AIBU to wonder why men are such shmucks

[DownToTheSeaAgain]

Just been on a longish bus/ tube/ overground journey and couldn't help noticing that the vast majority of those either not wearing masks or wearing them under their chin/ over their mouth only are men.

Obviously there are exceptions to this but my non scientific poll indicates that being a mask shmuck is largely a man thing. I just don't believe that all of them have exemptions unless being a man is an automatic pass to ignore the rules.

All I got from my teenage sons was 'it is because they are shmucks' but is it just this or is there some biological imperative that makes them behave this way.

Answers welcome ....

I'd just to add another observation...

Last Friday, I was on a train back from Blackpool. (It was a work trip, certainly not pleasure) Between Ely and King's Lynn, there were a young-ish couple sat across the carriage from me. Neither of them were wearing masks during the journey. In fact, once the train stopped and King's Lynn, He was the only one to put a mask on.

Out of five trains, six stations and seven hours, one man and one woman weren't wearing....

Having a penis protects you from the covid virus, I thought everyone knew that.

You’re not presumably on the tube twice a day every day though are you.

I know exactly what the sign says. When I get on the tube, I weigh up how close I am to others, and sometimes in the mornings I have practically a carriage to myself. Sometimes I’m hot and tired add want to sip my nice cold water. So the mask comes off.

This morning I did not wear a mask until I reached my destination station.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

Having a penis protects you from the covid virus, I thought everyone knew that.

Maybe men are better at risk assessment generally?

Women are used to society policing what they wear. Men aren’t.

@downtotheseaagain Before this thread gets totally derailed by Hitler talk (!!) ... yes I agree with you. Whenever I go on the Tube the few people who aren't wearing masks are men (usually fairly mean-looking and unattractive ones) and they are manspreaded on their tube seat looking hostilely about as if daring you to challenge them. Everyone else is complying in some way. Even if their mask isn't completely pulled up they are paying lip service. I have seen a few younger women (teenage girls, really) with the full TOWIE make up and false eyelashes without masks - but men are main culprits

The OP’s observation contradicts what I’ve seen out and about, including on the tube, buses and overground rail.

There are at least as many women as men ignoring the mask rule and, whereas many used to sport those pathetic lanyards, most now don’t bother displaying their bought-via-eBay ‘excuse’

@cheugy

Women are used to society policing what they wear. Men aren’t.

This is a good point. However it explains why the (mostly) women I saw were wearing one but not why the (mostly) men were not.

@CheeseIsATypeOfMeat

I've mostly noticed women not wearing masks. Sometimes groups of them in the shops with those green daisy lanyard things. I think it's probably equal in terms of who is and isn't wearing them.

But we could start another debate about how repressed women are and how easy and great men have it.

The sunflower lanyard is to show you’re exempt. So they weren’t mask shmucks to be fair. By the way op I am loving mask schmuck. Need to use schmuck more. It’s a good word.

Maybe men are better at risk assessment generally?

Course they are 🙄

Maybe men are better at risk assessment generally?

And parking and maths. Obviously.

@ButterflyBitch my teenage sons use it all the time. It is also becoming one of my favourite words. That and 'would you like a cup of tea now mum' although to be fair that is more than one word......

I've never spent much time observing who is/isn’t wearing a mask but the point of hidden disabilities and invisible illness is that they're, well, invisible so best to presume exemption rather than waste headrace on worrying what rationale strangers have for behaving in a particular way.

Without wanting to point fingers are you a man by any chance?

Yes, that poster is a man.

Men are more likely to take risks then women. Men have less to lose. Its been this way since humans began!

Maybe men are better at risk assessment generally?

Various statistics, not to mention crime rates and A&E attendance figures, would say not.

@Justmuddlingalong

Some men.

this

The sunflower lanyard is to show you’re exempt. So they weren’t mask shmucks to be fair.

I know what they are for. My friend has one. She wears it so people don't ask her why she's not wearing a mask not because she has an 'under lying health issue'

I have noticed, that it's mainly women who don't wear masks when in areas with lots of people. I have seen lots of men bundled up like warriors,as though they are scared to death of catching the virus. But they probably look better with a mask on anyway !

I might undertake an informal survey of my own, but I just can't bring myself to care about other people's business that much.

I’ve noticed the same thing too. And to all the comments about the “sweltering heat” it was exactly the same in the winter months too. It’s arrogance.

Im in retail. Plenty people dont wear masks correctly, not just men.

It's not always arrogance, exempt people do exist.

Why aren't we allowed fully vaccinated people to ditch the pointless face rags like the US do? We allow people to buy sunflower lanyards from eBay for £3.99

Oh didn't you know op noses are covid exempt so it's fine to wear a mask underneath it. I've seen men and women giving their noses exemption. I am looking forward to the day (hollow laugh) when we don't have to wear the sodding things.

@User135644

Maybe because women are easy targets to be shouted at or given shit for not complying, whereas a big burly man feels invincible.

This is what I was going to say. Women are easier targets for the self appointed mask police.