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.

@doityourselfnow

Pension companies aren't begging 50 year olds to retire on final salary pensions. So, sorry, no, there aren't choices unless you consider it a choice to not eat or have somewhere to live. Is that a choice?

Pensions aren't payable until aged 55! WTF @ you talking about @Hearhoovesthinkzebras ?

The previous poster told me I have the option to take retirement but I'm just choosing not to. I was sarcastically pointing out that pension companies are not paying out pensions to 50 year olds.

Maybe you could ask them quite what they're talking about as it was them that said it?

@Noneformethanks

“Oh Im not wearing a mask - my glasses steam up and it's ridiculous".

So no one asked. They started the conversation and voluntarily said they don't wear a mask because it steams up their glasses.

You’ve inferred something that isn’t in their sentence. They didn’t say because. You inferred something that they didn’t say.

Honestly, I've summarised what they said. It's not verbatim. I'm not answering you anymore. A you're doing is picking holes in what I say and then when I respond you ignore and jump on the next thing.

You mentioned rural transport scheme - I asked what it was and you ignored me.

You jumped down my throat about London and public toilets and then ignored my response.

Now it's a summary of a conversation that was never billed as a transcript.

Good night

he previous poster told me I have the option to take retirement but I'm just choosing not to. I was sarcastically pointing out that pension companies are not paying out pensions to 50 year olds.

Seek
Independent financial advice!

It will cost you, I'm sure you'll moan about that, I'm sure!

Well this thread turned a bit nasty since last I visited.
I have posted before on this but it might have been a similar thread.
My dc works in a public building. She has endured lots of unpleasant comments from visitors when she ( required by management) asks them to put their mask on.
Approximately 75% do not wear a mask... they’ll wear one to get past security but then immediately pull it down or take it off.
When my dc reminds them she gets many unpleasant comments along the lines of “ don’t you dare tell me what to do” or “ it’s too hot,” or “fuck off” etc...

Today she came come and regaled us with today’s excuses... “ you’re a fucking jobsworth,” “I’ll mind if I don’t” ( whatever that actually means.) “ Don’t pester me.”
The best ( actually the worst) was that she was forcibly pushed to the ground and told to “fuck off .”
This is her day. Every day. My dc has no truck with people who genuinely cannot wear a mask. She knows about hidden disabilities, as do all the staff.
It is required that she reminds people. Many just say that they’re sorry and forgot.
I really don’t know how the nation is going to cope with face masks.
It seems like every other person has a long past trauma or an anxiety, at the moment.
I’m really sorry that so many people are clearly in need of extra help with their issues.

I’m just wondering, like I’ve said in my previous post, how on Earth we would cope in a mustard/nerve gas attack.

Wear a mask, don't wear a mask.
I don't care, entirely your choice and entirely not my business.

[quote MMN123]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

Well great you are in London. Changing buses costs you nothing then. Avoid rush hour, change if it gets too crowded. You don’t get charged again if it’s within an hour of starting your journey.

But if you live in London I’d be considering selling up and moving somewhere cheaper and finding a job you can walk to that isn’t public facing.[/quote]
Changing buses does cost - it's only a one hour period where you can change without extra cost isn't it, or has that changed? And I can't avoid travelling in rush hour - I am constrained by my working hours.

And of course changing buses constantly, and waiting for the next one and the next one and now selling up and moving and changing job because I have a medical condition? Why should i? Why shouldn't I get support to live near friends and family? Why should I have to pay thousands in moving fees and costs (that I don't have) just to adjust to accommodate other people? How is that respecting disability rights?

My daughter lives in London, is very vulnerable because of her medication, has an invisible disability, wears a mask and avoids public transport, paying for uber, which has its own risks, to get about. No its not fair. None of it is, but we are in a pandemic. I wear glasses and spend my time in shops misted up, all hot and uncomfortable. We all have to make sacrifices. Most people do seem to be wearing masks. And in a way wearing one does protect you as it may mean that less people will contract the virus so there is less active infection in the community. Ignore mask police, they have not much going on.

