To ask people to show a little more understanding to those not wearing masks

[Fuckinellitsme]

Apologies for another mask thread.

First of all, I'm not an 'anti masker', I absolutely see the need and the importance of wearing them. I'm unable to wear one myself - I have trigeminal neuralgia and when I've tried to wear one, the resulting attack has left me bedbound for days. I want to wear one, but I can't. I also have rheumatoid arthritis so I'm incredibly grateful to all the people who do wear masks, therefore protecting others and especially those in higher risk groups (though not vulnerable enough to be shielding) like me.

However. I've seen some truly awful comments on here in the last few days directed at those who don't wear masks. We should be treated like lepers if we enter a shop without one, for example, or should be banned from them outright. And we ought to stay at home if we are exempt, not use public transport or go shopping or go to work. We have 'made up' health issues and disabilities and are 'woe is me' 'snowflakes'. I've also encountered bus passengers passing comment and tutting about my lack of mask.

Those of us who can't wear a mask (and are acting within the law/guidelines, being exempt) still need to go about our business. It would be lovely if we could do so without fear of comment or judgement. I understand that there will be those who don't wear a mask because they just don't want to - however, please, if you see someone without a mask (particularly if they're wearing a sunflower/exempt lanyard) try to be understanding and give them the benefit of the doubt.

The nastiness and ableist comments on here (and elsewhere) in the past few days have been genuinely upsetting for those of us unable to wear masks. Please don't assume we're all stupid/selfish/conspiracy theorists/don't care about your health, or that it's a choice. For many, choice doesn't come into it.

A bit of empathy goes a long way, especially in these weird times.

I'm just going to leave this here, in case it's useful to anyone.

Crohn's and PIP

Everyone should claim what they're entitled to, there's no shame and no stigma in doing so.

My employer will have to make reasonable adjustments for me.

The clue there is in the word “reasonable”. It is my view that this would not extend to unlawfully discriminating against other people on grounds of disability who have a lawful exemption from wearing a face covering on health grounds. You should speak to your employer. If they can’t guarantee your safety they may need to consider suspending you on full pay.

@Lweji

People who can't wear a mask are being given the right to risk my life so my life clearly is worth less than theirs.

How?

Even if you work at a supermarket, there are measures that can be taken to ensure people without masks stay away from you or are a less risk.
Either you use better protective gear, ask for your cashier line to be mask only, or ask for a role that is less public facing.

And in public transport too. Just standing close to a door reduces the particles in the air around you.

But you will never be 100% safe (in fact, like the OP), and neither were you before covid-19.

Yes, I suggested asking for my line to be mask only and have been shouted at on this thread and told that I can't do that and if I do I shouldn't be working in a shop.

And I need to sit on buses. I can't stand if they are moving.

I'm shielding so I haven't been going out, no. I haven't been at work, no.
Oh ffs so your not even at work , so this is a non issue your not even leaving the house.

@Fuckinellitsme

I'm just going to leave this here, in case it's useful to anyone.

Crohn's and PIP

Everyone should claim what they're entitled to, there's no shame and no stigma in doing so.

Yes, but then when you look at the descriptors and answer the questions they don't fit.

I've not seen anywhere that it asks about pain or speed, or anything really about bowel disease other than do you need help to go to the toilet (which I don't). Where does it cover anyone who is self caring and able to walk and wash and dress themselves?

@islockdownoveryet

I'm shielding so I haven't been going out, no. I haven't been at work, no. Oh ffs so your not even at work , so this is a non issue your not even leaving the house.

Shielding ends on 1st August. I will be going back to work then. It's 16th July today, it's not months away is it?

Hear I understand your anxiety, and that you need to work. Are there any support groups that you can join? I think threads like this might be making you feel worse.

Not to take away from op who also is having difficulty. It’s a hard time, especially for some.

Wear a face visor then. There are alternatives.

But if masks weren't compulsory there would be no issue would there you'd still be going back to work on the 1st August. The reason because the risk is lower .
Like I said before a mask isn't going to illuminate the risk it will just reduce one .
We are all taking a risk I'm taking a risk at the hairdressers today but you know we need to move on with life.

Taken from the site linked to earlier

No points
You can get on and off the toilet, go to the toilet and clean yourself afterwards without any special aids.

You suffer from incontinence, you can manage it yourself and you can clean yourself afterwards without any special aids.

Examples of special aids:

Adapted toilet or commode
Incontinence pads
Grab rails

Even if you are incontinent, or use pads, you get zero points if you can clean yourself.

What am I missing here? You're all insisting that you can work, I'm entitled etc but how? I've read these so many times and I cannot see how.

Don’t bother kind and generous posters. There is genuinely no point. Every suggestion will be met with a negative. Not one single proposal is ever good enough.

Nothing can be done to solve the global pandemic which has been turned into one persons personal battle - someone who is simultaneously very very ill and hugely susceptible to being struck down with any illness but also has chosen to work in a job with massive exposure to the public.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

Taken from the site linked to earlier

No points
You can get on and off the toilet, go to the toilet and clean yourself afterwards without any special aids.

You suffer from incontinence, you can manage it yourself and you can clean yourself afterwards without any special aids.

Examples of special aids:

Adapted toilet or commode
Incontinence pads
Grab rails

Even if you are incontinent, or use pads, you get zero points if you can clean yourself.

What am I missing here? You're all insisting that you can work, I'm entitled etc but how? I've read these so many times and I cannot see how.

