For thinking what's the fucking point anymore?

[SapphireSeptember]

"You shouldn't say that because you don't know what people are going though!"
Which is what a woman said to me when I asked her to pull up her mask yesterday. Right back at you. How the fuck does she think me and my colleagues feel having to deal with Covidiots like her on a daily basis? (I work in a supermarket.) She had her nose sticking out and kept pulling her mask away from her face, but because she's struggling and trying her best (so am I) that makes it acceptable? She didn't say she was exempt, and honestly if you're wearing a mask wear the damned thing properly! I then overheard her say 'How dare she say that to me?" to one of my colleagues in a really angry voice. I couldn't have been more fucking polite about it if I'd tried!
(I wish I'd said what I was thinking, that I dare because I'm more scared of getting Covid and dying from it than I am of shitty customers, but that might not have helped.)
I'm getting to the stage where I just want to lock myself in my house and refuse to come out until this is all over. I'm having panic attacks, my mental health is shot, and I don't feel like I can do this anymore. I'm also autistic and find certain things hard to cope with. The only reason I go to work is because I work with some lovely people who are keeping me sane at the moment.

Added to that the two women I was working with yesterday were agreeing with her. I spoke to my manager who confirmed I'd done the right thing, and when I told them that they got shirty with me too.

Then there was the fuckwit I dealt with on Friday. Again, I asked him to pull his mask up over his nose. "I don't think so' he said, and pulled one of those sunflower lanyards out of his shirt. Apparently he's exempt because he's autistic, but chooses to wear a mask. (See above, I was also standing next to a colleague of mine who's autistic.) I couldn't quite believe it, either wear one or don't, they don't work if your nose is sticking out, he was with a young woman who was wearing hers properly and another bloke who also had his nose sticking out. (I've noticed in my area it's men who are more likely to want to share their germs with everyone else.)

Then there are the people who walk in without wearing one at all, I was doing my shopping after work and three people, not a mask among them. I asked them if they had masks, the two women pulled theirs out and the bloke said he didn't have one, but of course he didn't bother going to where we keep the spare ones, he just carried on walking along. Twat.

@Aquamarine1029

Life is definitely a struggle for most people right now, but I think you're making things even harder for yourself by confronting these people. It serves no purpose other than making you even more anxious and frustrated. You do what you need to for yourself, but leave these strangers alone.

Agree

I think you'll be in a better place mentality if you mind your business. Just focus on yourself

@Donoteatthekittens

It is the law in Germany. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2021-01-20/germany-toughens-mask-rules-in-hopes-of-slowing-virus-spread

“Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the measures alongside new curbs late Tuesday, mandating that people wear surgical masks or higher-specification N95 or FFP-2 devices rather than simply donning cloth face coverings.”

Completely irrelevant here thankfully.

Some people try and wear them but have to take them off for a bit. What's so hard to understand about this?

Whats so hard to understand they shouldn't be doing that in a shop?

As I said, I don’t really believe masks work. I’ve had my surgical mask in my pocket for a few weeks. But I’m following the rules so nobody can say anything. 👍🏻

I don’t go in shops right now but if I did then I would wear a mask and wear it properly. YANBU, OP.

Really feel for you op. It’s so pathetic and selfish. I’ve just got back from my local shop where there was a woman wandering round with it under her nose. I gave her dirty look but wish i had said something now!

@alltheadrenalin

I think you'll be in a better place mentality if you mind your business. Just focus on yourself

This!!

I can’t stand people who think they can order random strangers about. I’d have told you where to go..

Gosh this sound like a typical daily British supermarket scenario. Despite criminal laws and world record per capita fatalities and super mutating infections this is sadly the lifestyle conscious choice, indifference or civic disobedience for possibly the reason for much of this excess fatalities or lives and economic livelihood. Have people not worked out exemption disability criminal legal loopholes don’t exempt from infection and transmission? Perhaps the virus should make the distinction and not conversely do it’s best jumping and mutating from each human vector irrespective of preexisting health privilege or vulnerability. Covidiots are Covidiots as they don’t care about themselves nor others as being a perpetual parasite and potential spreader ensure longer and harsher quasi lockdowns and never the solution just the most likely cause. The science on risk mitigation is obvious - even Covidiots would benefit from it!

@Donoteatthekittens

It is the law in Germany. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2021-01-20/germany-toughens-mask-rules-in-hopes-of-slowing-virus-spread

“Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the measures alongside new curbs late Tuesday, mandating that people wear surgical masks or higher-specification N95 or FFP-2 devices rather than simply donning cloth face coverings.”

I wish it was here.

