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Do we need a coronavirus thread?

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  1. jonty
    Member

    Slightly frustrating to be told that the Meadows is "so unsafe now" by folk who's only experience of it in the past year has been through a car window (or on a phone screen)...

    Not sure those signs are a great look in these generationally divided times. Easy to paint a picture of older folk banning the flat-dwelling young from drinking in the sun before going out to their patio to enjoy a glass of wine.

    Maybe OK once beer gardens reopen in a couple of weeks? As long as you don't mind paying £5 a pint and booked in February?

    Posted 3 years ago #

  2. steveo
    Member

    The little opinion piece at the end of that bbc article is interesting.

    What this underlines is that governments around the world have been forced to frame part of their response to the global pandemic according to rules set down by giant unelected corporations.

    At a time when the power of the tech giants is under the microscope as never before, that will leave many people feeling uncomfortable.

    Governments don't have to use the solution provided by Apple and Google "to frame part of their response" but if they don't they better have a good reason. The (English) govt wasted millions on their own attempt instead of a good solution provided for free; then when they finally capitulated they knew what they were signing up for. This was as much a contract with the end user as much as with the tech giants. I have more confidence in Apple and Google to keep my data secure than the UK "laptops on the train" government.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    “I have more confidence in Apple and Google to keep my data secure than the UK "laptops on the train" government.“

    Me too.

    Perhaps.

    But not that much in any of them.

    One other aspect of Covid is MUCH greater use of phones to pay for things - another whole area of location/data collection.

    Presumably my phone sends info somewhere about where I’ve been - inc IF I crossed county lines.

    Etc.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    “Easy to paint a picture of older folk banning the flat-dwelling young from drinking in the sun before going out to their patio to enjoy a glass of wine.“

    Yeah, though perhaps less banning than moralising?

    Part of the problem is that the scene is overlooked by a well known Twitter using author.

    Of course there are lots of issues here.

    General low amount of public open space in central Edinburgh.

    Pubs shut.

    General consequences of lockdowns.

    The (apparent) unwillingness of too many people to deal with their own litter. (Is that particularly a YP thing?)

    Drink.

    Well yeah drink. Is it really banned on The Meadows? Since when? Permanent?

    Drinking and fighting is hardly new. I’m assuming it wasn’t ‘constant’ or involving many people?

    Let’s just ban everything, except driving of course.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  5. steveo
    Member

    But not that much in any of them.

    Only thing I really have any confidence in these days is peoples desire to make money, Google and Apple require trust in their products to continue to do so. Neither the govt or civil service do, govt ministers seem to make more money when people don't trust them.

    Presumably my phone sends info somewhere about where I’ve been - inc IF I crossed county lines.

    Yeah that sort of stuff would be trivial to track even just based on the towers you connected to.
    But I doubt many people would install the app if it tracked you or they'd turn it off if they were going to do something dodgy, both somewhat undermining the usefulness of the system.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  6. SRD
    Moderator

    I've been cycling along NMW most days since the schools went back. most of the sunny days i've been thrilled to see people everywhere and tried very hard to be understanding about the pedestrians wandering around in the bike lane 9and the people urinating and defecating around george square)

    The week before the big incident in the meadows, on either Wednesday or Thursday afternoon, it was as if a switch had been thrown. there was a very different mood - tense, febrile. This started on MMW - i had to stop because 3 girls were rolling around in the middle of the path. not aggressively fighting, maybe stoned? it was weird. they were dressed to the 9s. long fake fingernails. etc sprawled on the pavement. and all the way along it felt similarly hostile.

    I was going to post about it, because it felt so weird. but didn't.

    the next day (friday?) it was less in my face, but I think I left earlier to avoid the worst. It still felt very shouty and tense. even though there were still lots of groups just hanging out, and the usual football etc further on.

    During the last warm spell, there seemed to be more people doing acrobatics, folks with hammocks slung etc. almost festival like. haven't seen them recently.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    "Let’s just ban everything, except driving of course."

    Pretty much sums up the government and societal approach to most things...

    Posted 3 years ago #

  8. MediumDave
    Member

    The various young teams got bored of smashing buses and went to the Meadows to indulge in alternative forms of mayhem?

    Other parks are available. Mood in Harrison Park last Friday was decorous (though the increasing cold may have had something to do with that). It is not always so; last summer I was sat with friends while 4 taps aff neds fought each other nearby. A peculiar vibe for leafy Shandon but they seemed happy with their chosen activity and weren't disposed to try and involve anyone else.

    Re alcohol consumption - drinking outdoors is forbidden in all level 4 areas. Not just the meadows. I suspect enforcement of this restriction will be capricious. Middle-class wine bibbers need not fear the long arm of the law.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    “drinking outdoors is forbidden in all level 4 areas”

    Ah, of course, another detail I hadn’t taken in!

    “Not just the meadows”

    Clearly not. More sense to have ‘no public drinking because of Covid’ notices - everehere(?)

    “I suspect enforcement of this restriction will be capricious. Middle-class wine bibbers need not fear the long arm of the law”

    No doubt mostly true. Perhaps a bit of ‘move along there’?

