To ask the mask police to please PLEASE stop

[PennyDreadfuI]

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.

I have no issue with anyone NOT wearing a mask if they are unable to. However, the first person to mention me wearing a mask with a valve is likely to get both barrels (of my mouth obvs, before the gun police jump on!). Masks with valves protect the wearer but do NOT protect anyone else; 3 ply masks protect others and only work if EVERYONE wears them. Given that some can't (and sadly some wont) wear 3 ply masks, I'm afraid I will continue to wear my valve mask. Selfish? No. Because I have elderly and vulnerable family members and patients to protect. My duty is to them and I am unable to socially distance from them.

[quote Noneformethanks]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras what do you suggest?

I have the legal right to go into a shop.

I have the legal right not to wear a mask.

I keep 2m distance. (It’s mask wearers who lean over me)

I have a lanyard and a badge.

What further suggestions do you have?[/quote]
You don't have to do anything more do you? You are exempt and are staying two metres away from everyone (presumably checkout staff included?). None of this applies to you. It applies to people who won't wear a mask when they have no exemption or people who can't wear a mask and flout SD

Yes check out staff included.

Jesus Christ.

@Noneformethanks

Yes check out staff included.

Jesus Christ.

Then none of this applies to you does it?

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras perhaps what you need to do is start a thread of your own specifically to raise all your concerns so you can rubbish all the responses there, rather than hijacking someone else's. You could also start a thread to raise awareness of the Distance Aware scheme (as people did here when the sunflower lanyard scheme was extended to those exempt) given your concerns that there isn't enough awareness of it. You could also write to your MP and media outlets to the same end, rather than repeating the same things over and over again on MN. Be constructive rather than obstructive.

What more do you expect Hooves?

Nothing anyone suggests is going to work for you.

You are refusing reasonable suggestions and flinging about nasty comments and unfounded allegations.

What do you want? What more do you want?

as much as I could I stayed in. I’m now allowed out

Unfortunately for me I’m one of the allowed out, but can’t wear a mask and slightly clinically vulnerable due to a medical condition.

What do you suggest? How am I supposed to shop? I have cards and lanyards. I have no issue with a proper govt approved scheme.

I still get abused when I go to the supermarket. It hasn’t made it safe for me to have a big fucking sign.

So. What do you want from people? Non Mask wearers to stay in? Non mask wearers banned from shops? Buses?

Hearhoovesthinkzebras perhaps what you need to do is start a thread of your own specifically to raise all your concerns so you can rubbish all the responses there, rather than hijacking someone else's. You could also start a thread to raise awareness of the Distance Aware scheme (as people did here when the sunflower lanyard scheme was extended to those exempt) given your concerns that there isn't enough awareness of it. You could also write to your MP and media outlets to the same end, rather than repeating the same things over and over again on MN. Be constructive rather than obstructive.

Sorry @PennyDreadfuI but @Hearhoovesthinkzebras won't take any notice!

She wouldn't go out anyway because she won't go out, because of commuters, the fact she lives in a rubbish place which takes a 40 minute drive to get out off, they've no public toilets, her adult children can't visit, she's a victim and won't give up EVER!

Do a search!

@Noneformethanks

What more do you expect Hooves?

Nothing anyone suggests is going to work for you.

You are refusing reasonable suggestions and flinging about nasty comments and unfounded allegations.

What do you want? What more do you want?

as much as I could I stayed in. I’m now allowed out

Unfortunately for me I’m one of the allowed out, but can’t wear a mask and slightly clinically vulnerable due to a medical condition.

What do you suggest? How am I supposed to shop? I have cards and lanyards. I have no issue with a proper govt approved scheme.

I still get abused when I go to the supermarket. It hasn’t made it safe for me to have a big fucking sign.

So. What do you want from people? Non Mask wearers to stay in? Non mask wearers banned from shops? Buses?

Funny. On the other thread right now people are saying the shielded need to stay in and let everyone else get back to normal.

I've already said to you that if you are staying two metres away from everyone then none of the criticism applies to you. I've not had a go at you in a shop or looked at you funny. I'm not responsible for what other people do.

I'm being told on here that it's my responsibility to look after myself. In which case isn't it your responsibility to take care of yourself?

I’m not on that thread. I’m on this thread. I have not said any of that and you have no right to state that in answer to me when it’s nothing to do with me and isn’t what I’ve said.

I am taking care of myself. I am going above and beyond to make sure I present as little risk as I possibly can. And yet, for you none of it is enough.

I’m wearing lanyards and badges. Why can’t you do the same?

I find the concept of people saying they can't strange; not from a personal judgemental point of view, but having lived in a mask-wearing culture where absolutely no one says they can't for any reason, I wonder why only in the West is it an issue.

