To want to know when we can stop wearing face masks?

[ihatefacemasks]

That's about the size of it. I loathe the bastarding things for every possible reason. Obviously I have to wear them because I don't have a reason not to (I could perfectly easily pretend, in order to obtain exemption, though this would seem unfair on the people who genuinely can't wear them). But AIBU to want to know when we will be allowed to stop with this nonsense? Does the R rate have to reach a certain target? Does there have to be a vaccination? WTF will make a difference? Why has nobody given us any indication?

I hate this government beyond measure, but even I won't blame them for not knowing how long it will take to get covid sufficiently under control for these precautions to become unnecessary.

I wore masks everywhere before they were even compulsory, and will continue to do so. Doesn’t mean I completely enjoy the experience of wearing one, it’s perfectly normal to ponder when restrictions may ease.

@Porcupineinwaiting

Ok the *@bibbitybobbitycats* try lying in bed fighting to breathe whilst desperately trying to get through to someone on 111 only you cant because hundreds of other poor fuckers are doing the same. Or fighting to breathe whilst you are told an ambulance will be sent to you as soon as one is available but they are very, very busy right now. Or being on oxygen on hospital watching people deteriorate and die around you.

I am not saying don't wear a mask, I'm saying this sort of hyperbole is not helpful and is not going to persuade those who don't wear a mask to wear one.

I don't wear a mask at the moment, because I am in Wales and Senedd Cymru is not convinced of the merits. I think this may change though and if I am told to wear one I will in order to protect other people.

[quote wanderings]**@fwwaftp* and @slashlover* Thanks for reminding me. I forgot to add to my list "when there have been enough masked robberies, or other crimes, masks will become optional". There have been one or two masked robberies in shops reported; there will be more.[/quote]
The lovely guy who owns our local phone shop was the victim of a robbery where he was threatened with an axe while his whole shop was cleared out. "Don't try to stop us or we'll chop your fucking head off". Of course when the masked robbers entered the shop he thought nothing of it.

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress

The abuse and aggression on MN towards those who think wearing masks is the right thing to do (and that the scientists have it right) by far exceeds anything said by the latter to the people who don't want to wear one.

I'd agree with that I think.

And those who do just get on with wearing a mask are automatically assumed to be mask police who shout abuse at others for not wearing masks.

I don't think people assume that people wearing masks are the mask police at all.
But there are unfortunately far too many people going around and shouting abuse at others.
I got on the wrong end of it last week. I'm in another country. I attended a concert. The rules for most events like that are that masks are to be worn until you are sitting down in your assigned seat. I did this. I then removed the mask. I was immediately approached and shouted at by a woman attending the concert. I had not seen the (very small) notice saying that in this particular venue the mask was to be worn until the performance began.
I put my mask on and explained to the woman that I had not seen the sign and that I had attended a couple of other concerts where the venues were sticking to the government rules of mask wearing until sitting down and that's why I had assumed the same would apply this time.
She then continued with her rant and called me all kinds of horrible names. I asked her to stop as it was not necessary to verbally abuse me, especially as I had put the mask on straightaway. On she went.... until she realized I was ignoring her and people were staring at her.
Absolutely ridiculous behaviour from her.

Dont go 2m near anyone and stay out of indoor public areas then you wont have you wear one

You should ask the virus what its future plans are OP, nobody else knows for sure.

It's worth noting that in Japan they started wearing face masks during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. And they continued wearing them, if a person has any symptoms of cold, flu or even hay fever it's considered polite to wear a face covering. They have done remarkably well during this pandemic, despite have very high population density in their cities. It probably helps that they bow rather than shake hands too.

Facemasks are not ‘nonsense’. They are a necessary and effective method of limiting the spread of covid within enclosed spaces where social distancing is difficult.

This is why facemasks are the new normal, and we all need to grasp this simple concept.

We will be wearing them until the pandemic had run its course and herd immunity has been achieved or until an effective vaccine has been developed and the population has received it.

Clearly there are 'mask lovers' out there since a number of people have responded to this thread to say they will continue wearing them even if/when the current emergency is over.

I get it too.OP. I have to wear one all day at work. Today was awful. I was so uncomfortable.

But apparently its selfish to not like wearing them

The legislation expires automatically after 12 months, and must be reviewed within 6 months.

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/contents/made

In the absence of a mass vaccination program with a reliable and lasting vaccine, or a cheap, easy and fast treatment, masks are vital.

