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Original poster

People who wear masks, do you get hassle for it?

60 replies

Muffster · 18/07/2022 12:57

I live abroad & am visiting UK family in August. I’m interested to know if people (& kids) who continue to mask in UK (or who’ve restarted) are experiencing any hassle/judgement/negativity for doing so?

Where I live, we have only recently made masks voluntary & many people still wear them for shopping, public transport. Masks are mandated in healthcare settings. As the UK is currently experiencing a lot of COVID cases, and as we are staying with frail elderly relatives we absolutely want to continue wearing our masks when out and about. We wear comfortable N95 or KN95/94; we are used to it, including DS (11). We are all vaccinated and adults are boosted; none of us have had COVID.

thanks

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 18/07/2022 15:26

No, OH and I still wear them due to him being immunocompromised (chemotherapy), so we can't take unnecessary risks of him getting covid (or other things either). Never had any nasty comments at all. Maybe one or two funny looks, but they're easy to ignore.

What annoys us though is the sheer number of people who don't keep their distance, even when the shop/office/waiting room, etc has plenty of space. Just the other day, we were in a hospital waiting room (masks still required) which was virtually empty, and someone came and sat right next to us, not wearing a mask. They could have sat anywhere. So we got up and moved to the other side of the waiting room and got lots of nasty looks from her! That's been about the worst experience, which basically was irrelevant in the big scheme of things!

eurochick · 18/07/2022 15:31

I'm in the south east and recently started masking again in busy shops and on public transport as I want to be able to go on and enjoy my long awaited holiday. I haven't experienced any negativity at all.

HellyR · 18/07/2022 15:33

I've been the only one wearing a mask on buses full of drunk/rowdy teens and not had any hassle. I'm often the only one in the supermarket masking too, although recently i think it's been increasingly slightly among older people.

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AmberGer · 18/07/2022 15:39

I don't wear one personally but there are a handful of folk that do at my workplace and no one bats an eyelid.

I think it's down to British politeness.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 18/07/2022 15:41

Watching with interest. Where I am in Canada we’re starting to relax mask rules but they’re still the norm in many settings. My DCs 5 & 3 will need to wear masks in the plane, and I’m expecting them to wear masks in crowded places in the UK too as they have not yet had COVID and only DC5 is vaxxed. We’re going to a family wedding several days after our return from the UK, so while I’m not especially scared of COVID, catching it while away is not an option: Canada still has 10 day quarantine for positive tests after travel.

It seems like there’s a whole special attitude to kids in masks in the UK though. 😬 DC5 wore one the entire year in school and really isn’t fussed by it, but the whole thing is making me nervous.

TabithaTittlemouse · 18/07/2022 15:43

No one has ever mentioned it apart from one home visit (nurse) where the person said that I could remove it if I wanted (I didn’t).

I don’t think people are bothered by what others are doing.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/07/2022 16:03

No comments from anyone. Not that I go many places mind you. The receptionist at the hospital seemed baffled why I didn't want to take it off when rules were relaxed. I'm immunosuppressed.

crawdaddio · 18/07/2022 16:10

I had a couple of people really STARE at me - but nothing more. Couldn’t care less really

APurpleSquirrel · 18/07/2022 16:16

I don't wear masks anymore unless I'm in a healthcare setting (doctors etc). Took DD (7) to drs a few days ago, I wore one, she didn't, when we got in to see the HCP she told me I could take it off.
Still see quite a few people wearing them in shops, supermarket etc No-one is bothered either way.

Topseyt123 · 18/07/2022 16:18

I don't wear masks now, but do occasionally see people who do. I really couldn't give a shit and I don't say anything to them. I don't stare at them either.

Their choice to wear a mask, my choice not to. Simple as that and no judgement or questions from me.

megletthesecond · 18/07/2022 16:19

Never had anyone comment on it.

fernz · 18/07/2022 16:25

I've been wearing one on public transport in London and I'm usually not the only one, a few of us in every tube carriage in FFP2s. No hassle and couldn't care less what anyone thinks.

Jules912 · 18/07/2022 16:28

I've noticed more people wearing them recently in my but if London, and did when I knew I'd been exposed to Covid. No one seemed to even look twice at it and did seem to give me a bit more space.

AnyasAttic · 18/07/2022 16:30

I always wear mine, in work and when I go to shops.
I do now feel very self conscious in it when in shops but I’m protecting a CEV loved one so will continue to wear it.
No one even gives me a second glance tbh.

SweetSakura · 18/07/2022 16:36

There's always a handful of people wearing them if I go to the supermarket. I have never seen anyone get hassle

Mariposista · 18/07/2022 16:37

As long as they respect my right not to, I don't care if other people choose to wear a mask (except for the cases of tiny children wearing them).

Walkley18 · 18/07/2022 16:37

No hassle. DH, DS and myself seemed to be the only people to wear them on a recent plane trip to Spain, and I still wear them in shops and church (200 people singing in crowded church, yes I'm wearing it). Usually I'm the only one with a mask...no one looks, says anything or cares.

tobee · 18/07/2022 16:38

Wear one in certain settings as Dh cev. But no problems at all from anyone. So far. Which has surprised and pleased me. People aren't the assholes we assume

ShinyHatStand · 18/07/2022 16:48

As others, I always wear mine around strangers.
No negative comments but am constantly amazed how many people stand really close to me when there is absolutely no need.

I wear it primarily for my protection due to organ transplant, but the fact that I was wearing one on a crowded train the day before I tested positive probably saved a load of people from becoming ill.

FlorianImogen · 18/07/2022 16:54

I wear a mask, were anyone to be rude enough to hassle me about it, I'd tell them to jog on.

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 18/07/2022 17:05

I wear a mask everywhere. On one five hour train journey I was the only person in a mask. I wear a big ole FFP3 mask with a valve. People are nice to me - I think they may assume that I am sick.

Hbh17 · 18/07/2022 17:29

I would never wear a mask unless it was legally mandated, as they are pointless, but I wouldn't dream of challenging anyone else. People are free to do whatever they want either way, so if you get some kind of psychological reassurance from wearing a mask then just crack on.

AnyasAttic · 18/07/2022 17:37

@ShinyHatStand if you don’t mind me asking, although I totally understand if you don’t want to answer, I just worry so much about my SO
a)did you get antivirals?
B)Have/did you feel very poorly?
c) did the transplant unit instruct you to lower your anti rejection meds?
D) what organ did you receive?
hope you are doing ok Flowers

fussychica · 18/07/2022 17:41

Not had any negativity from wearing one. I wore it on all public transport in London on a visit a couple of weeks ago and often wear in supermarkets etc, if they are crowded.

CheeseandBeetrootSandwiches · 18/07/2022 17:50

I work for the Tube. Most customers and my colleagues don't wear masks, including me. I don't judge if people still want to wear one, because it's a personal preference.