To mask or not to mask

[coffeewithmilk]

This thread might have some divided opinions

I have been wearing a face covering whenever I go into a shop or enclosed space where I cannot social distance - for example: went to IKEA this morning and put my mask on. I'm really shocked at the amount of people not wearing one.
I would have thought with everything that has happened the last few months that people would be inclined to wear a mask, but it's almost like nothing has happened... and feel like I even get some strange looks when I am wearing one.

Just for context: I'm not in the UK. Currently in ROI.

Do people think they are superior and won't catch anything so they don't bother putting one on?

AIBU with this?

'Other countries seem able to comply. Why is the UK special?'

It's like I said earlier, Brits are too self conscious. Always worried if they'll be the odd one out or look weird. Best to have a blanket rule and then the choice is taken away.

They are to help the vulnerable, the elderly

Crap Its vulnerable people who are being bullied shamed and filmed for not wearing them.

i didnt see reams and reams of threads like this when the weakest in our society were losing their DLA. There were threads but nowhere near this amount!!

I suspect there is a direct correlation between those shaming people for not wearing masks and demanding to know the ins and outs of their medical conditions and those who thought/think most of those on DLA/PIP are scroungers.

So lets not pretend its about protecting the vulnerable shall we. Lets stop being disingenuous.

Its about getting out there and spending. Its about being able to go to the pub. Its about being able to go on holiday and EVERYONE wearing masks speeds that up.

The economy has taken a huge it

But dont pretend its about the vulnerable when they have already been bullied, harassed and filmed on public transport for not being able to wear masks.

And some companies are acting in a similar way One bus company deleted a social media post saying that from Monday 29th June passengers would have to PROVE their disability/medical condition if not wearing a mask. After they were told they were in breach of the Equality Act.

Prove you are disabled so you can get PIP
Prove you are disabled so you can get food delivered.
Prove you are disabled so you wont have your condition exacerbated by wearing a mask.

A sickening hat trick!

All about the vulnerable? Yeah Course it is!!

'order online. Don't need to go in a shop. Don't use public transport. So. I won't be wearing one.'

Oh well yes in that case I agree. I'm not suggesting you wear one sat on your sofa watching the telly or anything.

It's like I said earlier, Brits are too self conscious. Always worried if they'll be the odd one out or look weird. Best to have a blanket rule and then the choice is taken away.

There's something in this. The more your neighbours and friends do something, the more likely you are to do it. Isn't it the 'nudge' theory?

@LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus - your opinion is incredibly selfish. Thankfully it looks like England will follow Scotland and many other countries and make it mandatory.

People who don’t wear masks are idiots

Thanks for calling me an idiot for struggling with PTSD making wearing a mask extremely difficult.

It's actually something I've been working on but the mask brings up flashbacks. There are good days where I feel in control and days where the past haunts too much. Fortunately, I have an understanding husband who backs me up when necessary.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'I won’t wear one'

You will when it becomes mandatory. This week apparently. Nicola is very excited she thinks she's shown Boris the way.

No, I won't wear one. It can be as mandatory as it wants to be but I still cannot wear one no matter what anybody says. I will stay at home 24/7 (other than work).

@lljkk

So... giving people a hug is the new "You murderer!" action. Or it's at least as bad as not wearing a mask (says OP).

I don't know what OP's AIBU is. That she is in a high horse & is she entitled to dislike the choices that other people make? Knock yourself out if you enjoy feeling like that & talking about how you feel like that.

*I gave my friend a hug today. Zero regrets, too.

Giving a hug to someone is not social distancing. Then in 2 weeks time people like you end up in my A&E department gasping for breath, not able to speak to any family members or loved ones before we put you on a ventilator, where you will remain, alone for the foreseeable weeks. Coming out of your medically induced coma, by us (me) one of the people who desperately want people to follow these rules, needing intensive physio and rehab because you've lost all muscle mass, all weight whilst you were on a ventilator.

Well done, that hug was worth it.
Also was calling me a high horse - I'm a high horse because I have good reason to - I've looked after many that have been unfortunate to have covid and it is not a pretty sight. I think I'm allowed feel opinionated for others to wear a mask and stick to guidelines that are being set out.

@HeIenaDove

They are to help the vulnerable, the elderly Crap Its vulnerable people who are being bullied shamed and filmed for not wearing them.

i didnt see reams and reams of threads like this when the weakest in our society were losing their DLA. There were threads but nowhere near this amount!!

I suspect there is a direct correlation between those shaming people for not wearing masks and demanding to know the ins and outs of their medical conditions and those who thought/think most of those on DLA/PIP are scroungers.

