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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask the mask police to please PLEASE stop

984 replies

PennyDreadfuI · 19/08/2020 12:58

Another mask thread but I'm not going to apologise because I'm absolutely at the end of my tether with this sort of thing.

I can't wear a mask because I have trigeminal neuralgia and I've lost count of the stares, comments and filthy looks I've had (and yes, I do wear a lanyard, even though I'm not keen on advertising the fact that I have a hidden health condition). I've heard of people not being allowed on buses, being challenged by staff to explain their reason for exemption and being told they can't enter shops despite being exempt (none of which is legal). I've been told I should wear a visor (I can't, and they're next to useless anyway - Scotland have just banned them unless they're worn with a mask), that I should just stay at home (I can't and neither do government guidelines suggest I should), that I shouldn't use buses (I don't drive and can't walk long distances or cycle because I have inflammatory arthritis) and that I'm selfish (I'm not - if I could wear a mask, I would).

I understand this is a contentious issue but please, can people just think for a minute before they judge or comment? Exemptions are there for a reason - those who are sticklers for The Rules should surely accept and respect this one, too. It's awful that people are too scared to go out for fear of what's essentially discrimination.

The pandemic is bad enough by itself - let's not lose our sense of empathy and humanity, too.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
Ludo19 · 19/08/2020 20:29

Just look at them in the eye, point to your exemption and say loudly...."Yes" either that or tell them to fuck off. People need to wind their neck in with this issue.

KitKatastrophe · 19/08/2020 20:41

Hear hear OP, you are absolutely right.

People are always likening this to the war where everyone has to "do their bit" or saying that "it's not as bad as being in the blitz" and other crap.
I think the only part of this pandemic which has been like the war is the shaming of people like "white feather girls" did in this country. Or people reporting on their neighbours for infractions like people in Nazi Germany.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 19/08/2020 20:49

There are too many people not wearing masks and so the ones who are genuinely unable to are getting the blame. I don't think you can blame people for questioning it. The blame lies firmly at the door of people taking the mickey and not wearing masks for any other reason than they can't be bothered to.

Laiste · 19/08/2020 20:51

Flowers for you OP and anyone else who has been hauled over the coals like this.

No one will come on here and admit to being a current or reformed member of the mask police though.

underneaththeash · 19/08/2020 20:51

The thing with masks is that by wearing one you’re not protecting yourself, you’re protecting others. By not wearing one yourself, you’re accepting the protection given by other’s masks, but not according them the saMe protection - which is bound to cause annoyance.

You need to make it clear that you cannot wear one, make your lanyard more obvious - wear a shield - it’s better than nothing.

blissfulllife · 19/08/2020 20:54

I've got a teenage daughter who's autistic. She won't wear a mask. It panics her and she just bloody chews it instead anyway. She's stopped leaving the house now mainly due to a couple of individuals who took it upon themselves to loudly ask why she wasn't wearing her mask. She wears a lanyard.

These people do not understand the damage they can inflict by poking their noses in. I told one to just wear your own mask to protect yourself and mind your own business.

Could be months again now till my girl plucks up the courage to go out again

catsarecute · 19/08/2020 20:59

You won't be getting any dirty looks or comments from me as I do appreciate that not everyone can wear a mask. I think you're doing the right thing to wear a lanyard though. I do think we need as many people wearing masks as possible, and to be grateful to those that are wearing them too, as they are helping to keep us all safer. I agree wth NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite that there are too many people not wearing them, I think a lot of these people see them as an infringement on their rights. People who wear a lanyard or visor are making the effort to show that they are not in the anti-mask brigade.

AgeLikeWine · 19/08/2020 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RealityExistsInTheHumanMind · 19/08/2020 21:04

@NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite

There are too many people not wearing masks and so the ones who are genuinely unable to are getting the blame. I don't think you can blame people for questioning it. The blame lies firmly at the door of people taking the mickey and not wearing masks for any other reason than they can't be bothered to.
Yes you can blame people

It is none of anyone else's fucking business.

The blame lies 100% with the interfering idiots that think it is their job to go against government guidelines and hassle someone.

It makes not a jot of difference whether they have what you or anyone else thinks is a VALID reason.

RealityExistsInTheHumanMind · 19/08/2020 21:06

@underneaththeash

The thing with masks is that by wearing one you’re not protecting yourself, you’re protecting others. By not wearing one yourself, you’re accepting the protection given by other’s masks, but not according them the saMe protection - which is bound to cause annoyance.

You need to make it clear that you cannot wear one, make your lanyard more obvious - wear a shield - it’s better than nothing.

No one has to explain to you or anyone else. The lanyards are a courtesy not a requirement.

Stop victim blaming

phoenixrosehere · 19/08/2020 21:06

YANBU.

