Face masks and shopping

[Emma123L]

For me shopping on the high street now is a quite a depressing and anxiety ridden experience. You queue to get into the each shop for 10 minutes, then anti had had to be slathered on hands and it be has made my skin peel on my fingers, I was told loudly by shop staff to follow the arrows on the floor and not to touch the clothes unless absolutely neccessary. Supermarkets are nearly as bad. Now with many people (all from 24th July) wearing masks people nervously dart out of the way of you with fear in their eyes ...mainly middle aged or older people .you can't see the rest of their face behind the mask..Is this how we are supposed to live for the next year or two before a vaccine is found...if one is found? I must say that cafes and pubs are populated by less nervous people and are bit more relaxing to go to. I'm doing most of my shopping online now for everything and just one trip to the supermarket. I'm sure many people's mental health will be affected by this if these measures are in place for a year or two.

Shop online as much as possible.

What is the question/dilemna posed here?

I mean, it's been ages since we've had a "I don't want to wear a face mask when shopping because of my health" thread on AIBU, so I get why you'd want to create your own one.......

I’ve only been treated with respect and courtesy by every shop assistant I’ve encountered. Yes, I’ve been asked / told to follow arrows or wait (not yet waited longer than 10 mins and have only queued on a handful of occasions). Not be spoken to ‘loudly’ or in any manner other than polite and helpful.

When necessary (shops), I’ve been wearing a mask since March. I still smile at people and can see people smiling at me. All about the eyes.

It is already a legal requirement in Scotland to wear a mask when shopping and it is amazing how quickly everyone has adapted to it.

I work in a supermarket and its equally stressful for staff to direct customers around. We dont want to do it anymore than customers being told where to follow etc. Also the abuse supermarket staff have got right through this is disgusting. Customers will have to wear a mask and I'll also wear a mask while I'm at work even tho retail staff are exempt while working

GinDaddyRedux
I waffled on a bit ! My main point was that these extreme measures are most likely to be with us for a year or two and the damage they will do to the high street and people's general mental well being will be immense. What happens if no vaccine is found ? Are we supposed to live like this and be constantly anxious when we leave our front door? It wouldn't surprise me if the government makes wearing face masks outside in public mandatory soon and there will be clapping from many on Mumsnet of this happens!!!!🙄

wearing masks people nervously dart out of the way of you with fear in their eyes

I think you are projecting. It is still perfectly possible to talk and be civil and carry on while wearing a mask. A true smile is reflected in your eyes anyway so if you are actually smiling at people they will hear it in your voice and see it in your eyes.

I dunno, I went to a retail park this morning and went in three shops - Home Bargains, Boots and Home Sense. No queues outside for any of them I just walked straight in, all very quiet, no queue for the tills either. It was fairly unremarkable apart from the fact I was wearing a mask. Barely anyone was mask wearing in Home Bargains but almost everyone in Boots and Home Sense was. I didn’t feel anxious at all.

Are we supposed to live like this and be constantly anxious when we leave our front door?

No we are meant to be cautious, that is very different to anxious. You are projecting your anxiety on to everyone.

Sillysmiles
Im not projecting! Sadly the media (to sell a story) and the government have scared the living daylights out of people so now to encourage the fearful back onto shops and the high street they have made face mask wearing mandatory to make people feel safer. People (mainly middle aged and older) do nervously dart out of your way and many do look fearful. Young people don't behave like this so much! Anyway I've made my decision to shop online from now on. I will still go to pubs and cafes where people are a bit more relaxed!

@sillysmiles

Are we supposed to live like this and be constantly anxious when we leave our front door?

No we are meant to be cautious, that is very different to anxious. You are projecting your anxiety on to everyone.

I agree. If the experience is too unpleasant for you that's your reality, but it doesn't mean everyone else is in this state of fear and anxiety.

Ah this is one of those let's call everyone else "dementors" threads isn't it?

Boring. I'm currently at work, in a shopping centre. I can confirm that nobody has farted nervously that I've seen today

Wow. DARTED.

It's possible that they nervously farted

It's not being done to you OP, it's to keep you safer. It sucks, but it is what it is.

@youhave4substitutes

Wow. DARTED.

It's possible that they nervously farted

Why correct it? I prefer the nervously farted version.

I think you’re projecting. Maybe the fearful look you’re picking up on is just ‘resting bitch face’ and they’re minding their own business.

Lots of people don’t smile when you make eye contact with them anyway, not sure why they’d start now we have to use face coverings.

Also, if you are wearing your mask then maybe it won't matter too much if people around you in a shopping centre nervously fart.

Personally I prefer the shops. People are in and out. None of this wandering around and blocking aisles. I never got the shopping or window shopping for pleasure anyway.

wearing masks people nervously dart out of the way of you with fear in their eyes

I'm in Scotland where we wear masks. Nobody is doing this.

If this continues on for months then it will just become normal and more people will return to the shops / eating out. You can see people are nervous but it’s all very news

Gamerchick
Face masks DO NOT make you safer. They make you FEEL safer! The government needed to entice the fearful back onto the high street. Teachers do not have to wear a face mask, nor do people frequenting pubs , cafes or restaraunts.

I hate wearing masks. Just won’t shop now other than for food out of necessity
Going to high streets is an utterly miserable experience
Of course I can buy stuff online - but I’m putting money into the likes of amazon not local shops and usually would spend money in cafes when out etc.

Most people aren't nervous anymore even if they seem like they could be higher risk than me. I see some people looking suspiciously at others but we have had COVID-police since the beginning.

I think that anti-maskers are right that the introduction of masks is likely to result in people social distancing less rather than doing both which is needed to get the infection rate even lower.

The government is probably trying to use masks as a way to coax shielders out of shielding on 1st August. There were some calls for the scientific evidence that shielding could end and this diverts from that.

I think you need to get a grip. I live in Europe and we've had to wear masks everywhere since April (many have been doing so since March) and you adapt. That's why people have been so successful as animals, adaptation! It's a mask. I feel pretty naked now not wearing one.