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?

[ClarkGriswoldsChristmastree19]

@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.

Generally fed up with people thinking the rules don't apply to them?

What rule has been broken here? There's plenty of advice out there saying if you don't feel safe- leave! The shouty woman should have left!


Op similar happened to me last week, walking in a fairly open place. me and one dc front, dh and 2nd dc behind. A woman practically threw herself in to a ditch looking terrified of us! I am not exaggerating though that there was about 6 foot between us, possibly more!

[IrmaFayLear]

Well, I might have thought so until I encountered real-life hysterical people.

Actually I see a fair few couples - it’s always couples - walking around fully masked with no one else around. I think if you were to do a Venn diagram they often have walking poles too and are doing that Nordic-type walking as if they were in Finland instead of the Home Counties.

[BritWifeinUSA]

@AmICrazyorWhat2 which state are you in? I thought our state took the crown for the craziest advice/guidelines during this but that sounds even more ludicrous!

[SheSaidHummingbird]

Woman (Holds up her hand, for she is Almighty.) "Do not pass until you are wearing a mask! So ignorant!"

OP (Shakes head and shrugs) "No need, your idiocy isn't contagious."

[Timbucktime]

I have noticed more and more people being very OTT recently when they pass others for about 1 second while walking outside.
It seems to have gone back to how it was in March/April

[Quaagars]

Are you in the UK?
Perfectly fine to not wear a mask in the park, she's being utterly ridiculous and you were doing nothing wrong, she had no right to shout at you.

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

Tell her to shut her bloody mouth and she won't inhale anything.

[Xenia]

She is entitled to keep her distance but that is for her to do . There is no obligation to wear masks outsides (nor inside for many who are exempt).

[GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly]

I'm all for sensible precautions but that woman should stay at home if she's going to freak when she encounters another human outside.

[couchparsnip]

I would have done the same thing OP. And I probably would have been muttering something like "for fuck's sake" under my breath while they passed.
Sometimes its best to keep the peace with aggressive idiots like this. Its the path of least resistance.

[Floridana]

If that woman is so scared then why is she out in a park, and choosing to walk narrow paths? There is no legal requirement for you to wear a mask in an outdoor space, no matter how narrow the path is. It sounds like she enjoys the power trip of people obeying her commands. Don't think about it any more.

[netstaller]

If she's that bothered she can wear a mask. Also shouting is putting you at risk so she's a massive hypocrite

[Brainwave89]

As I understand it, just passing someone is not particularly risky. It is standing still, sitting and raising voices that increases the risk levels. There is no rule on wearing masks outside, and mask wearing per se does not do that much good. In pausing to get so cross with you this lady increased her risks and yours. You did nothing wrong. She did. I would just let it go. Covid brings out the worst in a certain type of person who loves a crisis.

[MillieVanilla]

[quote Dandylioness1]@MillieVanilla

Oh but it did
While back now but yep
If you look online you'll find the video

I’ve just watched it. How have I never seen this before! 🙈[/quote]
It's both horrifying and hilarious at the same time
DD saw it on TikTok and showed me

[rka2017]

Oh my god don’t know when all these drama will end. Other day I was accidentally close to a woman , I knew it was my fault not keeping distance at the out door market. She was screaming at me.

[Audreyseyebrows]

Bit ridiculous considering the longer they stopped you passing the longer they were potentially exposed.

I’m not sure that I would have been as polite.

[rka2017]

Exactly grumbly,
If people are so scared why they are coming out. Mask doesn’t stop covid 100%

[LoveMyKidsAndCats]

Personally I would have have put my mask on before getting to the people on the narrow path. I wouldn't have shouted at you though.

[ChickenyChick]

I can't believed you complied!

some people have lost the plot

One woman shouted "single file! single file!" when we walked towards her, on the other side of the road (that is about 5 metres wide)

We just laughed (not to be dicks, but out of surprise) which lead to her ranting and raving at us, and even shaking her fist.

It's part of life now, some people are just terrified 9and will be forever, i think )

[dementedpixie]

@LoveMyKidsAndCats

Personally I would have have put my mask on before getting to the people on the narrow path. I wouldn't have shouted at you though.

But why would you?
Its not a requirement
Walking quickly past is very non risky. Certainly less risky than stopping and shouting at someone

[LST]

I never have a mask with me unless I know I will be going into a shop, which I havent done in weeks. There would have been zero chance of me putting a mask on for the horrid woman even if I'd had one in my pocket!

[Belladonna12]

@rka2017

Exactly grumbly,
If people are so scared why they are coming out. Mask doesn’t stop covid 100%

Probably because nobody wants to stay indoors for months and months. Some people have every reason to be scared though.

[cologne4711]

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 are making rules up. There is no requirement to wear a mask outside in any part of the UK.

Because - the risk of catching covid outside is almost zero (is as close to zero as it is possible to be). We know that from a parkrun study, as well as the fact that there were no infection spikes from VE Day parties, BLM protests or everyone deciding to visit Bournemouth beach on the same day.

If you don't want to pass close to people outside, avoid places where the path is less than 2m wide and/or go out when other people are not going to be around.

It is for those with anxiety to manage that anxiety, not for everyone else to gold plate rules (or in this case make them up entirely).