The real dilemma with the current petrol panic

lcharm

I normally only fill my tank with about £20 at a time but as soon as I heard about the potential for strike on the news I stuck £50 in my tank but not because I thought fuel was going to run out;

I did it because I knew that there would be queues for the petrol stations tailing back over the follwoing days to the announcement and I was not prepared to sit in those queues just to fill up with £20.

It's actually a catch 22 because I contributed to the problem but had I not done so I probably would have run out of fue more than once during the last few days and would have been stuck in those queues on several occasions!

Can't wait to get an electric/hydrogen powered car!

Strider590

You didn't contribute to the problem, it's the idiots who see a queue and think "OMG I MUST JOIN THAT SEXY QUEUE!!!"

Take_it_like_a_man,_sonny

On the way to writing this post, I roared pass the Jet station with a tiger in my tank! I do not need to fill up until about Tuesday, 10th April!


GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRReat

alastairq

Don't blame Joe Public.....blame the politicians who knowingly started the panic...

Crabman

alastairq wrote: »

Don't blame Joe Public.....blame the politicians who knowingly started the panic...

No thanks. I'll blame the public. Nobody pointed a gun at their heads and forced them to fill jam jars and paint tins with fuel.

alastairq

No thanks. I'll blame the public. Nobody pointed a gun at their heads and forced them to fill jam jars and paint tins with fuel.

Would the panic have occurred if the politician concerned had remained silent?

Will blame truly be accepted by Joe Public if said Public acted out of ignorance?

Especially considering how ignorant of the subject of motoring [in particular] too many folk remain?

I firmly believe the Politicians were well aware of what might occur following their mutterings....

Folk are not in control of their lives as much as they think...


and when a Prime Minister adds credibility to what has already been advised?

Well, the outcome was to be expected.

People who purport to be...or place themselves, in a position of influence, need to be careful what, and how, they say things.


As for the instances of injury, etc..whilst the people concerned and involved have my sympathies, for the hurt and anguish sustained....I agree the risks taken remain the responsibility of those concerned.

A view I hold, which applies to many other risks taken, that I read about on here, for example?

Barneysmom

I don't know why the panic, nobody listens to politicians any more...........................?

davidlizard

My lawn needs cutting. I have a petrol lawnmower. My 5 litre jerry can that I keep in the shed is just about empty.

Normally each spring I take it to the petrol station and refill it.

If I do it within the next few days, I will look like one of those panic buying muppets!

What do I do? Long grass or run the risk of being labelled a panic buyer? I have tried to persuade the wife to take it to the petrol station but she refused for the same reason.

ukjoel

Instead of going to the inlaws on Sunday which is a 5 hour round trip costing me £50 in fuel to sit there for a few hours of misery I am going to sit in the garden and do nothing.

Have told the wife there is no fuel anywhere.

This fuel strike is brilliant.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

The real dilemma with this is the numerous amounts of sodding threads about the same subject which permeate this forum and even DT has 3 or so on it.

Wind your necks in and stop being silly now - you all brought it on yourselves.

alastairq

I've started a new thread here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3880067

if folk watch and listen to what the psychologist actually says, it appears there is no 'panic' buying, but what we are seeing is a rational response to a a situation.

A rational response to what turns out to be misleading information.

In other words...if an individual in a position of Authority [the prime minister, for example].....tells us we should keep ourselves topped up with fuel, as there may be a delivery issue [strike?]...then, because we need fuel, rationality tells us to go and fill up!

And in doing so, queues form....?


And because 99% of us are in fact rational people [maybe not so on here though?].....there is a 'run' on fuel stocks.


So it wasn't mindless gerbilism on the part of motorists...but the behaviour expected of rational people who are protecting their own interests.


That is why I blame the Government ministers, and NOT Joe Public, for the situation.

Reference to lifeboats and sinking ships is a red herring...but hilites what the psychologist is saying...

If someone in authority says 'abandon ship', then rationality says we must head for the life boats.

Yes, we are a selfish bunch...but we are what we have been made....blame Maggie Thatcher for that!