Serious question: Why do people not self isolate. Help needed

TSSeasider

Well-known member
I've been invited to a round table discussion with Lord Bethell, Health Minister [me neither!] to explore why people don't self isolate and how can we encourage more people to do it.

It feels a bit closing the stable door to be honest but we are still in the pandemic so why not.

Now I hear reasons from people who live in and around where I work why they don't but I thought it might be interesting to hear what people who post on here have to say.

It's not about judging people but trying to inform better policy.

So;

have you your family, neighbours and friends needed to isolate and not done it?

If so what stopped you?

What could be done to make people more able to isolate?

I promise, I won't out you to DHSC 👍

I've absolutely no idea whether attending will change anything, but I think it's got to be worth having a go.
 
Genuine observation.......he (this Hereditary Peer) doesn’t know......so he’s invited you who also doesn’t know (to the extent you’re asking on this Nutty site) to a meeting to discuss what you both don’t know.........I have a feeling this may prove a waste of a couple of hours all round mate
 
Simple you want people to isolate pay them what they would earn in a week not the 250 on offer otherwise your pissing against a wall.
Exactly. Some can't afford to stay at home for 10 days, such as those on zero hours contracts, up to 6 million for starters.

That's more understandable than those selfish gits who feel ok so carry on as normal.
 
Genuine observation.......he (this Hereditary Peer) doesn’t know......so he’s invited you who also doesn’t know (to the extent you’re asking on this Nutty site) to a meeting to discuss what you both don’t know.........I have a feeling this may prove a waste of a couple of hours all round mate
As I said, I know what the people around where I work say (I'll not bore you with the ins and outs) but I thought I'd take the opportunity to get a wider range of information.

It might not change anything, but not asking, not listening and not saying, will definitely not change anything.

So Mr @Bloodtangerine what have you seen or heard first hand which might give an insight to improve policy. 👍
 
I genuinely think it is because so many people are cynical and as Shadypants says there are too many mixed messages and changing of rules, plus none of them gives a straightforward answer to a straightforward question. Politibabble has no place during a pandemic when people ask for and want clear and unambiguous advice. I've been following the rules and had the vaccine but over the last few months have become increasingly cynical.
 
Genuine observation.......he (this Hereditary Peer) doesn’t know......so he’s invited you who also doesn’t know (to the extent you’re asking on this Nutty site) to a meeting to discuss what you both don’t know.........I have a feeling this may prove a waste of a couple of hours all round mate
There are known knowns, these are things we know. There are known unknowns, that is to say, there are things we don’t know we know, etc,...
 
For me I think there are only three reasons.
1. They can’t afford to.
2. They don’t think it’s necessary, and don’t believe they’ll be found out.
3. They don’t believe it’ll make any difference.

I don’t believe it’s mixed messages, it’s always been the case that if you test positive, you have to isolate.
 
My addition would be lack of faith in the T&T system, people being told to self isolate when they have not come into contact with anyone. Example I personally know, Old lady with daily carer, old lady was told to self isolate, carer not, no other contact. It was in a block of flats, and we wondered whether it was someone above or below her, ie within 2M of her phone.
 
For me I think there are only three reasons.
1. They can’t afford to.
2. They don’t think it’s necessary, and don’t believe they’ll be found out.
3. They don’t believe it’ll make any difference.

I don’t believe it’s mixed messages, it’s always been the case that if you test positive, you have to isolate.
Number 2 is probably a big factor with an asymptomatic disease as people are supposed to start isolating if they have been in contact with someone with Covid before they themselves show any symptoms of their own.
 
Think they are chasing a unicorn with this one.
It was never going to happen for the reasons above: low pay / zero hr contracts / simple convenience / nobody being stopped and shamed for it. Then add in the high percentage of asymptomatic cases and it’s a nonsense anyway.

Should have shut all non essential shops. Folk only allowed in supermarkets with masks - no excuses. Army or TA on the door of supermarkets. Medical grade surgical masks all round, or double mask. 2m rule and limited entry numbers everywhere (plenty of good & bad examples there). High streets and stores inspected by random daily checks for compliance or face closure.
Imo
 
For me

1/ Selfishness

2/ Our ingrained reluctance to follow rules

3/ The Gov’t’s unwillingness to adopt a hardline with rule breakers and the lack of enforcement generally

4/ The Govt’s attitude when their own break the rules ie Cummings and the waffle of an excuse that was trotted out which was wholly implausible
 
We also have a culture of going to work when sick. Common colds are common because infectious people carry on regardless. It's been seen as a strength not a weakness. Hard to change a cultural norm. It's always been a bone of contention for me.
 
For me

1/ Selfishness

2/ Our ingrained reluctance to follow rules

3/ The Gov’t’s unwillingness to adopt a hardline with rule breakers and the lack of enforcement generally

4/ The Govt’s attitude when their own break the rules ie Cummings and the waffle of an excuse that was trotted out which was wholly implausible
Number 3 can be a large part of it.
When you read 1000s attended an illegal raid and 10 were arrested and fined £200 (£100 of you pay early).
I know of two 20s going to a gym that was still open illegally as they said the % chance of getting caught was so small and fine wasn’t a real deterrent. Selfish but reality
 
Also if they did pay people the same as they would earn...everyone would suddenly develop symptoms....😎
Lockdown...what lockdown, everyone’s had enough now and seem to be doing whatever they want....
 
1) Some people need to eat.
2) Other people are bellends.

Pretty simple really.

Pretty much that, the commentators will try to spin it one way or another, usually implying that it's somehow the fault of the government, the reality is that some people are just a***holes.
 
