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?

I'm in East Yorks and literally everyone seems to be wearing them, but I'm not keeping count!

Tangent but masks aren't being worn worldwide. The Scandinavian governments are unanimously not bothered for example - I'm not sure they even recommend them on public transport? Spain seems to have the strictest (on paper) approach to masks and they're not exactly doing brilliantly right now

Why would anyone show themselves up by having a mask hanging from their ear?

My local garage/shop today. Out of ten people only two wearing masks. Last week was more like 90%.

YABU, not because I think 'they all had reasons not to wear masks' but because I haven't seen anything like this. I don't think I've seen anyone in the shops not wearing masks.

My experience has been very different so YABU. Since 24th July, I have only seen two adults not wearing masks and go to quite busy shops about three times per week.

Since this has been rightly criminalised but apparently no enforcement I have not witnessed such blatant Covid safety stupidity. Obviously one would assume these people are selfish, reckless and possibly lack basic knowledge of current affairs and news. I suspect they may not adhere to all other Covid risk mitigation social norms either so would avoid proximity for your own safety. They are all possibly using the exemption get out of jail rules as obviously this would in some localities seemingly cover half the local population and so defeat the community scientific health benefit. Possibly a Covid hotspot. I do wonder if there is a link between such behaviour and our world record Covid lives and livelihoods damage.

All those non-compliant non mask wearers OP ~ I do hope you dry-snitched them. It's the only language they'll understand.

I do wonder if there is a link between such behaviour and our world record Covid lives and livelihoods damage

And now your agenda is clear

YOUR mask has finally slipped!!!

I've only been to a half empty Farm Foods since this came in.

There was one individual not wearing a mask who I assume was exempt if I'd wanted to think about it . I really don't believe the mask less group of six all were. The staff were all wearing masks.

@lazylinguist

YABU, not because I think 'they all had reasons not to wear masks' but because I haven't seen anything like this. I don't think I've seen anyone in the shops not wearing masks.

yeah I'm being unreasonable because my lived experience doesn't match yours, therefore it's not believable. So far, so Mumsnet.

@AranciaRosso

All those non-compliant non mask wearers OP ~ I do hope you dry-snitched them. It's the only language they'll understand.

why are you talking about snitching?!! It's not in my blood...

Lots of people don't wear them where I am (London) and I don't think it's that they all have hidden conditions. I saw a group of women all going on a hen do abroad on the tube the other day and none of them were wearing a mask. What are the chances that 7 best mates all have asthma/trauma etc? 0

It really is none of your business OP. You have no idea why people aren't wearing a mask.

I really struggle to see why people get so wound up about this.

For example, if you have asthma you are exempt from wearing a mask, but if it doesn't cause you difficulty, and you can manage it, you should, rather than feeling like the box is ticked so you don't need to.

Asthmatics are only exempt if they can't wear a mask - many asthmatics are able to wear one and so are not exempt. Those asthmatics who can't wear one are exempt.

Exemptions aren't done by medical condition as a blanket rule it's by each individual's ability to wear a mask. If you aren't able to wear one you're exempt, if you can then you're not.

I'm exempt as my hard to control asthma is triggered by a mask - I've tried several types and 2 mins or so is my max. I also have a fainting condition and feel light headed in a mask and recognise the 'you're building up to a faint warning signs'.

As my user name suggests, I also have EB which is a skin blistering condition. Like most conditions it varies in severity - some people with severe EB may well find a mask causes their face to blister. EB would exempt them.

My EB doesn't do that, so doesn't exempt me, but my other conditions do.

On a separate not it's not that uncommon for both of a couple to be exempt - I know a deaf couple who both need to lip read the other and are therefore exempt for example.

@AnaadiNitya

And many other governments around the world are involved in this hoodwinking are they? If it was only in the UK I could understand your suspicion but I really doubt that all government's are in cahoots to trick their people

It’s not hoodwinking - they entirely missed the boat. The gov said there would be a 40% decrease. Where is it?

Quite possibly offset by the selfish behaviour of those who refuse to be told what to do? Too early to see any difference? It's only 12th August now and it didn't come into being until mid- end of July.

@AlcoholicHippo

Ah so they need to tell you that they are exempt. Otherwise it's all frothing and PC gorn mad.

I'm out.

You've got a thread full of mask loving disablist posts so crack on the lot of ya.

Of course some people have a disability, hidden or otherwise, but unless you're very lucky or sheltered you will have come across people who openly admit that they either intend to or are claiming to have a hidden disability in order to get away with wearing a mask. People are quite open about it, and if you challenge it, they don't care.

