Wearing masks everywhere indoors is so depressing

[Sossen]

AIBU to feel frustrated and, at times, a bit upset that I can’t really do anything indoors now, either on my own or with my kids, without wearing a god damn face mask? I’ve just about been able to tolerate wearing them whilst food shopping but that’s because I now take a lot of time to write out a list and meal plan beforehand and I get in and get out, as opposed to before, when I took the time to browse, picked out what I fancied, and maybe tried on some clothes whilst there. I can cope with this ok but what is depressing me is that my ds is desperate to go to a few indoor places like the trampoline park (our local one has strict guidelines in hygiene social distancing and staggering sessions) and I’ll take him but the thought of sitting there for an hour and a half opposite my dh trying to talk to him with a mask on or watching my ds play and he can’t hear me because of the mask, well it fills me with dread. I had a cinema pass which i’ve has for years but I’ve already cancelled It as there is no way I can sit for up to 3 hours with a mask on, it would be unbearable. Every day out we go on that is predominantly outdoors but have some indoor areas I’ll have to remember to take masks with me. If I nip to post a letter, pick up my medication, go into a public car park to get my car after work I have to wear a mask. I expect to be told I’m moaning but I can’t help it. I fully resent the fact that I am being told to cover my face and I have no choice in the matter. Please tell me I’m not the only one.

The mask rules are not bringing out the best in people.

The regulations allow you not to wear one with a reasonable excuse. That is not defined. However examples of some reasonable excuses are given (see below) but there may be 1000 other reasonable excuses out there as it is not an all inclusive section.

"Reasonable excuse
4.—(1) For the purposes of regulation 3(1), the circumstances in which a person (“P”) has areasonable excuse include those where—

P cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering—(i)because of any physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability (within themeaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010(10)), or(ii)without severe distress;(b)P is accompanying, or providing assistance to, another person (“B”) and B relies on lipreading to communicate with P;(c)P removes their face covering to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, tothemselves or others;(d)P is entering or within a relevant place to avoid injury, or to escape a risk of harm, anddoes not have a face covering with them;(e)it is reasonably necessary for P to eat or drink, P removes their face covering to eat or drink;(f)P has to remove their face covering to take medication;(g)a person responsible for a relevant place or an employee of that person acting in the courseof their employment, requires that P remove their face covering in order to verify P’sidentity;(h)in a registered pharmacy, an employee of that registered pharmacy acting in the courseof their employment, requires that P remove their face covering in order to assist in theprovision of healthcare or healthcare advice to P;(i)a relevant person requests that P remove their face covering."

Just don't wear the masks - no one challenges and if they do, just say "I have a legitimate reason for not wearing a mask"

'Honestly if people are wearing masks but saying they don't like it, so fucking what. Why do some people think it's compulsory to be happy about it too? And why can't people have a moan about something they find unpleasant?'

Absolutely fine to have a moan about it. I had lots of moans about lockdown, though I fully complied with it - indeed went beyond the rules in avoiding unnecessary contact. What's not so fine is when it goes beyone a moan about having to do it, and arguing that it's all unnecessary hysteria, being brainwashed by the government, it should be abolished, etc.

I honestly can't work out why so many people aren't content with other people just wearing masks when required (which I agree is right, and necessary and I have always complied), they want them to be actively happy about it. Wearing a mask is shit. I had to wear one on the train for an hour and a half in 35 degree heat yesterday and it was incredibly uncomfortable and made me feel sick. I still did it, obviously, but I don't see why I have to pretend it wasn't horrible?

People also seem really, really angry when other people say they'd rather not do something than do it with a mask on. Sorry, but that's a perfectly legitimate way to feel and probably the majority position. On MN loads of people insist they'll do lots more because it's safer with mask wearing, but that certainly isn't what I saw with my local shops - footfall in all 'leisure' shops fell noticeably and dramatically when people had to wear masks. I know some people want that not to be true because it raises questions about how long we can keep mask wearing in place without (further) trashing the economy, but if this pandemic has shown us anything it's that wishing inconvenient facts weren't true isn't a great strategy, whether that's wishing that the virus would just go away so we could go back to normal, or wishing that everyone was perfectly content wearing a mask and so there is no downside to mandating it all.

Yeah I get what you’re saying @AlcoholicHippo I know a few people like this and find it a bit odd.

I honestly can't work out why so many people aren't content with other people just wearing masks when required (which I agree is right, and necessary and I have always complied), they want them to be actively happy about it.

I know, it’s like the thought police, isn’t it.

Come on @Xenia, you know your average man/woman in the street isn't going to read the legislation. They hear Boris, or Nicola Sturgeon, or whoever saying "wear a mask".

