Asked to leave for not wearing a mask

[DuchessOfDisaster]

I've just gone to my book group meeting. I'm mask exempt, and have a cold. Not COVID, we test twice a week at work. I was asked to wear a mask and as I didn't have one offered to leave. The other members said they thought that was best.

It's silly but I feel miffed! Even though I think it's the right thing!

Wearing a mask is only rational if you are actively sick. Requiring healthy people to wear them is silly

You should learn more about the rationale of wearing masks.
And by the way, you're being silly in thinking as above.

@UsedUpUsername

But the benefits of wearing a mask are rational. Personally I consider those who refuse to wear them to be irrational

Wearing a mask is only rational if you are actively sick. Requiring healthy people to wear them is silly.

I went to a big shopping centre and Ikea yesterday. I was surprised at just how many were wearing masks - at least 50%

Good, people who want to wear them can, those who don’t can ignore. It’s best this way, no?

So... "People who want to follow the speed limit can, those who don't can ignore. It's best this way, no?"

Totally agree. We were in Barcelona a few weeks ago. EVERYONE was wearing masks. We were in France a couple of weeks ago, EVERYONE was wearing masks. How come none of those people have the myriad of mental and physical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks that seem to be SO prevalent in the UK

They stay at home, according to MNers and how dare they be so ablist etc.

However, according to the Sunday Times, today the mask wearing in Spain is 84%. (Significantly) more than here, but not 100%. It's about 76% in France.

I'd rather we had a culture of if you have a cold stay home rather than mask wearing.

This is totally bonkers. The average adult has at least 3 colds a year and each cold lasts a week or so. They should stay off work for 3 weeks every year just because they have the common cold which doesn’t kill anyone, just makes you feel a bit naff for a few days. Get a grip, this thread is crazy.

Mask exemptions are reserved for severe disabilities in my location. They mention cases like people who can’t physically take the mask on and off. Accommodations don’t mean entering spaces without a mask, they mean alternate provision of services. So a doctor might meet a patient outdoors or online, a grocer might bring packages to the pavement or delivered, teaching can be offered online.

I have moderate claustrophobia. I’ve used CBT to mostly get used to the mask at this point. Every once in a while I feel the panic brewing and make a run for the entrance to the building so I can rip the stupid thing off. It’s not pretty and it’s embarrassing, but it’s my only option if I want to leave the house.

@Hemingwayscats

I'd rather we had a culture of if you have a cold stay home rather than mask wearing.

This is totally bonkers. The average adult has at least 3 colds a year and each cold lasts a week or so. They should stay off work for 3 weeks every year just because they have the common cold which doesn’t kill anyone, just makes you feel a bit naff for a few days. Get a grip, this thread is crazy.

It makes most of us feel naff, it can land some others in hospital, like asthmatics. My husband has felt at deaths door with colds many times, and not like some fucking man flu, but like with his hand on the trigger to call an ambulance. Luckily, it's been a long time now since he actually had to do it.

@MalagaNights that's not the case everywhere. It might be where you live, I don't know, but in a fair few parts of the UK there are still legal requirements about wearing masks, and with good reason.

@Scautish

I would have wanted you there, mask or not, if you had a cold. Very selfish of you.

Would have?

Flu/colds are really bad. You shouldn't have gone.

Was this book group in someone's home? If so, their house, their rules. I still don't have anyone in the house without a mask and wouldn't have anyone in with a cold even with a mask.
Why would you think you're entitled to spread your germs wheresoever you wish? We're all immuno suppressed at the moment, given the last eighteen months. How entitled of you!

I voted you are being unreasonable, purely because it was YOU who OFFERED to leave. Sheesh.

You haven’t tested negative and can’t wear a mask and offered to leave— well, I would say that the title was misleading and YABU. But even if you tested negative, people understandably don’t want to get ill right now. It’s flu season, on top of everything else, and, well…. You did offer to go.

