I’m being made to feel stupid for sticking to the rules, anyone else?

Live up to your name, Tenacious. You are doing the right thing. It is your life to do as you wish

TenaciousB You are doing the right thing as advised by the Government. It is better to air on the side of caution, better safe than sorry.

ExD it doesn't have to be defence/attack.
State firmly that you prefer to act as you do and that's all there is to it.

TenaciousB

Your “so called” friends are acting in a completely selfish, irresponsible and positively and possibly criminal manner.

Frankly they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. They are either completely unaware or some sort of Covid-deniers.I live in a very high infection rate area, I have close friends who have lost people and I know many people who’ve been infected, some of whom have been very unwell.

It’s so difficult for you, I would struggle not to say anything, whilst I’m struggling to understand why you would wish to remain friends with people who think and behave like this

I wish you all the luck moving past this

Maggiemaybe

I washed mine religiously for a few weeks, nadateturbe, then moved on to just leaving things for a few days in a box under the kitchen table and on a separate shelf in the fridge. I don’t do any of this now, but certainly wouldn’t blame anyone who did.

Same here, but I got fed up of tasting disinfectant or soap on my food! I still put food on a separate shelf in the fridge but it is sometimes used in less than three days now.

Don’t worry tenaciousB you’re not the only one who’s fed up with stupid opinions regarding this virus. I was talking to my DDL on the phone yesterday who’s in tier 4 but seems to believe she’s immune to COVID (we’ve just gone into tier 3) and all along she’s voiced her opinion that it’s just ‘the flu’ and as she’s fit, slim, healthy and takes vit D she won’t catch it as you have to be overweight, unhealthy or have health conditions (like myself I presume ?) to catch it or die! She’s not having the vaccine as she doesn’t know what’s in it etc etc, I came off the phone exhausted, angry and frustrated because my DS who is overweight and has asthma will listen to her and probably not have the vaccine either which means she’s putting his life at risk for her somewhat stupid ignorant opinions and I had a very bad headache by the end of the call which I woke up with this morning!
My niece works on frontline COVID wards as a nurse in a very large hospital treating this ‘flu’ she’s working all the hours God sends at the moment, don’t think she’d do that for something ‘trivial’! Unfortunately there’s always going to be people that think health is something they can control with a vitamin pill and because they are one of nature’s rarities who are fortunate to be able to eat absolutely and never put on weight and so far escaped any health problems which consequently keeps them immune to the flu or any other illness. I think from now on maybe it’s best to agree to disagree and keep off certain subjects if we don’t want to fall out with certain people and cause ourselves to be stressed on top of everything else.

I feel as though I'm being a coward, I bet remarks like "you'll/ be ok, hiding away behind closed doors, never going anywhere". i tell myself to rise above it, but still feel I have to jump in to own defence and make excuses.
Then I tell myself to attack and point out they they are spreading it and making this isolation last longer than it need.

You are getting on with your life, just in a sensible way.

Take no notice of your so called friends TB.
I would question the nature of their friendship if I were you.
The only way to keep yourself safe is to follow the guidelines from Public Health England. Good luck and stay safe.

You are quite right Tenacious. People who don’t play by the rules are ignorant and selfish. I’ve had to tell my neighbours that until I get the vaccine I am going to be anti-social.

We are being careful, we have a mixture of friends, some have paranoia, some flout the rules if it suits them, however I don’t make comments. It’s their decisions.

Grandchildren are really fed up about their friends who do not follow rules- and they have been mocked for doing so themselves.

Nobody should ever be made to feel stupid about looking after their own wellbeing.

PS. People sometimes try to make me feel the same because I don't drink alcohol.

Am with you TenB . I’ve definitely been made to feel , if not stupid, the odd one out, who is being over cautious, sticking to the rules. That covers friends and family, so not just oldies. I actually have put a sticker near where I sit when talking, saying “ don’t talk about covid “ as it’s easier.

Like most people you’re doing the right thing. I certainly wouldn’t want to run the risk of catching COVID and risking long COVID, ventilators or worse or even be responsible for passing to someone else.
Your friends sound very irresponsible, I’d keep away from them at present and ignore what they say. Far better to stay safe and well! Rules are there for our protection

Sorry but I see it from your friends perspective. With a survival rate of 99.85% then I do question why young fit healthy people are locked away; meanwhile the world economy’s are failing. The biggest problem we now face is the 2nd Great Depression, government induced. Something is going on Covid is the excuse.

I am lucky most of my friends and family are being careful like me ,I do know people who flaunt the rules that is their choice unfortunately I can't stop them .You are doing what feels right for you and following guidelines and if they don't understand then are they true friends .

Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

Yes I know what you mean. It’s exasperating. My neighbour drove to a tier 4 level for Christmas which is forbidden. And she is a carer in an agency for frail elderly people . I nearly rang the agency .........

We are being careful and not mixing apart from DD who is in a support bubble with us. Most of my family are doing the same and not mixing. My best friend is the opposite and into conspiracy theories, anti mask, backs the protests etc. I don't challenge her about it as she's alone and stressed
I just live life my way and she does what she thinks is right. No point making enemies or rowing with people. Just do what is right for you.

Ignore them. Do you really want to be friends with people like that? The reason this is spreading so wildly is because of people ignoring the rules. The virus cannot live without people, so carry on and stay home. I stopped going out in February having made my own mind up and didn’t wait for the Government to lockdown.

Most of my friends are sticking to the rules but a couple are being more blase (I'm seeing them on Zoom only). A neighbour had a friend of 40+ years invite them around for a New Year's Eve dinner (!) she didn't want to go but felt blackmailed into it (" you're the ONLY one who has said no!") but still took her own glass, cutlery, hand sanitiser and a small towel for when she needed to go to the loo (which was widely ridiculed). But I would say stick to what you feel is right for YOU. And don't forget - by sticking to the Rules, you are giving others a good role model (and encouraging them to stick to them too).

It is them who are being stupid. The risk is most definitely not overrated. Stick with it. Don’t let anyone undermine you. Stay strong.

You owe absolutely nothing to anybody else. Do what you believe right for you and your family.

I think that some of my friends are pretty lax about the rules by my standards - but I make no comment on what they do and they make no comment on what I do.