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

I think *@xxsniperxx and @BorisLover* are a tag team, judging by previous posts!

Yes, they were creeping over a post about breast feeding. 🤢

I think BL and Sniper were one and the same. The silly sausage.

To clarify, I brush my teeth two or three times a day 😂

A word from Boris: "Keep up the good work everyone, spreading hysteria and panic, and dividing the nation, it saves me having to do it. It also means you're so busy frothing and insulting each other, you're not looking at the countless ways I've messed things up. And keep spreading the word that a mask is a guarantee of immortality. Don't bother about squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing the brakes on this thread, let it rrrrrrrrrrrroll along to 1000 messages!"

It doesn't matter of It is 2 or 2000. If it is a member of your family it is devastating.

It is interesting that everyone judges people for judging others for not wearing masks but don't consider why they might? They might have health anxiety, have a vulnerable family member or have lost someone to covid. Compassion goes both ways.

Not to worry, OP. It will soon be the other way around and people will be berating me for continuing to wear my mask and gloves long after everyone else has given up.

And I don't care.

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.

I have often thought that MumsNet should have a signature line attached to some peoples posts that warns others that the poster is an idiot, a bigot, or some other suitable description. Just isn't happening.

My health is none of your bloody business.

A friend I know had a small shop in a village (about 800 residents). When masks became mandatory last July he put up a sign “No mask, no entry”. He was told by customers that he could not do this and they did not listen when he told them that he would serve them outside the shop.

Things got quite heated, so he closed the shop. Only shop in the village. No bus service to/from the village. Next shop 11 miles away.

Shop now gone for good as he has permission to convert it to a residential dwelling.

He had no intention of refusing service but wanted to be safe and follow government guidelines.

How about just not taking your kid shopping with you. Attention seeker as are so many people. I prefer outright covodiot refusers to these types of simpering look at mees.