ADs, Corvids and the sequacious masses

[Mascotte]

New thread

Is it possible for me to set MN just to show this 1 thread? May help my blood pressure!

I think there is a market for sloganned-masks. Mine might say
'More Virtue Signalling Bollocks'

Yes, why are the gears of Project Fear still grinding?
Telegraph has been very rational through this, but even their headlines over the last few days have been scare-mongering. If it is actual need that we need to be aware of, then fair enough. No, it's "doom next week" "doom next month" "doom in autumn".

News that we need to be aware of. Not "need"

This has riled me enough to want to write to my MP for a second time. The first time was general concern about the lockdown doing more harm than good, and I received a very standard reply which was so general I can hardly remember what it said. However, my MP happens to be one of the less dementory ones, who recently spoke publicly about the importance of things reopening. I intend to write citing the following things about compulsory mask wearing (resisting the temptation to call them muzzles); tell me if you think I should add anything:

• This feels like a major step backwards, at a time when infection rates are continuing to fall. (The reply might hint that it means other restrictions such as social distancing could be relaxed - if we can get that on record, great.)
• The chancellor has asked us to go out and spend money, to help restart the economy: bringing in this restriction in may well have the opposite effect, as some people may feel that shopping becomes an even more unpleasant experience, in addition to the queueing, social distancing, not being able to try on clothes, many public toilets being closed.
• It has been widely reported that many people do not wear masks correctly, and are repeatedly touching their faces, making the masks worse than useless.
• People who wear masks are less likely to observe social distancing, and washing hands. This has been widely reported already.
• This rule may have a very detrimental effect on Britain's struggling High Streets, with people preferring the convenience of online giants such as Amazon.
• The lockdown has revealed a very ugly side to public behaviour, in the form of shaming people on social media believed to be breaking rules (some of these rules being imaginary, rather than actual rules), such as those who buy Easter eggs, households who do not clap for the NHS, and now it will be people who do not wear masks. This rule is handing the vigilantes a very obvious reason to attack people.
• Those who suffer conditions which means they find mask-wearing difficult will suffer unduly.
• This message feels very inconsistent with the government's earlier message that face masks are not effective; inconsistent messaging will cause the public to have less respect for the government.
• There will be excessive littering of disposable masks. This has happened already (citing BBC article about masks in the sea), at a time we are supposed to be cutting back on disposable single-use items, for the benefit of the environment.
• Many people feel that our freedoms are being very seriously eroded, and that this latest rule is setting yet another precedent towards an authoritarian state, enforced by the public. Britain's cultural heritage has depended on people not following the crowd. (I'm not sure about this one, though.) Every restriction which has been imposed has been done with no mention at all of when it might be lifted; this is becoming an alarming precedent. We were originally told that "we can turn this virus around in twelve weeks", the purpose of lockdown was to "flatten the curve" and that "the virus may never be eliminated", but now it feels that the restrictions are continuing in a bid to eliminate the virus, which may never happen; and by extension, certain restrictions may never be lifted. We have barely heard any words from our politicians acknowledging that our freedom has been severely restricted, or reassurance that this will end as soon as it is safe to do so.

Feel free to suggest amendments.

On a lighter note I am very amused to see that, by the producers of that Oscar winner Sharknado, there is a film called Granny Of The Dead. Budget looks to have been about a tenner.

Hi all. Marking my place but won’t be on for the next day or two... honestly can’t bear the place at the moment and I don’t have the self discipline to stick to this lovely thread!

@Mrsfrumble, I am one of those people with a few hidden disabilities. I cried last night because I don't want to have to tell people what they are just so I can buy milk ffs. Also, I saw a thread saying that people who are exempt from mask wearing should have to prove it. I couldn't read it.

I think I am going to copy Domina and get hold of one of those sunflower lanyards but I hate that I have to.

On a different note, do any of you think that dances like the waltz will become scandalous again?

@wanderings, that's a good list. Maybe we should write to Rishi?