It’s no one’s business and your lanyard should be more than enough. The same people giving dirty looks and moaning about who is and isn’t wearing a mask are usually the same ones who think wearing masks is all they have to do.

latebreakfast · 19/08/2020 21:08

I have great trouble wearing a mask but I'm aware that I need to because my breath might make somebody seriously ill or even kill them. The times that I don't wear one because I''m exempt make me even more anxious than actually wearing one.

Gancanny · 19/08/2020 21:08

If you could advertise the fact that you have a hidden disability, but refuse to do so, you cannot complain when people object to what they perceive as your selfish and irresponsible behaviour which could risk their health.

No one has any right to know another person's health issue or disability and they should not expect to be harassed for not wearing a mask if they are unable to do so because Mask Inspector is not a real job.

If you see someone not wearing a mask you should presume it's because they have reason not to do so, youndo not need to confront them about it, just move on with your day.

RealityExistsInTheHumanMind · 19/08/2020 21:08

@AgeLikeWine

If you could advertise the fact that you have a hidden disability, but refuse to do so, you cannot complain when people object to what they perceive as your selfish and irresponsible behaviour which could risk their health.
Yes you can. The wearing of a lanyard is a choice. The guidelines state that you don't have to carry any kind of proof.

None of your business

You are the selfish and irresponsible ones thinking it is your right to police something that the government guidelines specifically state that you should not do.

ILoveFood87 · 19/08/2020 21:09

YANBU OP. Though I do try my best to avoid people who can't wear masks as I don't want me or my child put at risk. I hope non mask wearers dont take it offensively when I move away.

Gancanny · 19/08/2020 21:09

The same people giving dirty looks and moaning about who is and isn’t wearing a mask are usually the same ones who think wearing masks is all they have to do

Quite often also the same people wearing their mask incorrectly.

Skatingwithbears · 19/08/2020 21:09

Frankly I wish the paranoid would stay I , not those who are exempt. No need to get within two metres of someone not wearing a mask, stop bothering them and move on!
They don’t though bother you because they are actually worried, it’s usually because they feel a duty to police others in their righteousness.
I wear a mask, I can. People who don’t I stay 2m away from and let them crack on with life.

AgeLikeWine · 19/08/2020 21:10

Apologies, OP. I misunderstood your post, and on re-reading it I see that you do wear a lanyard, so I have asked MN to delete it. My bad.

BooFuckingHoo2 · 19/08/2020 21:11

I have ASD and have a lanyard with a card on advertising it. To be honest it makes me almost as anxious (because of people staring and trying to read the card) than if I wasn’t wearing one at all and was challenged.

mammato5 · 19/08/2020 21:11

In my local paper this week there was an article about Asda and it's rules on face masks. The journalist who wrote it said there are still a number of selfish people who aren't thinking about others and choose not to wear the mask. If only I could put it down to me being selfish for not wearing the mask and not the massive panic attack wearing a mask induces. I wish it was as simple as me being selfish and choosing not to.

RealityExistsInTheHumanMind · 19/08/2020 21:11

@latebreakfast

I have great trouble wearing a mask but I'm aware that I need to because my breath might make somebody seriously ill or even kill them. The times that I don't wear one because I''m exempt make me even more anxious than actually wearing one.
It won't

2 people died yesterday That's 2 T W O

You shouldn't feel you have to wear one to stop idiots who think they are so right. They should keep their fucking noses out.

treeeeemendous · 19/08/2020 21:12

@blissfulllife but wearing a mask does not protect yourself it protects others. That's the problem. All these people not wearing masks are taking protection from others wearing masks but not protecting anyone else.

I don't ever say anything to people not wearing masks, I have better things to do with my time but I can tell you there are an awful lot if people out there not wearing masks who could and should.

KitKatastrophe · 19/08/2020 21:12

@latebreakfast

I have great trouble wearing a mask but I'm aware that I need to because my breath might make somebody seriously ill or even kill them. The times that I don't wear one because I''m exempt make me even more anxious than actually wearing one.
Obviously you dont find it that hard to wear a mask then. Some people have incredible pain from wearing masks. Some people have panic attacks or are unable to breathe. If you can wear a mask without pain, panic attacks or breathlessness then great - not everyone can. And it's none of your business if they choose not to wear one.

If people are that concerned that your breath might kill them (can I eye roll at that incidentally) then they shouldnt be out in the shops.

KitKatastrophe · 19/08/2020 21:14

I can tell you there are an awful lot if people out there not wearing masks who could and should.
You know them all do you? Know their medical histories? Or do you think maybe some of the people your see in sainsburys not wearing a mask might have a reason they just dont want to share with you.

PhilSwagielka · 19/08/2020 21:15

Were you the poster who started a similar thread with TGN? I know there's at least one other person on here who can't wear a mask because of it.