Are you sitting outside when meeting friends?

[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.

I'm only posting to make people aware that there are people still at real risk. The latest advice to gov (spyM) is to improve messaging about this group as they predict a risk of physical and verbal assault to people still wearing masks, as the issue has been politicised and also hijacked by some far right groups. People have already been attacked.

We do know one person who is terrified of Covid - for good reason really as she is obese, 70+ and with a long raft of other health conditions that are barely kept under control as it is - she would probably only meet outside and masked and that would be totally fine as we’d know in advance.

No. Inside, sitting right next to each other, hug to start and finish.

@MuffinStrops well to be fair, it cant be much of a friendship if the thought of meeting outside, ever, is enough to put an end to it.

I'm happily sitting indoors with friends and strangers (but still wearing a mask in shops and doing LFTs every now and then).

However, if a friend wanted to sit outside for coffee I would absolutely do it. I might ask them about it, but would wrap up warm and get on with it. In future, at least until the weather warms up, I might suggest a walk and maybe a coffee at a cafe with sheltered outdoor seating as a compromise.

Maybe your friend had been in contact with a positive case, or felt a bit 'off' and didn't want to risk infecting you?

@Gladioli23

I wouldn't mind having an outdoor meet up if that was what they wanted but I would want to be forewarned so we could e.g. plan to meet in a country park where we could get a takeaway coffee and go and look at snowdrops and walk round for an hour or two. Not just sit in the freezing cold getting colder and colder. Being outside is perfectly nice if you're appropriately attired and also moving and frankly miserable if you aren't.

Yes this. I would have no problem with going for a walk (but I would have done yesterday when it was throwing it down most of the day!)

@MuffinStrops

Well I have a friend who will only meet me outside. So she won't be seeing me again. She says she doesn't forsee a situation ever again where she will go indoors to a cafe or shop. I don't think we will stay friends, which is very sad.

That's a bit of a leap. What about meeting outside when the weather is ok? Why does everything have to be in crowded indoor spaces?

I'd say sorry it's far too cold, wet and windy and my health won't endure that!

Its the middle of winter. In the UK. No.

This Morning a friend nearly got blown away running into my house. It's wild outside.
If she has suggested meeting outside in my garden I would have waved out the window to her.
I've been out in busy pubs, hugged friends and family.
I'm definitely DONE with meeting outside 2 metres apart.

I'd speak to them through the window, it's February I'm not sitting outside for anyone unless there is a serious medical need to do so.

That's a bit of a leap. What about meeting outside when the weather is ok? Why does everything have to be in crowded indoor spaces?

It is quite easy to find an indoor space that is quiet.

No

Tbh i'd avoid them. I don't have any patience for people who are stupid and can't rationalise stuff. I'd be avoiding her full stop - you can't reason with stupid and no way would i bow down to her anxiety.

She can sit outside if she's that bonkers and talk to you through the window.

No because it isn’t 2020

I only meet people outside, but I'd always make that clear when arranging to meet someone. Considering the weather, I'm very tentative in how I broach the subject, because I think most people wouldn't be happy outdoors. ("Thanks for inviting me! But I'm still only seeing people outdoors and I expect you'd find it too cold for that...? Shall we get together in the spring?") I agree with you that it's rude of your friend to turn up and announce that they expect you to sit outside with them.

On the other hand, you too could have clarified what your plan was. I guess you don't have any other friends who are so cautious, and it didn't occur to you that somebody might be counting on meeting outdoors?

I do think your friend was being more unreasonable than you, given that most people are meeting friends indoors now.

I only meet outdoors.

I wouid think they were totally irrational / covid obsessed and need a help.

No, rearrange for the summer.

I love my friends and we happily do things a lot more random for each other than sit outdoors. I'd have wrapped up, made hot drinks and sat outside.

I’m wondering what they are waiting for …. if it’s a completely covid free country then they’ll be meeting up outside for years. Utter madness 🤦‍♀️

“ The main issue is the last minute nature”

Agree with this. I am almost permanently accompanied by a 1yo and 3yo and we are well equipped with outdoor gear and do lots of outdoor activities with and without friends. But if someone arrived and unexpectedly wanted us to sit outdoors in the rain and cold they would have to wait half an hour whilst I got us all kitted up.

@KosherDill

I only meet outdoors.

Why?

If it's because of Covid can yous not do lft before meeting?

Sit outside, in England, in February? No! Anyone is welcome in my home, vaccinated or not.

@Remmy123

I wouid think they were totally irrational / covid obsessed and need a help.

My close relative has advanced cancer and likely would not survive Covid. Our precautions are quite rational.