I still don't have anyone in the house without a mask

Lol sounds like some sort of weird fetish. Like maybe don’t have people over?

@Traveller3367

I'm sick of hearing this self diagnosed "mask exempt" bullshit! Speaking to medics, they have made it pretty clear to me that unless u have a physical deformity or severe mental health problem that means you can't wear a mask or face covering (think deformed jaw, severe learning disability etc) then there is no such thing as mask exempt. I'm glad Brits abroad are learning this the hard way and wish the British justice system grew a pair to tackle this mask exempt selfish bullshit.

My manager has an exemption badge all because he doesn't want to wear a mask (and refuses to get jabbed). We're supposed to wear masks when moving around our office and building. I think it's disgusting anybody can just get a badge because they say they can't wear a mask without having to provide proof, or at least the GP making that diagnosis. Guess what? He's quite smug about it

You are being unreasonable for turning up to a book group with a cold, Covid or not!

So... "People who want to follow the speed limit can, those who don't can ignore. It's best this way, no?

Bad comparison. Speed limits have demonstrably saved lives. For every X reduction in the speed limit, we know lives are saved (and we know more people are killed the higher we put it), we have real-world studies that give very accurate numbers on this.

And guess what? We do accept some numbers of deaths just for the convenience of getting places faster, FYI.

No one has those figures at all for mask wearing. These mandates have been put on us with zero evidence other than ‘seems to work in Asia …’ but as we all know, correlation is not causation. Mask wearing in Japan never drastically reduced their flu seasons, after all.

Of course you are being unreasonable to attend a social function with a cold. I had hoped that the publication of vulnerable & shielding categories had shed some light on how different people are affected by otherwise 'mild' illnesses. I'm double jabbed, fit the criteria for mask exemption but of course I wear one, I had to shield and when my children brought covid home from school last month I was hospitalised with covid pneumonia. Colds can also hospitalise me, despite all of the "Goodness I had no idea anybody would be off work with a cold" How about; goodness, open your eyes and recognise that people are different. What affects some mildly may kill others.

@Lweji

Wearing a mask is only rational if you are actively sick. Requiring healthy people to wear them is silly

You should learn more about the rationale of wearing masks.
And by the way, you're being silly in thinking as above.

Masks don’t work. Unless you want everyone to wear N95s, and the general public can’t even wear surgical masks correctly. And cloth masks absolutely don’t work even when worn ‘correctly’.

Tell me again how Japan still has deadly flu seasons despite the long culture of mask wearing, but somehow it worked against COVID? Wouldn’t it make more sense that it’s some other variable? (Like … extremely low rates of obesity?)

@UsedUpUsername

You are mistaken.

Masks do work to an extent.

There was new stats out recently showing that not wearing a mask doubled your risk of catching Covid.

They also- obviously- stop asymptomatic people spreading it.

The advice is still to wear one in busy public places like trains and shops.

Both J Lewis and Waitrose are encouraging shoppers to still wear masks and have signs at the doors.

There was new stats out recently showing that not wearing a mask doubled your risk of catching Covid

I thought masks protected others not yourself 🤔

😂 link pls

I always carry a mask in my bag. If I'm around someone who finds it if I'm not wearing one (and I don't blame them at all) I would take it out and put it on. Is it really such a threat to your personal beliefs. No, it's consideration for others.

@UsedUpUsername

There was new stats out recently showing that not wearing a mask doubled your risk of catching Covid

I thought masks protected others not yourself 🤔

😂 link pls

Both.

That's what I wrote.

Here is an article from Nature, which is usually quite robust science.

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8

For anything else, look for it yourself.

With 40k infections a day you should be wearing a mask even if not requested nobody wants long covid your mad not do even double vaccinated not worth the risk

I think wearing a mask at book club would be ridiculous - so you should have stayed home with your cold.

I visited many eastern counties in my time and most wear masks if they have a virus or cold. Curtsey not to infect others is the norm wish we had that culture over here long since gone every person for himself is now the norm sad that is no consideration for others