The WHO advise for triple layer face masks. I wish the U.K would ban the phrase face coverings. I have to get up close to people in my job, a single layer bandana is useless. If I can feel your breath on my face your flimsy face covering is not protecting me!
www.businessinsider.com/who-fabric-masks-need-3-layers-to-curb-coronavirus-spread-2020-6?r=US&IR=T

Op I know how you feel. It’s terrifying being put at risk on a daily basis.

YANBU it's time there was proper enforcement of this in shops. What's so difficult to understand, wear a mask, keep your distance and get in and out as quickly as possible. If you really can't wear a mask surely a shield is better than nothing. The number of people who are still dallying about, even now. It's really not difficult, you have my sympathy.

Recently I’ve noticed far more people in the supermarket not wearing masks. I’ve also noticed that they mostly give zero fucks about social distancing. Unless someone - and I don’t know who, security maybe?- challenges them then it will only get worse.

The thing with ‘have a go covid police’ is they are not perfect themselves even though they like to think they are.

Some random Victor Meldrew said something to me about going down the isn’t there wrong way. I took it. I was. Guess who was walking down the wrong way when I was in the queue to get served? Yup! He got it both barrels.

There is no value in getting upset about this stuff and confronting people. It will just make you anxious and miserable but it won't change behaviour or make you less likely to catch covid.

There is always a level of risk to going out in any public place, and we have and always have had very limited control of that. To some extent, the only way to cope with this is to take what measures you think are reasonable and accept that there are no sure things. Easier said than done if you are naturally an anxious person for any reason, but the other option is to worry and fret, and still not be any safer.

You have my sympathy. I saw two maskless women flounce today when the nice guy in Sainsbury’s reminded them we’re supposed to shop alone. I wouldn’t work in retail for all the tea in China at the moment.

Also, this exemption thing doesn't exist in France either. There are no lanyards.

Same in Germany. No mask, no entry. No exceptions. And people aren't shaking and crying at people getting close, they're saying "can you step back a bit" or whatever.

The law is now that you wear an FFP2 or other surgical mask on public transport, in shops and other buildings. And we're all getting 12 masks (spread over 4 months) to help us on our way.

This much-repeated discussion belongs in the Coronavirus topic.

The lads in our place keep not wearing them over their noses. Doing my bloody head.

You have my utmost sympathy and those people are selfish. No ifs and buts. I really do not understand why people are so anatomically different in the UK that they can;t wear masks for 20 minutes in a shop, when everyone else across the world can.

Also obviously OP is at a higher risk than any of us going out for a stroll. She is doing a very difficult and essential job, and deserves respect, not being told to mind her own business!

@Aquamarine1029

Life is definitely a struggle for most people right now, but I think you're making things even harder for yourself by confronting these people. It serves no purpose other than making you even more anxious and frustrated. You do what you need to for yourself, but leave these strangers alone.

What do you mean 'confronting'? The OP works in retail and customers not wearing masks properly are putting all the staff and other customers at risk.

@MatildaTheCat

Recently I’ve noticed far more people in the supermarket not wearing masks. I’ve also noticed that they mostly give zero fucks about social distancing. Unless someone - and I don’t know who, security maybe?- challenges them then it will only get worse.

I challenged someone for getting too close with no mask, and they got closer.l and aggressive.

And the staff in the supermarket acted like I'd caused that to happen to me for speaking because it was getting out of control.

And then about ten pages of MNers agreed that I shouldn't have spoken up for myself. It makes people worse and means you're bringing their bad behaviour on yourself. I deserved to be thrown out of the shop, apparently.

@Ilikewinter

All this "people are trying their best" sentiment is utter crap. If you cant bear to wear a mask correctly whilst in a shop then dont go in...and im not talking about people who are genuinely exempt. I work in retail and the rules are wear your mask over your mouth and nose, its on the posters, its belted out on the tannoy, the security guard will ask you to wear it before you come in. You are supposed to be in and out as quickly as possible, this means no browsing, no attmept to test the make up, no "im just waiting for my friend so keeping in the warm" and for the love of god you dont need to take your mask off to ask me a question, they arent soundproof. Yes OP i agree with you.....from a fellow stressed out and had enough shopworker!!

I salute all you supermarket workers. There are people with genuine struggles, but I see lots of people who are just arseholes and don't think the rules should apply to them. I am sorry that doing your job puts you into the way of that kind of selfishness.

God, this thread is depressing. Don;t work in retail for a minimum wage and long hours, unless you are prepared to possibly die for your job, or get long COVID, just so some flouncers can not wear masks.