Verbally attacked for not wearing a mask

[8catsaremycoven]

Wow, had a great experience in Lidl today - I was verbally abused and intimidated by a bloke in his 40s for not wearing a mask.

I'm minding my own business, choosing some fruit for DHS when random angry bloke walks past and hisses "You should be wearing a mask ". He doesn't stop and ask me directly why I'm not wearing a mask, just walks past me and says it in an undertone.

I catch up with him because he's browsing and tell him I'm exempt because I'm asthmatic. Apparently anyone can claim to be exempt and it's my personal fault that people are dying?! I told him that I wished that I was able to wear a mask to protect myself if nothing else, he just carried on ranting at me. No security guards in the store, other shoppers just stood and watched. I ended up crying in frustration and walking away.

I can't wear a mask because of my asthma but I also suffer from PTSD because an XH put a pillow over my face and raped me.

Am I expected to explain everything to anyone?

YABU - get over everything, risk a major asthma attack and wear a mask

YANBU - asthma is enough to excuse me from wearing a mask let alone my other reasons, which I don't feel I should have to explain to anyone

Bring it on, I'm sure someone is going to roast me but I truly hope that you're going to be behind me.

I left the shop shaking and in tears

I have seen a few people without face coverings in shops but I wouldn’t dream of confronting any of them. I presume they must have a good reason and it is none of my business what that reason might be. I do get a bit exasperated when I see people ‘wearing’ masks that have slipped below their nose or mouth but I worry about saying anything to them, so don’t.

@itsgoodtobehome

Fair enough that you are exempt. But if you are high risk as you say, why would you even want to go out without a mask? I would imagine that catching Covid when you have such bad asthma is really not a risk worth taking. Stay out of the shops and organise some home deliveries would be my advice.

Exactly. This OP smells like anti-masker / QAnon storyline trying to get sympathy. Try wearing a face shield then @8catsaremycoven.

Nobody has the right to be rude and abusive towards you - nobody. He was unreasonable; you weren’t. The asthma exemption is a separate issue. I suppose you might have been best to totally ignore him, but what’s done is done.

Wearing a mask actually helps my asthma

She could but she's got the 'I can't wear a mask' idea into her head and isn't thinking it through. My very good friend has severe asthma and wears a full face shield. She gets no hassle and no problems with her breathing. She wears her lanyard and the shield - people appreciate she's making an effort.

^^ this

Make an effort op. And keep yourself AND OTHERS safe. Or just stay home if you dont want comments

Next time, tell the mask maniac that if he doesn't leave you alone you will phone the police and report him for a hate crime against a person with a disability.

These staasi arseholes need a kick up the arse.

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to stay home, order online and isolate themselves. I'm self employed, I've lost my business because of Covid, I'm shopping for elderly grandparents (DGM 100) and parents. I'm not out browsing for fun, if I could wear a mask or visor I bloody well would! Thanks to everyone who understands, to everyone who doesn't please RTFT and try to see the whole picture. Most people who don't wear masks have genuine reasons not to. There are dickheads who don't want to (you're not the boss of me!) but the vast majority of non mask wearers have genuine reasons. Please be kind, please think before you berate someone, please just put yourself in the other person's shoes...we don't want CV19 any more than you do, we're doing our best to stop it spreading. Just stop for a moment, ask yourself why someone isn't wearing a mask and then ask them politely, if you genuinely can't stop yourself, if they should be wearing a mask. Thank you all for the posts, supportive, instructive and...yeh, MNetty vipers. Let's all check out the DF tomorrow and see if we're front page 👍🏼Meanwhile I will endeavour to carry on with my life, unmasked, quietly and socially distanced 👍🏼

Or just put a scarf around your mouth like you might do on a cold day

Wear a lanyard saying you are medically exempt or a visor

I hope you are ok.

@JingsMahBucket I'm not an anti masker, I have tried lots of different options but because of my history (you could always read the OP) I can't cover my face. If you're not going to be constructive then go and comment on something else 👍🏼

Does anyone else physically cringe when someone says/posts “we are in a GLOBAL. PANDEMIC.” or “There’s a pandemic on you know!!”

Like yeah. I’d noticed. Thanks.

I genuinely feel sorry for people like the OP who have valid reasons for not wearing a mask and have to go through this shit.

However I went to Home Bargains for a wander the other night and honestly every second person was maskless in there. You’re not telling me that they’re all exempt. That’s just bollocks.

That said, I’m a bit sceptical about the mask wearing anyway. How on earth can a thin piece of material off Amazon prevent virus transmission? Why wasn’t it mandated from the start if it’s such a big deal? And if they are as important as they say, why aren’t the powers that be providing them for free? I mean I know they aren’t expensive in the main but there are people who are already below the poverty line. It’s just another thing to worry about really.

Oh well. I am no scientist. I will wear mine as long as I need to.

Wow chip on your shoulder much 🙄

You've had some massively dickish replies.

How would these people feel if people said stuff like why do you need pain relief when giving birth- I managed without it so suck it up? Or the fact that they earned £30k instead of £100k is because they are stuck in a certain mindset?

Ofc there are genuine reasons why people can't and shouldn't be in a mask. Even the Tories who are not known for compassion can see that 100% of people wearing one is not an achievable goal.

I am fucking embarrassed and angry about anti-maskers who make things harder for those who genuinely can't wear them like OP.

. Sorry for what happened to you.
It’d be interesting to see if he’d have said the same to a 6ft tall 6ft wide bloke. My instincts tell me not

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to stay home, order online and isolate themselves. I'm self employed, I've lost my business because of Covid, I'm shopping for elderly grandparents (DGM 100) and parents.

Okay, so why can't you get shopping delivered?

I smell bullshit. Even through my mask.

@8catsaremycoven how is wearing a clear visor the same thing as wearing a cloth face mask? Have you actually tried wearing a clear visor?

Why wasn’t it mandated from the start if it’s such a big deal?

They didn't want the general public to buy medical masks back in March/April when it was hard enough to procure supplies for hospital and care home staff.

I am asthmatic and wear a mask, it does not restrict your breathing and if you are wearing one that is I strongly advise you to check out asthma UK to obtain the correct one. You are actually putting yourself at more risk not wearing one. Per their guidelines their is no reason for you not to wear one and as a fellow asthmatic you need to protect yourself from this virus 🦠 Stay safe x

I do think there is something particularly repugnant about anybody who pops up to tell a rape survivor "well, I was raped and I don't have the problems you describe so you just need to get over it."

Of all the dickheads on this thread, that is in a league of its own.

mask exempt but try to wear a mask to stop the looks and comments.Last week i was aggressively challenged in a shop, took out my phone and started filming . told the person that i was exempt and they were breaking the law. went home and emailed the company that my treatment was in breach of the Regulations introduced in relation to the wearing of face coverings and potentially their Equality Act Duties.
Very quickly got an apology and a goodwill gesture

You don’t have to justify your reasons to anyone, if I saw someone with out a mask I would presume they were exempt. Ignore them, make it their problem not yours.

He shouldn’t have done it, he’s an arse but in future don’t engage.

I’m in the same position, asthma and complex PTSD from being chocked and strangled. I can wear a mask for short periods but it makes me panicky so anything longer than a quick in and out and I am not wearing it.

I absolutely WILL NOT be explaining and I WILL NOT be wearing a lanyard because it’s no one else’s fucking business.

Don’t do what you don’t want to do, and don’t let anyone upset you.

I don’t understand, why can’t you wear a visor OP? Plenty of people have health conditions and manage to at least wear something.