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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people have a problem with wearing a mask?

447 replies

Changednamesorry · 23/06/2020 19:46

Where I live masks are mandatory for everyone over the age of 6 in any public indoor space (shop, train station, doctor's surgery etc) and where it is not possible to guarantee the 2m distance. 100 euro fine for non compliance.

Of course some people break this rule but the vast majority wear masks including a lot of kids younger than 6. My mum and dad in the UK also wear masks when out atm.... But they also said its ay best a 40% uptake and that in the supermarket the staff don't wear them!!!

Here on MumsNet i see lots of people saying that they "won't wear a mask".... Why? It's to protect others so surely its a good thing to do even if they are a bit uncomfortable?
In Asian countries (China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea) mask wearing is and always has been done to protect others.

Why?

OP posts:
tigger1001 · 25/06/2020 20:28

You don't need to understand. At the moment in the uk it's not compulsory to wear a face covering unless on public transport. Therefore if people don't want to wear them out with public transport they don't have to and they don't need to explain why.

It seems no reason anyone gives anyway is good enough.

I do wish though that some of these wearing face coverings would at least bother to wear them correctly. If I can see your mouth or your nose, then it's not on correctly. And to realise it's probably pointless to wear one in a shop only to take it off to talk to your pal as they can't hear you, but then put it back on to finish your shopping. Plenty need to realise that it's a face covering, and not something that makes them
Invincible and they still need to be socially distanced in public places where possible, therefore stop leaning over me in the shop to get something rather than waiting 2 minutes so I can move on and they can then get to the shelf.

Miljea · 25/06/2020 21:24

@PurpleDaisies

If masks are so ineffective, why do surgeons wear them?

Can you honestly not see the difference between an operating theatre and going shopping at Tesco?

No. Not really. I can't see the difference between a surgeon wearing one to prevent him infecting his patient, and you wearing one to prevent you infecting me.
Miljea · 25/06/2020 21:29

@ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal

If masks are so ineffective, why do surgeons wear them?

This wins the prize for the most fucking absurd comment I've ever seen on Mumsnet. By that logic why aren't you wearing scrubs, surgical gown, gloves and plastic shoe bags wherever you go?

And working for the nhs doesn't give you a blanket right to decree who is and isn't suffering from anxiety. For all we know you could be a receptionist/porter/cafeteria staff and not actually medically qualified in any way. In any event, I hope you're not working in mental health.

Because (sigh) Covid 19 is a respiratory illness. Which is why scrubs and gloves don't protect you from it. I wear a FFP3 (or 2) out in public so I don't infect you via my nose and mouth, and you don't infect me via your nose and mouth.

Were this a condition spread by touch, I'd be wearing a gown and gloves out in public.

Miljea · 25/06/2020 21:41

@Pleasenodont

They really aren’t pleasant to wear at all but I still do deal with it. I’m 8 months pregnant though so I think that greatly clouds my view, I have a lot at stake right now.

It’s now mandatory in hospitals and I’ve been wearing one to all of my appointments since lockdown. When the weather is hot it can feel unbearably suffocating and I always want to take it down to have a drink but just daren’t so sit there suffering. I couldn’t believe how many people (including staff believe it or not) didn’t wear one before it became mandatory.

I can't believe how many hospital staff didn't wear one (believe it or not) before it became compulsory - (to paraphrase). Because we weren't allowed to, as it was wasting Matt Hancock's 'precious resources'.

And wearing it might 'distress our patients'.

Believe it or not.....

oblada · 25/06/2020 21:45

I'm pretty sure surgeons don't wear pretty home made cloth-masks that we're being told to wear out and about to avoid depleting the resources....

Miljea · 25/06/2020 21:52

@Bloomburger

Because my glasses steam up and I can't see.
But I'm okay with 'my lungs don't work so I can't breathe', apparently...
tigger1001 · 25/06/2020 21:57

@oblada

I'm pretty sure surgeons don't wear pretty home made cloth-masks that we're being told to wear out and about to avoid depleting the resources....
Exactly. Or even a scarf etc
EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 25/06/2020 23:18

All my colleagues have fabric masks purchased from mainly amazon that they wear our of work (nhs)

I got mine from eBay months ago

VashtaNerada · 26/06/2020 05:56

DD was really anxious about wearing one but she needs to get the bus to school so we practised wearing them at home and gradually got her used to it. There are some on this thread who have very good reasons not to wear a mask and some... not so much...

Spikeyball · 26/06/2020 06:01

Ds wouldn't keep one on, just not going to happen anywhere and that will apply to other children and adults with the same disability.

Catastrofuck · 26/06/2020 06:26

my retired surgeon relative tells me that masks for surgeons were originally introduced to protect the surgeon. Make of that what you will

FrenchFancie · 26/06/2020 06:29

Not sure where the OP is but I’m in southern Wurope with similar mask wearing conditions, 32 degrees heat and 50% humidity and no air con (as our health ministry seem to think it’s dangerous unless sanitised). My 7 year old asthmatic Dd wears her mask without complaint.
God only knows what’s up with people in the uk....

