Compassion? What compassion?

[OfaFrenchmind2]

I read all those threads about mask wearing and exemptions, how we must #bekind, have compassion, not say anything about people not wearing masks without any visible justification....

Where is the compassion for the shop worker whose life is on the line, being in contact with dozens of strangers every day, having to go to work anyway because, you know, they have to eat and feed their families? Where is the compassion for the bus driver who has seen colleagues die of Covid? THEY are the people at risk, they are making society work right now, and they are being shat on here because they have to endure people telling them to fuck off when they ask why they do not get to be protected.
Fuck your compassion, it is worthless.

You wouldn't tell someone with epilepsy that their right to drive is more important that others' right to be protected from potential harm from them. Is that an apt analogy here?

No it isn’t. People who have epilepsy are able to drive if they are seizure free for enough time.

Masks provide minimal protection on top of hand washing and social distancing. At the moment, only 1 in 2000 people have Covid so restricting people from shops when they’ve got a genuine reason to not wear a mask is not proportionate to any risk they might pose.

@purpledaisy - masks are the strongest protection we have got for the general public. Social distancing indoors doesn't always work. The virus is airborne so hand washing doesn't make much difference. Masks are the one biggest factor that people can do to stop this virus.

There are a small % of people who can't wear a mask, but they can still shop online and find other ways to protect themselves.

There are a unknown % of people who could wear a mask but don't want to. They are the ones who are being selfish.

Also - some masks are much more comfortable than others. If the first one you try doesn't fit or makes you feel queasy, don't give up - try another.

.masks are the strongest protection we have got for the general public.

Where’s that idea from?

I think if those who can't wear a mask actually acknowledged that that are putting others at an increased risk I'd feel more tolerant. I also think that if you genuinely can't wear a mask, it's up to you to be proactive by having a badge or lanyard at the ready showing you're exempt or being prepared to explain when asked.

I thinking some cases, especially where I have been recently, there is a small pool of shop workers who police mask wearing in a particularly aggressive manner. In these instances I cam see how the situation escalates to the shop person being told to f off. It isn't acceptable but it is understandable.

I am medically exempt, heat is a trigger for my asthma. I wear a mask when my breathing is OK and at other times I have the asthma UK exemption card as my phone screen saver. However, where 98% of shop staff have been lovely and made a polite enquiry about why I am not wearing one I have encountered a few where they have been rude, aggressive and intrusive in their inappropriate demands for information on exactly why I am not wearing one.

Ultimately my medical information is private. They are not permitted to demands it. The government have specifically stated shop workers etc are not to police mask wearing. They are permitted to enquire and they can refuse entry or accept the statement of medical exemption. They can contact the local police if there are issues. They are not permitted to publicly demand the medical history of their customers.

There are some utter twats who refuse to wear a mask because of their irrational belief in a conspiracy...a genetics technician I know is one such idiot who ought to know better. These are the people that need to be dealt with by the appropriate authorities, it is not for shop workers to police.

If this discussion was taking place 4 months ago then I would understand where you were coming from, but with current infection rates as low as they are the risks with no masks seem low.

Anyway if they were that vital all 4 nations would be in agreement.

gov.wales/face-coverings-frequently-asked-questions

How can you tell the difference just by looking?

yes, @PurpleDaisies that's part of the problem, isn't it? But I think the family group on the bus yesterday - father and 2 sons - none of whom were masked (although maybe the younger boy was exempt as a child), shouting talking loudly on the phone and to each other, clearly able-bodied, with no obvious respiratory problems (viz. shouting at each other and the driver), carrying quite a few bags of shopping - I suspect that the father was too uncaring or ignorant, or just I'm-alright-Jack bloody minded.

And the posters on here who call masks "muzzles "- bit of a giveaway there ...

It's pretty simple - if YOU feel at risk/scared then YOU wear a mask!

This government doesn't have a bloody clue what they're doing, are talking out of their arses and using Covid to try and create divisions within our society as well as trying to stir racial/ethnic tensions.

I refuse to wear a mask.
I don't believe the government is being honest with us and this has more to do with their war games using biological warfare.
Funny how when Russina spies were murddred on British soil and it was radioactive poisons used....especially at the Salisbury site.....there was zero concern about people's health.
Remember - they told us that radioactive isotopes were present everywhere the poison was and they managed to 'trace' the spies route and infected places that way......

No nazi wannabe is dictating to me.
If you're worried for your health - YOU wear the mask and don't 'breathe in' natural air.

Frankly, we've been inhaling, getting ill and dying from the manmade poisons they pollute our air with for years........

Are you for real @monkeymonkey2010 ?
The reason to wear a mask is to protect others. You sound very selfish.

monkeymonkey2010 that's your choice. But don't demand that we speak to you, serve you in a shop, or support you as a member of society that we value.
A tinfoil hat is more cumbersome than a mask and sillier, in my opinion.

But don't demand that we speak to you, serve you in a shop, or support you as a member of society that we value

They used to say that to the Irish too........

Lovely typo from a pp, it's to stop you breathing out infected air

midgebabe shhhhhh, they are getting confused, between Russians, nazis, Irish people, and the intricacies of breathing... Don't agitate them

I thought most people on this thread were engaging in an open debate but a comment that I made that I thought was mildly putting my view has been deleted

The problem is, as happened with (seemingly) everyone being a "keyworker" or "vulnerable" (because of the wishy washy parameters) the same is happening with masks.

There are those absolutely non-negotiable people (an epileptic lady on a thread a few days ago) and then the "if they make me wear a mask I'll tell them to fuck off and I won't go in their shop" people.

It's like the word "bully" or "anxiety". They get thrown around so much they lose all meaning. Which does a terrible disservice to the real victims and sufferers. The stroppy person refusing to wear a mask just because it's their right does a terrible disservice to those who genuinely can't, and probably feel bloody bad about it.

I agree. I'm not long back from Spain and everyone there managed to wear a mask, while here it seems like a huge percentage are unable to. If wearing a mask was just to protect yourself I couldn't care less what you do but as its meant to protect others you should wear as whatever your reason for not wearing one does not negate your chance of spreading covid.

@monkeymonkey2010 No need for name calling. If you can't debate in a civil manner don't debate at all. But the main purpose of a mask is to stop the wearer spreading infection. Pretty obvious really.

fucking hell someone has got all their things in a muddle haven't they!

Monkey you might want to start with one lucid fact based concept and go from there - other wise it just looks like the rambling of a mad pigeon obsessed village idiot

yes - here in France if you don't wear a mask you don;t get in anywhere - end of argument

",I agree. I'm not long back from Spain and everyone there managed to wear a mask"
Actually that's not true. It's been reported only 50% of people in Spain are mask wearing.

Ghosty
Monkey- it's probably best for everyone if you stay at home and watch the telly love, with or without your mask. Which you probably think should go on the top of your head like a bonnet.

So, should people who park in a disabled bay be required to show proof that they are eligible to do so?

"So, should people who park in a disabled bay be required to show proof that they are eligible to do so?"

They do. It's called a blue badge.