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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reported for not wearing a mask

266 replies

Lykkeli123 · 02/08/2021 08:40

By an Uber driver, I haven’t worn a mask since the 19th July, I was stupid to forget to take one in my Uber as I know they still require them.

The driver was friendly, he didn’t ask me to wear a mask at any point, then a few days later I got an email from Uber saying I had been reported by a driver for not wearing one.

I totally understand that i should have put one on as it’s their policy. However I don’t get why the driver didn’t just politely ask me in the task to wear one? Why be all laughing and joking and then report me.

OP posts:
Theluggage15 · 02/08/2021 15:13

Oh ok, thank you Havering and Superman. We don’t have Uber where I live.

Aquamarine1029 · 02/08/2021 15:31

@Lykkeli123

I can’t imagine many people would kick off for being politely asked to put a mask on? If they do then that’s awful really.
You must live under a rock.
MyriadeOfThings · 02/08/2021 15:42

@Theluggage15

How does Uber or the driver know that she is not exempt or are they refusing to carry people who can’t wear them?
Tbh all the people I know who don’t wear a mask for a genuine reason will tell you up front, generally accompanied with profuse ‘I’m sorry’. They might well also have a lanyard etc…
Comefromaway · 02/08/2021 15:46

@SupermanWithTheGreyHair

How does Uber or the driver know that she is not exempt or are they refusing to carry people who can’t wear them?

My son seems to get the same few drivers, so they know him. They’ve seen him use a mask so would know he’s not exempt. Maybe the same with OP.

Some people who are exempt like my dd and ds are able to tolerate masks sometimes.
AllTheSingleLadiess · 02/08/2021 15:46

A bus driver in France had his head kicked in until he died for asking someone to wear a mask.

I understand your point that you would have worn one without question if reminded but I understand why the Uber driver would rather flag you as a non-mask wearer rather than risk his safety. There are loads of videos of anti-maskers kicking off and I understand why he wouldn't want to risk aggro. People who kick off are women as well as men and it's dependent on the sex of the driver either.

AllTheSingleLadiess · 02/08/2021 15:48

@Theluggage15

How does Uber or the driver know that she is not exempt or are they refusing to carry people who can’t wear them?
Wearing a lanyard is a good idea if exempt.
AllTheSingleLadiess · 02/08/2021 15:53

@Lykkeli123

I can’t imagine many people would kick off for being politely asked to put a mask on? If they do then that’s awful really.
People in retail, hospitals and other venues have been sworn at, spat at and physically attacked for asking customers to wear a mask, queue outside shops etc There are countless videos of anti maskers entering venues unmasked and filming and humiliating staff for asking that they wear a mask.

I understand that you are not one of these dickheads but people can't know that by looking at you.

Faultymain5 · 02/08/2021 15:55

@Hekatestorch you keep making up scenarios so as we delve into a world of creativity. How about she booked an Uber. Used to seeing all the Ts and Cs pages so clicks through without noticing anything about masks. (Her fault true)

Then the Uber arrived, she didn’t remember anything about the mask and stepped in the car. (Her fault again) She paid no attention to the driver, cause she has other things on her mind.

As she sits in the Uber the friendly driver starts talking to her (his fault as he saw she wasn’t wearing a mask and could pass on Covid) and even makes a couple of jokes. She was busy on her phone but briefly looks up in his direction, not looking directly at him (as she’s in the backseat) and definitely not thinking about anything not related to what she was doing on her phone or the conversation with the driver.

She completed the journey gets out the car and says buy and it’s only after the journey she realised she hadn’t worn her mask. She felt slightly silly for forgetting but realised these things happen. Carried on with her day thinking this driver was pleasant and engaging when he didn’t have to be and so she might bother to rate him a little later.

Two days later she receives the email. You can be in a world of your own and still notice someone’s behaviour toward you especially when you look deeper into why someone would report something when there was no indication they were upset about something. Did she do wrong and against Uber policy. Absolutely there’s no getting away from it. But why on earth if the point is to reduce transmission was the driving engaging with her in an effort to make her more comfortable. No wonder she feels blindsided by this.

I will repeat it was a dickish move and stony silence would have been preferable and decent.

Of course this all falls on it’s head if she instigated the conversation and the driver felt obliged to participate😂.

Op has a few options 1. Protest the report, except she doesn’t have a leg to stand on as she did not wear a mask. 2. Never use Uber again there are many options out there or 3. Continue to use Uber do not forget her mask again and build up her ratings and complain to mumsnet that this could all have been handled better by Uber and get her ass handed to her by Mili-maskers.

I think she’ll end up with number 3. And go about her daily business.