MrsSchadenfreude · 26/06/2020 06:37

They are compulsory where I live, in shops, on public transport, in shopping malls. There are no exceptions. No mask, not allowed into the shop or on the bus. No-one seems to be trying to claim an exemption for claustrophobia or anything else. Unsurprisingly, the rates of COVID 19 here are much lower.

Catastrofuck · 26/06/2020 06:40

You’re not in the U.K. so what do you know? I wouldn’t go by what you read on Mumsnet - it’s a small subset of people with an outlet for making their concerns about wearing face coverings known, which is allowed. If it becomes mandatory generally for 7yos to wear masks in public in the U.K. then I’m sure most will wear them as required - as is everyone I have seen on public transport. But people are allowed to talk about how uncomfortable they find them, or what conditions preclude them from wearing them. It is allowed, it’s not the moral failing many seem to want to make it

Catastrofuck · 26/06/2020 06:42

If it were not mandated in other countries then I am sure people wouldn’t be wearing them, just as in the uk

MrsSchadenfreude · 26/06/2020 06:44

“You’re not in the UK so what do you know?”

Well right now, I am listening to the Today programme on radio 4, via this marvellous invention called the internet. By this same magical means I can read the UK press and also watch UK TV, including the news. My mother, husband and kids are all in UK, so they tell me what is happening.

Where are you, 1980?

Spikeyball · 26/06/2020 06:46

MrsSchadenfreude what happens about those with severe autism or learning difficulties who wouldn't keep one on?

MrsSchadenfreude · 26/06/2020 06:59

@Spikeyball they wouldn’t be allowed on public transport or in shops. There are no exceptions. Someone else would have to do their shopping, and they would have to walk. Lockdown was taken very seriously here - those over 65 were not allowed out at all, initially, except for medical appointments and if you needed to travel to your place of work, you needed an affidavit. They are gradually relaxing things, but if it looks like there will be a spike, then we will go into lockdown again.

vanillandhoney · 26/06/2020 06:59

@MrsSchadenfreude

They are compulsory where I live, in shops, on public transport, in shopping malls. There are no exceptions. No mask, not allowed into the shop or on the bus. No-one seems to be trying to claim an exemption for claustrophobia or anything else. Unsurprisingly, the rates of COVID 19 here are much lower.
Maybe because they're compulsory, people with disabilities and suchlike are being forced to stay home instead Hmm

Which is no better. People with disabilities and health issues shouldn't be punished because they physically cannot wear masks or face coverings.

MrsSchadenfreude · 26/06/2020 07:01

Small children are exempt from wearing masks, but in practice most still wear them.

Catastrofuck · 26/06/2020 07:02

MrsSchadenfreude I was actually responding to the post before yours, but never mind. What I am saying is that you aren’t able to see that people are following the rules where masks are mandated in the uk, which is visible when you are actually living here and seeing people on public transport and in hospitals etc. Of course there are exceptions and they will have good reasons. Listening to people who are giving voice to complaints on here and on the radio but not actually seeing daily life means you don’t actually realise how compliant people are. And people are complaining but compliant in other countries. And if face coverings are more widely mandated in the UK people will comply if they can, it is clear. I just don’t understand why complaining about discomfort or worrying about conditions that make face coverings impossible is seen as such a moral failing of British people.

MrsSchadenfreude · 26/06/2020 07:04

@vanillandhoney if an exemption from wearing a mask was required it would have to be an affidavit from a doctor, citing a medical condition. But as I said, there are no exceptions. The elderly didn’t much like not being allowed out for weeks, but they complied. No, it’s not ideal, but these are extraordinary times.

Catastrofuck · 26/06/2020 07:04

I partly grew up in France. All my friends and relatives there have said how uncomfortable and unpleasant they find face coverings. They wear them where and when required, if they can.

Spikeyball · 26/06/2020 07:19

So presumably since they couldn't wear masks in a medical setting no medical care either for the people with those type of disabilities. I'm glad my son doesn't somewhere subject to those rules.

vanillandhoney · 26/06/2020 07:25

[quote MrsSchadenfreude]@vanillandhoney if an exemption from wearing a mask was required it would have to be an affidavit from a doctor, citing a medical condition. But as I said, there are no exceptions. The elderly didn’t much like not being allowed out for weeks, but they complied. No, it’s not ideal, but these are extraordinary times.[/quote]
Eh? So you need an affidavit if you are an exception to the rules but there are no exceptions? I'm confused.

Luckily in the UK we're not making laws that confine people with disabilities or health conditions to their homes for months on end. People can shield if they wish but if they want to go out and can't wear a mask then at least they can still do so.

I have ASD and cannot handle having things over my mouth and nose. If wearing a mask was compulsory I wouldn't be able to work, go to the shops, attend medical appointments or walk my dog. Luckily it hasn't yet come to that here!

Masks are fine if you can tolerate them but a lot of people can't for a whole variety of reasons and you know what? That's okay too.