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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Masks in cinemas

93 replies

Sossen · 02/08/2020 08:48

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?

OP posts:

Trashtara · 02/08/2020 10:56

don’t wear glasses personally but my mum and she’s struggling to wear masks.

Take a look on YouTube for mask tutorials for her, glasses shouldn't steam up when the mask is worn correctly.

I wear a mask all day everyday at work and I wear glasses and have no problems with them steaming up.

Charliebong · 02/08/2020 11:13

I went to the cinema last night and although masks were worn to enter the cinema, once in their seats, most people were removing them for the duration of the film.

Social distancing measures were in place, far less crowded than a pub/restaurant situation...I thought it worked well.

Maerchentante · 02/08/2020 11:20

Yes, masks can be uncomfortable, but if that's what it takes to get the spread of the virus under control, it is a small price to pay.
I recently visited my family abroad and wore masks for six hours on the way there and eight hours on the way back. Not the most comfortable thing, but then I am not a selfish idiot and want to do my bit to protect others.
If I were to go to the cinema I would, of course, wear a mask. But the cinema, for me, is a long way off as the local ones are not open yet. I'd also be wary of other visitors who think rules don't apply to them and might be too selfish to wear one.

cardibach · 02/08/2020 11:24

@Lunar567

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.

Are you familiar with the concept of reducing risk? If you wear the mask for the whole time - least risk to others If you don’t wear it at all - most risk to others If you wear it apart from the 10 mins or whatever you are eating - medium risk to others.

I still don’t get eating all the time in the cinema anyway.

islockdownoveryet · 02/08/2020 11:27

Don't go to the cinema then @cardibach if you feel there is risk .
Of course there is risk there is risk in every environment.
Me personally like I said I went and hardly anyone watching the film so I felt the risk was low.

CelestialSpanking · 02/08/2020 11:29

I would fully expect to wear a mask in a crowded cinema. FWIW I have to make regular 2-3 hour train journeys with my children and my eldest and I are expected to wear masks the entire time (youngest has additional needs and can’t cope with a mask). Annoying? Sure. But in light of the global pandemic not unexpected or unreasonable.

cardibach · 02/08/2020 11:30

There is much less risk if everyone follows the guidelines, @islockdownoveryet
It’s pretty simple. Nothing is risk free, even without Covid, but we can reduce the risks for each other by cooperating.

PilatesPeach · 02/08/2020 11:32

From 8th August is when they will be mandatory so whether people are not wearing them now is not in breach of the rules. From 8th it will be mandatory and my understanding it you wear them during the film no just on entering and leaving - no point in only doing the latter.

However, I don't want to wear one for that length of time so I won't go. I find masks a pain but accept they are seen as necessary so apart from supermarket shopping or medical appts or public transport (which I don't use), I opt not to do activities which require them. Lots of things are not as much fun now but the bigger picture is the pandemic so we just have to get on with things within the rules.

islockdownoveryet · 02/08/2020 11:36

I'm not disagreeing with you nor am I saying your wrong but I've just commented on another thread and said that the new rules in Greater Manchester than I can't ask my in-laws to look after my dc whilst I work but I can hire a nanny . Before Thursday I could have see n 5 different people every day .
So you see why I will make my own risk assessment on this .

GCAcademic · 02/08/2020 11:37

Just like you do I also have the right to believe what I like

Your beliefs don’t trump actual facts. Particularly when other people’s safety is at stake.

PuppyMonkey · 02/08/2020 11:47

Surely it can’t be a massive surprise that the guidelines are saying to wear masks in a place where you sit in the same place indoors for well over 15 minutes with a bunch of random strangers?

I’m now imagining how I’d react to someone coughing in the seat behind me.... yikes think I’ll give it a miss tbh.

beautifulxdisasters · 02/08/2020 12:35

You can "believe" whatever you want but the scientific evidence is that mask wearing reduces transmission. By claiming you "believe" otherwise you just make yourself look ignorant.

tigger1001 · 02/08/2020 13:14

Am not likely to be going to the cinema in the near future but have noticed none of the cinemas are open near me. Am in Scotland but wondered if they feel it's just not economical to open locally yet

OrigamiOwl · 02/08/2020 13:33

@tigger1001

I wear a mask to go into a shop, but have rarely gone into a shop other than a supermarket. I hate wearing a mask. I get hot and my glasses steam up. So I won't be going to pay a small fortune to go to the cinema as I just can't see the fun in that right now. I will wait and watch films at home.

I can understand why it is required to wear one in the cinema but personally won't be paying for the privilege

Absolutely this.

I'm a regular cinema goer but the idea of sitting in a mask for a couple of hours puts me off, as I find wearing a mask very uncomfortable.

With the rules are in place I'll follow them... But it means I'll be making choices about what I actually do. I am not going to choose to buy tickets for the privilege sit in discomfort, when I could just stay home.

There does seem to be a bit of competitive discomfort going on here. I can believe so many people are shocked that someone may want a sip of drink while watching a film!

liklypaddy · 02/08/2020 13:50

I wear a mask for up to 11 hours a time at work.

Hated it to start off with.

Now I'm completely used to it and it feels normal.

Honestly the best advice I was given was to spend extended periods of time at home wearing it before returning back to work to get used to it. Seems silly but really helped.

I've gone from hating it and feeling sick wearing it to forgetting I've actually got it on.

daisypond · 02/08/2020 13:54

There does seem to be a bit of competitive discomfort going on here. I can believe so many people are shocked that someone may want a sip of drink while watching a film!

I wouldn’t want to have a drink while watching a film. I wouldn’t feel discomfort in any way. I just wouldn’t want one. I wouldn’t come out gasping for a drink either.

Branches1 · 02/08/2020 14:07

Yes it is definitely sucking the fun out of going. Not much joy in anything these days. I long for the day when all this is behind us - year(s) from now I’m afraid

VeryQuaintIrene · 02/08/2020 14:21

FWIW I managed 8 hours on a plane (actually more, if you count airport stuff) with a mask with glasses on, and it was perfectly fine, so I think you are being a bit whiney, especially since there are other ways to watch films.

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