To miss out on this show as I don't want to wear a mask

[Witterywoman]

DD and I (along with friend & her DD) were due to see a West End show we'd been wanting to see for ages. It was cancelled due to Covid. We then bought tickets for a drive in version of the show which was cancelled last minute. They've now announced a limited run of the show later this year. I was initially excited thinking 3rd time lucky but my heart sank when I read all the inevitable "Covid safe" blurb about masks, sanitising and temp checks. Sent it to my friend anyway who was "urgh no thanks". She then added we'd probably get cancelled again anyway! Although I would love to see the show I too don't think it's worth the hassle. DD & I hate wearing masks for any length of time so to wear for an entire show plus the journey into town would just be uncomfortable & depressing.

I know it's good to support the arts but I just feel sad about the whole thing. We"ve tried to go out and do normal things like go out for meals, to attractions etc but just feel sad at the reality at how far from normal things are and don't feel I can be bothered trying anymore.

No point to this really, I know why these measures are necessary but just feel so sad about it all and long for it all to end. I find seeing masks everywhere so depressing! Unfortunately reality has dawned that we may be living like this for a very very long time

Saw Six earlier this year and it is so, so, so good! DD is desperate to see it again but we’re waiting till we can go without having to wear face masks.

I find a mask uncomfortable to wear doing strenuous activity. For example, I'm a cleaner and one of my clients has requested I wear one in her house. It is difficult if you're hot and doing something physical, and also trying to speak at any length at the end of the job.

Sitting in an air conditioned theatre wearing one, not moving or talking much? I think I'd hardly notice it.

I do think we all have to accept masks and become accustomed to them because you're right Op- they're here to stay for a long time yet. I think it's best to adapt and to try to accept them as part of our lives, rather than avoiding all situations where a mask might be required.

It may help for you and your dd to try different styles and material masks to find one you find least uncomfortable to wear?

@Wiredforsound stop being such a knob. If the OP doesn't like wearing a mask for a long time she can choose not to go. It may be compulsory to wear a mask for some activities but it's not compulsory to do them if it means you won't enjoy them.

@SBTLove
Slight difference between having to wear PPE to earn money / to keep your job - opposed to spending your money / for leisure.
OP asked a reasonable question - no need to be so snippy

YABU. Masks are here to stay and tbh you just need to get the fuck over it and wear one. Plenty of people wear them all day every day with no issues

Oh do bore off. Masks may be mandated but having to like them isn’t. Why should OP have to spend money on something she’s going to find uncomfortable and is unlikely to enjoy?

I wouldn’t go myself OP. I love the arts too and am continuing to pay membership for several venues despite currently being unable to visit them, but I hate mask-wearing (sinus issues make them just about doable but very unpleasant) and refuse to spend money on something that’s going to make me miserable.

For me a lot of the joy of seeing a performance is about escapism and being transported somewhere else, and unfortunately masks prevent me from fully experiencing this. I’d rather ‘miss out’ than have an expensive but mediocre experience.

Op, it's really not that bad.

I hated those disposable synthetic masks - they're sweaty and make my face sore, so I made some soft masks out of very light cotton and they are ok.

But I understand you feeling a bit down about it all.

@SBTLove

You don’t like? good job NHS staff aren’t so precious in full ppe all day. Honestly grown adults bleating about I don’t like, I feel uncomfortable🙄

They're doing their jobs. OP would be paying for a leisure activity that she then would not enjoy. The two aren't really comparable...

I’ve seen six three times, I don’t mind wearing a mask that much but I don’t think the experience would be the same. If you think it will bother you that much wait until you don’t have to wear one.

I would choose not to go also, people can say what they like but i agree wearing a mask is vile .
I wear one at work and even though i hate it i get on with it , have no choice, but no i won't get over myself and i'm not too special to wear one either.
With what little we can do at the moment i will choose thing's that don't require a mask .

It could sell out 50 times over with people who are fine with wearing masks.

I'm going to book anything I can get my hands on, even if they insist we wear fish bowls on our heads and breathe through a hosepipe.

I wouldn't worry about being able to support the arts, OP, as they can only have reduced amounts of people there. There will be plenty who can wear masks who want to go.

