Genuinely treat us like adults and not just say the words

At the start of this crisis few people understood the magnitude of COVID19, so a close down was understandable at that point not only to stop the spread, but also to make sure everyone understood the magnitude. We now not only understand the magnitude, but also understand the actions that will continue to limit the spread. It is time now to treat us like adults and wherever possible allow people to get back to normal life - in these posts there are many examples - golf, walking, waste recycling etc. The intellectual horsepower of our leaders should be getting put into how we get the more challenging parts of society and business back to working - public transport, bars, restaurants.

In summary it is time for the FM and PM to Treat us like adults as they have committed to many times, give us the guidelines that we need to work within in the areas we know that we can manage it and stop defaulting to maximum restrictions with minimum progress out of lockdown. Their focus should be on planning how the most challenging areas can get back to some level of normality as quickly as possible and allow everything to move forward.

The lack of being treated like adults seems far more evident in Scotland than any of the other UK nations, the agenda seems to be more about control than offer constructive solutions to move forward

Why the contribution is important

The country cannot be held in Spasm indefinitely

by mallan on May 09, 2020 at 06:24PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.0
Based on: 26 votes

Comments

  • Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 18:31

    What would you do about the people who refuse to behave like adults and put everyone else at risk? We have barely passed the peak, and may not have yet in Scotland, if we relax the measures too much too soon the 2nd wave will be unmanageable.

  • Posted by Jfmack May 09, 2020 at 18:39

    Each adult should be able to make their own assessment of day to day risks based on transparent and comprehensive information.
    Fir this to be meaningful information should be available on a very local level.
    If you look at the website for the state of Massachusetts you will see information set out comprehensively.

  • Posted by petermuir79 May 09, 2020 at 18:48

    Agree

  • Posted by Tttracy1973 May 09, 2020 at 18:52

    In the spirit of being treated like adults, i think it is time for the public to be able to take responsibility for their own actions. We all know the severity of the situation. I am an intelligent, sentient human being capable of using my own judgmennt in order to protect the nhs and save lives.

  • Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 18:52

    You seriously want to copy the model of a state in a country where they are relaxing lockdown before they have even reached the peak? There are many sensible adults out there but there are also many selfish and irresponsible ones and you have to work to the lowest common denominator.

  • Posted by Lorraine10 May 09, 2020 at 19:01

    To be treated like adults relies on people acting responsibly like adults should do! There has been far too many flouting the rules, parties, barbecues, no social distancing, no respect for others who would like to social distance and then these ‘adults ‘ have the audacity to clap the NHS and front line workers who are putting themselves at risk.
    Certain activities like golf , walking, waste recycling indeed all have their value and should
    not be an issue if rules are adhered to properly, I agree. Certain occupations, should go back to work if they can maintain a safe working distance, safe place for consumption of food and toilets, etc...
    Joiners should be kept busy changing eg public toilet doors to 2-way swing doors fitted with foot plates so no handles are touched. Toilets should all be changed to sensor not handle type, same with public toilets taps...

  • Posted by Haggis59 May 09, 2020 at 19:05

    This is the reason the Scottish Government have this website, for the Scottish people to voice their ideas and opinions and they will continue to work with us to eventually ease restrictions slightly. However it's too soon currently to reduce lockdown. It's not a magic switch to stop the virus and suddenly go back to normal life. If we reduce restrictions too soon we could have a second wave which would result in more deaths, the virus spreading faster again and lockdown being for longer. The First Minister is treating us all equally regardless of people's financial circumstances or personal situations as we are all in this together and need to continue working together with lockdown for a wee while longer.

  • Posted by jimmac123 May 09, 2020 at 19:11

    I agree with the sentiment in this idea - the role of the government should be to put in place the guidelines required for schools, the workplace, and leisure activities - but you have to treat people as adults and rely on them implementing these guidelines.
    We've now had 7 weeks of this "lockdown" - and it is breaking down - every day, more people and cars are out and about - and we need to get our economy moving again - already we are looking at 4million plus estimates of UK unemployment - we cannot endure another 3 weeks of this - either personally or economically.

  • Posted by FlufflyClouds3 May 09, 2020 at 19:17

    This is naive. Plenty of people aren't following the guidelines and hence it's the government's duty to minimise risk. You go on about being treated like an adult, but you're the one throwing a childish fit over this. These measures are going to be around for a while because they need to be. Grow up and accept it and stop with the dumb conspiracy theories "All about control". Ugh.

  • Posted by IanP May 09, 2020 at 19:45

    There is so many people who treat the restrictions as if for everyone else. Many families still getting together whenever they fancy, travelling between their homes and I do know of on several occasions barbecues on a deserted beach with at least 20 people all together (as seen from a walk far above, looking down). This is still in a town too, not in the middle of nowhere. In the cities, I have seen so many pictures and reports on a local news FB site, and nothing is done. This makes more, who were becoming swayed from the stay at home message, deciding not to bother. Then there was the nonsense headlines on Thursday, which could have influenced people who refuse/are not interested in the wider news. Now with the slow easing, controls will be harder to do, and I just hope that the casualties of the next stage, makes who have already been lost, just a small part.