It's fine to be exasperated with them, fine to hate them, but it's unreasonable to demand timelines when the reality is that no one knows, and until there's a breakthrough of some kind, no one can predict anything.

In the meantime, think of it as an inconvenience and not an oppressive, inescapable evil. The sooner we get used to dealing and getting on with things, the less oppressive it'll feel.

Try bear in mind that it keeps you and everyone else much safer, and the more vigilant people are about wearing them the less restrictions we'll have overall.

One day it'll be over, but there's no escaping the fact that we'll have changed in all kinds of ways.

[quote BananaPop2020]@ihatefacemasks, I completely get you. It seems you can’t even voice a contrary opinion on the bloody things without being branded selfish, thoughtless or worse. I cannot stand the sanctimonious, self appointed mask Police.[/quote]
100% this

And THIS bullshit, these sanctimonious wankers are exactly the reason why some people would rather do anything than have a fucking holiday amongst fellow Brits

I hated what brexit did to us, I will never forgive what people have become through all this Covid shit.

Fucking dementors, snitches, curtain twitchers and doom peddlers. Wearing masks initially for themselves and clapping themselves on the backs for being so sancti-fucking-monious.

I’m currently on holiday a thousand miles away where people wear the fucking masks, yeah they hate it too. There are hardly any “oh im so spechul I’m exempt”s

I pity our weak and weedy nation, we must be the weakest of the herd all lumped into one island... unless there are too many spinning tales about why they have to go into shops without a mask

In France they have to, or have to prove exemptions or it’s a fine, same elsewhere.

This is not America, we’re not routinely armed, so why can’t the guy who was managing the queues last week say “no mask, no proof of exemption, no entry, and mean it?

Long term strategy is to protect those with genuine exemptions and protect the rest of us from those that make up excuses not to protect the rest of us from them. No mask, no exemption, no entry.

It’s a snappy enough collection of words, should be right up the Cummings Street.

Have they stopped announcing when future lockdown restriction reviews are ? I used to know the dates but maybe I've lost track because they aren't doing the Daily Briefings any more.

MzHz

A French bus driver was stabbed and died when he tried to enforce mask wearing on his bus. I think shops are wise not to risk their employees safety and risk offence by asking personal medical info from people who may want to keep it private.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-french-bus-driver-dies-after-attack-by-passengers-who-refused-to-wear-face-masks-12026401

He was dragged off the bus and kicked in the head

I'm in Australia and it was pretty chilly at the bus stop this morning. I was glad of my mask as it kept my nose warm! You might enjoy it when winter comes.

I'm dreading them when the weather gets warmer here, so do sympathise. But I'll be wearing them anyway.

This is not America, we’re not routinely armed, so why can’t the guy who was managing the queues last week say “no mask, no proof of exemption, no entry, and mean it?

Because people who are exempt cant get proof

I have to wear one at work, and usually have to wear gloves as well. It worries me slightly how quickly it's become the norm for me,

I have come to find that I have a smaller face than average. I've tried several types of mask. I pull it down so it bags under my chin a bit but it ends up riding up right to my lower eyelid, I have to pull it down, and then I get dirty looks for touching my face...

@DopamineHits

I have come to find that I have a smaller face than average. I've tried several types of mask. I pull it down so it bags under my chin a bit but it ends up riding up right to my lower eyelid, I have to pull it down, and then I get dirty looks for touching my face...

Have you tried a child's mask suitable for a young teen? They're not all that much smaller than an adult one and it might sit more comfortably.

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/coronavirus-fears-over-face-covering-hate-crime-as-new-laws-go-live/

Coronavirus: Fears over ‘face covering hate crime’ as new laws go live
By John Pring on 23rd July 2020
Category: Crime

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Disabled people have raised serious concerns about the rising tide of coronavirus-related disability hate crime, amid fears that this could increase even further when new laws on the wearing of face coverings go live tomorrow.

From tomorrow (Friday), it will be compulsory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England.

Many disabled people are exempt, the government has made clear.

But despite those exemptions, many disabled people who cannot wear face coverings have already been subjected to disability-related hostility online and while travelling on public transport, where it is already compulsory – except for those with exemptions – to wear a face covering.

Stephen Brookes, a former coordinator of the Disability Hate Crime Network and now an ambassador for Disability Rights UK, has written to key figures in government, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and disability organisations about his concerns on “mask hostility”.

[* Edited by MNHQ * ]