If you saw a pregnant woman pull down her mask for a few moments, would you confront her?

[ShutUpAlex]

Had a woman confront me today I’m a supermarket for pulling my mask down for a few gulps of air. Suddenly felt very faint and breathless and just needed to suck in a few deep breaths, then returned the mask to my face.
Woman confronted me, accusing me of putting the whole store in danger and how people like me are the reason we are in this situation in the first place. She hadn’t confronted anyone else wearing lanyards, just me.

Was I being unreasonable? Should I have just left the store? Or was she being OTT.

Of course not! What a horrid experience.

Absolutely not! I wear a mask all day for work and sometimes it can be pretty unbearable. A pregnant woman could be feeling faint/too warm/need to get a bit of fresh air or whatever. She’s wearing the mask. Pulling it down for a few moments is most umlikely to harm anyone. You shouldn’t feel bad about it. That woman’s actions were uncalled for.

What a cow! You have my sympathies, I'm 33 weeks and starting to get breathless now.

I wouldn't confront anyone if they pulled down their mask for a moment. It's not my place.

@FortniteBoysMum

Firstly may I point out lanyards are for the legally exempt. Whilst I wouldn't have said anything to you I did to the old that wearing his mask under his bloody huge nose. Now that really passes me off. Either wear it properly or don't bother.

🙄

The ones looking for someone to stick the boot into (which is what it is) go for the easy targets... women with kids are a nice one for them to have a go at because they know you won't give any grief back cos of the kids.

I can't wear a mask, I wear (and hate) a lanyard - but I notice a remarkable change in attitudes from some people when I'm alone to when I've got a very large DH with me... the hissed comments, glares and abuse mysteriously doesn't happen then - in the same place, with the same demographic of people.

We've handed some very nasty people an excuse to gleefully indulge in some very nasty bullying and convince themselves it's them being "good". It's vile - and it's why I rarely leave the house these days.

Some people are just dicks op and today you met one.

Tell the busy body cretin to do one. I hate wearing masks and I feel breathless and lightheaded without being pregnant! I have great respect for those who have to wear a mask in their jobs all day long...how do you do it?! It's like breathing in the same bit of air in and out and not getting fresh air on every breath (yes yes I know it's not exactly that but it feels like it!).

Someone had a go at me for taking my husband’s mask off him when he was having a seizure caused by his brain tumour. I told her exactly what I fucking thought of her, which is out of character for me. I will never forget how inhumane people have been over fucking masks, which are, mainly, stupid bits of dirty cloth that people whip in and out of their pockets and hence probably do fuck all in the grand scheme of things. I’m sorry this happened to you. People never cease to amaze me.

Absolutely not.

I had a baby just under 2 weeks ago and I had a couple of moments in shops with masks on and if I’d taken it off for a few moments and somebody had had a go I think I’d probably have lamped them.

@IAmTheDuke

She was being OTT. I’d have said ‘have a fucking day off love’

In my experience people like this only confront people who they think won’t argue back. I have a ‘fuck off’ resting face so don’t tend to be bothered by them.

I have a resting 'murder face".

It can be read even in my eyes.

People rarely bother me either - and when they do, they usually regret it . . .

I've had a few incidents, I'm medically exempt and unable to wear a mask due to PTSD. The worst incident was when I was in the supermarket, in my electric wheelchair, with a basket just having a leisurely wander round and picking up a few things. A man (50s) strode up to me, put my basket on the floor and proceeded to call me a disgrace amongst other pleasantries all whilst prodding me in the chest with his finger. His tirade probably lasted a minute. He finished by asking me if I had anything to say - I told him he had two seconds to stop prodding me before I booted him in the bollocks (I was wearing dr. Martens boots), and that I'd be reporting him to security. He stormed off, I reported to security who had cctv showing him leaving the store. No idea if anything happened.

Other incidents have just been the verbals.

the old that wearing his mask under his bloody huge nose. Now that really passes me off. Either wear it properly or don't bother.

Totally this.

If someone has ro pull down their mask for a few minutes, it wouldn't bother me. But those buggers who wear it under their nose (or chin!) peeve off right royally.

Yes , there are still a lot of paranoid people around unfortunately, so best to ignore them.. I have had to quickly take one half of my mask off in the local shop this week, I seem to have something like hayfever, as in a runny nose when the sun comes out, so tissues to the rescue.

If she had done that to me, she'd have been very sorry she did. Hope you're ok x

Wtf ? I wouldn’t confront anybody about masks. It’s just not my place. I’m pregnant too and the last couple times in the shops I’ve had to take my mask down and take a breath. I’m really suffering with sickness and feel awful a lot. I would be horrified if someone said anything and inclined to tell them to fuck off !

I'd of told her to fuck right off!

@WhipperSnapperSteve

OMG that’s such crazy behaviour

She was an arse.

Women are targets for bullies sadly.

I walked into a hardware shop and because I didn't use the sanitiser chained to a table a couple of people started chuntering, a couple of times when our paths crossed they started again. At the till they stood behind me and one was complaining to the other about her hands being sore, I took great delight in commenting that 'cheap sanitiser does that, that's why I use my own', saccharine smile and all.

you are actually exempt if the mask makes you feel distressed. you had every right to remove it in this situation.

she was an idiot. I'm sorry this happened.

I don't think you were being unreasonable, she shouldn't have confronted you.

Whoever said the school prefect types are loving it is right.

However, people saying it's too hot to keep a mask on at all times or moaning generally about wearing them get very short shrift here in Spain. In August when it was 42° masks on. Not too bad if you're on the beach, pretty uncomfortable if you're commuting to work.
Masks are mandatory for people 6 years old and upwards, at all times in public, including common areas of your building. You can take them off when eating or drinking.
I've seen a few people challenge others, there is a campaign here based on 'I'm protecting you with my mask, you protect me with yours' so people

Women are supposed to wear masks when in labour, not sure if it's the same in the UK.

I have an exempt lanyard and have had 6 incidents of people telling me I need to wear a mask or I'm the reason there granny has died it did really scare me for a while and I was worried about even going for a bottle of milk after the 4 or 5th time I now calmly pull out a piece of paper out my pocket that says "kindly fuck off" and then I walk off

None of the supermarket staff wear masks

I wouldn't confront anyone for taking a breather, regardless of pregnancy.