That says it’s zero points if you can clean yourself without special aids. So if you need any sort of extra aids then you would get two points

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras Please can you stop derailing OPs thread to make it all about you and PIP? You could start another thread and I'm sure people will help, or read the information I have linked.

I assume you are unable to answer my questions on the actual topic.

Yes, I suggested asking for my line to be mask only and have been shouted at on this thread and told that I can't do that and if I do I shouldn't be working in a shop.
Did you ask at work? What does it matter words written on a forum? You read them. If they're shouting in your head, or pay attention to them, then it's your issue.
Most of what you raised here, you have to raise with your work and your doctor.

And I need to sit on buses. I can't stand if they are moving.

Sit near a door, then. Wear a visor. Open a window.

Do you want solutions or just to complain?

@chaoticisatroll55

Wear a face visor then. There are alternatives.

As I've said, I can't wear anything which puts pressure on my face, head or jaw.

My condition - and very many others - have been recognised as exempt from wearing a mask by transport companies (I've contacted them directly) and the government. Therefore in not wearing one, I'm acting within guidelines. Please understand that there are not alternatives for everyone.

[quote ItsNotJustAboutYou]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras please may I ask you two questions? The government rules are below. Clearly they list exemptions (and ask others to be mindful and respectful).

A. I have explained my reasons why I don't wear a mask (related trauma from rape and suffocation). I am on the list of government exemptions. I am entitled to go about my daily business without staying 2m away from you if it isn't possible. This is the legal position. Please read the full guidelines if you are unsure.

Do you think you personally have the right to override the government mandates and the legal position and if so why? Or is it that you think there should not be any exemptions at all? I'm really interested to know your thinking on this.

B. Do you think you have been mindful and respectful of others in this thread? (Please don't just repeat me me me, actually think about others not just yourself for once. I've asked if you can write a post not mentioning yourself and I genuinely don't think you.

In settings where face coverings are mandated in England, there are some circumstances, for health, age or equality reasons, whereby people are not expected to wear face coverings in these settings. Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances noting that some people are less able to wear face coverings.

You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes:
• young children under the age of 11
• not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
• if you are travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
• to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others
• to avoid injury, or to escape a risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you
• to eat or drink, but only if you need to
• to take medication
• if a police officer or other official requests you remove your face covering[/quote]
But having a reason for being exempt does not stop you from posing a risk to me. Added into the fact that the exemptions are so broad everyone could claim them plus no one is allowed to ask whether the person is exempt or not, so basically it isn't worth the paper it's written on..anyone who doesn't want to wear one won't have to, with zero consequences.

Your only solution for me is to get off multiple buses or stay at home. So, how are my needs being accommodated? What you are saying is the rights and activities of people not wearing masks are more important than the health and ability to do activities of those are highest vulnerability?

That's the truth. These are directly opposing needs. Both can't exist together so everyone on this thread is arguing the rights of people not wearing masks trumps the most vulnerable. At least be honest enough to admit it.

But I can walk without help. I use a stick but that isn't help.
The website linked to earlier states that a stick is a special aid. So if you need a stick then you do need help and you start to score points. That's my understanding anyway.

[quote ItsNotJustAboutYou]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras Please can you stop derailing OPs thread to make it all about you and PIP? You could start another thread and I'm sure people will help, or read the information I have linked.

I assume you are unable to answer my questions on the actual topic. [/quote]
I have answered

Your only solution for me is to get off multiple buses or stay at home.

And there you go.
Even though pps have offered other strategies.

What did you do before covid? You know there are many other respiratory diseases that could kill you around. Don't you?

"Wear a visor" is the new "cancel the cheque"!!

We are just going round in circles really. I get what people say about benefits but I am not disabled, and not entitled to any. But I am shielding and high risk
I'll wear a mask, and am WFH, and not going shopping or to restaurants/socialising etc
If people don't wear a mask, I'm not fussed but would prefer they kept 2m away
I do get a bit riled when people say oh just claim benefits then, well I can't, and also that doesn't really pay my mortgage - people that are shielding have families and lives and commitments and don't all have a disability

@DappledThings

But I can walk without help. I use a stick but that isn't help. The website linked to earlier states that a stick is a special aid. So if you need a stick then you do need help and you start to score points. That's my understanding anyway.

It says you get zero points if you walk with a stick

No points
You can stand and then move more than 200 metres without any help.

You can stand and then move more than 200 metres with a special aid.

Examples of special aid:

Walking stick
Walking frame

@CaffiSaliMali

"Wear a visor" is the new "cancel the cheque"!!

😂😂😂

@Lweji

Your only solution for me is to get off multiple buses or stay at home.

And there you go.
Even though pps have offered other strategies.

What did you do before covid? You know there are many other respiratory diseases that could kill you around. Don't you?

But there are treatments and vaccinations for the other illnesses.

I have never been told to stay inside and sleep and eat in a separate room to my family and to stay two metres away from my family for any other illness.

If this poses no more risk than any other illness why is it being treated so differently?

But having a reason for being exempt does not stop you from posing a risk to me.
A risk, yes. A risk within a wider context of general risk being reduced by most people wearing masks (we can disagree on whether most will or not, I think most will in shops after 24/07), by the ever reducing risk that any individual who happens to sit next to you sans mask being infectious, by opening a window etc.

It's that binary view of it again. A section of people not wearing masks increased your risk a bit. It isn't the case that