It's despicable behaviour, not least because it undermines people who genuinely are in that position.

It absolutely doesn't mean that anyone should go around challenging people, but to accuse those who raise that as an issue of being disablist is really out of order and undermines the key issues.

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!

Same here. I tend to look at them and think surely they can't both be exempt.

Round here compliance was high at first, but it seemed to wear off quickly.

Went into JD sports on Saturday to get ds some tshirts, literally no one was wearing one.

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

The idea that everyone in Europe is wearing masks with no complaints and full compliance is a myth. I see it trotted out on these threads time and time again but even a quick google will show just how untrue it is:

www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200805-covid-19-anti-maskers-mock-french-government-call-for-mandatory-mask-wearing-health

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53622797

People are people wherever you go.

@InFiveMins

It really is none of your business OP. You have no idea why people aren't wearing a mask.

I really struggle to see why people get so wound up about this.

Again a typical low-balling argument from someone who gets personal when they've got nothing else to come back with.

Firstly - it really is none of your business OP

Half the topics on here are nobody's "business" but it's a forum where we discuss dozens of different things that don't necessarily have to relate to a first person dilemna. Please get with this as a concept because otherwise you're making yourself potentially look a bit silly.

Secondly i really struggle to see why so many people get so wound up about this

Again? Another poster claiming I'm "wound up" when I haven't used any emotional language in my OP or any other reply.

I. Am. Not. Upset. About. This. Issue.

I can however consider it an issue worth commenting on, especially when you consider the potentially implications for society if everyone said "fuck it I'm not wearing one or being told to".

So I'm allowed to take an interest, no? A calm, rational, non-wound up interest.

I started a thread almost identical to this about a week ago, Got a lot of stick because I pop to the shops most days because of my car being off the road ATM but it has allowed me to observe how mask usage has fallen off over time. Am in Scotland where we've been at it longer so people have had longer for the novelty to wear off.

Most replies were that people WERE wearing masks in most parts of the country except for some reason in small corner shops and in many branches of Asda.

Original poster your post is perfectly valid as it will help save lives if we all have self respect for our own safety and also some civic duty (as otherwise normally found globally in developed nations with best Covid performance) respect for those around us. Despite your clearly worded caveat that your post does not concern certain categories for non criminal medical exemptions do ignore the ignorant who are unnecessarily antagonistic as they should instead focus their anger and hate on fighting the common invisible enemy called Covid. This below is for those who want be informed rather than dangerously ignorant. But remember Covid smart live saving mums (and dads) it's now hands face space trace!

Pathologists Debunk 14 New Myths About COVID-19

Published on Aug 12, 2020
COVID-19 and misinformation that surrounds the disease are still spreading. We bring back Syra Madad (@syramadad) and Stephen Morse to debunk 14 new coronavirus myths. They talk about the effectiveness of masks and what it'll take to reopen schools and keep them open. They also debunk the idea that holding your breath when someone sneezes or coughs keeps you safe. Here's why that and many other things you might be hearing about the coronavirus aren't true.

0:36 Myth 1: Wearing a mask doesn't do anything
1:15 Myth 2: Wearing a mask is dangerous because you'll get CO2 poisoning
1:54 Myth 3: All schools should reopen because kids can't get COVID-19
2:46 Myth 4: Asymptomatic people aren't contagious
3:28 Myth 5: Young, healthy people won't die from COVID-19
4:04 Myth 6: You can't get COVID-19 twice
4:41 Myth 7: You won't get the virus if you hold your breath when someone sneezes or coughs

5:16 Myth 8: Consuming disinfectants will kill the virus
5:40 Myth 9: Cleaning your fruits and vegetables with bleach is effective
6:11 Myth 10: Warm weather will stop the coronavirus
6:43 Myth 11: 99% of cases aren't dangerous
7:28 Myth 12: The United States has one of the lowest mortality rates
8:11 Myth 13: 5G technology is spreading COVID-19
8:39 Myth 14: The media is blowing the pandemic out of proportion

why are you talking about snitching?!! It's not in my blood...

Because of the frankly surreal number of times you've talked about it on here...

I Went Out today 20 miles from where I live everyone was wearing a mask including me ( I don't have to due to various breathing issues ) but I won’t put other people at risk . However in my home town we have a huge Eastern European populations and most of them refuse to wear masks they say corona doesn’t exist !!!!! Obviously not all Eastern European’s before people jump down my throat . It’s just the way it is in Lincolnshire [grin

Because of the frankly surreal number of times you've talked about it on here...

Dry snitching Jesus, dry snitching. He is very particular about it.