Masks in cinemas

[Sossen]

AIBU to think that this is ridiculous? I’m a regular visitor to my local cinema, or at least I was before covid, and I was looking forward to going next week as I’ve booked a week off work. Then I heard about yet another new rule being introduced stating masks must be worn. You’re expected to sit for 2-3 hours with a mask on, so I assume you can’t eat or drink whilst there as you would obviously need to touch your mask to remove it. Am I the only one who thinks this will just suck the fun out of going in the first place and make it a rather miserable experience?

I was reading my cinema's guidelines - they're going to have some mask only screenings, others where it's your choice once your in the cinema, but recommended that you do,
some of my cotton masks aren't uncomfortable to have on for a long period; I won;t be moving about, the cinema is air conditioned, I don't see a problem, If I want a rink I'll take a straw.
I'm more concerned to check whether annual membership will be extended if there's another lockdown.

drink not rink.
npt planning on ice skating between films

YABU, it's to prevent a potentially deadly second-wave.

Do you have to snack for the 2-3 hours while watching a film otherwise you won't enjoy it?

What a very 1st world problem.

It’s not self centred to not want to wear a mask. It would, however, be self centred to not actually wear one if, of course you are able to and not exempt. How, for example am I self centred when I wear a mask? I was simply looking forward to getting a little bit of enjoyment, getting away from the house for a while and going to see a film on my own without my dh or dc and having some me time for the first time since March. But having to wear a mask, for me at least would make it a far from enjoyable experience. That’s all I was saying.

I'm will go to the cinema more ! Will put people off eating smelly food and talking .
I can also relax without anyone sitting next to me .

No, I don’t need to snack but I would need to drink.

I agree that certain smelly foods like hot dogs with onions make me feel sick. FWIW i usually only buy a drink and take a chocolate bar or something. Can’t stand popcorn and the rattling buckets of it also drive me crazy.

Why would you need to drink? Surely normally you don’t go to the cinema or theatre and drink? I never have. Is it just because now you’re not allowed to that you think you now need to?

The mask is for you to try and protect others. If you don't want to do that, that is of course your choice.
They are uncomfortable. I wore a surgical mask for eleven and a half hours on Friday, in 38c heat with no air conditioning. I did it to protect others.
There are bigger things happening than you getting a dry mouth whilst relaxing in front of a big screen.

Government are currently modelling various options for extended shielding, including risk assessing all over 50s, in order to be able to avoid a widespread lockdown and we've still got people whining about following some fairly simple rules that could stop widespread shielding over 50s. Why are people so short sighted? These rules aren't in place solely to stop you having fun. They are needed because this pandemic is not ending and there's a real possibility that a second wave will be coming. What do you think should happen then? Do you think the whole country should go back into.lockdown or maybe you think it should be allowed to.run through the population and if people die, they die, that's just their bad luck?

Seriously, I think it's about time guidance news made law and people were made to comply because.its just getting out of hand now. If we all followed the guidance now then everyone could enjoy some semblance of normal life, but no, that's not good enough for many.people who just won't tolerate even a small restriction on what they want to do.

There are bigger things happening than you getting a dry mouth whilst relaxing in front of a big screen.

Brava, HesterLee!

Just buy a large bucket of popcorn that lasts for the whole 2 hours.
I thought that cinemas rely om sales of food and drink to make a profit so i cant imagine they dont want you to eat and drink while you are there

I'm not a big mask advocate by any means but not wearing one in the cinema never made much sense to me. You're in an enclosed space with however many other people for up to 3.5 hours. It seems much more likely that you'll infect some one at the cinema than at a co op for example.

I'll wear it walking around but not sat watching the film no .
I went yesterday and it was fine.

Exactly that @Flapjak and no you don't need to eat or drink but you want to .

Why would you need to drink?

Exactly. I've been a regular cinema-goer for the past 50 years and I've never taken a drink in, ever. If I were to be worried I might get thirsty I'd drink a bottle of water directly before going in. Probably would need to nip out for a pee then, though.

@Sossen

Just like you do I also have the right to believe what I like. I’m complying with wearing a mask in shops but yes, I’m a little frustrated, like I expect lots of people are.

This is a very common misconception lately. Yes, you are entitled to your own beliefs. You are not, however, entitled to your own facts. It’s is a fact that mask wearing reduces the spread of droplets potentially containing the virus. Your belief has no bearing on that, and you need to act in accordance with facts.

Cinema without people eating loud fucking snacks for hours sound great to me.

I love the cinema experience but hate sharing the experience with 100 other people and the food is the main reason why. I always seem to end up sitting next to the person who, from the sounds they're making, has mistakenly bought a box of gravel rather than popcorn. And don't get me started on the fuckers who bring in sandwiches from the Subway next door.

If you need to drink, a straw can be slipped under a mask without removing it.

YANBU OP. That’s all.

As others have said it’s your choice to go or not. By wearing a mask you are protecting others, and yes you can slip it off to drink, if you really must, or use a straw and then put it back on. You are indoors for 2 to 3 hours with a bunch of strangers, all breathing the same air, or recycled air if air on etc in on, and whilst there maybe SD in place you are in closer contact for more than 15 mins, so potentially a higher risk of getting something

As regards your mothers glasses steaming up you need to make sure she has a mask with a wire nose piece. Then once’s it’s in push the wire down across the bridge of the nose and down the side. That stops the air getting onto the glasses and fogging them up

I was under the impression that masks are necessary where social distancing is impossible.
Yesterday there were 4 other people in the cinema watching the film apart from me and dc sat several rows away.
Me personally I'll base that risk on not wearing one watching the film.

I wouldn't go to the cinema right now, because I wouldn't like to wear a mask for that length of time. You have that choice. If you don't like it then don't go. We are in the middle of a global pandemic and people have lost loved ones.

It also always amazes me that people can't go a couple of hours without eating and drinking.

Wear a mask v risk other people’s lives. Hmm let me think about...which is more important being not as comfortable in a voluntary setting or doing something which may cause the death of others. It shouldn’t be a hard choice. If it then you need to take a long hard look at yourself.

Op, I am with you.
How ridiculous the rule is that you can eat popcorn, but once you stop eating you have to put mask on.
Does it mean you don't breath while you eat?
People who make up rules like that have no common sense.
What happens if you don't put mask on after eating popcorn? Police will come and stop the movie?
The cinemas are usually half empty any way.
I wouldn't bother with a mask if I were you. You can always say I am still eating.