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.

Also, have you actually asked? Since you didn’t know til an hour ago?

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

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.

That is so rude.

You have no right to speak of me like that.

I have physical disabilities. I receive PIP and have a blue badge.

Stick that on your foggy glasses.

@Noneformethanks

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

Yes, a cardboard badge is going to stop me from breathing in other people's exhaled air in a closed environment hmmhmm.

I also have CPTSD and take anti depressants.

But sure. It’s all about my glasses.

Bloody hell.

If you wore the badge. It would at least mean people would know not to sit beside you.

That is so rude.

You have no right to speak of me like that.

I have physical disabilities. I receive PIP and have a blue badge.

Stick that on your foggy glasses.

Bloody hell, do you think everything anyone ever says revolves around you? Where did I say it was about you or referred to you? It was about the Equality Act - is that you? Did you write it? Is that why my criticism of it upset you?

My reference to foggy glasses is about the two people I served today, as I described earlier in this thread. They claimed to be exempt from wearing a masks as it figs up their glasses. Nothing to do with you

@Noneformethanks

I also have CPTSD and take anti depressants.

But sure. It’s all about my glasses.

Bloody hell.

Again, nothing to do with you

Course it was

@doityourselfnow

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........

Yes and some of us are honest and don't pretend to be a different person.

@Noneformethanks

Course it was

Read my earlier posts - you'll see.

Gosh don’t you all have better things to do than argue with strangers online?

@Noneformethanks

If you wore the badge. It would at least mean people would know not to sit beside you.

I'll just cough a lot. That'll keep people away

No thanks. Once was enough.

You were in a conversation with me where you have accused me unwarranted of all sorts. Answered me with irrelevant stuff someone else said on another thread and straight up lied about people saying they wished you dead.

Have you considered a career working for Boris as a spin doctor? It seems you’ve just the skill set for it.

Yes and some of us are honest and don't pretend to be a different person.

I'm still me!

where absolutely no one says they can't for any reason

I do not believe this is accurate. I believe it’s more likely that those people do exist, and you simply don’t ever see or hear about them, either because they feel intense social pressure to stay inside, or because they are disabled and are already excluded from mainstream society.

I’ve worked in China and disability rights there are horrendous.

Some people live to do that rainbow, unfortunately.

It is a mix of annoying when it completely derails a thread and funny when two people who want to pick an argument find each other.

It’s not on him or me to explain ourselves to anyone, anyone who has made comment to us, gets told to mind their own business. Simple.

It is my business if you are not wearing a mask and failing to protect me. I'm wearing mine to protect you so if you can, then you should give me the same courtesy.

Unfortunately the selfish idiots who can, but won't, spoil it for the genuine people who really struggle.

I don't say anything to the non mask wearing individual, but oh how i judge unless I see a lanyard. And I pass comment to anyone I am with. If you genuinely can't, then advertise that fact.

Bloody hell, do you think everything anyone ever says revolves around you?

And the Irony Award goes to...

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

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.

Please link to a case where someone with foggy glasses has sought recourse to anti discrimination laws?

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras
So you’re annoyed that you might catch covid.

You travel on public transport. You deal with the public in you work. You feel unsafe with both.

You can change jobs or be unemployed or retire early. Or accept the risk.

What you should not do is take your frustration out on other people, who are reasonably going about their business, because you don’t like the life choices available to you.

but oh how i judge
Which says it all.
Judgey people will seize on any excuse - if it were not this you would something else.
Today there were 0 Covid deaths is England in hospitals.
And no evidence that a mask protects any more than crossed/fingers.
But still the onward march of the mask zealots.

@Jeremyironsnothing

It’s not on him or me to explain ourselves to anyone, anyone who has made comment to us, gets told to mind their own business. Simple.

It is my business if you are not wearing a mask and failing to protect me. I'm wearing mine to protect you so if you can, then you should give me the same courtesy.

Unfortunately the selfish idiots who can, but won't, spoil it for the genuine people who really struggle.

I don't say anything to the non mask wearing individual, but oh how i judge unless I see a lanyard. And I pass comment to anyone I am with. If you genuinely can't, then advertise that fact.

Lanyards aren't a requirement. Some people choose to wear them, many do not. It's their choice. It's also worth remembering that anyone can buy a lanyard, regardless of whether they're genuinely exempt or not, so it's likely that your 'understanding' will often be misguided anyway.

Perhaps it's better to judge nobody and give everyone the benefit of the doubt, rather than risk someone with a debilitating condition, or a who is a survivor of rape, hear your comments.

@Noneformethanks

No thanks. Once was enough.

You were in a conversation with me where you have accused me unwarranted of all sorts. Answered me with irrelevant stuff someone else said on another thread and straight up lied about people saying they wished you dead.

Have you considered a career working for Boris as a spin doctor? It seems you’ve just the skill set for it.

Yeah, maybe go back and read what was actually said.

Lanyards aren't a requirement. Some people choose to wear them, many do not. It's their choice. It's also worth remembering that anyone can buy a lanyard, regardless of whether they're genuinely exempt or not, so it's likely that your 'understanding' will often be misguided anyway.

I actually struggle with the lanyard because I don't consider myself to have a disability (ptsd from trauma involving suffocation) and I think it's watering down their intended purpose.

Please link to a case where someone with foggy glasses has sought recourse to anti discrimination laws?

They don't need to. They are being protected by virtue of people saying you can't challenge anyone who isn't wearing a mask, nor can you ask for proof of exemption because of disability discrimination. So, all those choosing not to wear a mask are doing so on the coat tails of genuinely disabled people who are facing discrimination.