Masks - GET A GRIP.

[Changednamesorry]

Ok.

So. Lots of whinging about masks at the moment as BoJo finally hauls his arse into gear and says that you have to wear them in the shops and on public transport.

In Catalunya where I live masks are obligatory. Every time you are in public. Including in the street. Inside and out. The exceptions are

Medical conditions (you need a paper justifying this)
When playing sport
Children under the age of 6
If eating or drinking

If you don't comply - 100 euro fine. No arguments.

Most people here were already wearing masks anyway (because we saw the horror at the beginning of the pandemic here and we know what a real lockdown is like - not allowed out at all, children locked inside for nearly 3 months, etc)

People arent whining and complaining nor imagining how they can invent aome excuse to mean that the rules don't apply to them and the overwhelming majority of people are wearing them all the time.

Tourists not so much but they getting fined. Good.

So England. PLEASE. Stop with the selfishness. Literally dozens of countries have mandatory mask wearing and citizens comply because they care about each other and don't spend their time acting entitled and "I'm all right Jack"

There are articles in the European press about this. Literally "English people are selfish - is it any wonder they are so resistant to wear masks". It's embarrassing. As a nation, as a society, it's time to grow up and just put the mask on like everyone else.

English people. You aren't special. You are starting to look like the kid who gets thw whole class detention because they just keep on breaking the rules.

Wear the mask. Please. It's for the safety of everyone.

And if you ABSOLUTELY MUST come to Spain on holiday, even more so.

Livingoffcoffee I'm talking about in real life , not the batty world of MN

The unhappiest / crossest post the most so it’s skewed

YANU

I'm English and have been wearing a mask out in crowded public areas and shops since my work (NHS) started making us wear masks throughout our shifts. The amount of complaints I have heard is ridiculous and rather embarrassing really. My mother tutted when I met her out in public last week with a mask on and said that "I looked like an alien being." Obviously I have also seen many people being entirely sensible too, but it does feel like there is more resistance here than in other countries.

I live in UAE and we have the same rules, OP, including in schools and offices. Masks are second nature to us all now after a couple of months. We leave the house and it’s phone, keys, purse, mask. £600 fine for not wearing one if it’s your first offence. The fine rises for second and subsequent offences

I think it's pathetic tbh. Just like the start of lock down when everyone was desperately trying to explain why they couldn't adhere to lockdown rules. I feel like I am getting old because I can't remember us as a nation being such a bunch of whiny whingers when I was younger.

Agree Op.

Completely agree. All the hand wringing and flouncing going on about it here us just ridiculous. although not sure if its a real world or a mumsnet opinion that they are the devil

God, we started wearing them last week in Scotland but we didn’t bang on so much about it.

I went out to the first time today since masks became mandatory and I saw/talked to six people who complained about how uncomfortable the masks are, but they still wore them. Why the hell shouldn't they be allowed to say how they feel. I find this need to stifle not only the virus, but debate, very disturbing.

AllPlayedOut There is 6 other threads just on AIBU alone. It’s certainly not a debate being stifled!!

“Just like the start of lock down when everyone was desperately trying to explain why they couldn't adhere to lockdown rules.”

And yet we were “too compliant”...

@Crunchymum

Schools are not open. They are closed for the holidays as they do every June 24th more or less and only opened for one day before that to let the kids say goodbye to teachers. Most kids didn't go. The schools were fully closed here also from mid March, no "open for keyworkers children" just completely shut down.

On the summer camps kids don't have to but they are in bubbles of 10 max and all teachers and adults must wear them 100% of the time and of children leave the camp for any outing they all wear masks.

Yes I know it's being discussed but anyone who expresses any dislike of them or discomfort seems to told to STFU. It isn't enough that people wear them. They have to submit too. Why? Why aren't they allowed to question it or at least express their dislike of wearing them.

When I had my baby a few weeks ago, all the midwives were complaining about how uncomfortable their masks were. As did the GP at my 6-week check. They weren’t suggesting they should take them off, just finding it more tiring being so uncomfortable.

The schools were fully closed here also from mid March, no "open for keyworkers children" just completely shut down.

Really! I didn’t know that. Interesting. What did keyworkers with school-aged kids do, then?

I'm actually a little comforted by the fact that the government make things mandatory as a last resort and that people don't just say "how high governor" when asked to jump.

That's most definitely my optimistic side being completely naive, but still, it's comforting.

FFS MORE English - hating shite.

Well said OP.

Judging by the number of threads I have seen just today, the "I don't want need to wear a mask because....." brigade are going to need their own topic soon.

When do your schools reopen?

Has there been any mention of masks?

I am very interested to see how school settings are being managed elsewhere, especially in "mask compliant" places.

I think the reticence comes from the fact that we were actively DISCOURAGED from using masks for months at the time of the advancing peak and lockdown. We were told that “the science” said they were not proven to be effective and would remove much needed supplies from healthcare and essential workers. That message was nailed in, hence the U turn is hard for people to accept.

I have worn a mask in the supermarket but nowhere else, I have just ordered a stack of disposable ones at great expense. I do think if the govt want us to use them they should arrange for say 100 per adult to he delivered. But they’d never sort the logistics of that out due to their own incompetence.

Completely agree OP.

I actually don't know anyone in RL who is complaining about having to wear a mask or who is refusing to do so. I am assuming that this is just on social media and mumsnet.

I assumed it was just the Americans who were doing this.

Just the English, @Changednamesorry? No words of profound wisdom for the rest of us who populate this fair isle?