Why are non essential shops still open?!

[Yeslovewhatcanigetu]

Well said Fizzy. Hope you enjoyed the ice cream 😂.

Fizzy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This situation has clearly given some people

> licence to stand in judgement of others from their

> lofty position of the moral high ground. This is a

> difficult time for everyone and people deal with

> it in different ways. To denigrate 'treats' or

> 'non-essentials', as they see them and,

> furthermore, taint those who may seek some comfort

> in them with accusations of irresponsible or

> reckless behaviour and a disregard for safety is

> mean-spirited and plain unjust. If a business is

> allowed to stay open and the guidelines are being

> observed, there is no reason in my opinion, why

> people should not purchase what they are selling,

> whatsoever that may be. To choose to have a few

> pleasurable moments in the midst of this terrible

> time is not a sin, it is actually essential for

> mental health. The fact that seems to offend some

> people is bewildering to me. I find these

> situations bring out the best and the worst in

> people. Had the Police carried through with that

> ridiculous threat to search people's

> trolleys/baskets, I have no doubt whatsoever that

> there would be an army of people volunteering to

> assist them and quite of few of them, I believe,

> probably use this forum.(I am not a flouter, I

> have observed the rules meticulously, but I

> confess I have had a large tub of vanilla ice

> cream and thoroughly enjoyed it!)

[NewWave]

Fizzy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This situation has clearly given some people

> licence to stand in judgement of others from their

> lofty position of the moral high ground. This is a

> difficult time for everyone and people deal with

> it in different ways. To denigrate 'treats' or

> 'non-essentials', as they see them and,

> furthermore, taint those who may seek some comfort

> in them with accusations of irresponsible or

> reckless behaviour and a disregard for safety is

> mean-spirited and plain unjust. If a business is

> allowed to stay open and the guidelines are being

> observed, there is no reason in my opinion, why

> people should not purchase what they are selling,

> whatsoever that may be. To choose to have a few

> pleasurable moments in the midst of this terrible

> time is not a sin, it is actually essential for

> mental health. The fact that seems to offend some

> people is bewildering to me. I find these

> situations bring out the best and the worst in

> people. Had the Police carried through with that

> ridiculous threat to search people's

> trolleys/baskets, I have no doubt whatsoever that

> there would be an army of people volunteering to

> assist them and quite of few of them, I believe,

> probably use this forum.(I am not a flouter, I

> have observed the rules meticulously, but I

> confess I have had a large tub of vanilla ice

> cream and thoroughly enjoyed it!)

Thank you for this post.

I was made to feel awful after posting that I enjoyed a takeaway coffee as a 'treat' on my daily excercise buying it from a small independent retailer that that I want to support during this time.

My other half is a key worker working up to 16 hour days at the moment and I spend all day alone so my 'treat' was a nice interlude which actually cheered me up because its pretty damn lonely walking on your own, and your partner coming home so tired and so stressed that he just eats and goes to bed.

Like this poster i obey the rules meticulously I am not oblivious to the amount of dead and dying I keep my distance from others and wear gloves and mask when in the supermarket .

but some posters made me feel so rubbish for daring to buy a coffee and mention i saw it as a 'treat' that I didn't want to go outside and when I did my shop I avoided getting my coffee for my route home because I thought people would be looking at me walking down the street with it and think badly of me.

I'm over 60 years old I shouldn't care what others think but sometimes peoples judgement of the phrasing of a post which in my case was supporting small local business can be really hurtful.

Maybe some people do just pop out to buy ice creams and stroll around like they're on holiday but but most people dont.

and the person walking along licking an ice cream may just have finished a long shift in one of our hospitals, or been policing our streets or emptying our bins.

[malumbu]

Lidl is Sydenham has opened its bakery again. Bloody great. Makes me feel a lot happier. Superior to those long life heavy duty pain au chocolates from the big supermarkets. Makes me feel like I am on the continent.

Good posts by the way.

The small artisan bekeries I have passed are doing a good trade so I don't feel guilty paying half the price at Lidl.

[tsm83]

Spot on

Fizzy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This situation has clearly given some people

> licence to stand in judgement of others from their

> lofty position of the moral high ground. This is a

> difficult time for everyone and people deal with

> it in different ways. To denigrate 'treats' or

> 'non-essentials', as they see them and,

> furthermore, taint those who may seek some comfort

> in them with accusations of irresponsible or

> reckless behaviour and a disregard for safety is

> mean-spirited and plain unjust. If a business is

> allowed to stay open and the guidelines are being

> observed, there is no reason in my opinion, why

> people should not purchase what they are selling,

> whatsoever that may be. To choose to have a few

> pleasurable moments in the midst of this terrible

> time is not a sin, it is actually essential for

> mental health. The fact that seems to offend some

> people is bewildering to me. I find these

> situations bring out the best and the worst in

> people. Had the Police carried through with that

> ridiculous threat to search people's

> trolleys/baskets, I have no doubt whatsoever that

> there would be an army of people volunteering to

> assist them and quite of few of them, I believe,

> probably use this forum.(I am not a flouter, I

> have observed the rules meticulously, but I

> confess I have had a large tub of vanilla ice

> cream and thoroughly enjoyed it!)

[RobSE15]

Well said Fizzy.

And NewWave, I saw the way your previous post was pounced upon and feel for you. Of course you are allowed a coffee for goodness' sake!

[Cyclemonkey]

Exactly. If mean minded petty judging cured coronavirus we'd be home and dry. I am a key worker putting in long hours. Last week at the end of a long and stressful week we went for a walk and treated ourselves to an ice cream after waiting in a very sensibly arranged queue for all of 5 minutes. Very much appreciated it was too.

[johnie]

Yes, well said Fizzy. I'd imagine you re very aware of the infection factors and the consequences, and can appreciate you avoiding both.

We are definitely getting all this worse than some of our European neighbours. Is that down to our pretty lax lockdown? I have no idea, but are we also enjoying a time far less harsh than they have? I say enjoying tongue in cheek. To date, we seem to be balancing our enforced stay at home with a fair amount of freedom otherwise and relying upon individuals to do the right thing of their volition.

I think it is right we call those out who spoil it for all and endanger some, but as Fizzy has demonstrated, it is a grey area. Question but not accuse I would say.