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.

@Cadent

I'm British.

Absolutely agree! Selfish idiots.

Op you aren't making sense. You are English but are stereotyping all other English people as selfish except for yourself. That's why xenophobic stereotypes don't work, because you can't generalise about an entire nation of people. Doing so about your own nationality and thinking you are the exception to the stereotype is even more idiotic.

I am not convinced that I can infect anyone without having any simptoms, without talking to anyone or touching anyone in mostly empty shops where I live in London suburb. So I am not going to wear a mask as I am not a risk to anyone.
I bought some shoes in Clarks last week. I was to only customer in a shop.
I think the response to Covid 19 is disproportionate. But I am not calling people idiots if they have a different opinion.

They wear masks but say uptake where they live is around 15%

Until today I would have said the same where I live. Now it's about 50% and that's 10 days before it becomes mandatory.

Remember OP it is not mandatory here yet. And if tourists in Spain aren't following the rules, it's up to the local authorities to make sure they do. I would also say their tour operators have a responsibility to make sure they know what the rules are before they leave. But as has been said already, if you don't want virus shedding tourists in your town, tell the Spanisg/Catalonian government to do something about it. Don't just goad on MN.

But you've emigrated now. So let us be.

Definitely a goady fucker poster.

I’m English. I agree with you whole heartedly OP.

So many people seem to be looking for excuses to be exempt. It’s awfully embarrassing to read. (and yes it is mainly here online for me because my friends & family are all for it, or haven’t had a complete meltdown over it at least! )

@BerriesAndLeaves

I asked what the issue was with there being a disproportionate amount of anti mask sentiment compared to other countries and English tourists refusing to comply with the rules here.

That's not a xenophobic stereotype, it's a fact.

I did say that there seems to be a weird entitlement amongst English people and a selfishness. This comes from the above 2 points.

Or one who thinks of herself as an 'ex-pat'

If you're not paying taxes here or living here then your opinion is meaningless, OP.

I can actually see the time in the not too distant future when we will see masks as a fashion accessory. Our friends will admire and comment on our lovely, pretty masks just as we would a pretty scarf...”ooh, I love your mask, where did you get it?” will soon be the norm.

@Ilovemypantry it's already happening! my local market was bursting with masks and I sent my sister a pic of the nice ones.

It's a shame you didn't phrase it in such a reasonable way in your original post instead of the goady way that you did phrase it!

@Changednamesorry

You make sure your family members in the UK take normal Covid safety measures. There are seemingly countless Brits online who will provide you with all the exemptions (medical and mental) as to why they are entitled to be unmasked either not be safe themselves and exposed to Covid or spread it themselves as it is invisible and for many asytomatic. I think only Belarus, Brazil and USA are as anti PPE face coverings like many in the UK. In the UK you will possibly have seen mass gatherings at the beach or violent protests etc and general civil disobedience of government lockdown measures. Some English people will not follow any instruction even though it may save their life! You probably prefer tourist from safer better rule adherence nations like Germany etc. Covid is a complete disaster in the UK and so keep an eye on our statistics and make up your own analysis as to some of the contributing factors! We are now asked to get back to the office, shops and bars, restaurants etc so expect another UK second wave of transmissions especially as some Brits don’t wear PPE even when mandated! It’s apparently only a £100 fine which is cheap if it literally is the price to potentially inadvertently cause someone’s death!

I asked what the issue was with there being a disproportionate amount of anti mask sentiment compared to other countries and English tourists refusing to comply with the rules here.

Your OP said nothing about English people in Catalunya. You're backtracking bigtime.

@Fuckinellitsme I didn't say they were less important, I said they weren't more important than me. There's a difference. I personally don't feel like someone's exemption to wearing a mask should trump the health of others. But that seems to be the attitude of everyone claiming they can't wear one.

If someone gets onto a bus and is coughing and not wearing a mask, my mask won't protect me from their respiratory droplets, whereas them wearing a mask would be much more effective in doing that. It's not fair to everyone else, people need to think not just of the good of themselves, but the good of everyone around them. No man is an island.

So yes, if you can't wear a mask. Stay away from me!

I have no valid opinions on anything happening in Spain and am not interested in yours about anything happening in England.
Shame you have not got a mask on your typing finger.

I personally don't feel like someone's exemption to wearing a mask should trump the health of others.

Unfortunate for you that you don't get to make the rules then isn't it. If you're that worried about it then best you stay away from the non mask wearers.

[quote MolyHolyGuacamole]@Fuckinellitsme I didn't say they were less important, I said they weren't more important than me. There's a difference. I personally don't feel like someone's exemption to wearing a mask should trump the health of others. But that seems to be the attitude of everyone claiming they can't wear one.

If someone gets onto a bus and is coughing and not wearing a mask, my mask won't protect me from their respiratory droplets, whereas them wearing a mask would be much more effective in doing that. It's not fair to everyone else, people need to think not just of the good of themselves, but the good of everyone around them. No man is an island.

So yes, if you can't wear a mask. Stay away from me! [/quote]
So, does that mean people who are unable to wear a mask shouldn't be allowed to get on a bus? Go in a shop?

I'm from Spain but am on"holiday" in England right now. So I have the reverse perspective of what it feels like to be in England from the POV of a Spanish resident!

It is weird here. When I go out, to the park or the town or a shop, there are rules to follow but they are different on every shop/cafe. They ask "have you visited us since we reopen/can we explain our system?" every time you go in, because every shop has a different system, so it takes forever and a staff member has to be on the door the whole time. But worse is the members of public who take it upon themselves to police you, like "stand there - that's 2m" (isn't it 1.5m now?). People in England are either totally holier-than-thou smug unwanted volunteer covid police OR completely ignoring it like nothing has happened!

Living through the real lockdown in Spain, and in a garden-less flat was brutal. It cost me thousands in lost income and I'm so worried about the education my kids have missed.

But I'm so thankful not to have the embarrassing headless chicken government as my government. It was hard but we've always known where we stand! I'm looking forward to getting home where I feel much safer than here in England and I do hope the English, and other tourists visit this year. There are always the Magaluf types, but most visitors to my city are very respectful and also spend a lot of money!

So, does that mean people who are unable to wear a mask shouldn't be allowed to get on a bus? Go in a shop?

You mean like everyone who's been shielding?

oh cadent you look abit stupid now

on another topic what temp shold i be washing my face masks on

@Cadent

I'm an immigrant not an expat. I will never go back to live there.

But my parents live in the UK. My mother works in the NHS.

I think its fine for me to be worried about what's happening in the UK.

People in England are either totally holier-than-thou smug unwanted volunteer covid police

I’ve literally never seen this in any shop. Staff have been helpful and kind. You are deluded.

But I'm so thankful not to have the embarrassing headless chicken government as my government.

Yeah like the Spanish government covered themselves in glory. You had one of the strictest mandatory lockdowns only because your government fucked up so bad.

And I speak as a non-Tory!