AIBU to say, "If you wear a mask, do it properly or don't bother"?

[SpaceOP]

I have come to realise that when I see people not wearing masks, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as when I see people wearing masks, but doing so incorrectly. If they're not wearing it, there may be good reasons. They may just be making a stand. Whatever, at least it's a decision. But the half hearted, '"cover my mouth but not my nose" mask wearers send me into a rage and it's all I can do not to snap sarcastic comments at them...... There's a woman on the school run who insists on wearing a mask outside in a sort of "look at me" way but... it doesn't cover her nose so what is the bloody point!?

Argh. And breath. I'm fully aware that getting this wound up about this is not in any way productive, helpful or necessary. But stupidity of this sort offends me.

That person wearing their mask below their nose could be struggling with any number of things from claustrophobia to anxiety

This was me last night. Found a quiet corner in the shop and pulled my mask down so I could breathe, I felt like I was going to throw up or pass out, wasn't sure which. Claustrophobia and mask wearing do not go well together, I only do a food shop every couple of weeks now because I just can't deal with putting myself through it. Can't wait for the day i can burn the fucking things.

And all those asthmatics insisting that they cannot wear a mask, you do know that having asthma increases the risk of catching and becoming seriously ill with coronavirus?

There are c 5.5m asthma sufferers in the UK, so if all those suffering with asthma decide they will not wear a mask, you are very likely putting the lives of your fellow asthmatics at risk

The more you type the word 'asthma' the more wrong it looks

I used to find it irritating, but then I watched my younger son in a mask and just his normal walking brought it below his nose without him realizing it. Not sure if it's because of his nose size/shape and/or the disposable mask he'd been given. It's still a bit irritating, but I try more to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I really don't see why wearing a breathable mask will bring on an asthma attack!

There was some writing going around months back from respiratory medical specialists and breath behaviour analysts that said something to the effect of masks do not restrict oxygen, but breathing habits in a mask can. They discussed tips normally given to those trained to wear mask pre-COVID, but isn't commonly part of the 'wear a mask' information like to breathe light, but not shallow and don't mouth breathe if at all possible as it dries the airways, reduces alveolar intake and so on which can trigger the sympathetic nervous system & the stress response.

Also, if you've developed poor breathing habits or coping mechanisms for breathing issues, wearing a mask can make those more noticeable and cause issues from that, kinda like a feedback loop - you can feel it's wrong in a way you haven't before so your body reacts to that and tries to correct which often causes it go more wrong, and so on, again leading to a stress/panic response.

@SurreyHillsGirl I don't think you can speak for all the asthmatics out there, I know two people who struggle badly, one being my mum. The only reason she continues to wear it, is to stop the judgement stares and twatish comments by the self appointed Covid police. She's far too polite to tell someone to fuck off.

A lot of the people I see with it below their noses are glasses wearers who are having to choose between wearing a mask properly and not being able to see for their glasses steaming up or pulling it below their nose and doing both.

I find if I wear my glasses on the outside of the top of the mask, they don't steam up.

@Zippy1510

YANBU. I saw a post on Twitter recently where a lady said her husband won’t go to Tesco with her anymore as she sings “ put your nose in your mask you’re a dickhead” to the tune of “give me oil in my lamp keep me burning” from sing hosanna and now it’s stuck in my head every time I see some one walking around with a chin nappy.