To think you should not demand more information if someone is exempt from mask wearing?

[youngandbroken]

I know the importance of wearing a mask, and genuinely try to wear one when I can however I have CPTSD and some days are far, far worse than others (I tend to avoid going out where possible on these days). Today is one of those days, I live in a tower block and just went to put the bins out - that's all and had a woman stop me getting back up to my flat and have a go at me for not wearing a mask. I'm not comfortable explaining that I have mental illnesses, let alone explaining what caused those. I apologised and said that I am exempt to which she said NO your not, there are elderly people in this flat block. I know this and will always stay as far away from everyone as possible, constant hand washing and sanitizing and again I will wear a mask whenever I can do that without having a major panic attack. I ended up explaining but that then caused another panic attack.
All I was trying to do was take the bins out, there wasn't anyone else in the hallway when I went in, the woman followed me - if she had been there already I would have waited. Am I wrong to think that you shouldn't ask people to explain why they are exempt? I know there are people who do take the mick but there are also many who are genuine.

@Seabreeze18

I understand some people are unable to wear masks but I know loads of people who buy the online lanyards because they don’t want to wear one!!! Not they they can’t!! If surgeons can wear a mask in a hot room with full ppe for a 10 hour operation with no break then most people can wear a mask to pop into a shop!! I now mistrust anyone saying they can’t wear a mask and want to know the reason? Even though it’s non of my business and I wouldn’t ask someone I didn’t know!

If seeing someone else's mouth and nostril worries you that much, then stay at home. And why would you want to know why someone can't wear a mask? What would you do with this information?

Another thing which irritates me is the "if there was a gas attack and your life was on the line you`d soon wear a mask" brigade.

Or the "if you hate a mask, you'll really hate a ventilator" brigade. They seem to think the choice is one or the other, mask or ventilator, and don't take into account that most patients on a ventilator are heavily sedated so it's not even in the same ballpark as wearing a mask.

I now mistrust anyone saying they can’t wear a mask

When planning to leave the house and doing your own internalised risk assessment, you should take into account the fact that you might encounter maskless people. If encountering them is too much for you then perhaps you should ask yourself whether your trip is worth it or not? Or, like the majority of us, you could just wear your own mask, concentrate on your own self, and let everyone else get on with their own business too.

@Wannabangbang

I don't think anyone has the right to question mask usage. The woman actually put you and herself more at risk by getting close and being nosey. That's the thing people that judge are the ones going up in people's faces. My dd doesn't wear a mask as she's autistic and she can't cope wearing one if anyone came up to her in this manner i would tell them to back the F away and mind their own noses.

This is what makes me laugh about the 'my right to demand an answer' brigade. If they're that concerned about the risk from non mask wearers, surely steering a clear as possible away would be a far better option than getting in said non wearers face?

And it seems to be a badge of honour now to demand the right to bully, hound and harass the most vulnerable in society which is what many non mask wears sadly are.

I guarantee none of the 'my right to know' crew get in the face of strapping 6 foot builders not wearing masks - it'll always be the pregnant women, those suffering with anxiety etc who are seen as fair targets

There is no legal obligation even to answer. These people are just very rude. Just smile and carry on or ask - "when did you have your last abortion" if they want to get into discussion about private medical issues pr "how did you come to put on so much weight?"

The sooner we abolish mask laws the better.

@Xenia

There is no legal obligation even to answer. These people are just very rude. Just smile and carry on or ask - "when did you have your last abortion" if they want to get into discussion about private medical issues pr "how did you come to put on so much weight?"

The sooner we abolish mask laws the better.

I wish I had the guts to come out with stuff like that. Am more likely to cry and run away instead.

These threads always go the same way.

Questioning strangers about their health is rude. But the government should have run an exemption scheme along the lines of the blue badge scheme, because people like the OP who are genuinely unable to wear a mask are getting hassle due to piss takers and conspiracy loons and that’s not ok.

@Snoozer11

It's really not hard to wear a mask though, is it?

I think a few seconds of mild discomfort is worth stopping the spread of a virus that has claimed the lives of 130,000 UK lives.

But each to their own.

Keep having this discussion it's not hard for some people but for others wearing a mask or even others wearing one is extremely difficult.

"But the government should have run an exemption scheme along the lines of the blue badge scheme."

People would still be harassing others as they do with people with a blue badge who don't look in their opinion ' properly disabled'. It's probably the same people doing it just a new sport for them.

@ElephantsNest

These threads always go the same way.

Questioning strangers about their health is rude. But the government should have run an exemption scheme along the lines of the blue badge scheme, because people like the OP who are genuinely unable to wear a mask are getting hassle due to piss takers and conspiracy loons and that’s not ok.

You need a ton of medical evidence to get a Blue Badge. Seeing as masks were not a thing a year ago, why would anyone have evidence they can't wear one in their medical notes? You really can't compare the two. They also don't stop people getting abuse from nosey twats.

I’m a mass murderer, conspiracy loon, piss taker as someone previously posted but am also exempt due to health and PTSD. I’m very small and am an easy target for the oh so righteous covid nosy Parker’s who want to question my private health information. I tell them firmly where to go. It’s none of anyone’s business what I do. Masks should be abolished. Doctors do not stand in hot theatres for ten hours straight wearing a mask, they take breaks to go to the toilet and have a quick snack. Theatres are air conditioned which makes mask wearing different than wearing them in ordinary conditions.

