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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Face masks. To feel that we have all been through enough....

999 replies

NiknicK · 14/07/2020 04:40

And shouldn’t have to wear face masks if we don’t want to. I know it’s not officially been confirmed yet, but it’s expected to be today, and I don’t get it. If face masks truly help prevent the spreading of the virus, then why on earth wasn’t it made compulsory at the beginning of this pandemic, why now? I know you’ll all likely call me selfish but I can’t do it. I have to wear a mask for ten minutes once or twice month to collect mine and dh’s medication and I find it unbearable even for that small amount of time. They make my face itch and make me want to touch my face more, I can’t breathe properly and get panicky, they slide up as they’re too big for my face and hit my eye lids. My ds is autistic and I suspect I have some traits eg sensory issues, and the thought of having to wear these masks when I find shopping stressful enough as it is, fills me with dread. AIBU?

OP posts:
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Roussette · 14/07/2020 09:28

Butchy I've explained it endlessly. I've said I worded one sentence wrong. I apologised to you for misleading you. I have responded to you and explained countless times, if you don't read my replies I can't help that.
Face mask wearing from 24th July means I will not feel comfortable in a shop where the majority of the shoppers are not wearing them. That's it really.

Defenestratethecat · 14/07/2020 09:28

If you can wear a mask, then you should, It usually applies for short periods of time - only in shops and on public transport. Would you rather not wear a mask and perhaps contract or spread the virus? It is becoming increasingly obvious that wearing a face covering limits spread.

We probably didn't need to wear them during lockdown because most people were observing social distancing, public transport was practically empty, most shops were closed and supermarkets were being very careful to ensure trollies were sanitised, limited number of people in the shop, everyone following instructions. It's becoming more of a free for all every day, case numbers in many local authorities are rising and we're heading towards colder months when experts believe the virus will be worse.

The economy is tanking, 45,000 have died with this virus, millions are going to lose their jobs and children are foregoing their education and you're worrying about wearing a face covering for 20 minutes while you're in a shop? You perhaps need to look at the bigger picture. Maybe do some reading on the increaasing scientific evidence. See how many other european countries have mandatory mask wearing on public transport and in shops.

Some people will genuinely not be able to wear a mask. Everyone else wearing one will help protect them. I don't particularly enjoy wearing a mask - my specs steam up if I don't put it on exactly right and if my hay fever is playing up then I become a snotty, eye watery mess. But I still wear it.

ZombieLizzieBennet · 14/07/2020 09:28

@Roussette

Zombie

None of that. I will be doing nothing like that. If I go in Morrisons, and the majority of the people are not wearing masks, I would ask on the information desk if they are trying to implement it. If they shrugged and said no, people choose whether they want to or not. I would shop elsewhere.

You'll stand there for a while in the shop, thus extending your time in there with an unmasked person, while you wait for the manager and the person without the mask continues about their business
Oh purleeeease. As if!
I have said countless times, that I want to be reassured that the shops I go in or doing their best to implement the rules of face masking. If I feel they are not, I will speak to the information desk, if I feel they are not even trying to mention it to shoppers as they come in, I will shop elsewhere.

I've said this twice on this post because you have written some sort of scene and applied it to me, and it's daft

You said earlier that if you saw someone not wearing a mask, you'd approach staff to ask why that person isn't wearing a mask. That's the situation I'm addressing with you here and asking how you think this is actually going to work if you try it in practice, not whether you'll just avoid a shop altogether if they're not asking people on entry, which is a different scenario.

It's evident that you haven't given much thought to how this would actually play out if you were daft enough to try it, particularly if there's no legal requirement to provide confirmation of an exemption from a doctor.

KeirStarmerDonkeyFarmer · 14/07/2020 09:29

Why do people keep saying this is going to kill off the high street? The thought that masks are going to be mandatory is the only thing that is making me consider going back to the high street.

