAteThemAll

If a friend was coming to your house for a coffee and chat but announced on arrival they would only sit outside how would you feel? They are not CEV, double vax and awaiting booster, person the are visiting is triple vaxxed and negative LFT. They are not isolating, still working, shopping and fit and well.

This is in the UK.

Miffed, very miffed
pho03 · 15/02/2022 19:52

No - that’s long gone for me

itsgettingweird · 15/02/2022 19:52

I wouldn't even sit 2m apart!

I'd LFT if you requested or were vulnerable.

Enjoyingaquickdip · 15/02/2022 19:54

Yes I am. It's about reducing the risks that I can control as there are so many I can't. Most people I know are doing this as don't want Covid. I wouldn't be offended by someone else choosing to do the same.

Why just why?? I just don't get it. Did all this in 2020, utterly baffled as to why you would still be doing it 2 years later Confused

OliveTree75 · 15/02/2022 19:54

Hell no. Absolutely not!

Although I might for my best friend because she is getting married next week but even she’s not asked that of me!!

Oblomov22 · 15/02/2022 19:56

No, I refuse to. I have to wonder at the mentality of someone saying such a thing now. It's not March 20.

chiickenandchiips · 15/02/2022 19:56

Nope.

Anyone still expecting to socialise in this way needs to bow out of socialising until they can cope with the idea of getting back to normal.

There were vulnerable people before covid, what were they doing then? Bet your bottom dollar they weren't sitting outside in stormy weather in February to avoid catching flu or a winter vomiting bug.

chiickenandchiips · 15/02/2022 19:57

Yes I am. It's about reducing the risks that I can control as there are so many I can't. Most people I know are doing this as don't want Covid. I wouldn't be offended by someone else choosing to do the same.

So when will you stop 'reducing the risks' ?

OliveTree75 · 15/02/2022 19:59

@chiickenandchiips

Yes I am. It's about reducing the risks that I can control as there are so many I can't. Most people I know are doing this as don't want Covid. I wouldn't be offended by someone else choosing to do the same.

So when will you stop 'reducing the risks' ?

This! Are the people still socialising like this going to do this forever?
LollyLol · 15/02/2022 19:59

Don't be daft, it's freezing! Inside, with a cuppa.

Wnkingawalrus · 15/02/2022 20:01

I’d think they’d had some kind of memory loss and thought it was still June 2020.

RoseAndRose · 15/02/2022 20:06

This! Are the people still socialising like this going to do this forever?

Why would you wonder that? Because that's a bit of a wild leap

When there are 46,000 new cases a day and it's still peak virus season, it seems pretty sensible to me. And indeed if it was reasonable in June 2020 (under 6k cases a day) then it definitely is at the moment!

FourChimneys · 15/02/2022 20:15

I'm CEV and wouldn't do that. I had a friend round for coffee this afternoon. She tested before she came, as I did, but we sat inside for a couple of hours. I like to walk with friends but that is an activity, sitting in a cold garden is not. Besides, we have had pouring rain most of the day.

MrsTimRiggins · 15/02/2022 20:17

‘Oh don’t be so daft, it’s fucking freezing!!’
I would do an lft if they wanted me to tho.

Svara · 15/02/2022 20:18

If it was someone CEV and it was a nice crisp sunny day above 5 degrees I'd do it. A cousin could end up in hospital from a cold.

Otherwise I'd offer to open a window and we could sit two metres apart. I'm not willing to enable someone's anxiety.

Enjoyingaquickdip · 15/02/2022 20:29

When there are 46,000 new cases a day and it's still peak virus season, it seems pretty sensible to me. And indeed if it was reasonable in June 2020 (under 6k cases a day) then it definitely is at the moment

FFS - vaccines?? Hmm

IcedPurple · 15/02/2022 20:31

@Pootle40

I've never done that in the whole pandemic!
Me neither.
SilverGlitterBaubles · 15/02/2022 20:34

Absolutely not, although I know someone who is still antibacing her shopping and quarantines her post Hmm she also will only meet outside, not CEV just severe Covid health anxiety.

gogohm · 15/02/2022 20:35

No, past those charades

BeeDavis · 15/02/2022 20:35

Tell them to not bloody bother.

NotVictorianHonestly · 15/02/2022 20:35

I'd feel really sorry for them tbh and assume they're struggling with anxiety.

Flaxmeadow · 15/02/2022 20:36

If my friend had really bad anxiety about it then yes I would do it for them, especially if the infection numbers are high.

It doesn't bother me much to sit outside anyway, even in winter, as long as I was wrapped up.