Peter wrote:
They seemed to have removed the “don’t leave home unless doing one of these [ a non exhaustive list of “essential” activities ]” part, which would always give either the real police or the millions of “self appointed police” a reason to criticise somebody who left their house to go to the airport, or do some other activity in which they don’t come anywhere near another person.
This is how I understood last night’s news, but unfortunately the nuance appears to be too subtle for a very significant proportion of the population. Certainly for a good chunk of the media, but then they play dumb to try and make the government look bad.
As you’ve said before, the issue is that you have to make the message very, very clear and simple so that people with an IQ down to about 80 can grasp it.
Graham wrote:
unfortunately the nuance appears to be too subtle
In situations such as this where police are behaving according to their own interpretation of the guidance, ‘nuances’ are unwanted. Black and White guidance is a necessity.
Graham wrote:
so that people with an IQ down to about 80 can grasp it.
I am assuming that was a general statement and wasn’t aimed at me.
Coda wrote:
I am assuming that was a general statement and wasn’t aimed at me.
Absolutely not aimed at you, sorry if it looked that way! As Peter has said continuously, the messaging needs to be very simple so that the very significant proportion of the population which lacks any critical reasoning skills or ability to analyse language can get their heads round it.
The Police obviously need black and white guidance because of their natural tendency to try and expand their powers.
I’m happy with the nuance – it’s a complicated situation. I can analyse the words used and work out what I believe it allows and what it doesn’t. What’s actually more significant is what is no longer being said, rather than anything new being said.
It may be too nuanced for the population at large. However, I cannot see a way to (a) make this small change that we don’t now need an essential reason to go out, and (b) keep the messaging as super-simple as it was.
then they play dumb to try and make the government look bad.
It comes naturally to them. I see 3 options
We will get some clarification over the next few days.
FWIW, this is today’s interpretation from the BBC website
It looks to me like GA flying, solo obviously, must be permitted.
Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has been quite confident and forceful in terms of their expectation with respect to boating for recreational purposes (not training):
https://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/return-to-boating-update.aspx
Seems like they are quite well-connected. If flying solo or with household members continues to be not allowed whilst social distance compliant boating is allowed, I see that as a failure to lobby and make the case.
As others are pointing out, the message Boris was giving yesterday was actually really simple:
USE COMMON SENSE GOING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS
But he cant just say that, because quite plainly some people are incapable of this.
It will be interesting to see whether those in Scotland/Wales/NI will become more active too regardless of the “differences”.
Regards, SD..
wbardorf wrote:
Seems like they are quite well-connected. If flying solo or with household members continues to be not allowed whilst social distance compliant boating is allowed, I see that as a failure to lobby and make the case.
Flying in the UK was never actually banned, one just couldn’t justify the journey to the airfield with the rules about ‘essential journeys’. Travel restrictions have now been lifted – one can drive as far as one wants and does not need an excuse to do so.
However this is a clear indication to me that the RYA is run by far higher calibre people than either the LAA or AOPA UK, both of which issued poor statements this morning.
For me GA in the UK seemed ‘problematic’ (for want of a better word), coming from elsewhere in Europe. Before flying, I was into sailing. I am not sure if my time and money would be better invested on the sea than in the air…
Maybe the definition of “common sense” has changed within the PM after his own personal experience with the “flu”.
