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?

@yawnsvillex

I am special *@AntiHop* I don't want to wear one so I don't. Fine me ... big fucking deal

I suspect people with attitudes like this are responsible for the many pupils who think that school expectations don't apply to them.

Good point @ilovesooty I was probably the same at school and didn't always conform to school rules.

I questioned everything and went on hard facts instead of alleged guidelines. I'm glad I did question the norm.

So Brits are all soft and selfish. Nice. Maybe we are just inquisitive enough to question things with no hard evidence behind them?

I questioned everything and went on hard facts instead of alleged guidelines. I'm glad I did question the norm.

No matter who makes a decision or sets guidance, there is absolutely nothing wrong with questioning a decision made if evidence looks questionable or contradictory to previous statements.

Blindly following can be bloody dangerous at times.

@Midsommar at least no bus drivers have been murdered here for challenging someone without a mask. Unlike in oh so compliant France.

Shopping today and saw a couple of woman wearing masks but had them pulled down so they could talk on the phone and one at the supermarket checkout.

Seems pointless

@Vintagevixen I'm not getting into a big thing about it but yes, in my opinion the general attitude of most Brits is very selfish. We are a country full of snowflakes.

[quote Midsommar]@Saucy99 it is because Britian is soft and its people selfish. No one gives a hoot about their peers and their surroundings.[/quote]
And you posted this straight after telling us how you went into a shop without a mask on?

Do you not realise that there will be people in that shop who will have judged you as being selfish and not giving a hoot about your surroundings? Like you, they won't have stopped to consider for a second that there might actually have been a reason for you not wearing one.

Bugger! Sorry Midsommar. I've just realised you were quoting another poster.

I'm so sorry.

Went to Lidl this morning and their social distancing monitor was inside store doing a headcount ... with his mask pulled down below his nose ...

I used to think the majority of people were well-intentioned, community spirited and not stupid. CV-19 has shattered some illusions for me

Most people are wearing masks, where I live but I saw a fair few chin hammocks in the (indoor) bus station when I was waiting for the bus home from Newcastle, this morning.

I think we are not a country full of snowflakes, I think that's a lazy generalisation. There is courage and cowardice in equal measures in all populations in all countries.

Not sure that's true @Vintagevixen (I did pre covid). I doubt we won WW2 by whining that we didnt like it and it wasn't fair and we'd had enough. Or shrilling about our human rights.

Exactly @PhilCornwall1 ....

Look at world war 2 .. they followed Hitler and look how that turned out. Shame no one questioned why it was ok to mass kill Jews.

It wasn't so long ago Boris was questioning burkas etc

Yet now he wants to muzzle everyone and "the people" think he's right because the media and a very inept government have caused mass hysteria!

Not sure a WW2 analogy is at all useful or comparable TBH. But if you want to make one, then I think the independent thought and critical thinking that won us the war seems sadly lacking at the moment for sure.

@Porcupineinwaiting ... dear god! We fought for our rights in WW2 FFS! I give up at the low level of thinking for yourself on here

@Vintagevixen I agree with you.

And what rights are you fighting for in this scenario @yawnsvillex? The right to contract a nasty disease, the right to pass it on to someone more vulnerable?

Independent thought and critical thinking on the part of the population as a whole did not win us the war. Wars arent won by everyone having their own pet theory and their own set of facts and just basically wanting life to go on as normal.

Has it ever occurred to you that some of us have considered your point of view and just dont agree with it?

That's fine @Porcupineinwaiting ... I totally accept you don't agree.

I think about half people in shops are wearing.

Some people are absolute arses about it - including the hulking man I say today in a store - after being handed a mask at the door of a shop he snatched it and stalked off into the shop. The small woman manning the door politely asked ‘will you wear it?’ and he just swung around and hissed ‘nahhhhhhhhhh’ in her face. I said ‘heyyyyyy’ and scowled at him and he stalked off muttering, the I told the assistant that she didn’t need to take that. He must be so proud of himself.

When I left the store there was a large male assistant on the door. I hope she told her manager to remove her from that nonsense.