That makes anyone not wearing a mask fair game.

'@ddl1 why would you live in complete isolation, does mask wearing give you more comfort than social distancing and good hand hygiene? Genuinely interested.'

No. Mask wearing AND social distancing AND good hand hygiene give me more comfort than any 2 of them without the other!

Also, all those things protect the person doing them - there is a clear benefit to the person. Masks mostly protect others so selfish people can't be arsed.

Huh?
Seatbelts stop people being thrown around a car injuring/killing themselves and others in the car

Not drinking and driving? Helps you stop killing other people

How does smoking outside help the smoker exactly?

Also, as for these things being introduced after years of evidence, are we happy that all the drink driving deaths happened just so we could be sure it was right to stop doing it. If masks help spread infection (and I presume that's why they have been used in hospitals for so long), isn't it worth doing?

Yes i can’t understand this either. Some people, not all, seem to feel that they are morally superior for doing the right thing and what’s expected of them.

What's not so fine is when it goes beyone a moan about having to do it, and arguing that it's all unnecessary hysteria, being brainwashed by the government, it should be abolished, etc.

But if they’re complying, what’s wrong with sharing that opinion? People are free to disagree.

I think mask wearing is absolutely pointless in the vast majority of circumstances and has only been introduced by the government to try and make more people go out and spend money. I absolutely think that should change their policy back to what the WHO recommends which is only in situations where you can’t socially distance. I don’t expect other people to have to share that view, so why should others expect me to agree with them that masks are the way out of this pandemic?

It’s ok to resent it and feel the way you do as long as you do wear it.

I resent those who doesn’t wear one as that means the world is unsafe for those of us who are vulnerable. I would like to go to an indoor place or shop but haven’t for 6 months. If everyone wore a mask and could be trusted to isolate

@PurpleDaisies I don't care if people are actively happy, I just find it strange how much people moan about stuff.

You can't change it, so what's the point?

CornettoNinja, excellent post.

I don't care if people are actively happy, I just find it strange how much people moan about stuff.

Are you British? Moaning is a national hobby. One word : weather.

Being on a ventilator is more depressing.

I am wearing one. I couldn’t be arsed with the back lash of not wearing one to be honest. I’ve been honest and said I’m
unsure if they actually help but then I’ve also admitted I’ve not looked into the science behind it.

Being on a ventilator is more depressing.

Ffs.

It is not wear a mask or end up on a ventilator.

Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo!!!!

This thread is Mumsnet masked frothing at its finest!!!

@Sossen

Yes i can’t understand this either. Some people, not all, seem to feel that they are morally superior for doing the right thing and what’s expected of them.

I think that people who do the right thing and what is expected of them are morally superior. Or, more accurately, I think people who refuse to do the right thing or what is expected of them (with no legal exemption) are morally inferior.

I judge people who trot out stupid phrases like "being on a ventilator is lots worse".

@SockYarn

It would be interesting for someone to do a study on the genuine motivations for people in wearing masks.

Is it really because they 100% believe that they are doing the right thing and protecting everyone else from a rapidly reducing risk?

Or is it really because they don't want a fine?

imho most people who wore one voluntarily did so, not out of a sense of altruism for others, but for their own protection (despite what they may have said publicly)

and most people wearing one now are only doing so because they are required to by law

face coverings are favoured by governments mainly because they are a visible demonstration of 'doing something'

I oppose the compulsory wearing of face coverings because I believe that the introduction of such a regulation is disproportionate to the problem at hand.

There will, of course, be further restrictions to come on the way we (used to) live our lives. And it seems most people will happily accept them.

Sad times all round

@SockYarn

It’s a tiny bit of cotton. Less restrictive than wearing a scarf over your face in winter.

People who can't wear masks don't wear scarves over their faces either though.

Exactly. I do wear a mask because I have to and it's not excessively uncomfortable for me. But I would never wear a scarf over my face in winter. Even the thought of it makes me shudder. I'd rather be freezing cold.

I don't know why OP is gettinng a lecture from so many people. Having to wear a mask and seeing everyone else masked up IS depressing. We do it, we need to do it, but it doesn't mean we have to like it or think of it as normal.

@PurpleDaisies I am half British and thank God every day that the other half of me is from a country where people just get on with things instead of being whiny babies

@countrygirl99
I have recently been ventilated & believe me, you may be sedated, but if I could describe hell, it was being on a ventilator. Perhaps not everybody feels that way but I wouldn’t want to risk it again. I am now suffering with PTSD from the experience & wouldn’t wish this upon anyone.