Liverpool fans celebrating outside Anfield

No, but the Government will have known full well that backing Cummings would dioute the message and lead to more people flouting the rules. This Government (and Cummings) are fully invested in the idea of "nudge theory" - changing the behaviour of a group via subtle, indirect influence. One aspect of nudge theory is social proof heuristics. A social proof heuristic refers to the tendency for individuals to look at the behavior of other people to help guide their own behaviour.

So the Government knew full well it would affect people's behaviour. Should the individuals know better? Yes. But did the Government back Cummings knowing full well that it would have an effect on people's behaviour? Also yes.

 

Those people would be on the beaches ignoring any distancing regardless of any government or PM actions. Did Cummings leave all his rubbish and excrement at Barnard castle as well because those sheeples are obviously doing it because he does it.

I'm afraid the Cummings incident has nothing to do with the attitude of the already irresponsible muppets.

 

So we seem to be saying the only reason 1000's are celebrating the title win is entirely due to Dominic Cummings driving to Barnard Castle. Strange connection to make!

 

Of course he didn't - although it's quite an amusing image of Cummings and his wife leaving a load of Special Brew cans by the river bank or wherever they went.

I actually agree with you that people think they know best and love to flout authority. That's obvious and has been shown time and again over the past 3 months. And it isn't Boris Johnson's fault that dirty ******** can't at least take their rubbish with them.

But strong leadership from the PM certainly would have helped. You surely cannot deny that?

 

I don't think anyone is saying that. What people are saying is that more people have been flouting the rules and guidance than would have done if Johnson had immediately sacked Cummings rather than justifying his actions.

 

From the start of lockdown there have been gangs of kids supping in the woods at the side of my house. There have been lots of "illegal" raves throughout too all over town (seen them on instagram). Of course later on Cummings was added to the mix allowing many who ventured to the beaches to cite this as an excuse. His and a few other high profile individuals actions are only a part of this.
The covid apologists I would suggest had a part to play as well.

 

Sometimes Helen, the two examples of BJ & DC we’re wrong at the time but sometimes in life it’s do as I say not as I do too.
As Parents I’m sure all of us will have used both phrases to suit.

 

Maybe they thought it was Morally right thing to do(that was a joke, sorry couldn’t resist)

 

They didn't help the cause did they.

 

It won't have helped in the respect that people may think there are no repercussions. Morally the government may not be able to instruct the police to impose fines.

I guess it's all just down to personal integrity. With the majority of folk sacrificing so much including livelihoods and indeed losing loved ones, it's so disheartening to see scenes like we have.

Be interesting to see what happens in places like benidorm where the beaches are now open and what looks to be no quarantine now. Saw on news this morning they have set their beaches out with social distancing in mind, so when they start becoming busy again, let's see how they handle things. Their police don't muck about though in issuing fines so I expect it to be much more respectful.

We have hundreds of beaches, if people used a bit of intelligence, we have more than enough room for people to still get out and enjoy them safely.

 

Exactly, nothing to do with governments, he should have been sacked for his little venture north, for his personal actions that he had a very hard time acknowledging, never mind apologising for. This is a unique time, and sadly he gave free reign to a lot of people in the way he flagrantly flouted the rules. Just because he got a nice spot in the rose garden of Downing Street, it didnt stop the smell of sh*t emanating from the flower beds.

As has happened in Italy, people have had to leave grandparents to die alone in hospital, parents havent been allowed to visit sick children, many old people have died alone and been found two weeks later in their homes. And this clown takes it upon himself to drive over two hundred miles, putting his wife, son and parents at risk. He does have a responsibility, and when he abused people's trust he completely disrespected the public and his position. And yet he is given a cushy press conference, a 'sorry if you feel that way', and a swift brush under the carpet. Is it any wonder people see one rule for them and another for us?

 

Agree with that.

Thumbs up emoji.

 

It is easier here in Italy for police, Carabinieri and authorities to monitor and control the beaches. Most areas are franchised and beachfront bars or restaurants that extend the length of the seafront have designated areas. They invariably hire umbrellas and sunbeds (already set up) and distanced. These are hired for the day for a few euros with changing rooms and toilet facilities included. There are usually one or two public beach areas with few facilities but that makes them relatively easy to monitor. Most Italians prefer the franchised areas anyway where you can get drinks, meals and snacks at the bar and some extra shade to cool off.
Some bright politician suggested installing plexiglass screens separating the people on the beaches until they realised the cost Would have been interesting when the winds got up as they can occasionally do in summer if a storm arrives

 

**** all to do with political views and everything to do with thinking it's the most dangerous single act I've seen in a long time that a sage member creates rules that the entire country is expected to follow in order to save lives and then he himself so blatantly and brazenly flouts them.
At the point he did that there were millions of people who realised that the rules could not possibly have been as important as we were told. If they were then the man who created them wouldn't ignore them to take his wife out for her birthday.

Boris johnson simply furthered that thought process in the general public by not only refusing to sack the vent ******* who behaved so badly but publicly backed him in the strongest possible way. The message sent could not have been clearer. You don't have to follow these GUIDELINES. You are allowed to use your own judgement, you are allowed to make your own decisions.


I would argue it is your political views which are making you blind to how dangerous those acts were and how damaging they were to the lockdown.

 

That might normally be the reaction, but this is something which could either kill you or leave you with health problems for the rest of your life. The people who quote the death % for the under-whatevers don't take the latter into account.

 

You're saying that people who don't like or trust them won't follow their example and therefore they didn't copy him by breaking lockdown but the point is actually that people who don't like or trust them won't do what BJ and DC tell them to do. Copying him would have been going to Barnard Castle for a day out, I don't know if many people did do that, I certainly didn't see any press stories about there being lots of visitors there walking around in the woods. For a lot of people, if they lose all respect for a person then they are never going to do what that person asks them to do ever again.

 

Them, blm protesters, wlm protesters, any other fuckers.
Hang your heads in shame, you’re partly attributing to killing your fellow man or imprisoning people that have already contributed significantly more than you ever will to society to their own home for even longer than they should.

 

As someone has already said, does anyone seriously believe if DC had not done what he did, the beaches would have been deserted and far fewer would have travelled. You are entitled to believe that but personally I think that is utter nonsense. Furthermore, one of my biggest moans and evidence that it almost certainly would have made no difference to all those morons crowding the beaches and beauty spots was the fact they left litter (and worse) behind endangering wildlife, and, in some instances, public health. How difficult is it to bag up you rubbish and take it home. Even arguing teh bins were full is no excuse. You have car and managed to bring it with you so you can easily take what is left back with you to dispose of. Irresponsible cretins and those defending and condoning their behaviour and blaming Cummings, Johnson and Govt policy are IMO no better.

Perhaps police and environment officials videoing a few litter louts as they leave their rubbish issuing a few fines ((a few hundred pounds might focus their minds a bit) might help. I have seen Fast food packaging dumped at the roadside or left on pathways. Then people complain about services being cut when Councils are spending thousands clearing up the mess. What is the matter with people?

I blame the teachers