@doityourselfnow

Hearhoovesthinkzebras perhaps what you need to do is start a thread of your own specifically to raise all your concerns so you can rubbish all the responses there, rather than hijacking someone else's. You could also start a thread to raise awareness of the Distance Aware scheme (as people did here when the sunflower lanyard scheme was extended to those exempt) given your concerns that there isn't enough awareness of it. You could also write to your MP and media outlets to the same end, rather than repeating the same things over and over again on MN. Be constructive rather than obstructive.

Sorry @PennyDreadfuI but @Hearhoovesthinkzebras won't take any notice!

She wouldn't go out anyway because she won't go out, because of commuters, the fact she lives in a rubbish place which takes a 40 minute drive to get out off, they've no public toilets, her adult children can't visit, she's a victim and won't give up EVER!

Do a search!

Yep. And all of that is true. What's so shocking about it? Shock horror, no public toilets in a town when all pubs and cafes were closed.

And no, my adult children didn't visit during lockdown because it wasn't allowed and I was shielding. Again, shock , horror. People abiding by the rules.

And yes, do search me. You can because I don't hide behind name changes, unlike some.

Genuinely curious.

@Noneformethanks

I’m not on that thread. I’m on this thread. I have not said any of that and you have no right to state that in answer to me when it’s nothing to do with me and isn’t what I’ve said.

I am taking care of myself. I am going above and beyond to make sure I present as little risk as I possibly can. And yet, for you none of it is enough.

I’m wearing lanyards and badges. Why can’t you do the same?

Because until about an hour ago I didn't know such lanyards existed. Now I've paid out to order an individually printed one, containing my medical information - is that what you've had to do?

it still doesn't give a stranger the right to know anyone else's medical history. What's more, the law says they're not supposed to ask

But entirely ok for those with a visible disability to have their condition known? Double standard there.

Why not give anyone you see without a mask the benefit of the doubt, and stay 2m away from them if you're concerned?

Where did I say I wouldn't do this?

Why couldn’t you make a badge and wear it tomorrow? Since you’re so have the non mask wearers step back?

I printed out a card and punched a hole with a hole punch and clipped it to the sunflower lanyard I already had.

Can’t you google? You can work mumsnet, couldn’t you have googled at any time in the last however many months? Or got a felt tip and the inside of a cardboard packet and a safety pin?

*keen to

Personally, I've seen so few people not wearing masks, I'm happy to give them benefit of the doubt as to whether they are exempt or not.

What I can't and won't forgive are those that aren't wearing them and aren't following the 2 metre social distancing rules, and I'll happily tell them to back off if they get too close.

A disability/condition may grant them exemption from the mask but it doesn't give exemption from the 2 metre/1metre+ rules.

@YouJustDoYou

I find the concept of people saying they can't strange; not from a personal judgemental point of view, but having lived in a mask-wearing culture where absolutely no one says they can't for any reason, I wonder why only in the West is it an issue.

I'm pretty sure that people who aren't in the West also suffer from things like Trigeminal Neuralgia, PTSD, skin conditions, autism, respiratory conditions etc. If there are no exemptions allowed in some countries, that's not a Good Thing to be celebrated. It means that there aren't laws in place to protect disabled people and those with health/MH conditions. Thank goodness we do in the UK - it's just a shame that many people disregard them and discriminate anyway.

@YouJustDoYou

I find the concept of people saying they can't strange; not from a personal judgemental point of view, but having lived in a mask-wearing culture where absolutely no one says they can't for any reason, I wonder why only in the West is it an issue.

I would say it’s a good thing we have protective anti disability legislation.

*Anti disability discrimination

Cracked iPad screen and poor fine motor control and brain fog don’t mix.

I find the concept of people saying they can't strange; not from a personal judgemental point of view, but having lived in a mask-wearing culture where absolutely no one says they can't for any reason, I wonder why only in the West is it an issue.

@YouJustDoYou - Where in the world is this "mask wearing culture". I am intrigued.

@Noneformethanks

Why couldn’t you make a badge and wear it tomorrow? Since you’re so have the non mask wearers step back?

I printed out a card and punched a hole with a hole punch and clipped it to the sunflower lanyard I already had.

Can’t you google? You can work mumsnet, couldn’t you have googled at any time in the last however many months? Or got a felt tip and the inside of a cardboard packet and a safety pin?

I clearly wasn't googling the precise wording and no, work won't allow me to.pin a bit of cereal packet to my uniform as a make do badge

But you could wear it on the bus until you got into work?

I would say it’s a good thing we have protective anti disability legislation.

Hhhmm, it's as much use a chocolate teapot. Unless your disability is a dislike of your glasses fogging up - then you'll be protected by the full weight of the law.

And yes, do search me. You can because I don't hide behind name changes, unlike some.

Some of us are more cyber conscious that others........