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.

stray piece of fresh chewing gum 😃

@Changednamesorry

If everyone else was wearing masks outside, and this family had bothered to have masks in their possession, why did they need to be told by you to put them on? Or were you the only person they'd encountered that day? Don't tell me, it was the crack of dawn and you just happened to be passing as they stepped out of their accommodation...

It's not ignorance of "how other countries operate". I just have my doubts about your recollection.

@TheChiefJo well.... That was one of the points I made "look.... Everyone else is wearing them"

I could have just waited for them to walk past the police and receive 500 euros worth of fines of course. But I chose tell them.

Doubt my recollection all you want. It happened like this.

OP the tone of your post was vile.

@Literallynoidea I'm surprised it hasn't been removed for its crass xenophobia, tbh.

it is a sweeping generalisation of an entire nation. Instead of shooting people down who have been offended by this and patronisingly sigh at their viewpoint it may be best to simply apologise that you came across in such a manner
Definitely, but you'll be waiting a long time for an apology from this goady op.

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia I'm in Andalucía, from yesterday masks are mandatory everywhere public at all times. Even on the beach and at public pools. You are exempt from wearing in the water obviously, and while sitting under your parasol with people from your own household, but if you are sitting with other families you have to wear them and to walk along the beach you have to wear them.
Individual exercise (like jogging) is also exempt but most people seem to be wearing them.
You can take the mask off to eat in a bar/restaurant but should wear it to enter.
Fines are €100. Children under 6 are exempt.
Carrefour sells all sorts of masks, I just bought a 2 pack of reusable cloth ones for €5 and they had the clear visors as well for not much money.
All shops have hand sanitizer and streets are disinfected but not with UV light.
I would recommend the cloth masks for comfort as they feel lighter in the heat, the carrefour ones are soft and lightweight. But also get some surgical ones as they seem to ask for them in some places, i've heard of them being required at airports and in healthcare settings, although I'm not sure why surgical ones (the blue disposable ones) rather than cloth.

@Literallynoidea

OP the tone of your post was vile.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun

Thank you for that useful to know information. It does appear from your account and from many friends in your country that you have a very different Covid mindset to us in the UK. I am assuming people were wearing PPE since the initial period? And unlike the British people appreciated the mutual protection of taking a combination of Covid mitigation measures including just covering the bits of their bodies that may inadvertently lead to community infection.

I am only slightly concerned about social distancing in popular tourist areas in Spain but reassured to know of the local Covid smart culture and the general availability of PPE widely available in Spanish shops. We had a massive shortage of PPE in the UK as even some medical workers innocently died because of lack of PPE and probably hence why after 50k plus Covid fatalities the UK governments have again U turned on the functionality of personal protective equipment for the general public. People need to be told in the UK as some are still not wishing to keep themselves safer and will only wear a face covering when challenged and made mandatory. You would have thought 50k excess Covid fatalities would be enough of an incentive!

I will happily visit a safer Covid smart nation if we Brits with our relaxed Covid attitudes and track record are allowed entry! We will bring our own PPE to make sure there are plenty supply for others locals that need them too. They are now also widely available to purchase in UK shops as nobody wears them apart from a few families who ironically sometimes surprise or "scare" other Brits when fully PPEd up!

Vile? Really? Has anyone reported?

The tone of your post was very forthright and quite confrontational. But this is Mumsnet.

so meh🤷‍♀️

@sleepingpup to be fair, those who didn’t like the tone of the OP have been called ‘vile’ too.

Yes but the OP hasn't called them vile. She hasn't abused anyone. She's very measured but says her point. @excuseforfights

Got the feeling people piling on now saying the "tone" of the OP was "vile" are pretty much jumping on something to pile on with. Last line of defence maybe?

If it's "vile" report it?

I agree that 'vile' is far too strong for the OP's posts. It's hardly unusual for Mumsnet AIBU to have such confrontational posts; it's actually mild by AIBU standards. Although she has been guilty of sweeping generalisations about English people.

I understand where she and other posters are coming from, though. The moaning about having to wear masks is making English people look ridiculous and I feel embarrassed about it. Because, as has been pointed out repeatedly, in other countries mask wearing has been compulsory for ages.

I like the word "vile" on Mumsnet. I once saw it used, forcefully, with "fucking" as an intensifier, to describe people who take their children with them on aeroplanes.

if they were talking about my kids i'd probably have to agree with them😁

It may be the "GET A GRIP" in the title that people are applying the phrase vile to. Perhaps vile is too strong for you, that's fine. Whether we argue the semantics of that phrase, it remains that any thread with this in capitals is likely to come across badly - it's patronising and aggressive at best. Can you imagine any other topic that criticises people for their own personal choices, other that Covid, with this as the header? Here are some possible examples (disclaimer - not real examples - fictional to make the point):

1. you don't want breastfeed? GET A GRIP
2. You are overweight and have no desire to be slim? GET A GRIP.
3. You have mental health problems? GET A GRIP.

... highly unpleasant and unlikely to be met with positivity, no?

1. Don't want to wear a mask? GET A GRIP.

... perfectly acceptable way to communicate. 🤷‍♀️

I stand by my view that the OP could have expressed everything she said in a far more eloquent and respectful way, and would have perhaps earned more favour.

@sleepingpup but you’re not calling out other posters for calling people vile for disagreeing with the OP. So some hypocrisy there.

an you imagine any other topic that criticises people for their own personal choices, other that Covid, with this as the header? Here are some

I think the clue is in the word COVID.

