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AIBU?

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Original poster

Aggressive anti-maskers make it less fun to go out and do stuff so swathes of us are staying in more than we would

146 replies

ChavvySexPond · 29/08/2020 23:11

All I seem to hear about these days is people who don't follow the masking and social distancing rules and how it makes going out so much more stressful and how people who would like to go out more are staying in more instead?

AIBU to think aggressive anti-maskers and anti-social distancing covid deniers make being out in the world even worse than it has to be in the time of Covid?

OP posts:
Shepherdspyreads · 29/08/2020 23:20

Are you hearing about this (from here?) or seeing it yourself? Where I am pretty much everyone is compliant with mask wearing & social distancing.

LolaSkoda · 29/08/2020 23:32

I went to a shopping area today for the first time and was surprised by people not wearing masks. Everywhere else I’ve been, people have been compliant.

I have no clue whether they can’t for some reason legitimately wear a mask and it’s not my business to ask. But I don’t like it when people are getting really close to me or leaning in front of me in an aisle to get something. But I hated that pre Covid too.

justchecking1 · 29/08/2020 23:51

There was a massive anti mask demo in Trafalgar Square today. I assume the OP is referring to that?

Pipandmum · 29/08/2020 23:56

Sure there are people bit happy about it but it doesn't stop me from going about my business. I dont walk down the street wearing a mask but put one on before I enter a shop. No biggie.

SheepandCow · 30/08/2020 00:05

I don't understand why the mass gathering in London was allowed.

Could it possibly be systemic racism? London has a very large BAME population, and we know they are at increased risk from coronavirus for a variety of reasons. The lack of action is strange. Why was nothing done to prevent a mass gathering (and presumably many arrived on public transport) of non mask wearing people who refused to socially distance?

Quaagars · 30/08/2020 00:12

What @Shepherdspyreads said.
Are you seeing it for yourself? Or just social media?
Because if the latter if Twitter for example is anything to go by there's loads of knobheads swarming everywhere, maskless, protesting, no social distancing etc.
In real life though I find the opposite - yes, you get the occasional person who gets a bit close distancing wise, or without a mask, but generally people are respectful, and most people do wear masks.
I feel safe out and about

Whitneylilyrose · 30/08/2020 00:13

I'm extemp and I won't expose why, if someone confronted me I would be insulting them.

I don't need to disclose my medical history to a stranger. This is the same with disabled spaces which I get looks due to not being in a wheelchair.

coaleo · 30/08/2020 00:16

I was actually surprised how many followed the rules to start with. Didn't expect that, and now a lot less locally wear masks. Most do, but more and more every day aren't bothered. But I can see why really

Shizzlestix · 30/08/2020 00:47

I don't understand why the mass gathering in London was allowed

How do you propose stopping 1000s of people streaming into a certain area?

Quaagars · 30/08/2020 00:53

How do you propose stopping 1000s of people streaming into a certain area?

Was just thinking the exact same thing, was going to post but then saw is it to do with racism and thought Biscuit instead
Doesn't matter whether made up of BAME or not, or reasons, any huge crowds will be very difficult to stop.

catsarecute · 30/08/2020 00:55

YANBU

SheepandCow · 30/08/2020 00:56

@Shizzlestix

I don't understand why the mass gathering in London was allowed

How do you propose stopping 1000s of people streaming into a certain area?

Perhaps call in the police from all the seaside resorts. They'd have provided extra manpower - and experience of stopping lots of people coming in. Liverpool police might help too. They broke up gatherings of celebrating fans after the premier league win. Clearly it's possible.
SheepandCow · 30/08/2020 00:58

Thanks for the biscuit though. It's one of my faves.

lljkk · 30/08/2020 05:16

virus-crisis has made me realise how little i go out. I don't work in retail for a start. So I don't notice how much other people are or aren't face-covered because i am rarely in shops/public indoor spaces myself.

Similarly I don't live in places where people hold protests... I don't know what usually happens at those.

I barely watch TV however I would assume TV is all about extremes not the average so TV and media can't tell me about common behaviour but rather only about unusual events.

