To think masks are just being treated as completely optional?!

[JuniperFather]

I went shopping today in Sainsburys and Asda, needed to get some items for DD that would have taken too long to arrive if online. For reference I live in the South East (M25/A3).

I wore a mask, as I have done since the rules have changed. Yes it was uncomfortable in the heat, but it was done to respect and protect others. If I have the privilege of being able to use a public space and shop, then it's hardly a privation to protect others as per the Government guidance.

Yet today, on my two visits, I reckon I saw maybe 30 or 40 people wandering around without masks. Probably more than that.

Quite a few were young men, late teens early 20s, completely oblivious. One was a lady who glared at anyone who even dared look at her. A few were local workmen. Another lady in her 50s, a few who were a bit younger.

I would go as far to say that maybe half of the shop were wearing masks, and half weren't.

My AIBU question is, do you think people are now just now viewing masks as completely optional when in such spaces, rather than an enforceable requirement as per the Government's steer?

YABU: No they're not being viewed as optional. All these people probably have hidden disabilities.

YANBU: You're right. People are just doing what they want.

I start this thread in the fear however that I will get a slew of responses from people saying

• I suffered trauma which means I can't cover my face
• I have breathing difficulties

etc..

This post is not for you - the Government make it clear in the 7 August face coverings briefing that you are exempt.

However my question is, was everyone I came across REALLY in this category? Is Britain a country with thousands of people with breathing difficulties and unresolved traumas, when continental Europe, Asia etc have much higher rates of mask compliance?

Or as per my question, my real suspicion is that the dozens of people I saw, just can't be arsed with a mask and won't ever be told what to do. They know those two shops won't challenge them, and the likelihood of the police being called or getting fined is low. So they just do what they want.

AIBU to think it's all just being treated as completely optional, and those of us bearing discomfort and wearing masks to protect others are just sheep?

Your experience doesnt match with what I'm experiencing, both at home (S Yorkshire) and now in holiday (Northumberland), which is v high compliance. Maybe change where you shop?

However my question is, was everyone I came across REALLY in this category? Is Britain a country with thousands of people with breathing difficulties and unresolved traumas, when continental Europe, Asia etc have much higher rates of mask compliance?

I this is valid point.

And my ds who is exempt due to being autistic really tried to wear a mask. He kept getting anxiety attacks to had to stop.

But he isn't better without one as he feels he should be wearing one and feels self conscious. (Compliance round here is high though)

So IME those who are exempt aren't walking around confidently as if it doesn't matter (although arguably they probably should).

But it's interesting that the very few I see round here with no masks are young couples in their 20's who walk around shops hand in hand down the middle of the aisle!

Not optional here. I've not seen anyone not wearing a mask. I'm South Yorkshire too tho so maybe we're all just mask-freaks here?

@Porcupineinwaiting

Your experience doesnt match with what I'm experiencing, both at home (S Yorkshire) and now in holiday (Northumberland), which is v high compliance. Maybe change where you shop?

I don't need to change where I shop from my own safety perspective. I'm wearing my mask to protect others.

@Boom45

Not optional here. I've not seen anyone not wearing a mask. I'm South Yorkshire too tho so maybe we're all just mask-freaks here?

That's great to hear. I'm giving my example this morning, but I've also seen it at petrol stations, I've seen it bizarrely when I went to the hospital and had to use the M&S there for a drink for my DD, I've seen it a fair few times.

Willing for plenty of others to post on here to disprove my theory, but think of the number of "i'm not wearing a mask!" threads on Mumsnet...this is out there for sure.

YANBU. I’m in Leeds and have noticed exactly the same thing particularly amongst young men in their 20s.

Not this BS again. You wear your mask with pride and keep your nose out. Yes people are wearing them in continental Europe, Asia but we are in the the UK.
You would be surprised how many people have some sort of disability, or past trauma.
I don't wear a mask on, from the face of it you would think I'm taking the mickey but the reason I can't wear it on is due to childhood trauma. I would say most people think I'm flounting the rules as I look perfectly healthy and normal.
As long as I observe the 2 metres distance and clean my hands what's the problem.

In 3 trips 5 to the supermarket and 1 to the garden centre I have only seen 1 person without a mask.
@JuniperFather surely if you wear a mask to protect others them not wearing a mask is a danger to you do need to change where you shop for your own safety. Or don't you think them wearing a mask has any real impact on your safety. If so, why are you bothered?

@myhumps123

Not this BS again. You wear your mask with pride and keep your nose out. Yes people are wearing them in continental Europe, Asia but we are in the the UK. You would be surprised how many people have some sort of disability, or past trauma. I don't wear a mask on, from the face of it you would think I'm taking the mickey but the reason I can't wear it on is due to childhood trauma. I would say most people think I'm flounting the rules as I look perfectly healthy and normal. As long as I observe the 2 metres distance and clean my hands what's the problem.

Keep my nose out?!

This is a pandemic. Not an argument about a queue, or something that's optional or trivial.

I am truly sorry for your childhood trauma. I really am. If you read my post, you would know this isn't about you. But you then earlier state "we are in the UK" - what does that mean for the purpose of this thread?! Why are we as a country so different, that you felt the need to state that?

