To think unless you are actually medically exempt you can't get out of wearing a mask?

[Simsie]

People on social media are telling others to download a basic picture of text saying "I am exempt from wearing a mask" to present at supermarkets if they don't want to wear a mask.

Not medically exempt, no hidden disabilities, just for those don't want to wear one.

Surely that crap isn't going to work?

Hooves. That is not what I said at all. I am not and was not advocating for the removal of anyone from any job.

Stop making things up.

Or they could continue doing their usual jobs safely - by moving abroad, where conditions that make mask wearing impossible seem far less prevalent.

Maybe you should go and lobby the gov to back out from the mask wearing etc? You know so no one has to "suffer" wearing them. And all the other safety measures people regularly moan here about? Whoever dies, dies, but at least no one will have to "suffer" shopping in facemasks and "suffer" through one way system

Im wearing the bloody things for fuck sake

But there is something very sinister about people like you who expect everyone to be happy about it. People are perfectly entitled to not like it while they ARE wearing them. As i am.
Blessed be the fruit!

@Nicknacky

hear Have you spoke to your workplace about what you need?

I did when I last spoke to them. This was a week or so ago, before masks were compulsory and they were very con committal. Waffled a lot about how staff felt safe etc etc. Which is great but I'm the only one shielding who is going back. The other two aren't returning. They weren't really aware at the time what the company policy was going to be, they were still waiting for it. I'm to have a meeting on the day I go back. If they run to form they will be reliant on me explaining what I need and how to implement it.

I've asked for a meeting prior to return and been refused. They will do it when I return, apparently that's the policy. Have had an OH assessment at end of June to confirm I was to continue shielding until August (that was medical and PHE advice anyway so doubt they could over ride it).

Those saying shops and supermarkets have to let people in as otherwise they are discriminating aren't quite correct.
DD legislation says that they have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to allow you access to their service (not necessarily their premises) if you are disabled, - so if they offer online shopping or for smaller shops telephone orders & delivery or pickup from outside they could be considered to have provided the service in an alternative way and so could refuse entry without a mask without falling foul of the law

Im sure the family of the elderly man who had no food for ten days and then died will be gladdened of heart to know this.

There were many people who couldnt get slots.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/07/uk-coronavirus-victims-have-lain-undetected-at-home-for-two-weeks?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

There are many people who cant shop online My parents wouldnt even know what to do with a smartphone.

I haven’t seen my DP since March. It seems from this thread that I should never see him again. Because he’s shielding and I can’t wear a mask.

Well that will be up to him to decide I guess.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras have you seen your partner and family?

(I’m seeing him next weekend, because shielding will be paused.)

And for the record, it would be up to the two of us. Not just him. And that comment of yours was very nasty and uncalled for.

By that I mean. I am also at risk so it would also be a calculation on my part.

Not that hooves will care. She’s just busy getting the boot in to me.

@Mydogisthebestest

By that I mean. I am also at risk so it would also be a calculation on my part.

Not that hooves will care. She’s just busy getting the boot in to me.

Don't take it personally - she's the same with everyone. Most of us don't engage with her now because everything goes round in circles and the thread gets derailed. Hope you and your DP have a lovely time together next weekend.

@BamboozledandBefuddled thank you. I’m. Really looking forward to seeing him I’ve been so worried for him and I’ve really missed him.

At some point, everyone has to make a judgement, within the law, about the level of risk they are happy with.

I do my best, I have done as much as I can and I will continue to do so. I socially distance and I would turn away so as not to breathe on someone in a situation where I couldn’t socially distance. But I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do? Never go out or see my children? Never have a relationship?

Hooves show again. Fucksake.

Over 2 million people have been shielding and most of them will now be venturing back out and many will be going back to work. Have you discussed your concerns much with other shielders? It might help you keep things in proportion.

You're seeing this too much in individual terms - That person there is putting me at increased risk.