Ponoka7 · 30/08/2020 06:00

@SheepandCow, the Police didn't disperse the crowds at Anfield and the Pier Head. They were out of their depth and most of the stabbings, beatings, antisocial/criminal behaviour went unpunished. Luckily most of the people there were out to celebrate and when things kicked off, took themselves home. The Manchester police have shown us how ineffective they are once large crowds gather. Which is why there was legislation rushed through so the military could be called if necessary.

However we have the right to protest and that should never be changed. The death rate is looking very different to when it started and we have treatment pathways.

There is evidence of very little spread outside. I'm in an at risk group, who was more at risk during the 2017 flu crisis (I was more ill), yet no safety measures were suggested. It's quite right that our restricted lifestyles are being questioned. I personally believe that we should all be wearing masks indoors, but some of the polices are nonsensical. Some schools only allow packed lunches, others only allow hot dinners. So which is right?

Frazzled13 · 30/08/2020 06:43

Beyond the protests, I don't really know what you mean by "aggressive" anti-mask wearers.
I go to the supermarket quite a bit, and have been to the large shopping centre near where I live a couple of times since masks were made mandatory and have probably seen fewer than 10 people in total not wearing masks.

Soubriquet · 30/08/2020 06:51

I think masks have actually bought the worst out in people

SD is now out the window if you wear a mask. What’s the point?

It’s not supposed to be mask or SD, it’s supposed to be both

Tumbleweed101 · 30/08/2020 06:51

I haven’t known anyone being aggressive for or against masks while out and about.

As for the protests, I don’t think it’s easy to stop a large number of people gathering and there have been a few over the pandemic such as the BLM ones. Where people feel strongly protest is often the only way of making the government aware.

lifesalongsong · 30/08/2020 06:56

I was out in my local town yesterday and it was the busiest I've seen it, pretty much everyone wears masks inside the shops and loads do on the street, I've yet to anyone challenge another person who isnt, no oneappears stressed, I think we're all just getting on with it

CountFosco · 30/08/2020 07:01

You could just as easily say: having to wear masks make it less fun to go out and do stuff so swathes of us are staying in more than we would.

It's a pandemic, our lives are restricted in various ways, it's going to be like that for a while, deal with it.

yawnsvillex · 30/08/2020 07:01

A mask protects others rather than me ..... if they feel the need to get too close to me then that’s their problem isn’t it?

SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 30/08/2020 07:05

I think masks in a lab test work to an extent. I think masks in the real world are largely pointless. I follow the rules by shoving a mask on just before I go into a shop and I take it off right after I leave. I am avoiding going to places which require a mask because I hate wearing one.

nosswith · 30/08/2020 07:58

How many are people who just forget, or have a medical condition that really stops them wearing masks at all (as opposed to taking them off from time to time)? As opposed to those who are refusing on some point of principle.

I don't think we will know.

middleager · 30/08/2020 08:03

Have you actually experienced an aggressive anti masker on your travels though?

I heard about the crowds on the news, but that was it.

Our mass compliancy makes me uneasy, so I can't get worked up about their protest, but I gather the protestors were also anti-vaxers and led by David Icke Confused both of which leave me less sympathetic to the argument. Also (and I didn't see any pics of protestors) but were they like the pro Trump protestors (mainly older white older gun toting male Rednecks who didn't believe in 'muzzles' - now they were definitely scary!)

bibbitybobbitycats · 30/08/2020 08:11

@middleager

Have you actually experienced an aggressive anti masker on your travels though?

I heard about the crowds on the news, but that was it.

Our mass compliancy makes me uneasy, so I can't get worked up about their protest, but I gather the protestors were also anti-vaxers and led by David Icke Confused both of which leave me less sympathetic to the argument. Also (and I didn't see any pics of protestors) but were they like the pro Trump protestors (mainly older white older gun toting male Rednecks who didn't believe in 'muzzles' - now they were definitely scary!)

The British Union of Fascists' flag was also on display which makes me very uneasy.
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