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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Surely 50% of people cannot have a health exemption for mask wearing

106 replies

JulieHere · 10/09/2020 12:27

I haven't been 'n town' to visit the shops since March. Today needed some bits and bobs so popped a mask on. I'm asthmatic and could use that exemption but thought I would give it a go. I was really surprised that despite numerous signs in shopping centres etc that probably around 50% were wearing a mask and 50% not. I was really surprised. Mainly younger people but a few middle aged. In the main the elderly were wearing masks.

There was a group of young people (between 18 ish and mid twenties) wandering along together and not one of them bothered. I know that the virus doesn't tend to affect them much in the main but was quite surprised.

In my area - low population - there have been no deaths at local hospital for around 22 weeks ish and no-one in at present (SIL works on MAU/ICU) and infection rate really low anyway.

AIBU - a lot of young people are exempt so why should they wear one

YABU - 50% of people are exempt from mask wearing

YANBU - They are just bored with it all and cannot be bothered anymore.

OP posts:
ChaChaCha2012 · 10/09/2020 12:33

Asthma is not an exemption, only if it causes difficulty or distress, which as you can wear one it clearly doesn't.

Where are you? In my small town almost everyone is wearing a mask.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 10/09/2020 12:36

You just live in a shit town? Most people wear masks in shops where I am.

D4rwin · 10/09/2020 12:38

Amazingly I see whole families or groups of friends that are all exempt in my tiny town. Who knew such conditions were so prevalent?!

Original poster
JulieHere · 10/09/2020 12:38

@SchrodingersImmigrant

'A shit town' ... actually young people not wearing a mask isn't an indicator of a shit town Hmm

The infection rates are low - so we aren't completely shit Grin.

It's mainly young people.

OP posts:
Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 10/09/2020 12:39

Who knows. Just carry on doing what makes you comfortable.

Magicbabywaves · 10/09/2020 12:40

Shit town. Grin

It won’t be 50 percent, you e just focused in on the ones who aren’t wearing them.

Funkypolar · 10/09/2020 12:41

Why don’t you ask them and demand they put a mask on? Or report them to 111 or something.

Kaktus · 10/09/2020 12:45

Haven’t voted because I have no way of knowing why they’re not wearing a mask.
I am out and about daily and have only encountered a couple of people without masks in all the shops/supermarkets/shopping centres I’ve been in, so I’m assuming this must be very area dependent. I went to a huge Tesco superstore last night and only saw one person without a mask, an elderly lady who I can only assume was exempt.

ApolloandDaphne · 10/09/2020 12:47

I have hardly seen anyone in our local shops without a mask on. I wear one in shops but I don't wear it when walking between shops if that is what you mean ? Our shops are not in an enclosed centre though.

Funkypolar · 10/09/2020 12:49

Try making a citizen’s arrest next time?

WaterOffADucksCrack · 10/09/2020 12:49

I've found the opposite here, it's elderly people not wearing masks. I saw one woman wearing a mask but she pulled it down to cough.

Oysterbabe · 10/09/2020 12:49

Just back from a supermarket. Every single person I saw was wearing one.

Blobby10 · 10/09/2020 12:49

JulieHere are you talking about wearing them in shops or wearing masks whilst walking in between shops? Unless the shopping centre is enclosed I thought you could rip the horrible things off as soon as you exited the shop and didn't need to put it back on until you went into the next shop?

I went to an enclosed shopping centre on Saturday afternoon - (3pm and it was dead! Wonder why?!!) And everyone was wearing them.

RegularHumanBartender · 10/09/2020 12:49

You could apply for one of these new marshal jobs and then challenge people left, right and centre.

Or, you could keep your beak out? Just a thought.

roadsurvey · 10/09/2020 12:50

There was a group of young people (between 18 ish and mid twenties) wandering along together and not one of them bothered.

Wandering along? Do you mean outside? Sorry if I'm reading that wrong

Kaktus · 10/09/2020 12:50

Yeah, maybe applying for a Covid Marshall job is a good idea OP.

middlenglander · 10/09/2020 12:52

What @Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd said. Are you the mask police?

TitianaTitsling · 10/09/2020 12:54

As pp said wandering outside or inside?

SqidgeBum · 10/09/2020 13:07

I live inbetween two towns. One relatively affluent and the other quite working class. I regularly shop in both. In the affluent town I would estimate it's about 95% compliance. In the working class town its about 75%. Most i see who dont comply have been middle aged men who have it hanging off their chins or middle aged women who put it under their nose. I have seen one under 25 not completely (a teenage boy, maybe 19).

However, my DHs grandmother lives near Birmingham. I would say 50% compliance around her high street based on what I saw on a busy saturday. It's an area with lots of retired people.

I think it really does depend on where you live as to the level of compliance.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 10/09/2020 13:08

I live on the outskirts of a large city. The people I notice not wearing masks at all (who could be exempt, who knows?) do tend to be young or BAME. I was shocked as I thought BAME people would be more likely to appreciate the need for mask-wearing.

The people I am irritated by are those wearing them under their noses and I do get the urge, when passing such people, to tell them to put them on properly. I want to bark it at them like saying a loud boo'. 🤣
Obviously, I don"t but I'd really like to.

BlueJava · 10/09/2020 13:10

But people only have to wear a mask actually in a shop - not when wandering around town I believe? I could be wrong of course! When I went to town a couple of weeks ago people wore masks in shops but removed as soon as they came out.

RegularHumanBartender · 10/09/2020 13:11

The people I am irritated by are those wearing them under their noses and I do get the urge, when passing such people, to tell them to put them on properly. I want to bark it at them like saying a loud boo

Another one for the covid marshal job.

They should really just slap the advert onto AIBU. They will be inundated with applicants.

EasterIssland · 10/09/2020 13:13

I've one question... how many nostrils from people that were wearing the masks have you seen? I see more elderlies wearing masks but I also see their nostrils which makes everything pointless and selfish. they're wearing it so they don't get a fine... but not to protect us

SqidgeBum · 10/09/2020 13:14

@BlueJava

But people only have to wear a mask actually in a shop - not when wandering around town I believe? I could be wrong of course! When I went to town a couple of weeks ago people wore masks in shops but removed as soon as they came out.
You are completely correct. Its indoors only. I take mine on and off and just carry it between shops.
DoubleDolphin · 10/09/2020 13:14

You say walking along, do outside? You dont have to wear one outside. Some walk in shopping centres are asking people to wear them, but it's not mandatory unless actually inside a shop, so a lot dont bother.