Shouted at for not wearing my mask outside 😔

[Dandylioness1]

I took my son for a walk at lunch time.
We drove to a nearby park that I haven’t been to many times before.

We were walking and the path became very Narrow.

A couple were walking towards me, it was impossible for us to pass with a 2m
distance it was more like 1m.

It was such a brief encounter and I’d passed other people on the same path with no concerns.

However the female in this couple put her hand out and told me to stop, she began to shout at me for not wearing my mask.

She told me I must not walk past her unless I have my mask on as I’m putting her at risk and I’m ignorant. ☹️

I did have my mask in my bag but I’ve never worn it outside before and especially if it’s just a brief passing, as this was.

The woman was so bloody rude to me I could feel myself getting upset.

I put my mask on and they walked past us.


The thing is they wouldn’t have been face to face with me and it was such a short time for them to pass me.

I honestly feel so upset about this and it’s the first time anyone has ever refused to walk past me outdoors because I don’t have a mask on.

Am I in the wrong?

[EnjoyingTheSilence]

Yanbu, she totally over reacted but we don’t know what’s going on in life. She may be a bitch, she may have been shielding and just started to get out and about.

It wasn’t nice for you to be shouted at like that but it could be worse, you could be her, a bitch or really scared

[BernieInn]

No, you were in the right.

[Dandylioness1]

@viques

I can understand you not wanting to wear your mask in the park in a wide open space , but you were approaching them on a narrow path so should have either stepped aside a decent distance or be wearing your mask or a scarf ready to pull it up if needed - as it was. You had already passed other people so you would have realised how narrow the path is.

She wasn’t right to shout at you, unless of course she had just lost a relative to COVID, was vulnerable herself or was generally fed up with people thinking the rules don’t apply to them.

@viques

That’s exactly what I did, stood to the side (as I had with a few other people) but they refused to pass me because I didn’t have a mask on.

I was stood on the spot waiting for them to pass but they wouldn’t because I didn’t haven’t mask on.

[Nicknacky]

If that had been me we would probably still all be standing there, glaring at each other 😂

[FourTeaFallOut]

I don't see why you have to apologise to a bunch of strangers for being intimidated and putting your mask on. It was the path of least resistance and I can see why you did it. I'm the opposite and I'd hold my ground - then, hours later, I'd have to have a good long think about what I achieved by proving a point to a crazy person.

[Ritascornershop]

@viques she wasn’t right to shout at the op full stop. I’m quite fed up with this notion that stress or fear gives people carte blanche to behave like arseholes. It does not. If you can’t behave properly when stressed then your character is flawed and you’d better address that. the general you, not you viques.

[timeforawine]

She was a tit. Try not to think about it OP.

[Dandylioness1]

@dementedpixie

I wouldn't even have had a mask with me for a walk

@dementedpixie

I always have a spare in my changing bag (just incase I forget my mask)

I don’t take my mask with me either so not sure what I would’ve done if I didn’t have my spare.

[mumduty]

You're not in the wrong op. If I was at risk, I would have stopped and waited for people to walk past or just gone off road. Massive overreaction. You are wrong for giving in for her demand though!

[Dandylioness1]

@Nicknacky

If that had been me we would probably still all be standing there, glaring at each other 😂

@Nicknacky

😂😂😂😂😂

[flaviaritt]

Utter madness. Do not let cranks like this bully you!

[SummerTimeSunshine]

If people are this anxious about being outside then they should make sure they do so at random hours (e.g. 4am) when they won't be an obnoxious menace to others.

She had no right shouting at you to wear a mask - I've have told her so too. As for the 2m thing - ha! It's airborne, the virus is not going to die midair at 2m anyways let alone the ridiculous odds of her catching from you OUTDOORS in a briefly PASSING BY scenario.

I genuinely despair at some people.

[Dandylioness1]

@mumduty

You're not in the wrong op. If I was at risk, I would have stopped and waited for people to walk past or just gone off road. Massive overreaction. You are wrong for giving in for her demand though!

@mumduty

My husband said the same thing.

The more I think about it the more annoyed I am that I didn’t stand up for myself but this lady was so rude and her tone wasn’t very nice.
Since they had masks on I guess I thought for a second that maybe I was being ignorant and I should pop it on.

[BruceAndNosh]

I tend to turn away so my back is to others so they can walk past

[flaviaritt]

The more I think about it the more annoyed I am that I didn’t stand up for myself but this lady was so rude and her tone wasn’t very nice.

She would have gotten very short shift from me. If she can’t go outside without panicking and giving grief to law-abiding strangers, she should stay in.

[AuntyPonsonby]

The woman was so bloody rude to me I could feel myself getting upset.

This is why god gave us the phrase "fuck off"

[TheresNothingIWantMore]

For what it's worth I think you did the right thing putting your mask on. Although she had no right to demand it I think the best thing was to do what they want, de-escalate the situation and go on with your day. No point trying to argue or reason with crazy!

[Anothermother3]

I can understand being intimated in the moment. It wasn’t you though. People have gone batshit. I’m sorry you had this happen.

[DappledThings]

I'd have laughed and carried on walking.

[Brefugee]

walking past someone outside is not a danger. If she is that fragile, she shouldn't be where other people might get close.

[Noddyandbiggerears]

Am sure there were plenty of people not wearing masks - wonder if she did this to all of them.

[mumduty]

Don't worry about it op, I once encountered something similar at the start of the first lockdown and didn't stand up for myself, now I do and don't bow down ever. No one has the right to dictate anything. Don't beat yourself up over it though. Going outside is taking a risk anyway and if this woman doesn't like the risks attached to it, that's no ones problem but hers.

[SnuggyBuggy]

Maybe she's bored and this is her way of entertaining herself

[enjoyingscience]

She was totally in the wrong, but I’ve seen a few like it. They are scared stiff, don’t really understand how to keep themselves safe (I.e. that wearing a mask outside is totally pointless, particularly when you’re just having brief passing contact with others and not say, standing still on a train platform or whatever).

Also, some people are aggressive sanctimonious dicks and can’t help themselves. She might have been one of them.