5 ms·

All over the world, I see people trying to stop people from being outdoors, regardless of the health and safety implications. In the UK, police are issuing cita

by g_sch 6y ago

All over the world, I see people trying to stop people from being outdoors, regardless of the health and safety implications. In the UK, police are issuing citations to people in parks. NYC has set up a tip line to report "social distancing violations" and is closing some parks. I don't understand it. I understand the imperative for social distancing, of course. But it seems like enforcement has been targeted at relatively low-risk activities (hanging out in large, public outdoor spaces) and not at all at the high-risk ones (e.g. where I live in Brooklyn, half the laundromats have closed and the remaining half are constantly crowded). I can't help but think that part of this impulse comes from a certain sour-grapes mentality that sees people trying to enjoy themselves during a trying time and wants to take it away from them. A real public health intervention would ensure that all necessary activities - getting groceries, doing laundry, going to work - are just as safe as going to the park.

com2kid 6y ago
Washington State has a more measured approach, the Governor has told people they can still go outside for walks, just stay apart. A lot of hiking trails did get shut down after people crowded them, parking lots were overflowing when people were supposed to be social distancing, so that didn't go well. But the majority of city parks and trails are still open, only the children's playgrounds are closed.
- mark-r 6y ago
  I live close to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, which ordinarily is a good place to get out into nature and wouldn't be hard to follow social distancing rules. But it's owned and run by the University of Minnesota, and the Governor ordered the university closed. They won't even let you walk into the place anymore.
- williamstein 6y ago
  I also live in WA. Many parks (except playgrounds) are officially opened, but the parking lots are mostly closed. See [1] for: > "Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office announced Thursday that the city will allow major parks to remain open through the weekend [...] Parking lots at larger parks will remain closed, and additional rules are in place for Green Lake, Seward Park, Alki Beach, and Golden Gardens such as no fire pits or picnics, no gatherings or beach activities, and loop trails remain open to pedestrian use only. You'll also notice new signage at Seattle parks about social distancing and the #KeepItMoving initiative. Seattle Parks and Recreation will also be deploying 60 new "Social Distancing Ambassadors" at major parks who will remind people to socially distance." I've gone to some parks to walk my dog, and you have to park in the surrounding neighborhood instead of the big parking lot at the park, which puts additional strain on the community. It's kind of weird, but entirely legal and within the established rules. The weather in Seattle is ridiculously nice right now. I'm going to go skateboarding this afternoon, somewhere that won't be filled with sand by self-righteous assholes. [1] https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/washington-state-seattle-coronavirus-updates-real-time/281-bb8c2867-a50e-4476-8564-d35fa4502895 https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/washin...
- chrismcb 6y ago
  King county has closed all the county parks, which include the Burke gilman trail. Of course that hasn't stopped people.
rland 6y ago
My main method of exercise (surfing) was cut off due to rules & fines. Honestly after 2 months of this I feel like I am withering away. I feel like if I get sick, the disease is going to take me out. And yeah, it's absolutely ridiculous. Nobody who surfs ever wants any other person within 10ft of them. That's highly discouraged under even normal circumstances.
- matwood 6y ago
  > My main method of exercise (surfing) was cut off due to rules & fines Yeah, it's unfortunate because I had hoped to score some waves. But, after the stay at home/social distance order was issued along with schools closed, the beaches turned into July 4th weekend every day.
- onion2k 6y ago
  Surfers don't go near each other in the water, but they do meet on the shore, ride to the beach together, get other people grouping together on the beach watching them, etc. Not to mention if the authorities allow one activity people will believe their chosen activity should be allowed too, regardless of numbers. If you can't forego something for a few months to save, potentially, thousands of lives then you are incredibly selfish.
  - krlekk9 6y ago
    Welcome to America The government just handed already rich billions Dragging its ass on handing out 1,200 a person, complaining about the cost The emotional culture is the same regardless of class in this country
  - tomlagier 6y ago
    Sorry, I don't buy it. None of the things you listed are a) required to surf or b) unique to surfing. Those activities are certainly violations of social distancing, so _cite them_. Surfing can absolutely be done while respecting social distancing. This is like saying "people like to watch movies together, they like to drive to each others' houses to watch movies, therefore movies are banned". The pathological behaviors are only related to the banned activity in the loosest possible way. EDIT: The fact that we're bikeshedding over whether a couple of surfers are less than 6 feet apart while there are wholesale parties, religious congregations, and non-essential businesses operating at normal capacity is mindblowing to me. How many outbreaks have been traced back to any sort of outdoor activity? EDIT2: Also, 100% cite people that are in violation of distancing, and if an area has above a certain rate of violations over a time period, close it. Just... gather the data first.
downerending 6y ago
It's the bureaucratic, nanny-state version of bikeshedding. It might be the tiniest part of the problem, but at least we have some idea of how to deal with it, so deal with it we will!
mirekrusin 6y ago
Won't this clog drains and after few rainy days create permanent mud?
paypalcust83 6y ago
Control-freaks will use any excuse to act unreasonably by abusing their authority to control other people when no risk exists. It's usually people who lack control in their own lives, so they fail at MYOB and seek to impose their will on others.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