    Posted 3 years ago #

  10. MediumDave
    Member

    Signs such as "No Drinking. BY ORDER"

    Though the police are unlikely to get involved I am sure The Parkie from Viz would be delighted to enforce...

    Posted 3 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19228045.coronavirus-give-deprived-young-people-free-gym-memberships-say-medics/

    Posted 3 years ago #

  12. Colonies_Chris
    Member

    Well intentioned. but fundamentally wrong in that it normalises the idea that exercise is an add-on, something you go to the gym for, rather than just part of normal life.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  13. crowriver
    Member

    Also something that can be monetised. Which is the point of gym memberships I suppose.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  14. crowriver
    Member

    So, from Friday you can travel anywhere within mainland Scotland for day trips.
    Presumably many folk have been doing this already for some time.

    No overnight accommodation open until later. Judging by comments on Twitter, the camper van massive are gearing up for this weekend. You have been warned...

    Posted 3 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Scots are able to travel anywhere within Scotland for the purpose of outdoor socialising, recreation or informal exercise from Friday onwards, the First Minister announces.

    “

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/scotland-lockdown-easing-nicola-sturgeon-announces-early-travel-restrictions-lifting-and-outdoor-mixing-relaxations-from-friday-3199061

    Posted 3 years ago #

  16. steveo
    Member

    So, camping okay or the campervan crowd just going to wing it?

    Posted 3 years ago #

  17. crowriver
    Member

    @steveo, what do you reckon? Reporting I've seen says day trips. However the camper van and wild camping crowd are already making plans and tweeting about it. Pretty sure the second home owners will be on this too if they're not already...

    Joe Public always one step ahead.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  18. steveo
    Member

    Wishful thinking I suppose. I'm Jonesing for a bivvy!

    Wild camping in a campervan always makes me giggle. What's wild about sleeping in an insulated, upholstered van.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  19. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Awesome news, my wife can see her parents for the first time in *forever at the weekend.

    *when did the levels tarvel restrictions come in, was it Oct?

    Posted 3 years ago #

  20. crowriver
    Member

    @steveo, yeah I'd love to get out and bivvy or wild camp. Probably nothing to stop us if so minded. Still a bit chilly overnight until later next week though. Agreed on the car campers/campervan crowd. Not exactly "wild" sitting in a lay-by somewhere.

    The warning was more that the rural roads will be clogged with these types in their vehicles come Friday, so anyone cycling may face greater hazards and/or inconvenience.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  21. steveo
    Member

    @crowriver I expect I could easily find somewhere to camp that the police would never bother me and I'd be very unlikely to put anyone at risk. But I'm good sheep....

    I got a nice warm sleeping bag in the autumn and I've been dying to get out on a good cold night to test its limits, bit annoying that the cold weather has lasted into mid April and I still haven't been allowed out!

    Posted 3 years ago #

  22. Stickman
    Member

    I’m really looking forward to getting out in my campervan.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  23. crowriver
    Member

    @Stickman, you'll have plenty of company this weekend. The entire camping and hillwalking community look set to head out of the cities and suburbs from Friday. Don't forget the motor day-trippers, motorbike tourers, etc. Bound to be some folk coming up from Englandshire too. Good luck finding a spot to park up! :-)

    Reckon I'll wait until the pubs, cafes, holiday accommodation are back open in a fortnight's time. Might quieten the rural roads down a tad at certain times at least.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  24. crowriver
    Member

    P.S:- Scot Gov still saying you shouldn't stay overnight anywhere.

    That'll work I'm sure.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  25. acsimpson
    Member

    @Baldycyclist. If I understand your locations correctly then your wife and both parents could have met up for a walk anytime in the last few weeks. Provided you didn't go more than 5 miles from your council area you were fine which would have permitted Hopetoun or Limekiln area are crossovers between Fife and West Lothian.

    We met my Wife's folk at House of Bins which was pleasantly quiet compared to Hopetoun woods.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  26. Baldcyclist
    Member

    @acsimpson Yes, that would have been nice, but getting FiL to get off his fat rule 2 to drive anywhere that doesn't have a sofa at the other end is nigh on impossible.

    (tbf he can't walk that far because of a knee injury from his time in the army, but they could have sat on a bench and pretended they had been for a walk, but nope he wouldn't do that either)

    Posted 3 years ago #

  27. acsimpson
    Member

    That's a shame.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  28. LaidBack
    Member

    Updated the shop web intro yesterday. My bold here - official word is 'travel'.

    Scotland is now on way out of lockdown. From 16 April you can: - daytrip anywhere in Scotland to meet outdoors with family and friends - meet in groups of up to 6 adults from 6 households outdoors. Shop remains open for customers requiring advice and assistance - bikes used for transport and exercise. Enquiries from further away will be handled by email until travel and hospitality restrictions are eased again on 26 April.

    Pent up demand to travel. Radio this morning had someone going out to Lewis. Not a daytrip though as they had accom there.
    Campervan owners will go on a series of daytrips.

    Posted 3 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/14/covid-status-certificates-may-cause-unlawful-discrimination-warns-ehrc

    Posted 3 years ago #

  30. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.scotsman.com/business/beauty-industry-urges-rule-change-in-scotland-over-wearing-masks-3201070

    Posted 3 years ago #

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