Is This Fair?

[ichkeria]

Or even sensible?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54662795

Clothes are non essential for 17 days while presumably chilli sauce, for example, isn’t ...

[woofgang]

yup especially if you live alone and can't socialise...same with microwaves, mobile phones, tablets, electric kettles.......and before anybody says we got on without them before they existed, yes we did and blooming dfficult and unpleasant it was too when we were separated from our loved ones.

[Deskdiary]

But surely Roy, they'd be able to use their laptop, iPad, iPhone or all of the other devices that are non-essential!!!

I'm being flippant - obviously - but I simply fail to see how somebody 'browsing' to pick a microwave off a shelf, is any different to 'browsing' which leg of lamb to buy; in fact, thinking about it, I'd say it's less of a risk (such as the risk is negligible in the first place) having seen many many times people handle chickens until they find the one they want. Perhaps chickens will become non-essential.

[New Judge]

//You want to wander around unmasked handling goods?//

Yes. It’s what people do.

//I care about the small shops.//

And yet you seem to support a scheme which closes many of them down (some, undoubtedly, not to reopen).

//Unlike you I'm not going to buy my knickers and socks from stores that have billions behind them//

Lucky old you. Many people – especially those who don’t live in villages – have nowhere other than such outlets to buy their clothes.

//But if folk want to browse the food aisles then of course they will. Not everyone has the sense they were born with.//

I would be interested to hear what percentage of infections shops are responsible for. If it’s anything like those arising from hospitality outlets (which are being treated as plague pits, despite being the source of only around 5% of infections) then the restrictions you mention are virtually pointless.

// I thought we were talking about a few days/weeks here.//

Until 9th November comes, that is. Then you will find the 17 days is insufficient (because as sure as night follows day, even if the lockdown was effective, the results will not have been apparent by then).

I’m afraid this business is becoming an episode of mass hysteria stirred up by (in the UK’s case) four governments. That’s far more worrying than the virus which, for the vast majority of people who contract it, will cause them no serious symptoms.

[Deskdiary]

I thought "I care about small shops" from somebody who says the measures are "sensible and fair" was a bit of an odd thing to say as well, when small shops selling 'non-essential' items are being told to close.

The possibility that the small shops selling non-essential items will re-open in three weeks (assuming it only lasts three weeks) as if nothing has happened and will trade as per, is naive in the extreme.

[gness]

Then, DD you have either not read or understood what I have said about how we here are supporting our small shops here.

[tomus42]

This is where it becomes ridiculous and they start to alienate all the people that have followed the rules thus far.

They're telling you that you can go into the supermarket and buy a packet of Jamie Oliver puys lentils, but you can't get a T-shirt from the clothes section on your way to the checkout?

[sherrardk]

You need food for 17 days, there are ways around not having a microwave or kettle for 17 days (we’re constantly being reminded that the older generation gave up so much and lived through the war, are fabulous at making do and reusing old stuff and how they could magic up a meal for the whole street with just a tin of corned beef, etc, etc - I’m sure they can manage without a microwave for two weeks).

[tomus42]

The microwaves are in the aisle opposite the bread in my local Sherrard. It's not normally crowded. Perhaps I could get one while I'm buying my essential stoneground artisan sourdough buns. I can't see the harm.

[Jackdaw33]

The point that has been missed is the dog-in-the-manger approach of the Welsh government, which is that because of necessity some must be disadvantaged then all must be disadvantaged.

[Deskdiary]

I'm still struggling to understand how closing the small shops will help the small shops.

[tomus42]

I'm not in Wales so I don't know much about the Welsh Govt or their motivations Jackdaw. I just know this is a ridiculous thing.

[gness]

You have missed the point, Jackdaw. This is all about level playing fields. Can you really not understand that?

If a small family electrical store has had to close and so is losing sales, it is utterly unfair that Asda (which is only open because it sells food) should be able to sell the very same items which the small shop is being prevented from selling.

[gness]

Well I could say it again for you, DD. But I'm afraid I can't understand it for you.

[Jackdaw33]

I am not the one missing the point, it is you. Some must suffer so all must suffer. Preventing supermarkets from selling certain goods will not help the 'small shops' one iota.

[sherrardk]

It is ridiculous, but it is fair - little shops can’t sell non -essentials, big shops can’t sell non-essentials. Be interested to know how many AB’ers have had the desperate need to buy a microwave, kettle, new knickers or pop socks in the last 17 days.

[Jackdaw33]

Of course, the whole issue of what is 'essential' has never been defined or addressed.

[jno]

sherr, yes, I remember thinking the same at the start of all this. Clothes shops had to close. Supermarkets that also sold clothes stayed open.

[tomus42]

// sherr, yes, I remember thinking the same at the start of all this. Clothes shops had to close. Supermarkets that also sold clothes stayed open. //

Er, yeah. Perhaps if the clothes had shops also sold food they would have been ok. They didn't though. The ridiculous thing about this is that the supermarkets have now got to close off the clothes aisles whilst letting everyone wander around for everything else.

[Deskdiary]

It is just absolutely barmy.

Close the small shops, then don’t let Asda sell a kettle, in order to save the small shops. It is total non-thinking idiocy.

Whatever, but for the people who think it will help, I have some magic beans for sale if they want to make me an offer.

[iluvmargie]

Why on earth they think doing this for 17 days will make any difference whatsoever is beyond belief! And if my microwave broke down at the beginning of the 17 days and I couldn't get another, I wold be fuming! We've all given up enough in this dreadful year and it seems that in some places (Wales) the madness goes on. What's the betting it goes on after 17 days as well?? I'd be inclined to tear off the plastic covers if I saw them in my local supermarket, but of course I'll have to refrain, wouldn't want the covid marshalls arresting me, now would I! I often have to pull my mask down gness because sometimes I simply can't catch my breath, THANK GOD I don't live near you and your piousness.