HaveringWavering · 02/08/2021 15:56

I saw a group of about 5 women all out sporting lanyards. What a sad coincidence that they all suffered from conditions that exempted them from mask wearing. Maybe they met at a support group for asthmatics or something...Hmm

SupermanWithTheGreyHair · 02/08/2021 15:58

Some people who are exempt like my dd and ds are able to tolerate masks sometimes.

Yes. I know someone who can sometimes wear one for maybe 5-10 minutes but no longer. She’d have just spoken to the driver about it.

AllTheSingleLadiess · 02/08/2021 15:59

@HaveringWavering

I saw a group of about 5 women all out sporting lanyards. What a sad coincidence that they all suffered from conditions that exempted them from mask wearing. Maybe they met at a support group for asthmatics or something...Hmm
People like that make life harder for people who need the exemption rules. The people on eBay etc selling the exemption lanyards shouldn't have profited from this imo
DeflatedGinDrinker · 02/08/2021 16:00

You basically let him know you don't care if he gets ill why would he confront you. He probably thought you'd kick off about covid not being real and not needing a mask.

Faultymain5 · 02/08/2021 16:02

@AllTheSingleLadiess The people on eBay etc selling the exemption lanyards shouldn't have profited from this imo.

The MPs shouldn’t be profiting from this either and yet….

IamnotSethRogan · 02/08/2021 16:03

Is it that he went to a lot of effort to report you or do they have some sort of automatic procedure that asks them certain questions after each job and wether the client was wearing a mask is one of them ?

CaitlyntheCactus · 02/08/2021 16:08

@Lykkeli123

There was no aggression from me.
It isn't always easy to tell when someone will become aggressive though - I appreciate yiuo would have just apologised and explained you forgot, but for every 1 of you, there'll be 10 who will be aggressive and even abusive about it. Unfortunately that means the 1 misses out due to the fear of the 10.
Lweji · 02/08/2021 16:17

@Lykkeli123

Was the driver not wearing a mask? Did you not remember to wear a mask when you looked at him and entered the car?

IonaLeg · 02/08/2021 16:22

I guess he didn’t want to face any aggro? There have been a few incidents of Uber drivers being attacked and abused by customers. I’m sure he didn’t feel like you were a threat, but they’re probably hyper cautious about any possibility of a confrontation which could turn nasty.

EleanorOlephantisjustfine · 02/08/2021 16:26

@Lykkeli123

I can’t imagine many people would kick off for being politely asked to put a mask on? If they do then that’s awful really.
You need to broaden your horizon if you can’t imagine this. People will kick off over absolutely anything. He probable didn’t want a scene. You should have worn a mask.
BoredZelda · 02/08/2021 16:31

People who are exempt are the worst for being rude about wearing masks.

No, people who claim to be exempt when they are just being whiny kids about wearing masks are rude. Those who are genuinely exempt are generally embarrassed and apologetic when challenged. That’s my experience anyway.

Comefromaway · 02/08/2021 16:42

@HaveringWavering

I saw a group of about 5 women all out sporting lanyards. What a sad coincidence that they all suffered from conditions that exempted them from mask wearing. Maybe they met at a support group for asthmatics or something...Hmm
Whilst they may have been taking the p* it might have been genuine.

Both dd and ds tend to naturally gravitate towards friends who are neuro-diverse, like themselves

MrMeSeeks · 02/08/2021 17:34

Yes yabu.
Mistake made, yes, but if you’re honestly asking why he didn’t simply ask you to put on a mask, where have you been for the last year?
You only have to look at the news, social media etc to see people kicking, abusing staff, making a scene or making a complaint regarding this!

SchrodingersImmigrant · 02/08/2021 19:20

I like how you can spot people who never worked with general public in oatomer service roles "He ShOuLD HaVe SaiD soMEthINg".
🙄
Pps are absolutely right about his scores and about potential abuse. Smile and nod and let the company deal with it, is the safest way.

enigmatoto · 02/08/2021 22:15

@MontysMinions

I'm not sure what difference it would have made? You say you forgot your mask so didn't have it on this occasion?

So if he'd have politely asked you, you would have apologised and said you'd forgotten it...he still would have reported you as regardless of reason you broke their policy.

So you'd be in exactly the same position you are now?

^^ THIS EXACTLY!
HaveringWavering · 02/08/2021 22:43

Bless your trusting heart @Comefromaway. This gaggle of middle -aged blonde Tracys were about as far from neuro-diverse as it is possible to be.

Comefromaway · 02/08/2021 22:53

@HaveringWavering

Bless your trusting heart *@Comefromaway*. This gaggle of middle -aged blonde Tracys were about as far from neuro-diverse as it is possible to be.
If you passed me and my family in the street you’d have no idea we were all ND. (Well I’m not diagnosed but the rest of my diagnosed family are convinced I am!)