by g_sch 6y ago

com2kid 6y ago

Washington State has a more measured approach, the Governor has told people they can still go outside for walks, just stay apart. A lot of hiking trails did get shut down after people crowded them, parking lots were overflowing when people were supposed to be social distancing, so that didn't go well. But the majority of city parks and trails are still open, only the children's playgrounds are closed.

mark-r 6y ago
I live close to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, which ordinarily is a good place to get out into nature and wouldn't be hard to follow social distancing rules. But it's owned and run by the University of Minnesota, and the Governor ordered the university closed. They won't even let you walk into the place anymore.
williamstein 6y ago
I also live in WA. Many parks (except playgrounds) are officially opened, but the parking lots are mostly closed. See [1] for: > "Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office announced Thursday that the city will allow major parks to remain open through the weekend [...] Parking lots at larger parks will remain closed, and additional rules are in place for Green Lake, Seward Park, Alki Beach, and Golden Gardens such as no fire pits or picnics, no gatherings or beach activities, and loop trails remain open to pedestrian use only. You'll also notice new signage at Seattle parks about social distancing and the #KeepItMoving initiative. Seattle Parks and Recreation will also be deploying 60 new "Social Distancing Ambassadors" at major parks who will remind people to socially distance." I've gone to some parks to walk my dog, and you have to park in the surrounding neighborhood instead of the big parking lot at the park, which puts additional strain on the community. It's kind of weird, but entirely legal and within the established rules. The weather in Seattle is ridiculously nice right now. I'm going to go skateboarding this afternoon, somewhere that won't be filled with sand by self-righteous assholes. [1] https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/washington-state-seattle-coronavirus-updates-real-time/281-bb8c2867-a50e-4476-8564-d35fa4502895 https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/washin...
chrismcb 6y ago
King county has closed all the county parks, which include the Burke gilman trail. Of course that hasn't stopped people.

rland 6y ago

My main method of exercise (surfing) was cut off due to rules & fines. Honestly after 2 months of this I feel like I am withering away. I feel like if I get sick, the disease is going to take me out. And yeah, it's absolutely ridiculous. Nobody who surfs ever wants any other person within 10ft of them. That's highly discouraged under even normal circumstances.

matwood 6y ago
> My main method of exercise (surfing) was cut off due to rules & fines Yeah, it's unfortunate because I had hoped to score some waves. But, after the stay at home/social distance order was issued along with schools closed, the beaches turned into July 4th weekend every day.
onion2k 6y ago
Surfers don't go near each other in the water, but they do meet on the shore, ride to the beach together, get other people grouping together on the beach watching them, etc. Not to mention if the authorities allow one activity people will believe their chosen activity should be allowed too, regardless of numbers. If you can't forego something for a few months to save, potentially, thousands of lives then you are incredibly selfish.
- krlekk9 6y ago
  Welcome to America The government just handed already rich billions Dragging its ass on handing out 1,200 a person, complaining about the cost The emotional culture is the same regardless of class in this country
- tomlagier 6y ago
  Sorry, I don't buy it. None of the things you listed are a) required to surf or b) unique to surfing. Those activities are certainly violations of social distancing, so _cite them_. Surfing can absolutely be done while respecting social distancing. This is like saying "people like to watch movies together, they like to drive to each others' houses to watch movies, therefore movies are banned". The pathological behaviors are only related to the banned activity in the loosest possible way. EDIT: The fact that we're bikeshedding over whether a couple of surfers are less than 6 feet apart while there are wholesale parties, religious congregations, and non-essential businesses operating at normal capacity is mindblowing to me. How many outbreaks have been traced back to any sort of outdoor activity? EDIT2: Also, 100% cite people that are in violation of distancing, and if an area has above a certain rate of violations over a time period, close it. Just... gather the data first.

downerending 6y ago

It's the bureaucratic, nanny-state version of bikeshedding. It might be the tiniest part of the problem, but at least we have some idea of how to deal with it, so deal with it we will!

mirekrusin 6y ago

Won't this clog drains and after few rainy days create permanent mud?

paypalcust83 6y ago

Control-freaks will use any excuse to act unreasonably by abusing their authority to control other people when no risk exists. It's usually people who lack control in their own lives, so they fail at MYOB and seek to impose their will on others.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]