How to react to people who do not respect social distancing?

Staying at least one meter away from passers-by, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, going out alone, not touching products unnecessarily in the supermarket… Since the entry into force of confinement in a majority of countries in the world, the measures precautions linked to social distancing undeniably raise the question of the relationship to others. How to behave when you are in the presence of a person who does not respect barrier gestures?

“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to give the impression of coping with them”

To act or not to act? This is the dilemma that Christine faced. “At the start of confinement, in a supermarket, I saw two friends who came to shop together, as if it were beforerecalls the 48-year-old insurance agent. They chatted, did not wear masks, and did not apply the distance of one meter. Either they were so engrossed in their conversation that they weren’t paying attention, or they didn’t care. In any case, they blocked the aisles without consideration for the other customers and brushed against them, while everyone tried to avoid them..”

Very tempted to intervene, Christine finally resigned herself. “I was glaring at them, and I wasn’t the only one. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to give the impression of coping with them, but afterwards I regretted it”, says the forties. Same story at Marine. “While going shopping on foot, I met two women, obviously friends, who were walking each with their children.says the 24-year-old student. They obviously did not respect social distancing and the young people were running in all directions; so they occupied the entire sidewalk.”

Result: Marine swerves to avoid them and has to walk on the road. “I had a hard time believing it, but one of the mothers called out to me, telling me in an aggressive tone: ‘No need to leave, it doesn’t jump from person to person, you know!’. I hallucinated: it was they who were at fault and they took the liberty of making a remark to me, showing, in addition, that they had not understood the meaning of barrier gestures nor the significant risks of contaminationlaments the twenty-something. I should have stopped, if only to calmly explain the need to respect the precautionary measures. But I was shocked that she spoke to me like that, so I just replied: ‘Yes, exactly !”, before continuing on my way.

Prioritize empathy over blame

Should Marine have stopped? Should Christine have made a remark to the customers of the supermarket? In general, what is the behavior to adopt in the face of the incivility of some? On April 13, the Time contacted several experts in medical ethics and health policy to obtain some answers. Verdict: it would be logical to intervene when seeing people not respecting barrier gestures, but the way to do it is extremely important. First, because you have to respect everyone while remaining polite, but also because the results will depend on the tone used.

Indeed, blame and shame are much less effective than empathy, humor and the benefit of the doubt in changing the habits of others. Leading by example is also indicated. Furthermore, the Time advises the “It’s not you, it’s me” approach, which involves telling someone who isn’t social distancing that, like you or anyone else, could have Covid-19 without it. know, it is preferable that he stands more than a meter away to protect himself.

Live smart

Christine has already seen that dialogue bears fruit. “At the supermarket, I recently said to a smiling customer: ‘If you’re in the aisle, I can’t come there‘so that he moves so that we respect the distance, which he would not have done on his ownshe remembers. In fact, all you have to do is ask nicely and it will go well. We must also tell ourselves that the other does not necessarily have irresponsible behavior, but that we just had to agree to respect social distancing..” The secret of respecting barrier measures: living in harmony.