I would have thought the current heatwave is well timed with this relaxation, as more people stick to outside gatherings than inside ones.I must admit it does surprise me in these situation that many people do not consider they are part of the problem. In the earlier heatwave I local park near me had to shut because of overcrowding. The local paper got lots of letters complaining about how irresponsible people were, no social distancing etc. But they decided to go to said park, so why were they no surprised so many other people made the same decision for the same reasons. If I were to chose to get a train to Brighton / Bournemouth / Skegness (replace with popular seaside town) I would be surprised if the train wasn't standing as it got closer to its destination and if the beach was very full.
More significantly; it’s also the week before payday for most people...I would have thought the current heatwave is well timed with this relaxation, as more people stick to outside gatherings than inside ones.
Why should the rest of us give you space?
Please try and give people wearing masks 2m space *if* you can do so. It is exceptionally tough on some of us who have had to shield (and immediate family & friends), and it’ll take us longer to adjust. We will all get there I’m sure, but the 2m to start with will massively help us adjust.
It’s respectful to those who are anxious about returning to normal.
To be considerate to fellow human beings? Is that too much to ask?
If you’re in an otherwise empty train carriage, choosing to not sit next to the passenger wearing a mask really doesn’t inconvenience you in any way whatsoever, but it will help them feel more comfortable.
I once had someone on a run shout after me "you should learn to respect social distancing", he was walking right down the middle of a wide path. It was definitely a case of there is always one that walks right down the middle, I encounter more where we do a silly dance to try and get out of each others way (which always raises a smile from both sides)
I will continue to give people space, where possible. That's common sense though - I wouldn't sit next to somebody else on a bus or train if there was a double seat empty for example.
What I won't do, though, is put myself to significant inconvenience in order to create space for someone else. By this I mean I won't be waiting for the next bus just because the first one's a bit busy.
I’ll stop you there.I believe official guidance is that the rule
SemanticsI’ll stop you there.
Guidance and rules should be kept separate.
Semantics
Absolutely not.Semantics
Yes, but how does that matter to someone who is voluntarily wearing a mask but somehow expecting a permanent 2m bubble, when no such rule or guideline has ever existed for people wearing masks? Whatever you want to call it, it’s still an optimistic expectation at best.Absolutely not.
They are very distinct and law that says what you must do needs to be kept completely separate from what guidance that says what you should do.
Yes, but how does that matter to someone who is voluntarily wearing a mask but somehow expecting a permanent 2m bubble, when no such rule or guideline has ever existed for people wearing masks? Whatever you want to call it, it’s still an optimistic expectation at best.
Why should the rest of us give you space?
Because, where it's possible to do so, it costs nothing and is basic human decency and compassion toward someone who may be in a very different position to you.
You've just ignored the "where it's possible to do so" caveat then.Ok, it's a full train. Who doesn't get on? A majority of travellers who haven't got any complications so one passenger that has has space? Or the one who needs space waits for a less crowded one?
What did we do before Covid? Or were overcrowded trains a figment of my imagination?
With this I quite agree.Social distancing has only ever been guidance, never a legal requirement (for very obvious reasons). People simply need to accept that part of normal human life is being in crowded situations sometimes, and nobody can create a 2m forcefield around themselves.
If people are uncomfortable then the only solution is for those individuals to exclude themselves from society. I suspect there has always been a strata of the population who do exactly this, for various reasons, often mental health issues such as agoraphobia. They have been emboldened by the recent Covid rules, and actively want restrictions to continue indefinitely.
Yes, but there is no law compelling him actually read what is written and respond accordingly so he isn't.You've just ignored the "where it's possible to do so" caveat then.
You've just ignored the "where it's possible to do so" caveat then.
Ok, it's a full train. Who doesn't get on? A majority of travellers who haven't got any complications so one passenger that has has space? Or the one who needs space waits for a less crowded one?
What did we do before Covid? Or were overcrowded trains a figment of my imagination?
If it was my ideal world then there wouldn't be people wanting 2 metres around them at all times, but in the real world there are people who want that, and it's reasonable to respect their wishes (where possible). I refer you to the comment I posted on this very thread this morning:I haven't ignored it, just presenting a possible scenario to illustrate the problems when a mask wearer requests space. Or are busy trains not going to happen in your ideal world? Now if you'd care to get off your high horse and join the real world, what would you do in that scenario?
Or how would you like a member of staff to police it? If you were told you couldn't get on as there are mask wearers who require space would you accept that?
I do appreciate this requires you to actually reply as opposed to making snide comments.
This is important. You want 2 metres space in a supermarket? Fine. In a pub or club? No chance sunshine. If you go to somewhere where personal space wasn't really a thing pre-2020, don't go there now and expect to have a 2 metre bubble around you.
Done a 7 hour shift driving buses this morning, 95% mask usage. Big surprise as I thought it'd be well down. I think there's a lot of confusion as to whether they still have to be worn on buses or not, given all the news coverage regarding them remaining mandatory on TfL (despite me working in Merseyside).