Roussette · 14/07/2020 09:30

I want the world to re-open and life to go back to approximately normal and we ALL have a role to play in making sure that is possible. The longer we all claim we have very special personal reasons for not wearing a mask, the longer it takes

100% this ^^

SoupDragon · 14/07/2020 09:30

I am beginning to think that the poor death rate in the U.K. is due in no small part to the Great British Public themselves. I don't think the government making masks compulsory earlier would have worked because people would be whinging and claiming they can't possibly wear one rather than just getting on with it.

Yes, there are going to be people who really can't wear any form of face covering but they are going to be the minority.

SoupDragon · 14/07/2020 09:31

Think about the shit that others have had to deal with and then think about the small discomfort of wearing a face mask.

Underhisi · 14/07/2020 09:32

So every time you see someone without a mask you will go to customer services and ask them if they have checked if the person is exempt. You will be spending a lot of time queueing for a pointless reason because they won't have checked for evidence. The most they will have done is to ask the person if they are exempt.

If loads of people are going in without masks just leave and go somewhere else.

ExtremelyBoldSquirrels · 14/07/2020 09:32

@Roussette Even if you don’t want the actual medical information, you will be harassing the shop staff to satisfy your curiosity. Frankly they have enough to worry about without that too.

And, in demanding to know that they have checked (even though they don’t have to), you’ll be making anyone not wearing one uncomfortable. That’s not ok. You say you feel for people who can’t wear masks, but your attitude (And that of people like you) is exactly what is making it so hard for them.

This sort of thing has been the problem throughout the whole pandemic. It’s brought out the worst busybodying in so many people. Life would be a lot nicer if people just concerned themselves with ensuring that they are, personally, doing what’s required and stopped wanting to police and check up on everyone else. With an added heap of virtue signalling ‘oh aren’t I a good citizen unlike all these reprobates. Masks seem to be totally perfect for this shit.

It’s like a nationwide version of mealtimes with my DSC (neither of whom ever behaves well at dinner). They both sit there going on about what the other one is or is not doing, hoping to get each other into trouble. And I have to tell them to just worry about their own dinner and leave the other one alone, repeatedly.

Roussette · 14/07/2020 09:33

You said earlier that if you saw someone not wearing a mask, you'd approach staff to ask why that person isn't wearing a mask

Oh for crying out loud! I have said countless times, I worded my first sentence on this wrong. I apologised for misleading. I cannot keep repeating myself, it's boring for everyone on this thread.

Happy to be called daft, really don't care, I just can't keep repeating the same thing over and over again.

BlueMoonRising · 14/07/2020 09:33

I'm exempt from wearing a mask due to asthma, but I choose to wear one anyway. And I agree, it's not comfortable and it does make breathing harder. In fact I know quite a few people that are exempt that wear one despite the discomfort.

The people I see complaining about wearing one are clearly not exempt (otherwise they wouldn't need to wear one).

I think they need to put up and shut up, personally.

BlueMoonRising · 14/07/2020 09:35

Just to add, I know there are people that are exempt and would have a much harder time wearing a mask than I do. I'm not suggesting they should be wearing one.

Roussette · 14/07/2020 09:37

OK, I'm bowing out of this thread, because I feel it's getting silly and I'm fed up of repeating the same thing again and again. I, personally, will be wearing a face mask every time I go to a shop for the good of others.
If you choose not to because of genuine reasons, that's fine.

If you choose not to because you don't like masks, that is not fine in my book. Because I hate wearing one but do it to help protect others.
Good luck everyone Smile

Standardy · 14/07/2020 09:37

I am beginning to think that the poor death rate in the U.K. is due in no small part to the Great British Public themselves

Yep.

ohthegoats · 14/07/2020 09:38

And shouldn’t have to wear face masks if we don’t want to.

Whinge and whine... just wear a fucking mask. It's for the good of society. Jesus, people are dicks. Explains how this shower of arseholes government got voted in though, doesn't it.

DomDoesWotHeWants · 14/07/2020 09:39

@ohthegoats

And shouldn’t have to wear face masks if we don’t want to.

Whinge and whine... just wear a fucking mask. It's for the good of society. Jesus, people are dicks. Explains how this shower of arseholes government got voted in though, doesn't it.

