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

[Changednamesorry]

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?

I agree with you OP. I also live somewhere where indoors = masks or visor.

The amount of people saying sensory issues I do think that is not the majority of public, no one is kicking up a fuss where I live, I live in a town near a city where there were a lot of cases originally, so maybe we are more conscious of impact of not wearing one. Plus you'll be turned away from shops etc without one.

Using deaf people and autistic
People doesn't work as an excuse to not wear a mask. My sister lives in a care home with a load of other autistic adults. Obviously my sister would never wear a mask so none of them go shopping, the carers do.

So whilst a number of autistic people and other people with sensory issues do go out and struggle with masks 11 million don't have to wear a mask as others without sensory issues can help them and wear a mask.

The mask is not the bee all and end all. Here in Portugal masks and distancing is being largely observed. ( there has been a spike in Lisbon due to idiots partying )

I'm happy to wear the mask, they are not expensive here and I'm pleased everyone does the same, we only go out when needed to shops and keep distance when our walking so no mask neede

You are seeing many people saying they have sensory issues because they are the people who are posting when asked why wearing a face covering is a problem. The people who don’t have problems are less likely to post. Going on to assume that (1) everyone in the U.K. is refusing to wear masks and (2) that people who cannot wear masks are lying selfish bastards is false, illogical, and nasty

@ILoveAnAgathaChristieMurder you’ve started your post by saying “deaf people” aren’t an excuse not to wear a mask. There is a specific exception to wearing masks in mandatory situations if you’re with someone who is lip reading.

"Obviously my sister would never wear a mask so none of them go shopping, the carers do."

This doesn't work when there is no carer available to do shopping. Most autistic people don't live in care homes so either they have to go themselves if they are able or the person who looks after them has to take the autistic person with them. Respite has disappeared and autism isn't a shielding condition so no support that way.

@ILoveAnAgathaChristieMurder

I agree with you OP. I also live somewhere where indoors = masks or visor.

The amount of people saying sensory issues I do think that is not the majority of public, no one is kicking up a fuss where I live, I live in a town near a city where there were a lot of cases originally, so maybe we are more conscious of impact of not wearing one. Plus you'll be turned away from shops etc without one.

The people with sensory issues where you live will simply be stuck at home and not able to go anywhere. Do you really think that's better? That otherwise healthy people with autism or other conditions are essentially locked up in their homes because they cannot comply with a blanket law saying everyone has to wear a mask?

Of course a thread entitled "AIBU to understand why people have a problem with wearing a mask" is going to attract posters who do have problems. Luckily where I live people aren't judged for not wearing masks. I went shopping in town this morning and saw maybe 5 people in masks, apart from the staff at McDonald's. Nobody working in ASDA, B&M, TKMaxx, Pets at Home or Matalan had them on. A couple had face visors but most people hadn't bothered.

If wearing a mask became mandatory I couldn't go out. I couldn't do my job, pop to the shops, go and see family - nothing. I'm perfectly healthy but I cannot have anything covering my face without having a severe panic attack. You wouldn't see me "kicking up a fuss" because I'd be forced to stay in my house 24/7.

They give me the creeps. I don’t like seeing people in them or the idea of wearing one myself. I know this is my problem and I shouldn’t let my weirdness affect anyone else so currently I’m not going anywhere they are advised to be worn. Shopping delivered. No need for public transport. WFH.

I just don't like them. I find it very hard to breathe with it on. It seems to set my hay fever off even more and makes me breathless. If I have to wear one I will but I hate it and it stresses me out.

Masks aren’t pointless - they can stop the transmission particularly if someone is asymptomatic.

You don't understand viral transmission.

Unless you are coughing and sneezing or talking to someone for a long period of time (like hours) you won't transmit a virus from just being near someone.

You are not going to get a virus from an asymptomatic carrier unless you speak to them for a long period of time. They sing or shout in your face. You hug and kiss them.

You can't pass a virus without coughing and sneezing from being near someone for a short period of time, for example in a shop.

I find it hard to breathe when wearing one, and have almost passed out in a supermarket before now because of it, but I ordered a new one, a more comfortable and breatheable one, and it has been much better. I just think it's best if everyone wears one. I don't think YABU at all. I wish everyone would wear them in supermarkets when out shopping.

I just think it's best if everyone wears one.

I've tried several, even the ones marketed as more breathable are still problematic because I haven't found one which doesn't make me feel like there is a hand over my mouth and nose, which leads to flashbacks, panicking and an inability to function. If you have any suggestions for one which doesn't have me breathing mouthfuls of warm air I will absolutely try it. If not, I'd suggest your issues are not the same as everyone else on this thread. Your issue sounds like you had the wrong mask, my issue is anything over my mouth and nose gives me flashbacks to trying to breathe through my rapist's hand as he suffocated me into submission...

Not particularly comparable is it. For the record I haven't been in a shop since mid March.

My sister runs a shop and the staff there all wear clear plastic visors, it covers their full face. Theres no issue with lip reading and the visor doesn't touch the skin apart from a foam band at the top of the forehead.

My sister runs a shop and the staff there all wear clear plastic visors, it covers their full face

Was looking at those or at least similar. Will probably order one just to try and it's bound to come in useful for the kids (Halloween costume maybe) even if it's no good for me. Was worried I'd need to tuck the bottom into something like a scarf though. Everyone I've seen wearing one has teamed it with a mask.

@dinosauratemydaffodils they look a bit like this, a clear plastic sheet.

This is what tends to happen in the real world in the summer/when there is a heatwave unless we are going to do the same as Japan and put cold masks in vending machines for the public to buy
I was in Boots yesterday It was stifling in there Must have been 33c in there, and the staff were no longer wearing face masks when a couple of them were really gung ho about it last month!!

Been saying for weeks that this would happen when it got hot and stifling but nooooooooooo people kept saying that ppl would just have to cope.

Just looked at an old post of mine I had a flare up in 2012 as well. i knew it was more than four times.

Has he made contact with you? Do you have a plan of how to respond?

@Alabamawhirly1 Still confused about viruses and masks? Here’s the science behind how face masks prevent coronavirus
www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent?fbclid=IwAR2EPSbt3x7WSk304d3PfaPwRWsOEH9xsC9b5DjsCbb5gpYebaLeFfJkAKo

There are multiple studies both for and against masks. So your little link means f-all.

What the most reliable studies show is that you can't pass the virus if you are just in the same vacinity as someone unless you are coughing and sneezing. You won't pass enough on from just breathing or speaking for a short period of time if you are asymptomatic.

Yes a mask may stop the spread if you are symptomatic or you are spending a long period of time with someone. But neither of those things are reasons to make masks mandatory for all when out in public. Don't go out if you have symptoms would be better advice.

What a sensible post @Alabamawhirly1, bravo.

@Alabamawhirly1 people here are told not to go oit if they have symptoms as well.

You're right Alabamawhirly1 my little link to EBR means nothing.
You are so superior that you should be advising SAGE