To ask if you don't wear a mask - why?

[FrostyChocolateMilkshake]

Had a gin or two, and reflecting on my day whilst watching shit films on Netflix.

Been food shopping to Morrisons today. Saw a handful of people not wearing masks, nor a lanyard indicating they are exempt.

They might have had their own legitimate reasons for not wearing a mask. But then again...they might not!

So...on an anonymous forum, I would like to ask...if you don't wear a mask, why do you choose not to?

FWIW I don't mean those of you who are exempt for medical reasons. Just those of you who simply don't want to wear one, I'm curious why.

P.S please don't shout at me for creating a covid-related thread on here!

Read one of the other 500 odd threads about the same!

I was under the impression that unless you're medically exempt through a physical condition or due to a traumatic event then you had to wear a mask. I didn't think it was an option not to. .

just because there are millions threads about masks.

YABU

If masks protected the wearer there would be fewer refusers.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

I was under the impression that unless you're medically exempt through a physical condition or due to a traumatic event then you had to wear a mask. I didn't think it was an option not to. .

Yeah just like how littering is not allowed and so all the streets are always clean..

You can't chose to not wear a mask. The only people not wearing a mask are those who are medically exempt.

Plenty of people choose not to notangelina. You won't find them on mumsnet OP.

Lanyard means duck all- you buy them for 50p. I don't care why someone doesn't. I can and I do. The choices they make are their right to do so and they do not need to explain.

They don’t work. I only wear them to make others feel comfortable.

Of course they work @UsedUpUsername, the science is very clear.
FYI @FrostyChocolateMilkshake an exempt person is not required to wear a lanyard so that’s not relevant.

When I was heavily pregnant, on the very rare times I HAD to go out to the supermarket I didn’t wear a mask. I’m not ‘exempt’ but I found it very hard to breathe, to the point of feeling faint and needing to sit down on completion of the shop so I didn’t wear one

You can't chose to not wear a mask. The only people not wearing a mask are those who are medically exempt.

Yeah right! Of course some people are not medically exempt and still don't wear masks. 🙄

Owl there’s very little real-world proof. The Danish study suggests they don’t work. And participants were actually taught how to use them properly (eg changing them every damn time instead of stuffing them in and out of pockets)

Anecdotally I lived in Japan for many years and masks never prevented the spread of flu, and Japan does not have lower levels of flu than elsewhere.

This is besides the point tho. I do wear a mask, but not because I believe they work but to make others feel safe

To echo others I really don't think they work hence when I see someone without one it doesn't bother me.
But the law was created to make people think they are doing something rather than nothing - and I always wear one to make others feel safer and to avoid getting questioned.

I think the type of mask makes a big difference but honestly who would be able to police that ? Hence why it's been left as open as it is- the only people that do benefit are the Ppe companies, at least of nothing else that's an area of the economy doing well

I wear one so I don’t get hassled by the mask police but I make sure it’s under my nose so that I can breathe. I think that probably makes me a “numpty” or a “covidiot” or whatever other name you want to throw at me but they’re just words and the people who know me well are the ones whose opinions count.

We are abroad and I rarely see anyone without a mask. I have a child in my class, who is theoretically exempt. There's nothing wrong with the child, the parents just don't think wearing a mask is healthy for children. If you see a gp privately they will issue an exemption certificate for this. (Our state does not require there to be any reason stated.) It's one of only two children in a school of 500+ that isn't wearing a mask.
We wear FFP2 masks at school and I teach little people. I've not been sick since we started back last summer....so something is keeping those little cold and flu germs away. I usually catch something before Christmas with a new class. Not anything bad but a cold most of the time.
We are supposed to be in lockdown and schools are meant to be closed but 17 out of 19 children in my class are in school full time and have been throughout the academic year so far.

One of my doctors also doesn't wear a mask. Nothing wrong with him, he just doesn't think he needs one.

I don't think they work either.. In most cases where they are one layer, on and off, reused etc you are increasing the contact between your 'high risk' face area, your hands and then everything else you touch. But I wear one because I'm generally compliant. I never think anything of those who don't but wearing under the nose riles me because you may as well not wear one and (personally) I think it makes the person look rather idiotic, as though they don't realise they are rendering wearing it utterly pointless. If I was a confrontational type I'd be more likely to challenge that than non wearers.

I also wear one to make other people comfortable but think they are close to useless. The disposable type only have any discernable effect for around 30 mins, not the way people actually use them.

If anything I think they probably cause more spread as it gives people a false sense of confidence (when they came in people were almost immediately standing MUCH closer) plus then they are fiddling with them, touching their face etc.

We wear FFP2 masks at school and I teach little people. I've not been sick since we started back last summer....so something is keeping those little cold and flu germs away. I usually catch something before Christmas with a new class. Not anything bad but a cold most of the time

This scares me, in all honesty. Do we have to live like this forever to avoid the spread of colds and flu?

I mean, flu actually kills children, lots of them, unlike Covid.

@Dotinthecity

I wear one so I don’t get hassled by the mask police but I make sure it’s under my nose so that I can breathe. I think that probably makes me a “numpty” or a “covidiot” or whatever other name you want to throw at me but they’re just words and the people who know me well are the ones whose opinions count.

Would you wear it under your nose in a checklist, doctors surgery or hospital?

I have a friend who is a pharmacist, and who has a vulnerable child at home. Hearing her cry because people refuse to wear masks, and abuse her for asking them to is dreadful. She had a customer spit on her🤬.

Wearing them under your nose is the same as not wearing one at all.

She has a small number of regular customers who cant wear masks, they don’t come into the chemist, their meds are delivered to them. It keeps everyone safer, and they have all been very grateful and kind.

Chemist not checklist

I'm medically exempt and have a hidden disability so use a lanyard and have done since the introduction years ago. I also use a mask (a clean one each and every time I put one on) when I can. I've had several people come up to me and tell me I can take the mask off if I have a lanyard.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

I was under the impression that unless you're medically exempt through a physical condition or due to a traumatic event then you had to wear a mask. I didn't think it was an option not to. .

Problem is that quite a few people think that. Simply no way all the people without masks are exempt. Unless this is like THE illest country in Europe.

I wear one so I don’t get hassled by the mask police but I make sure it’s under my nose so that I can breathe.

Funny how the rest of us manage to breathe just fine while wearing our masks properly...