Yep me too - we can't all agree. I would never deny you the right to your opinion based on the available evidence, or call you a snowflake for holding that opinion. I'm sure you will extend the same courtesy to me.

If this had been the first thread about the subject it might have been more interesting.
The OP talks about a discussion but doesn't want to discuss, just wants us to listen and take on board their views, is what I am getting from their posts - obviously they are right and anyone that disagrees is wrong! Calling everyone who disagrees selfish etc, doesn't sound to me like someone looking for a reasoned discussion.

@Foxyloxy1plus1 Wed 12-Aug-20 13:15:04
The things that bother me are the young people going around in groups, riding bikes in groups, congregating in town centres and pubs in the evening in groups and not respecting any of the guidelines at all. Because they’re young and therefore will be fine. It makes me very angry.

These are the people we should be thankful to. The virus is going nowhere. Young people, although not invincible, are much more likely to have a mild or asymptomatic case helping towards herd immunity. They don't tend to spend much close contact time with anyone but each other, are unlikely to be in caring situations or do the weekly shop. The more of them that get some level of immunity the better for us all.

@ConkerGame Wed 12-Aug-20 13:21:43
Lots of non-mask ppl where I live in London but tbh although I wear one as I’m a rule follower by nature, I really don’t care what other people are up to! The people that annoy me are the ones trying to police other people’s behaviour.
Just leave it to the actual police to enforce. Oh wait, they won’t. Clearly it’s not that important then.
I agree, I wear one under duress because it is the law (most others were wearing them too) but avoid places I need one as far as possible. Contrary to the intention 'Amazon' will be getting my money instead of local shops.

@AnaadiNitya Wed 12-Aug-20 14:31:11
The government said to us that from the 24th of July we had to wear masks because the observation evidence said it would reduce cases by 40%. I’m still waiting for it any reduction! It’s not stopped new cases at all.

I agree that it hasn't stopped new cases, although it would be difficult to be sure as with so few cases in any one area it's difficult - what is 40% of 2 people. What could be a clue though is that the incidence of flu deaths (another virus, spread in the same way) has not been reduced at all. There are about 4 to 5 times as many deaths currently from flu as from Covid - Yes people do die of flu in summer, just not as many as in winter. www.spectator.co.uk/article/summer-flu-is-now-more-deadly-than-covid If masks worked infections should be reduces from all respiratory viruses.

@Vintagevixen Thu 13-Aug-20 16:39:33
(So Brits are all soft and selfish).
Nice. Maybe we are just inquisitive enough to question things with no hard evidence behind them?

Well some of us are. I'm not sure we are the soft and selfish ones. We have faced far worse in the past and haven't responded in the same (in my view) exaggeratedly pessimistic way.

Oh and I read an interesting article earlier that suggests some in Australia think we have got it right and are reaching herd immunity and wonder how they are ever going to get out of it as eradication is not going to work. www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-could-herd-immunity-in-australia-be-the-next-strategy/1b1c7b36-65d2-482a-8c6b-f9703aca6fa7?fbclid=IwAR38lJcIKYw8snQ2JIeANLwuIzCXzHJb5WnmZNroBEKli0e4WO9xzdxn1-Q#close

@Porcupineinwaiting

And what rights are you fighting for in this scenario *@yawnsvillex*? The right to contract a nasty disease, the right to pass it on to someone more vulnerable?

Independent thought and critical thinking on the part of the population as a whole did not win us the war. Wars arent won by everyone having their own pet theory and their own set of facts and just basically wanting life to go on as normal.

Has it ever occurred to you that some of us have considered your point of view and just dont agree with it?

Well actually the Russians and Americans won you the War....

The masks are simply to increase revenue in shops. It ain't working! I wish people would actually think critically instead of following like sheep because it is making people "safe". Absolute rubbish. The masks are to boost the economy. That is it. The snowflakes are not the ones refusing to wear them. They are the ones who are insisting on being kept "safe" irrespective of cost.

I've just got back from Spain. Masks are NOT optional there and oddly enough few people seem to have medical conditions that prohibit wearing one - they don't appear to go to shops if they do.

But then there are policemen walking around everywhere and literally everyone else was wearing one. It's a joke here.