It is a shame you can't/don't want to wear a mask but, hopefully, in the future (when the pandemic is over) you'll be able to see it.

The people who are angry that other people don't like masks and aren't doing voluntary, intended to be pleasurable activities because they don't want to wear one sound a bit deranged. I understand why you'd be cross at people putting themselves in that situation and then refusing to wear a mask, but that's not what OP is suggesting. I know that a lot of people on MN are desperate to believe that we can all wear masks forever more with no negative or economic consequences whatsoever because masks make them personally feel better, but you can't force other people to spend money on activities they don't want to do if it means wearing a mask!

I don't think masks are that bad either. I wore mine for 2 and a half hours getting my nails done yesterday. I think as long as you sit still and breathe through your nose if you can then it isn't that bad, you do get used to it.

I was meant to be seeing Six in Kingston, hoping it gets rescheduled in the new year

YANBU, because you wouldn't enjoy it and yes, it is all very sad!

There was a comment on another thread here recently where someone mentioned seeing a baby / young toddler in her pram and taking off her mask to smile at the toddler who smiled back. She was saying and I think she's right, that it's just awful for very young kids having to get used to not seeing anyone's facial expressions!

Like you, I know it's all for the greater good yada yada, but it is also horrible. The better we stick to it all though, hopefully the sooner it will be over. But I do think life won't be exactly the same again for any of us. I was already a bit funny about crowded areas. Now I'm honestly bonkers about them . I won't go into play areas or anything if they look busy. I always hated busy places but now I honestly think I'm only fit to live on some remote island somewhere.

Sigh, sigh.

PS: I don't mind masks, so I would go. But you do mind, as does your dd, so what I think isn't really relevant.

We have tickets for Harry Potter and I am grateful they keep being delayed. At the moment we are due to go in Feb. The thought of sitting in a theatre all day watching 2 plays in a mask is daunting but I wouldnt miss it for the world.

Since when are people not allowed to have a moan about something that’s bothering them?! Are we not allowed to have different opinions on things we like and dislike? I think we are.

Yes medics will be wearing them daily but if you’re not medical ... You didn’t go into a job on the understanding that wearing a mask is part of the deal - then this is still quite a change.

However - I would add that sitting down whilst wearing a mask is way easier than moving / shopping whilst wearing one. Which I also avoid unless I’m completely desperate.

I’m sorry a PP is so anxious that despite being in an exempt group she feels so anxious that she has to wear one.
And judgemental people don’t help the situation.

BUT having said all that - exemptions and additional needs totally aside... I would also add that it would be good for your DD to see that you give difficult things a go that aren’t immediately appealing. Because there’s a longer term benefit and being flexible and looking for the positive is a life skill you can teach her. That’s part of growing up.

It’s not for you then! I’m happy out to go to anything that’s on and just wear the mask - you get used to it! If you won’t wear a mask it will just be longer until you can attend anything again

I'm assuming this is SIX, which I've seen and loved. It's not that long (maybe an hour and a half?) with no interval.

If you really don't feel comfortable wearing a mask, then don't go. Only you can decide what you're comfortable doing within the rules.

Similar thing, kind of.. but one of the baby/ toddler classes that I was going to go to this week wants parents to wear masks so I’ve sadly had to cancel my term.

We had similar for Six. Dd2's desperate to go and see it. I've booked tickets for next July in the hope we will be able to make it then, and told her I won't book any others, because I don't think it's likely to happen.

I don’t get the comments about the NHS either. Those who work for the NHS wear them at work. The OP is not talking about work, she’s talking about something one chooses to do in their free time.

All the doctors I know that I have seen at school drop off/ pick ups and play dates over the summer etc are of course not wearing masks because they’re not at that moment in hospital or in a setting where a mask is needed.

I think I'm at my Mumsnet limit of perfectly healthy people whining about masks.

The complaining is all very tedious now. My four year old is capable of wearing a mask around the supermarket for 45 minutes without all of these dramatics, so this behaviour from grown women is absurd. Grow up.

You need a neck fan in your life, mine has been an absolute game changer.

Six is amazing! And its not very long.
Wear a disposable surgical mask - they are so much more comfortable. I wore them during the really hot weather as my cloth masks made too hot and claustrophobic.