Is everyone in Europe and Asia complete mugs then for complying and trying to stop the spread of the virus?

One thread after another about non mask wearers. Mumsnet is obsessed.

@countrygirl99

In 3 trips 5 to the supermarket and 1 to the garden centre I have only seen 1 person without a mask. *@JuniperFather* surely if you wear a mask to protect others them not wearing a mask is a danger to you do need to change where you shop for your own safety. Or don't you think them wearing a mask has any real impact on your safety. If so, why are you bothered?

It's not about me and my own safety - I've stated my risk appetite and my comfort levels. I wear a mask to protect others. I don't know my COVID status and no one does unless they've just had a test.

I'm not 'bothered' (please dont use this classic Mumsnet trope of 'you're soooo invested' as a way of dismissing my argument and making me feel silly for raising it).

I think it would just be refreshing to look at the Government's expectations versus the actual reality.

Some Brits including me are saying "ok, you think masks help protect others from your unknown COVID status. Fine, I'll wear it".

Then you have the aforementioned people with trauma, disability - no problem - all covered in the guidelines.

What I'm interested in are the "f it, no one will challenge me, this is all nonsense" crew - they must exist, it's clear they do, and I hazard a guess that not everyone I saw today were in the second category, but were just people who don't care about COVID and just want to get back to normal.

YANBU.
I'm from an area where there's a LOT of general conspiracy theories /weird nonsense - my Facebook feed of people from my hometown has always been very anti-vax, lots of 'paedo hunter' groups, lots of far right bullshit, and those same people are now all sharing 'U CAN'T MAKE ME WEAR A MASK, UR ALL SHEEPLE, U LOOK LIKE UR WEARING MUZZLES' bollocks.

So compliance there is pretty low whenever I'm there. However where I live now, about an hour away, compliance is really high. So I think it depends on area too!

@MoreListeningLessChatting

Just why?

I wouldn't be surprised if the glaring lady had an exemption and was anxious about being challenged but I imagine there are plenty of people also treating masks as optional and doing as they please.

The school holidays are ending where I am but during the hols I noticed that young people out and about without their parents (so, 11+ I guess) are in the main not wearing masks at all. I use public transport a lot and all of the groups of teens using the buses around here have been mask-less. I've usually been with my kids, who do wear masks on the buses at my insistence, and it is confusing and upsetting for them to see all these other kids going without. I can't believe that ALL of these young people have medical exemptions. I'm 99% sure that they just don't think masks are 'cool'.

100% compliance now in both M&S stores nearest me.
About 40% compliance in Asda.
About 90% compliance in Sainsbury's.

I think it just depends on the area. Most of those in Asda in a poorer area a few miles away were BAME so I don't know if it's a cultural thing as it was right across age groups. Not going there again. Will stick to M&S.

What I mean by that is, there are a large number of people who don't think masks should be compulsory and are actively sharing and posting about it - but if you're not in those circles or don't see them, you might be surprised to see non-compliance (as I would be otherwise, as everyone I am friends with is wearing their masks, has been broadly compliant with lockdown rules etc). But actually, there are huge swathes of people who haven't been complying all along, including now with masks, and I only am aware because I see it via Facebook.

@yelyah22

Thank you appreciate the insights. I agree I think there's a lot of folk who fall into that category you described - the "I WON'T BE TOLD WHAT TO DO, WE ARE ALL BEING TURNED INTO SHEEP" category.

It's nice to be able to just discuss the behavioural psychology behind it, rather than everyone piling onto a thread to either explain why they are exempt, or why they think I'm completely wrong and everyone is wearing a mask (which is patently untrue considering the dozens of threads on here suggesting otherwise).

YANBU

I'm asthmatic and wear a mask, I do struggle sometimes but my DM is in the extremely vulnerable category and still hasn't left the house because she's scared by the amount of people not wearing them so I make sure I do because I hadn't realised how much it does reassure people.

I haven't seen anyone so far without a mask, everyone my way seems to be compliant.

I live in midlands and I agree people seem to do what they want. We have a large tescos, asda, morrisons and sainsburys. I have not been to the last but all the others have both staff and customers without.

I try not to judge so I do just think well maybe they are exempt but actually at least 10+ seem to wear them under their chin which actually more annoying.

I have to admit as a migraine sufferer and heat being a trigger, they do not help and I have had to increase my medication to compensate but I figure me popping an extra tablet has got to be better than me passing a virus on to someone who may die from it.

I think the challenge is that people know that wearing a mask is not going to stop them getting it only others, therefore they see other people not doing it and think well if they don't care why should I and become more lapse.

@WhenISnappedAndFarted

@OhNoNotMonday

I have so much respect for the fact that you're struggling through -pre-existing conditions to wear one.

I really do think there is a contingent of people who don't suffer even 10% of what you do, but they are 100% convinced the whole mask thing is a complete joke, and 'there's no way I'm going to pinch my ears and sweat and fog up my glasses just to go to the shops' etc.

It's a shame some folk are so precious when it comes to other people's health.

Plenty of people where i live are wearing them. I get tested every week (job related) all been negative.

oh and I wear a mask, when shopping.