It doesn't work like that. None of us are safe until we're all safe, which is when the virus is not circulating in the community and when an outbreak occurs it is quickly and effectively contained. That's the best we can hope for until there is a widely available vaccine.

That's what masks are for, along with all the other measures - to get us to that point. Not to guarantee your personal safety.

The government has decided that shielding can be paused because the virus is not circulating much at a community level and the measures are now in place to quickly contain outbreaks (whether they are right or wrong about that is a whole other thread).

The government has not decided that shielding can be paused because people are now wearing face coverings.

We are each individually responsible for our own behaviour - hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, social distancing, complying with all the rest of the measures to the best of our ability, including masks.

None of us has the right to police other people's behaviour or demand that they personally guarantee our own personal safety, whether they are in the shielding group or not, whether they are able to wear a face covering or not.

And you're likely to drive yourself up the wall if you try.

@LangClegsInSpace Great post but probably a waste of time.

@Mydogisthebestest Carry on exactly as you are, see your DP and I hope you see your children soon. Life is too short not to live it and don't let anyone else tell you differently.

LangClegsInSpace

Oh I'm sorry. Seem to have been seeing you popping up with great frequency on pretty much every thread and Helena too, posting the self same post across multiple threads - but I guess that's ok?

It doesn't work like that. None of us are safe until we're all safe,

Then read around threads on here - posters saying they refuse to quarantine on return from Spanish islands and just won't tell work where they went, poster on another thread happily admitting to giving false details when she's been to pubs (apparently everyone does it) despite 16 people now infected from an outbreak at one pub, multiple posters stating they refuse to wear a muzzle mask - we are forced to rely on other people following the rules and it seems like too many just aren't. That is s scary place to be right now but no, clearly the only people deserving of any understanding are those who can't wear masks.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras what do you honestly expect me to do? What more than I am already doing do you expect me to do?

Nothing at all.

So you don’t want me to get off a bus if you’re on it? And you’re going to apologise for saying I was advocating for people to be forced out of their jobs? Your dog about my partner, you’re going to take that back? For twisting my words and saying I told you to do something when it was merely a suggestion?

There are always competing rights. And with those come responsibilities. Each of us has to be responsible for our own actions, because that is all we can truly control. As long as others act within the law, then we cannot ask any more of them.

I am sorry that you feel anxious. Perhaps you should seek support, as I have, from counselling and take medication, as I do, if you have not already. You could ask your employer to do more to support you and get assistance from a disability support group for your illness with this.

But you can’t expect everyone else to do what you have decided they should. That’s just not fair. And unrealistic.

*dig

It doesn't matter what I want or anyone else in my position, that's been made very clear so no point in me answering your questions, only to be accused by Lang of turning it into the zebra show again.

I've explained how I feel. I've explained how meeting the needs of people who aren't wearing masks increases the risks to others. That's Sony a statement of fact.

I made no dig about your partner - you asked about seeing him I said that would be up to him. You took that as a dig. If he's shielding then it's for him to decide the level of risk he's ok with. I'm not sure why you see that as a dig, but there we are.

No point just going round in circles.

So why did you say all those nasty things to me then?

That is s scary place to be right now but no, clearly the only people deserving of any understanding are those who can't wear masks.

No one is saying that but surely the level of vitriol levelled at people who have exemptions regarding masks would be better levelled at the no quarantine, lying about addresses, no "muzzles cos civil rights"/incorrectly wearing masks (friend I met in the park today has been wearing hers on and off for the past 3 weeks without washing it which I feel rather defeats the point) and the non social distancers if it has to be targeted at anyone at all.

Some disabled people, like me, are unable to do particular jobs. It’s unfortunate. But it is what it is. Perhaps COVID will mean there are some jobs that some people with particular disabilities now cannot do which they could do before.

Your comment about people with disabilities and jobs - in relation to me talking about my job.

What in that statement of mine says I am advocating for disabled people to be removed from jobs?