For me

1/ Selfishness

2/ Our ingrained reluctance to follow rules

3/ The Gov’t’s unwillingness to adopt a hardline with rule breakers and the lack of enforcement generally

4/ The Govt’s attitude when their own break the rules ie Cummings and the waffle of an excuse that was trotted out which was wholly implausible
There’s some element of truth in your comments but as you & I are probably relatively comfortable financially, I can imagine if we were on the breadline of £250 a week or whatever to lose over half of that & have to wait for any benefit, would be a major factor.
 
My daughter did the "right thing" - self isolating for 10 days when one of her flatmates tested positive in Manchester.
On a zero hours contract as a bar worker, she received SSP and wasn't eligible for the much vaunted £500 payment as not informed herself via the NHS App...Lost a few hundred quid in real terms as a result. We sent her some to cover it but think it's disgraceful that the financial effects of self isolating are so costly to the less well off. The 80% of normal wages suggestion made above is a good one - and fair 👍
 
As I said, I know what the people around where I work say (I'll not bore you with the ins and outs) but I thought I'd take the opportunity to get a wider range of information.

It might not change anything, but not asking, not listening and not saying, will definitely not change anything.

So Mr @Bloodtangerine what have you seen or heard first hand which might give an insight to improve policy. 👍
some people will, if they lose money, ignore it
some people (regardless of monetary considerations ) without the threat of being caught out by the law will ignore it
some people will take that chance anyway and ignore it
some people will comply

there’s nothing anyone can do. Even if you paid people to self isolate plenty would take the payment and still not isolate
 
some people will, if they lose money, ignore it
some people (regardless of monetary considerations ) without the threat of being caught out by the law will ignore it
some people will take that chance anyway and ignore it
some people will comply

there’s nothing anyone can do. Even if you paid people to self isolate plenty would take the payment and still not isolate
What would stop you from doing it?
 
There are definitely those who would lose out financially if they self isolated, and an argument could be made for compensating them. The problem is by so doing you are opening up a skivers compensation scheme which would be almost impossible to police.
 
There are definitely those who would lose out financially if they self isolated, and an argument could be made for compensating them. The problem is by so doing you are opening up a skivers compensation scheme which would be almost impossible to police.
There are also employers coercing some to go to work with the threat of the work ceasing if they dont go in.
 
For me

1/ Selfishness

2/ Our ingrained reluctance to follow rules

3/ The Gov’t’s unwillingness to adopt a hardline with rule breakers and the lack of enforcement generally

4/ The Govt’s attitude when their own break the rules ie Cummings and the waffle of an excuse that was trotted out which was wholly implausible
This is a good list. Add to it 5). the things that "celebrities" (as they are referred to these days whether or not their fame or celebrity is based on anything worthwhile) have been doing and the example or lack of it that they have been setting.
For better or worse I think people pay more attention to this group than the voice of "authority" these days.
 
Genuine observation.......he (this Hereditary Peer) doesn’t know......so he’s invited you who also doesn’t know (to the extent you’re asking on this Nutty site) to a meeting to discuss what you both don’t know.........I have a feeling this may prove a waste of a couple of hours all round mate
But TS has asked on AVFTT, which the hereditary peer hasn't thought of...

TS "After EXTENSIVE research on my part, I have developed the following list...." 🤣
 
The NHS and police were both telling employees to ignore T&T pings until just before Christmas.
 
Genuine observation.......he (this Hereditary Peer) doesn’t know......so he’s invited you who also doesn’t know (to the extent you’re asking on this Nutty site) to a meeting to discuss what you both don’t know.........I have a feeling this may prove a waste of a couple of hours all round mate
, 👍😂
 
Because isolation is counter to our natural human state. We are social animals and therefore you are asking someone to take an action that is self-harming.

In order to successfully deal with the issue of isolation a policy of quarantine (something that had served us well, when dealing with infectious diseases in the past) should have been adopted.
 
Think most of these replies cover it.

1) Money. Low earners in certain jobs need to work. 80% of fuck all, isn't much.
2) Mental health. It's really not easy being stuck indoors for 2 weeks; even worse if you live on your own and there's literally nobody to talk to.
3) Some people will not have any symptoms and will say, 'I'm fine'. Doesn't matter how many times the facts are explained, many are too stupid to understand.
4) Selfishness. There's people who will just do what they want. It's ** annoying, but it's always been thus.
 
Think most of these replies cover it.

1) Money. Low earners in certain jobs need to work. 80% of fuck all, isn't much.
2) Mental health. It's really not easy being stuck indoors for 2 weeks; even worse if you live on your own and there's literally nobody to talk to.
3) Some people will not have any symptoms and will say, 'I'm fine'. Doesn't matter how many times the facts are explained, many are too stupid to understand.
4) Selfishness. There's people who will just do what they want. It's ** annoying, but it's always been thus.

Good post. I'd add :

5) Malevolence. Some people just like screwing things up for others.
 
Quick report back from this morning's round table.

Three ministers present; DHSC, MHCLG, DCMS, about 15 people from various civil society organisations up and down the England and plenty of civil servants listening in.

A thorough discussion was had about how to improve/sustain isolation when case numbers and deaths are falling.

I shared all your points, ranging from financial consequences and hypocrisy from those in the public eye, to people not believing it's dangerous and a few more; not sure what will happen, but hopefully we've contributed to making things easier for people to isolate.

I also shared a campaign to create a Citizen SIM which would allow you to donate your unused data to give to people who need it. #OperationWiFi

If anything else comes from it I'll let you know.

Cheers and thanks
 
Back
Top