So lets not pretend its about protecting the vulnerable shall we. Lets stop being disingenuous.

Its about getting out there and spending. Its about being able to go to the pub. Its about being able to go on holiday and EVERYONE wearing masks speeds that up.

The economy has taken a huge it

But dont pretend its about the vulnerable when they have already been bullied, harassed and filmed on public transport for not being able to wear masks.

And some companies are acting in a similar way One bus company deleted a social media post saying that from Monday 29th June passengers would have to PROVE their disability/medical condition if not wearing a mask. After they were told they were in breach of the Equality Act.

Prove you are disabled so you can get PIP
Prove you are disabled so you can get food delivered.
Prove you are disabled so you wont have your condition exacerbated by wearing a mask.

A sickening hat trick!

All about the vulnerable? Yeah Course it is!!

Someone openly admitted on here the other day they would film non mask wearers and post this on social media. I was really shocked

'So lets not pretend its about protecting the vulnerable shall we. Lets stop being disingenuous.'

Lets carry on saying it is to contain droplets from infected people that can affect those with chronic medical conditions and the elderly much more than younger, healthy people. Let's help our vulnerable relatives and friends.

Every other country uses them, in Scotland it is mandatory. Why not in England?!

1 in 3900 people in the U.K. currently have coronavirus, how long would it take for you to come in contact with 3900 people? A day, a week, a month? Then to be in close enough contact with that one person for long enough so you contract the virus.

Everyone’s lifestyle is different and I feel it should be up to the individual based on their lifestyle and personal risk and then if the rates hit some arbitrary government imposed figure eg. 1 in 200 then yes perhaps there is more of a case for wearing mandatory masks. Right now not so much.

Yes i saw that too. It has been noticed.

1 in 3900 people in the U.K. currently have coronavirus, how long would it take for you to come in contact with 3900 people? A day, a week, a month? Then to be in close enough contact with that one person for long enough so you contract the virus.

This is pretty much exactly what people in Florida and Texas were saying a month or two ago.

'It can be as mandatory as it wants to be but I still cannot wear one no matter what anybody says. I will stay at home 24/7 (other than work).'

What a shame you'll isolate yourself rather than wear a piece of material over your mouth and nose. Really, I've never seen such a load of handwringing.

So lets not pretend its about protecting the vulnerable shall we. Lets stop being disingenuous.

And yet... it is about protecting the vulnerable, no matter how much you try to say it isn't.

The point with masks is not to protect the wearer, it's to protect everyone else.

So yes, it's incredibly selfish to refuse to wear one unless there is a medical reason not to, including MH.

HelenaDove better if none of us bother then, hey?

@GetOffYourHighHorse She said she CANNOT wear one not that she wouldnnt Yet you still insist its all about the vulnerable Yet you have just had a go at someone who is.

It's not a binary choice of

1 - wear mask and also shame others for not wearing masks
2 - not wear mask

There's a third option

3 - wear mask and don't shame others who can't wear masks.

The vast majority of people will fall into category 3. They are protecting the vulnerable without shaming anyone.

'And yet... it is about protecting the vulnerable, no matter how much you try to say it isn't.'

It's incredible isn't it. I'm healthy but for my parents and a relative with significant healthy issues I don't want anyone with uncovered faces breathing and speaking near them in shops where tiny droplets are expelled over a distance. Stop wanging on about the government and just wear a face cover fgs

I'm a nurse so have to wear one all the time at work.

I have started to wear one in shops as they are definitely busier and it is simply impossible to remain 2 meters away from anyone at all times.

I'm used to it now and I do believe they should be mandatory in shops. Yes there will be people that can't wear them but the majority can.

'She said she CANNOT wear one not that she wouldnnt '

There are of course exemptions, though I do struggle to see what issue the equivalent of a hanky fastened across a face would cause. We aren't talking tight fitting, claustrophobic gas masks.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'It can be as mandatory as it wants to be but I still cannot wear one no matter what anybody says. I will stay at home 24/7 (other than work).'

What a shame you'll isolate yourself rather than wear a piece of material over your mouth and nose. Really, I've never seen such a load of handwringing.

i CANNOT wear one. I did not want to say this but i feel forced to.i have severe PTSD after being forced into a full mask in a violent sexual assault. now leave me a lone.

'have severe PTSD after being forced into a full mask in a violent sexual assault. now leave me a lone.'

Apologies.

As I said there are of course exemptions

I am talking about those that choose not to.

I thought Florida opened up a lot faster than California and California opened up crazy faster than UK has. I don't think visiting each other in private homes was ever banned in California, either.

Comparisons with prevalence in Florida 1-2 months ago might be unhelpful.