  • Posted by ArchieM May 09, 2020 at 20:29

    Do we actually know what the infection rate is? No we do not because the Scottish Government refuses to publish the figure, it merely states that it’s too high.

    The only reason why it is too high is because it is out of control in care homes.

    What is the actual infection rate in the wider community excluding Hospitals and Care homes?

    It is very likely that it is below the overall target that the government has set ( but of course we don’t know that) .

    What is the incidence of death from COVID for 18 to 28 years olds without any underlying health conditions ( I use that cohort simply as an example) ? Is that published ? No

    Perhaps then you can understand if people are skeptical of exactly how this affects us ALL .

    Also exactly what are the mental health impacts that this is having on people?

    We must start easing this now ..

  • Posted by FM79 May 09, 2020 at 20:40

    Lots of people complaining about those not following the guidelines yet the number of deaths is decreasing week on week and the new hospital built for covid patients hasn't treated a single patient, however we are still being told that staying locked indoors is the only way to save the NHS and lives. Agree we should be treated like adults. We all take risks every day in life and have done since the beginning of time, and some people choose to take higher risks than others and don't follow rules our laws. That will never change. But destroying the economy and the mental and physical wellbeing of our population by continuing this heavy handed lockdown to police the minority who won't socially distance is crazy. If we don't start getting back to work soon and kick start the economic recovery we'll all be in a much worse off state. The government cannot afford to continue to pay furlough or grants indefinitely, and covid is not going to go away, we need to find a way to move forward that allows people to work and spend, which won't happen whilst we all stay locked in at home.

  • Posted by jekhartley May 09, 2020 at 21:20

    It's time to consider the range of science like from Stanford Medical Research dept, (not just that being presented by mainstream media), which shows that covid19 has a mortality rate of a bad flu season, with the vast majority of people - up to 80% - not even having symptoms.

    Fair enough lockdown was decided when less was known about its severity - now we know its not that bad and its time to end lockdown and move on.

  • Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 21:48

    It's not that bad except for those who die and the people who love them. It may not kill a very high percentage of the people who get it but it is highly contagious and almost everyone exposed to it will get it. Opening the country up and ending lockdown means casually writing off thousands of lives but hey, maybe no one you love will die. Ending lockdown doesn't mean the virus is controlled, it just means the hospitals think they have enough places in ICU for you if you get it badly.

  • Posted by emwpaisley May 10, 2020 at 01:01

    Definitely agree we have to now start opening the economy . The NHS has most certainly not been overwhelmed and has a huge unused capacity. This govt cannot adopt the moral high ground as they failed despite warning to protect the NHS by having the proper PPE in place and then returning elderly to care homes without testing ! Maybe they could now at the very least try not To fail the country by throwing the economy into a black hole for political assertions

  • Posted by Dave_H May 10, 2020 at 09:13

    There are many similar ideas on this consultation saying the same thing. we should be allowed NOW to take part in outdoor activities like golf, hill walking, sailing and many others that are carried out solo or in very small groups. The Irish guidelines suggest up to 4 people which sounds a reasonable limit to follow.

    If people are given a bit more freedom to do things that are clearly safe, it will make enduring a longer lockdown and the restrictions on things that are not safe yet, easier to bear.

    As said this is supposed to be a grown up consultation. Please listen to what the people are saying, treat us like grown ups and give us this freedom to do things that are safe very very soon please.

  • Posted by Beattie May 10, 2020 at 10:57

    The population is divided into two categories:- 1. those who behave responsibly and abide by the rules and are fearful of catching or spreading the virus, and 2. those who haven't grasped the problem and flout the rules and who are becoming an increasing menace to the rest of us.
    Continuing the lock-down will mean there are more of the second group while those who observe the rules are still confined to their homes watching news bulletins that cover the increasing numbers of barbecues, crowds and cars on the road. This does not make sense.
    We all know that social distancing and hand washing will be necessary until there is a vaccine/cure for the virus and we don't need to be constantly told that the lock-down will not be suddenly ended. We know that. Let us go about normal activities that do not involve endangering the spread of the virus (eg golf and other activities that do not need to involve being too close to others), let businesses plan how they can start up safely with appropriate physical distancing measures in place or partial home working, and we must test everyone so that we know who has and has not had the virus. There was a recent News Night interview of care home workers who admitted going in to work with Covid symptoms because they would otherwise have no income. That needs to be tackled urgently.
    The virus will not go away and we can't go from one lock-down to the next indefinitely or there will be very severe health consequences that may exceed those of the virus and there will be fewer businesses left to offer employment. We seem to be going crazy locked-up inside while we see a lack of common sense, political confusion and general incompetence all around outside.
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