Brilliant @wanderings

In a bid to inject some joy into the wedding debacle, dp and I were due to go to Tiffany on 25th July to look at rings. I didn’t like anything in the jewellery quarter. But I’m cancelling that. There’s no way I’m doing something that’s supposed to be so happy and lovely, whilst wearing a fucking mask. I’m also, for the first time, seriously considering postponing. It’s looking inevitable that we will need to socially distance.

I’m so upset about everything today, I woke up with a knot in my stomach.

I too have hidden disabilities- the FB police will happily foam at the mouth seeing me without a mask. So as someone else suggested - I have my shit one layer cotton hairband wrapped around the gear stick in my car. Utter stupidity. If homemade cloth masks were pointless and inefficient in March - how do they work now?

Saw the GP yesterday and he had a plastic apron, gloves and mask. I get the gloves and the mask (to a degree), but I thought the apron was the height of idiocy. So had I covid and spluttered over his suit - he’s a REAL grown-up and probably doesn’t lick his lapels. 😂 the volume of waste is astronomical.

We have people unable to access dentistry and the public are policing themselves and their neighbours for a non-existent risk. Madness.

You know what? Even if this damned thing we’re highly virulent and with a 50% mortality, there’s really fuck all we can do long-term except build more crematoriums.

I would add to the letter that while I do think mask-wearing is a good idea in general (even though I actually don't), and that those who want to wear them have every right to do so, what I am objecting to is them being made compulsory.

Just seen they won't be compulsory for retail staff - I'm pleased for the staff but where's the logic in that?

The economy can go screw itself. I'll do the weekly supermarket shop and that will be it - everything else on line. And I had a major meltdown verging on hysteria this morning as I will not wear a fucking badge to identify me as exempt. This has really brought me to breaking point now and I'd give anything to be able to get the hell out of this country and go somewhere else.

I realised I also need to mention lip-reading being difficult, and removing the mask defeats the object; and it would make it more difficult to identify criminals from CCTV (even though I disagree with the ever-increasing state surveillance).

@profpoopsnagle I have one that says 'this mask is pointless'

It will be interesting if shops see a change in footfall once they become mandatory.

I would be interested in that as well. I think it might prove off putting to many who have been venturing out but I could be wrong.

If it helps, I feel a little bit better this morning knowing that I'm not irrational because other people feel like me about this. I'm still furious - just when it looked like we were heading towards normal again, this happens to ruin the summer.

Checking in. I keep loosing you.
I don't mind masks if I get to do and go where I want but the vast majority of people wear them so wrong that they are ineffective and no one will want to enforce it so all in all totally pointless.

@TheOrchidKiller I had a dream about being strangled. This is all so rubbish.

Yes, @AnxiousElephant77 it takes away the magic a bit if you're in PPE. 💐

I feel sorry for the police. They are going to be inundated with 999 calls from the Dementor Stasi about people in shops who dont look disabled enough.

Presumably they will set up online forms to complain about lack of mask wearing (similar to those set up to complain that the neighbours had someone round).

My favourite protective clothing sighting so far was the estate agent with mask, gloves, and blue protective shoe covers 😂

Dp has just text me after I sent him a long rant;

You can’t accept it 😂
You have to.

So now I’m going to wait until he comes home so that I can smack him in the gob.

@AnxiousElephant77

Dp has just text me after I sent him a long rant;

You can’t accept it 😂
You have to.

So now I’m going to wait until he comes home so that I can smack him in the gob.

I normally disapprove of violence but ......

just when it looked like we were heading towards normal again

It's not a coincidence. The Dementors will not allow normality to resume.

Only a government willing to face down an irrational mob could save us, and we are stuck with weak populists.

I suspect they imagine that giving in on masks will get people out and about.

But it won't.

The Dementor logic will be - it's so dangerous we have to wear masks in shops, therefore why would you risk it unless you are a murderer.

Also clearly we need to chain women and children up at home close schools forever.

This is not about a new virus that is so mild many people who get it don't even know they have it, this is about control. It always has been