Ain't that the truth.
ZombieLizzieBennet · 14/07/2020 09:39

@Roussette

You said earlier that if you saw someone not wearing a mask, you'd approach staff to ask why that person isn't wearing a mask

Oh for crying out loud! I have said countless times, I worded my first sentence on this wrong. I apologised for misleading. I cannot keep repeating myself, it's boring for everyone on this thread.

Happy to be called daft, really don't care, I just can't keep repeating the same thing over and over again.

Since evidently a number of people have been confused by your posts, can you clarify are you saying this means once you're in the shop, you actually won't raise the issue of another shopper not wearing a mask with a staff member?
OrlandoInTheWilderness · 14/07/2020 09:40

There is no point being 'fed up of all this'. It's a virus that kills people.
I appreciate that you will find it hard, but practice helps. With all due respect, you are coming across as a little whiny.
It isn't ideal but as someone with friends who are nurses in ITU, wear the damn mask and stop complaining. Be bloody thankful you aren't dying.

Autviaminveniamautfaciam · 14/07/2020 09:41

I feel your frustration. If we were short of masks they could have told us to make them or wrap a scarf around our faces when we ventured out to the shops. Everyone has a scarf.

It seems too little too late TBH. I hate wearing a mask. I've tried and I cannot breathe in them. I'm claustrophobic and I hated it.

I don't think it is a great idea. It will stop people going to the shops. I've been out and about and been respectful of the rules and guidelines and others, but I don't want to wear a mask and I am fed up queueing for everything and so I've decided to shop online for as much as I can.

doodleygirl · 14/07/2020 09:43

I have just been listening to the news which says the next wave of the virus will be so much worse unless we do everything we can to ensure we keep it at a distance. This includes,social distancing, mask wearing and using our common sense in relation to how we behave.

Wearing masks may be a pain in the arse but they are one of the tools of fighting this really shitty virus. It really pisses me off when I hear people say I have had enough, or I've followed the rules up until now and I am not doing it anymore. Just a fucking stupid attitude.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 14/07/2020 09:45

@Roussette

Lots of people won't want to wear a mask so the shops will continue to be empty

And lots of people like me will feel far more comfortable about going to shops now that shoppers are wearing masks. Works both ways. If someone reaches across me for a tin of beans without a mask on, I do not like it. If they have a mask on, that is slightly better if they do that.

Yes, this. I will shop in local shops when mask-wearing becomes the norm.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 14/07/2020 09:45

@Madvixen

If you don't want to wear a mask you don't have to. The consequence will be that you can't go to the shops or access public transport.
For me that won't be any loss. I have no need to use public transport and the only shop I need to go to is the corner shop so I can wear the mask for the few minutes I'm in there. Either that or I send DH! I have to wear one when I'm away from my desk when I go back to the office but that will only be for a few minutes at a time.
Jeremyironsnothing · 14/07/2020 09:46

I'll go to the shops if everyone is wearing a mask. I won't if they aren't.

BillieEilish · 14/07/2020 09:47

@Roussette is absolutely right.

Good luck coming to Spain, entering the equivalent of Tesco without a facemask, if the general public don't humiliate and shame you, the cashier won't serve you. The security guard will call the police.

100 euro fine will be a lucky escape.

We have suffered an appalling proper lockdown for months, you have no idea. Nobody is angry with the gvmt. FFS. It's a pandemic.

Grow up and wear a mask. Shut up. Do an online shop. Do something productive. Pathetic.
I think you are a troll or DM 'journo'

BelleSausage · 14/07/2020 09:47

@doodleygirl

I have just been listening to the news which says the next wave of the virus will be so much worse unless we do everything we can to ensure we keep it at a distance. This includes,social distancing, mask wearing and using our common sense in relation to how we behave.

Wearing masks may be a pain in the arse but they are one of the tools of fighting this really shitty virus. It really pisses me off when I hear people say I have had enough, or I've followed the rules up until now and I am not doing it anymore. Just a fucking stupid attitude.

This 100%. Have any of the people objecting looked at the infection rate in the US recently. Horrifying.

So objecting to wearing masks has worked out really, really well for them.