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Why are people so stupid?

(23 Posts)
Littleannie Fri 14-Jul-23 21:58:29

I have just been looking at pictures on my tablet of tourists in the extreme heatwave in Greece and Spain. Why are so many women wearing strappy vest tops, exposing themselves to the sun? Have they no sense? There was even a baby lying on a blanket in the full sun with no shirt on. Crazy.

Callistemon21 Fri 14-Jul-23 22:12:34

I can't answer that. There are enough warnings broadcast for everyone to know the risks.

However, I do remember that poor baby that got burnt and blistered as it lay helpless in its pram on a beach here in the UK.
You hear about such cases and wonder if the child is living a better life or is still neglected and suffering now.

Ziplok Sat 15-Jul-23 10:53:56

Some people seem to have a “it won’t happen to me” mentality, especially when on holiday. Despite numerous warnings, some just choose to ignore. They probably then wonder why they are suffering. The innocent babes are the ones I really feel for, their adults are showing gross neglect.

NanaDana Sat 15-Jul-23 11:11:18

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”

—Albert Einstein

Oreo Sat 15-Jul-23 11:11:24

Awful is isn't it? You wouldn’t think you’d have to tell them to get a baby or child into the shade angry
I don’t care about the adults tho.

Primrose53 Sat 15-Jul-23 11:16:16

People who live in the sun, don’t sit in the sun.

Callistemon21 Sat 15-Jul-23 11:20:23

Primrose53

People who live in the sun, don’t sit in the sun.

True.

However, there are a lot of cases of skin cancers in Australia,
particularly in Queensland, especially people who have worked outside.

That may be due, too, to the reduction in the ozone layer.

timetogo2016 Sat 15-Jul-23 11:21:20

You can`t educate the stupid Littleannie.

Bella23 Sat 15-Jul-23 11:24:40

Maybe they were tourists. Primrose got it right if you live in the sun you know to keep to the shade.
Some years ago we had a house in the Veneto, the owner could not understand why so many British went there for holidays in the summer when many wealthy Italians go to Germany or come North. We explained about the school holidays and he still thought we were stupid.

ParlorGames Sat 15-Jul-23 11:26:08

"Mad dogs and Englishmen........"!

Slip............slip on a proper tee shirt with sleeves
Slap...........slap on a hat, preferable one that covers your ears
Slop...........slop on the sun cream, good quality, high SPF

Best advice........stay out of the sun and stay hydrated - alcohol is best avoided.

Skydancer Sat 15-Jul-23 11:27:55

It's unbelievable isn't it. Apart from the skin cancer risk the sun causes wrinkles. A suntan is actually skin damage. There is enough information about it so why on earth does anyone do it.

Sago Sat 15-Jul-23 11:30:58

If you had take an IQ test as a condition for applying for a passport there would be very few British tourists abroad.

Witzend Sat 15-Jul-23 11:37:20

Bella23

Maybe they were tourists. Primrose got it right if you live in the sun you know to keep to the shade.
Some years ago we had a house in the Veneto, the owner could not understand why so many British went there for holidays in the summer when many wealthy Italians go to Germany or come North. We explained about the school holidays and he still thought we were stupid.

A couple of years ago in Cornwall we gave a lift to some Italians, two 40-ish blokes, who said they were escaping the heatwave back home. (Mind you it was pretty hot even in Cornwall.).
They added that during a previous year they’d come to walk Hadrian’s Wall!
I was bemused. ‘What, despite the damp, chill, and v likely rain, too?’
‘That’s what we came for! We love it!’

Theexwife Sat 15-Jul-23 11:38:25

Maybe they were wearing factor 50.

Littleannie Sat 15-Jul-23 12:07:34

Well I'm glad you agree with me. Despite a lifetime avoiding the sun, I recently had 2 skin cancers removed from my face. One of them involved a skin graft. The treatment was very painful and has left me with a raised flap-like scar next to my nose.

