Page 7 | To think shop workers shouldn't be asking people why they aren't wearing a mask?

Jellybeansincognito · 05/08/2020 15:54

I’m not really sure what the answer is here. Your friend is medically exempt yes, but that doesn’t suddenly diminish the risk she becomes to others from not wearing a mask.

It’s only natural for shop people to be bothered by this, especially because of how many people are taking the piss with their refusals and saying they’re exempt when they’re not- these people also put genuine medically exempt people at risk which must be frustrating for your friend.

LangClegsInSpace · 05/08/2020 15:55

@Durgasarrow

You are 100 percent correct, because they shouldn't have to see anyone IN the store without a mask.

They always crawl out on these threads eventually

Branleuse · 05/08/2020 15:55

youre being ableist by expecting me as a disabled person to just accept the increased risk of covid and the anxiety it gives me to see so many fuckers out there trying to get out of masking up

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 15:55

It’s only natural for shop people to be bothered by this, especially because of how many people are taking the piss with their refusals and saying they’re exempt when they’re not- these people also put genuine medically exempt people at risk which must be frustrating for your friend

Genuine question - how do we know this is happening and that they're lying and is it being recorded? Just as a number of people here have claimed that "so many" people are faking medical conditions to get away with not wearing a mask

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Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 15:56

@Branleuse

youre being ableist by expecting me as a disabled person to just accept the increased risk of covid and the anxiety it gives me to see so many fuckers out there trying to get out of masking up

I'm not expecting that at all - but what do you suggest the answer is? Given the fact that an exemption card doesn't protect shop assistants? All disabled people stay home?

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DandelionWars · 05/08/2020 15:58

Are blue badges for disabled parking bays ableist?

Sadly, a lot of people take the piss. Although it is not a legal requirement to show proof of exemption atm I'm gonna guess it will become one soon and I don't blame shop workers for asking politely why shoppers aren't wearing a mask. There are too many people just not wearing one for it to go unchallenged. Unless more people start wearing one it's not gonna work and we're gonna end up back in lockdown. I can understand why businesses want to try to avoid that.

diddl · 05/08/2020 15:59

"She doesn't want to wear her condition on her chest."

Does she have to though!

MrKlaw · 05/08/2020 15:59

How many people have to start deciding not to wear masks, before it is acceptable to challenge people on it? You know people will take the mick if they can just never be challenged on it. Unfortunate for those that need to be exempt, but I don't see why its such a big deal to wear a sticker/badge/lanyard

Can I just park in the disabled bay at the supermarket and declare nobody should challenge me? No because you know people will take advantage.

diddl · 05/08/2020 15:59

Doesn't have to!

Bananabread8 · 05/08/2020 16:00

@GlummyMcGlummerson I’ve not read the guidelines to be honest. But what is this really about. Have you ever had to challenge someone who is in a higher position than you? I have and it’s not because I really wanted to do it I just did because if anything goes wrong I know my own boss would of said well you should of challenged them. People have asked me several times I don’t see the problem at all. The rule is that masks are compulsory so technically I don’t see how the shop staff are at fault. Let’s be honest I’m sure they get sick of hearing that phrase themselves?

I know I would if that was my job role. Just because OPs friend may have had a bad experience every shop assistant is not like that shops must have some kind of policy other wise why don’t they just leave customers to their own devices?

Branleuse · 05/08/2020 16:02

not necessarily, because as i said, its not about disabled people. as most disabled people are fine with masks and many exempt people arent disabled.
If she was wearing a visible badge or carried a card, she could quickly flash it if she happened to be questioned.
Apart from that, then yes, I think people who cant wear a mask should continue to try and self isolate as much as possible, like people who have to shield.

Noones trying to spoil your fun. Noone wants your life story. They just want to get through this pandemic as safely as possible, and if shes been to Greggs, the Co-op and also morrisons in the last two days without a mask, then she really isnt taking this seriously. Epilepsy or not.
Im sure her disability would make it even less pleasant to deal with covid and possible ventilator

Giganticshark · 05/08/2020 16:03

In my shop we have been told to not ask anyone why they aren't wearing a mask. And tbh none of us give a shiny shite. It's not our business.
So yes they are unreasonable.
Shop in better shops

TheGreatWave · 05/08/2020 16:06

@IAmFleshIAmBone

I think it's bloody hilarious that the people on this thread think a badge that you print off the Internet or a lanyard that anyone can buy will stop the bullies. Madness.

Especially as anyone could print one off, so actually proves nothing.

countrygirl99 · 05/08/2020 16:06

@Branleuse. I know a man in his 80s. He has always had to have dental treatment under sedation because he can't bear things around his mouth. We always assumed it was a dental phobia. Recently he broke down and told a family member that he had been gagged and raped as a 9yo and that is why he can't stand things around his mouth. He never told a sole for over 70 years but the very thought of having to wear a mask was giving him sleepless nights and panic attacks to the extent he broke down weeping in front of his son. What the fuck do you think gives you or anyone else the right to make his experience worse.

Woodandsky · 05/08/2020 16:08

I have asthma and wearing a mask for anything other than a quick trip to the pharmacist / corner shop seems to set off an asthma attack, I think it's the extra effort of breathing through the mask.

I also have anxiety and like to fit in and not encourage anyone not to wear a mask because they don't feel like it so I'm trying to keep going with it, the thought of having to justify why I'm not wearing one or labelling myself as medically exempt really doesn't appeal at all.

It's a tricky one isn't it, I really feel for people on both sides, but on balance I think the country is a safer place at the moment because those that can wear them are doing so.

midsomermurderess · 05/08/2020 16:09

Calling the wearing of face covering 'muzzling' is cretinous.