It's not really personal.

@sleepingpup

an you imagine any other topic that criticises people for their own personal choices, other that Covid, with this as the header? Here are some

I think the clue is in the word COVID.

It's not really personal.

How is it not personal?!

@sleepingpup The way in which individuals feel about wearing or not wearing a mask during a pandemic that has changed their lives beyond recognition, is 100% personal.

I’m with you OP. People on local Facebook pages posting, lots of men, boasting that they won’t be wearing one.

Examples of how people's views and feelings about mask wearing is very personal indeed...

Person A - works long shifts in ICU, wearing masks for long stints. Finds it claustrophobic and struggles with panic attacks. Is thankful daily for the small bit of respite outside of work. Now feels understandably shit about having to wear a mask in shops, too; but gets why and does it anyway.

Person B - has lost family members to Covid, has children with a health condition that make them vulnerable. Hasn't particularly had to wear one before, doesn't have any anxieties about doing so. Feels strongly that everyone should wear masks and hates those who complain.

Person C - was raped / abused as a child, involving suffocation with use of mask over face. Is horrified by the thought of putting a mask on and will need professional help to even contemplate it.

These are just 3 small examples of the individual differences in feelings about mask wearing. And how a person's unique life circumstances will affect how they feel about it.

In the same way people will have differing views and feelings about breastfeeding, weight loss... etc etc.

So I stand by my point - when you openly judge and insult people using the phrase "get a grip" in relation to their choices that come from valid places as a result of their life experiences - which you can't possibly know about or understand - you shouldn't expect a positive response back.

I forgot the group of people with communication difficulties, too. Those with autism who rely on the full face to make sense of what people are saying (or indeed have sensory issues making it difficult to tolerate the feel of the mask on their face); equally, those who are hard of hearing and lip read. Would your empathic advice to those groups also be to "get a grip", OP?

I could go on and on about the groups of people who have valid reasons to feel anxious and upset about mask wearing. And the reasons why posts like this are offensive and dismissive of those individuals. But I imagine it would fall on deaf ears. So I'll not bother.

Happy Thursday all

[quote ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia]@OrangeBlossomsinthesun

Thank you for that useful to know information. It does appear from your account and from many friends in your country that you have a very different Covid mindset to us in the UK. I am assuming people were wearing PPE since the initial period? And unlike the British people appreciated the mutual protection of taking a combination of Covid mitigation measures including just covering the bits of their bodies that may inadvertently lead to community infection.

I am only slightly concerned about social distancing in popular tourist areas in Spain but reassured to know of the local Covid smart culture and the general availability of PPE widely available in Spanish shops. We had a massive shortage of PPE in the UK as even some medical workers innocently died because of lack of PPE and probably hence why after 50k plus Covid fatalities the UK governments have again U turned on the functionality of personal protective equipment for the general public. People need to be told in the UK as some are still not wishing to keep themselves safer and will only wear a face covering when challenged and made mandatory. You would have thought 50k excess Covid fatalities would be enough of an incentive!

I will happily visit a safer Covid smart nation if we Brits with our relaxed Covid attitudes and track record are allowed entry! We will bring our own PPE to make sure there are plenty supply for others locals that need them too. They are now also widely available to purchase in UK shops as nobody wears them apart from a few families who ironically sometimes surprise or "scare" other Brits when fully PPEd up![/quote]
Masks and visors are available everywhere and the price of masks is controlled by the government. The blue surgical ones are price capped at 98 cents.
Lots of people have been wearing them since the beginning of lockdown and then they were made mandatory across Spain during lockdown, I can't remember exactly when, but about 6 weeks in I think. They weren't mandatory before then as the Spanish government couldn't get hold of enough of them (like a lot of other countries) so couldn't enforce the wearing of them.
I think the fact that it's mandatory and you can (and will) be fined means people do comply. i don't really understand why the uk government has finally decided to make it mandatory but not for another couple of weeks, why the delay?
Here, they decide and you have about 48 hours warning.
Is it the availability issue?

@LouJ85

I forgot the group of people with communication difficulties, too. Those with autism who rely on the full face to make sense of what people are saying (or indeed have sensory issues making it difficult to tolerate the feel of the mask on their face); equally, those who are hard of hearing and lip read. Would your empathic advice to those groups also be to "get a grip", OP?

I could go on and on about the groups of people who have valid reasons to feel anxious and upset about mask wearing. And the reasons why posts like this are offensive and dismissive of those individuals. But I imagine it would fall on deaf ears. So I'll not bother.

Happy Thursday all

I don't know about in the UK but here in Spain people with a valid reason not to wear them (medical issues, special needs etc) are exempt. I think the OP is talking about all those people who just don't want to wear them. Not because they lip read or have PTSD to do with abuse, but just because they don't like them. I don't like them. I fucking hate them actually. They make me feel sweaty and claustrophobic and my sunglasses steam up. It's 41ºC here today, wearing a bit of cloth over my face is really gross. But that doesn't make me special or mean I should be exempt, most other people feel like that. I'm lucky in that I work from home so i only have to wear it when I'm out. As someone is a place where I have to wear it AT ALL TIMES outside my house, not just shops, in 40+ degree heat, listening to people say they can't bear the feel of it in shops in the UK does piss me off a bit I have to say. It does make me feel a bit "suck it up buttercup".