@doityourselfnow

he previous poster told me I have the option to take retirement but I'm just choosing not to. I was sarcastically pointing out that pension companies are not paying out pensions to 50 year olds.

Seek
Independent financial advice!

It will cost you, I'm sure you'll moan about that, I'm sure!

You've just said pensions aren't payable until 55. If that's the case what advice can a financial advisor give me?

I linked a number of free or reduced cost transport schemes in London.

You’re welcome.

You've just said pensions aren't payable until 55. If that's the case what advice can a financial advisor give me?

www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/about-pensions/retirement-choices/ill-health-retirement

But given you spend so much time on the Internet, you can't possibly not have researched pension benefits 🙄

A pretty floral mask from boden isn't really going to be adequate in a mustard gas attack, is it? And the risks vs benefits are somewhat different from our current situation.

"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."

Surely you can think of disabilities where it would be impossible for someone to keep a mask on. In some countries they would be kept locked away so you wouldn't ever see those people.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras you've said elsewhere that you had issues with your mobility. You're very likely entitled to a Freedom Pass if you're in London. Here's the eligibility criteria from the TfL website.

[quote PennyDreadfuI]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras you've said elsewhere that you had issues with your mobility. You're very likely entitled to a Freedom Pass if you're in London. Here's the eligibility criteria from the TfL website.[/quote]
I linked a number of schemes. I was ignored.

@doityourselfnow

You've just said pensions aren't payable until 55. If that's the case what advice can a financial advisor give me?

www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/about-pensions/retirement-choices/ill-health-retirement

But given you spend so much time on the Internet, you can't possibly not have researched pension benefits 🙄

I was told by my employer and union rep that I could only retire on the grounds of ill health if I cannot do any other job, anywhere. So, no need to be sarcastic. A minute ago you said I couldn't claim a pension until I was 55, now it's my fault I've not looked into ill health retirement, despite being told I wasn't eligible. My pension is still worth diddly squat now anyway.

I'm finally understanding the criticism of MN when it comes to people on low incomes. Work in a supermarket on minimum wage and posters assume you have large, final salary pensions, can afford financial advisors, to upsticks and sell up and move or choose to simply leave work.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras get independent financial advice!

[quote PennyDreadfuI]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras you've said elsewhere that you had issues with your mobility. You're very likely entitled to a Freedom Pass if you're in London. Here's the eligibility criteria from the TfL website.[/quote]
I'm not eligible for a freedom pass. Another poster on another thread insisted that I had the same conditions as her and she had a freedom pass so I must definitely be eligible, despite me stating multiple times that our conditions were different and I wasn't eligible

It’s not about conditions. It’s about effects.

You should seek advice from a benefits advisor (the can be accessed free at places,like Cab) who can help you make an application.

@Noneformethanks

Why are you paying for travel when there’s a disabled persons freedom pass?

Because I don't qualify - I'm not blind, I have all of my limbs, I can walk - I don't qualify

As I said. It’s not about purely conditions it’s about effects.

You should seek advice from a benefits advisor at a place like CAB Who will, despite the name, be able to help you apply for ALL you are entitled to.

You’re welcome.

@Noneformethanks

It’s not about conditions. It’s about effects.

You should seek advice from a benefits advisor (the can be accessed free at places,like Cab) who can help you make an application.

Well I was going by the eligibility criteria on the tfl website (the same as op has posted). It's very clear on there what the criteria are. When CAB is open I will enquire.

get independent financial advice!

I can't afford it!

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

*Get independent financial advice

I can't afford it*

You don't need to pay out it comes fromThe product!

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras
I didn’t suggest taking early retirement. I said if you are as ill as you are suggesting then you should speak to your employer about being medically retired.

Though am very confused by the thread since then as you don’t seem to have a disabled travel card yet if very disabled surely you would have one? And if very disabled you would be entitled to disability living allowance to support your needs. If you have a blue badge you don’t need to pay for parking or congestion charge in London so no need to get public transport.

So are you disabled? If you are, why aren’t you availing of the support on offer from the state?

[quote doityourselfnow]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

*Get independent financial advice

I can't afford it*

You don't need to pay out it comes fromThe product![/quote]
What product?