IAmFleshIAmBone · 05/08/2020 16:10

@countrygirl99 don't try for empathy, I don't think there is much to be had there. How horrid 😔

DomDoesWotHeWants · 05/08/2020 16:11

Unfortunately people claim to be medically exempt when they aren't. Then brag about it on facebook.

Your poor friend is suffering because people know that some people lie.

That being said, everyone who can wear a mask should, even if it's uncomfortable, for the safety of others. I'm exempt but still wear one when around a group of people.

IAmFleshIAmBone · 05/08/2020 16:13

If you can wear a mask you are not exempt. Read the guidelines.

Branleuse · 05/08/2020 16:14

[quote countrygirl99]@Branleuse. I know a man in his 80s. He has always had to have dental treatment under sedation because he can't bear things around his mouth. We always assumed it was a dental phobia. Recently he broke down and told a family member that he had been gagged and raped as a 9yo and that is why he can't stand things around his mouth. He never told a sole for over 70 years but the very thought of having to wear a mask was giving him sleepless nights and panic attacks to the extent he broke down weeping in front of his son. What the fuck do you think gives you or anyone else the right to make his experience worse.[/quote]
Nothing, and I personally wouldnt confront him, but he can get an exemption if it causes him such distress. A handy little card that you can get so that you dont have to tell anyone anything. Covid is making his experience worse. Not me or shop assistants. We are trying to beat the bloody virus and stop people transmitting it while we are still trying to get a vaccine and effective treatment.

I havent confronted anyone and id hate to have to, but im much happier now pretty much everyone wears masks in shops.

itsgettingweird · 05/08/2020 16:19

@GlummyMcGlummerson

My friend is epileptic. She can't wear a mask because it takes very little to trigger a fit, and wearing a mask creates too much of a risk. Over the last 2 days she's been asked in 3 different places (Greggs, Morrison's and the Co-Op) in an abrupt and snotty way "Where is your mask?" By staff. This is with lots of other customers around. She responded "I'm medically exempt" and has been asked why she's exempt in two of those places. She's also been told (online) that she should stay in to protect others and get someone else to do her shopping etc.

AIBU to think this is appalling ableist behaviour to put someone on the spot in front of others? She doesn't owe anyone her medical history. Yes there's sunflower lanyards she can pick up but she's apprehensive about wearing anything around her neck for obvious reasons. Why can't we just trust others that they're doing it in their best interests?

My ds is also excempt. He's tried but it really triggers his anxiety. He's autistic.

Having looked on the sunflower lanyard website they do a pin badge which you could wear on clothes. I've considered this as it's really discreet.

But agree asking in a certain way is not on. I don't think saying "we request customers wear masks" is wrong but if someone says I'm excempt then you must take their word for it.

The 9nkynigher way in that government should have had a scheme where you got a certain pass from GP and on,y those people were excempt.

LangClegsInSpace · 05/08/2020 16:23

@Branleuse

its not about disabled people. Its about people who wont wear a mask, wont wear a lanyard, wont wear a badge, wont carry a card, and wont explain to anyone why they arent wearing a mask.

Ok, so it pisses you off that we are supposed to wear masks
I dont really care. It really pisses me off that we have had lockdown, schools shut, education impacted, people dead of covid and another imminent second wave

You should not assume that people who are against the unlawful harassment of disabled people are anti-mask. I'm in favour of face coverings and I've been wearing them since around the start of lockdown but I wish they had not been made mandatory because I could forsee exactly this sort of shit happening.

Many people have become utterly, irrationally fixated on cloth face coverings as if they are the One True Thing that is going to solve this and keep us all safe. They're not. Face coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in indoor situations where people are unable to stay 2 metres apart. They're a helpful extra tool, that's all.

Masks alone will not save us. We have to do all the other stuff as well. The people who have picked their nose and not washed their hands, or who have been to several parties in the last week, or who have been shagging around, or who have symptoms and have not ordered a test, or who have been told to isolate by test and trace but have gone out anyway ... all those people are still able to go in the shop or get on the bus without being challenged, because you can't see those things.

The government does not give a shit if your face covering is effective or completely useless. They are happy for you to just strap a bit of old sock to your face or a thin bandana, or to gently arrange a scarf over your nose and mouth. Until recently they had instructions on their website for making one out of a single layer of old t-shirt.

The government is quite happy for you to walk through the shop to the cafe area and then take off your face covering and sit amongst strangers, eating, drinking and chatting for far longer than 15 minutes. And if you go on the right day, it's half price!

We still haven't got the basics right - test and trace is a shitshow and there is no support in place for people who need to isolate. Sorting those things out would make a far bigger difference than making disabled people wear lanyards or carry cards to show they are exempt from wearing a face covering.

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:23

Can I just park in the disabled bay at the supermarket and declare nobody should challenge me? No because you know people will take advantage.

That's not comparable in the least, because people don't have to take their blue badge into a shop to simply make a purchase

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Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:25

if shes been to Greggs, the Co-op and also morrisons in the last two days without a mask, then she really isnt taking this seriously. Epilepsy or not.

I know what a bitch wanting a steak bake, medicine and some shopping this is how the Nazi movement started - local busybodies, regular nobodies trying to micromanage other people's behaviour and reporting on it.

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GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:26

Im sure her disability would make it even less pleasant to deal with covid and possible ventilator

Why do people always say this as if to give a shock factor? Do you know how few people with COVID actually end up on ventilators? It's like saying "she won't much like having AIDS" about people who don't use condoms

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