B9exchange Sat 15-Jul-23 12:13:01

The problem is that tanned skin is seen as beautiful. Look at Strictly, fashion models, film stars, Love Island (if you can bear to!) Everyone is made to look suntanned. Faking it often looks streaky if you don't pay for a salon treatment , and people think they need to look like their idols. Until we promote untanned skin as more beautiful - and when is that ever going to happen? - people will continue to damage their skin and risk skin cancer. But surely burning your baby should be a safeguarding issue?

HousePlantQueen Sat 15-Jul-23 12:34:31

B9exchange

The problem is that tanned skin is seen as beautiful. Look at Strictly, fashion models, film stars, Love Island (if you can bear to!) Everyone is made to look suntanned. Faking it often looks streaky if you don't pay for a salon treatment , and people think they need to look like their idols. Until we promote untanned skin as more beautiful - and when is that ever going to happen? - people will continue to damage their skin and risk skin cancer. But surely burning your baby should be a safeguarding issue?

I agree, tanned skin does seem to be de rigeur. Ironically, in some societies such as China, having milky white skin is the ideal because having a tan is a sign of a peasant who works in the fields. Thus, lots of parasols.

Bella23 Sat 15-Jul-23 12:36:36

Witzend

Bella23

Maybe they were tourists. Primrose got it right if you live in the sun you know to keep to the shade.
Some years ago we had a house in the Veneto, the owner could not understand why so many British went there for holidays in the summer when many wealthy Italians go to Germany or come North. We explained about the school holidays and he still thought we were stupid.

A couple of years ago in Cornwall we gave a lift to some Italians, two 40-ish blokes, who said they were escaping the heatwave back home. (Mind you it was pretty hot even in Cornwall.).
They added that during a previous year they’d come to walk Hadrian’s Wall!
I was bemused. ‘What, despite the damp, chill, and v likely rain, too?’
‘That’s what we came for! We love it!’

One of my relations was an Italian living in England near Hadrian's Wall. She always crossed to the shady side of streets,never sat out in the sun, always sat inside a coffee shop or at least at the back of an awning.
Daily walks were taken when the sun was setting not in the mid-day heat.
If only we had taken more notice of her. She loved the coolness and rain.

Lexisgranny Sat 15-Jul-23 13:28:54

My firstborn didn’t see rain until we came back on holiday having been living in a hot country. There was much consternation as to why Mum was allowing someone to spray water into the buggy. Abroad, the main problem was the interior of the pram, I suppose sitting in it was like sitting on leather seats in a car on a hot day. A large blanket spread out over each edge seemed the way to go, but that was not taking into consideration a baby who was far too inquisitive to stay still (nothing has changed!). The baby sling and sun block were both well used and thankfully sunburn was kept at bay.

Calendargirl Sat 15-Jul-23 13:35:02

Regarding suntans, a pair of lightly tanned legs just looks so much more attractive than milk bottle white ones.

Likewise arms and shoulders.

Mahogany coloured body parts looks so OTT nowadays, and shoe leather looking faces on older folk often show how much time they have spent in the sun.

I look better with a tan, but don’t worry about acquiring one as I age.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 15-Jul-23 13:38:48

In some ways you're trying to preach to the converted as some folks will never learn.

Deedaa Sat 15-Jul-23 13:52:32

If we visited Italy in the summer our friends were always indoors with the curtains and shutters closed to keep out the heat. I remember many years ago DH and I fell asleep on the beach at Worthing. We felt fine when we woke up but we were SO ill next day. I like a tan as much as anyone but I find two or three mornings out in my own garden gets me brown enough.

Primrose53 Sat 15-Jul-23 16:07:54

There is no excuse these days. Some of these tinted moisturisers give a lovely golden glow to skin that has not been exposed to the sun.

I bought a velvet tanning pad in Aldi for a couple of £ which you just sweep across your arms and legs.