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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU for expecting people to use a bit of common sense in this Corona mad world?

34 replies

Mumz1 · 09/12/2020 20:30

At my local swimming pool I forgot my mask in the car but luckily had a coat that zipped right up to cover my mouth and nose. You only need a mask for the 5 meters past reception- after that everyone, including lifeguards, isn’t wearing one. The guy at reception, who was behind a Perspex screen insisted that I get a mask or buy one even though my mouth and nose were both covered. The irony is, he wouldn’t have even known that I wasn’t wearing a mask underneath all of that if I hadn’t apologetically mentioned it. It feels like people aren’t using common sense or maybe keen to exercise the little bit of power they have. I also wonder if he would have been so forceful had I been male....

OP posts:
cardibach · 09/12/2020 20:31

You need a mask. A coat won’t be the same at all. Just have skate masks everywhere like the rest of us.

cardibach · 09/12/2020 20:32

Spare not skate

NewIdeasToday · 09/12/2020 20:32

The guy at reception is in quite a vulnerable position if he has to talk to people every day who aren’t wearing masks. So it’s a one off issue for you but not for him.

Just keep a mask in your bag or pocket for the next six months.

hammeringinmyhead · 09/12/2020 20:34

YABU to have only one mask on you! I have one in my bag, one in the car and one in my pocket.

IndecentFeminist · 09/12/2020 20:35

Why is a coat not the same in this instance?

SamVimesFavouriteDragon · 09/12/2020 20:41

To be fair, by your own title, common sense would surely be to carry around a mask Grin
Just saying!

Pippa12 · 09/12/2020 21:05

He’s probably just getting fed up of people taking the mick. My DH runs a restaurant and a guest wrapped a napkin round their face because they’d left their mask in the car ‘and couldn’t be bothered going back for it’, he complained to head office when my DH refused to seat them till they had retrieved the mask.

To us it’s ‘just once’ but to the receptionist it’ll of happened 50 times today.

Original poster
Mumz1 · 09/12/2020 21:06

@SamVimesFavouriteDragon

To be fair, by your own title, common sense would surely be to carry around a mask Grin Just saying!
I did have several in my car. But unfortunately I do sometimes forget- is forgetfulness really the same as not having common sense? I know I’m not perfect but my coat is several times heavier than my mask which is really quite flimsy in comparison.
OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 09/12/2020 21:07

How far away was your car? Hmm

Hollyhead · 09/12/2020 21:09

A coat is much greater protection, and it’s face coverings not masks, he was being stupid. Never explain never apologise would have been the strategy here!

user1936863452 · 09/12/2020 21:11

The rule is to wear a face covering, not a mask.

StealthPolarBear · 09/12/2020 21:14

Yes can someone please explain the difference? Thick coat vs single layer of fabric mask.

NannyGythaOgg · 09/12/2020 21:18

Your mistake was drawing his attention. Even if he didn't care, it's not his call and was doing his job. For all he knew, you could have been a management plant to see how he handled it.

Common sense left the building months ago

halcyondays · 09/12/2020 21:21

Yabu. You had a mask in the car so just go back and get it.

Lucindainthesky · 09/12/2020 21:25

I think you're the one lacking in common sense OP.

SamVimesFavouriteDragon · 09/12/2020 21:28

I mean, we've been wearing masks for about nine months now? So I'd say it would be common sense to go back and get the mask rather than ask somebody to ignore the law. Because it is the law, even if you don't agree with it, and it's not worth the receptionist getting in trouble if they say you don't need to wear one.

Simplyunacceptable · 09/12/2020 21:30

Get a spare mask and put it in your handbag or coat pocket, whichever you’re more likely to always have on you. A coat isn’t the same.

Ladyks · 09/12/2020 21:30

For 5 meters?? YANBU OP, clearly common sense doesn’t exist on mumsnet anymore either. Not to mention the bloke was behind plexiglass. I’m sure that 5 meters was far more dangerous than the rest of the building... Xmas Confused

IndecentFeminist · 09/12/2020 21:39

Law is face covering surely? Lots of people use snoods etc

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 09/12/2020 21:54

I thought face coverings were anything from a scarf to a mask ? So OP did nothing wrong , she covered her nose and mouth
What if she’d have been mask exempt

StealthPolarBear · 09/12/2020 22:00

Law is face covering as far as I know.

StealthPolarBear · 09/12/2020 22:01

In fact back at the beginning I was infuriated by the guidance, only touch the edges, wah hands before and after, only wear it once, oh but if you haven't got one just chuck any old scarf over your face.

yeOldeTrout · 09/12/2020 22:02

yanbu

My swimcentre doesn't require masks, actually. We sail thru reception in about 20 seconds so would be strange to require

WithLotsOfSprinkles0 · 09/12/2020 22:08

There is no common sense now.

Masks weren't mandatory for the first 4 months of this when numbers were high.
Numbers keep spiking though the majority are wearing masks.
I've had a doctor on a ward tell me the masks which we get are as 'much use as a chocolate fire guard' and insisted I put on a white one which he gave me.

People can go in packed supermarkets and pile into non essential shops but not sit in a pub or a restaurant where your seated with your own party and table service

Police are patrolling borders between tier 2 and tier 3 though you can get a plane with strangers breathe recycled air to a different country.

Tier 3s cant have mixed households with their family but can have people in their house who are working such as cleaners.

List goes on and on and on

60,000 deaths due to Covid (or with a positive Covid test), over 50,000 are people over 65 and 9 in 10 deaths had an underlying health problems but yes, instead of protecting the elderly, let's apply the same rule to everyone collapse the economy, curfew, mask people, dictate peoples lives like this.

The sheep will follow and be afraid and the government will carry on.

No common sense, no reasoning,.living like this cos of a virus that deadly you need a test to see if you got it and has got over 99% survival rate

TheRubyRedshoes · 09/12/2020 22:09

Yes I agree, it's so hard though isn't it.

The biggest bug bear of common sense for me though is creating pinch points with people queuing, to have one way systems for entry only?

Or restaurants and pubs not having any windows open or even a door to ventilate the space. I'm amazed at how viscous people get in the cold or a slight breeze and yet they have flimsy clothes on. I do wonder what it was like in the war!