The masks laws allow many people not to wear one but I have still just put mine on. I probably fall under an exemption. I think we should just abolish them and let people make a choice in shops and trains and at work and schools (other than on medical wards where masks have always been worn for operations etc)

I think definitely after 21st June (or whatever date its moved to) that mandatory masks should be abolished . Many would still wear one but it would save the self appointed COVID Marshalls jumping on the case of those who choose not to or can't wear one.

I wear one when I absolutely have to and remove it the second I'm out in the open

@Xenia

There is no legal obligation even to answer. These people are just very rude. Just smile and carry on or ask - "when did you have your last abortion" if they want to get into discussion about private medical issues pr "how did you come to put on so much weight?"

The sooner we abolish mask laws the better.

👏👏👏

@Seabreeze18

I understand some people are unable to wear masks but I know loads of people who buy the online lanyards because they don’t want to wear one!!! Not they they can’t!! If surgeons can wear a mask in a hot room with full ppe for a 10 hour operation with no break then most people can wear a mask to pop into a shop!! I now mistrust anyone saying they can’t wear a mask and want to know the reason? Even though it’s non of my business and I wouldn’t ask someone I didn’t know!

Its very simple really. People who can't wear masks don't choose to become surgeons or any other job that requires mask wearing. How hard is that to understand?

@Xenia

There is no legal obligation even to answer. These people are just very rude. Just smile and carry on or ask - "when did you have your last abortion" if they want to get into discussion about private medical issues pr "how did you come to put on so much weight?"

The sooner we abolish mask laws the better.

Bollocks and total idiocy. Since when does behaviour in a global pandemic that puts people at risk and doesn't follow the law by not bothering to wear a mask equate to asking someone something irrelevant like have you had an abortion? That question has no relevance or impact on other people's safety. Asking why are you putting others at risk is perfectly legitimate

Asking why are you putting others at risk is perfectly legitimate

As stated several times in the thread - other peoples private medical information is none of your fucking business. You have no legitimate reason to ask, you have no right to know, you have no business challenging an unmasked person.

Wear your own mask, follow social distancing guidelines, when deciding whether to go somewhere/do something take into account the fact that you might encounter unmasked people, if this is a deal-breaker for you then don't go to that place/do that thing.

"Bollocks and total idiocy."

Seems reasonable to me.
If people want to harass others they have to accept the response this harassing gets.

My daughter was followed down the stairs and through the underground today by a London underground official. He then approached her about masks. She told him she was exempt (which is true) and he let her on her way. however it is very intimidating to have this risk, the confrontations and all the rest for what is now over a year, going into a second year with no end ever in sight .

@Xenia

My daughter was followed down the stairs and through the underground today by a London underground official. He then approached her about masks. She told him she was exempt (which is true) and he let her on her way. however it is very intimidating to have this risk, the confrontations and all the rest for what is now over a year, going into a second year with no end ever in sight .

If she has to use the underground regularly and doesn’t want to be questioned she should wear a sunflower lanyard. The staff member was probably obliged to question her as part of his job keeping their workplace safe. At ours, we are obliged to remind anyone to put a mask on unless they are wearing a lanyard or exemption badge.

@BlatantlyNameChanged

Asking why are you putting others at risk is perfectly legitimate

As stated several times in the thread - other peoples private medical information is none of your fucking business. You have no legitimate reason to ask, you have no right to know, you have no business challenging an unmasked person.

Wear your own mask, follow social distancing guidelines, when deciding whether to go somewhere/do something take into account the fact that you might encounter unmasked people, if this is a deal-breaker for you then don't go to that place/do that thing.

Just because "it's been stated" doesn't make it right or factual. And yes I do have a legitimate reason to ask when it's the law or rules in terms of the pandemic and safety and the action of not wearing it is prolonging covid restrictions for everyone and putting people at risk. And no it's not a "deal braker" because the law abiding public who respect others aren't going to avoid every single place because of selfish covidiots who can't be bothered to comply

@MyrrAgain Do you work for the NHS?

"I don't think you need to wear a mask to put bins out! It's not a close social activity.
However, I do find it helpful when exempt people wear the lanyard in shops and public transport. There's far too many people not bothering and I personally don't feel all these people are exempt. If I'm on a train and you're not wearing a mask and I'm off to my NHS job where we have to wear PPE all the time and rely on myself and family to keep well so we don't have to isolate all the time.... Then you'd better have an explanation I think those who are medically exempt should have a doctors note. Otherwise non mask wearers are just selfish * who don't give a shit about society and think not disturbing their makeup or sipping a coffee for 20 minutes on the tube is far more important"

@MyrrAgain www.hsj.co.uk/patient-safety/covid-infections-caught-in-hospital-rise-by-a-third-in-one-week/7029211.article

I think YOU had better have an explanation.

I have Asperger's syndrome and struggle with the same thing, I totally understand where ur coming from and it is none of her business what your medical conditions are. You did nothing wrong, don't worry!!

*rights to NOT tell you their medical history