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!

Wow all these people overreacting over a cold! How ridiculous. People have always had cold and never had to wear masks and ate usually still expected to still go in work or attend school with a cold. Its ridiculous!

@Draggondragon

It's like the vegan joke. How do you know if someone is mask exempt? Don't worry, they'll tell you

Do you always make jokes about disabled people or is today special?

"It's peculiar. When you live in a country without exemption and flowery lanyards, everyone just wears a bloody mask and nobody needs to feel like a special little flower when everyone sees them not in a mask. Gues that's why we have total freedom and less than 50 cases a day."

Which is this country with no one with a disability?
Ds won't be telling anyone that he is exempt because he can't talk although he might bite you and himself if you persisted in trying to put one on him . I am guessing there are no people like that in the country you live in?
Or perhaps when you mean total freedom you don't mean for people like him?

Do you always completely miss the point or is today special

@Draggondragon

Do you always completely miss the point or is today special

I'm pretty good at getting the point usually. I'm fairly sure that yours was 'there's no such thing as exemption and those who claim to be are just special little flowers'. Followed by a joke at the expense of those living with disabilities or health conditions.

Happy to be told I'm wrong however!

Which is this country with no one with a disability?

Well, @Draggondragon? We're dying to know. Maybe if I move there I'll become magically un-disabled too!

People who can't wear a mask don't. But obviously I am talking about the silly cow marching round tescos just salivating at the thought of being challenged so she can tell the world she is special. Grow up, it's completely obvious that some people don't wear masks and some people are just twats.

@Draggondragon

People who can't wear a mask don't. But obviously I am talking about the silly cow marching round tescos just salivating at the thought of being challenged so she can tell the world she is special. Grow up, it's completely obvious that some people don't wear masks and some people are just twats.

Now now, that's not what you said at all, is it? You said When you live in a country without exemption and flowery lanyards, everyone just wears a bloody mask and nobody needs to feel like a special little flower when everyone sees them not in a mask Nothing about people in Tesco looking to make a scene.

Unsurprising that someone who makes ableist jokes is also a fan of misogynistic slurs, incidentally.

Oh and we're still waiting to find out where this country where nobody suffers ill health or psychological trauma is! Go on, do tell. I need to book my plane tickets

Grow up

@Draggondragon

Grow up

@pianolessons1

Mask exempt? For what reason? The vast majority of people who claim mask exemption to me (I'm an HCP with full access to their notes) it's BS.

What an attitude from a healthcare professional.

@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.

I'm sick of hearing peoples judgemental comments about mask wearing.

Haven't read the full thread, so this may have been said already, but the mask thing is a red herring. If someone came to my book group with a cold, but wearing a mask, I'd be irritated as I don't believe masks are particularly effective in stopping the spread of viruses. At the moment, if you have a cold you should avoid socialising with others as no one wants the sheer inconvenience of catching a cold!

I'd be irritated as I don't believe masks are particularly effective in stopping the spread of viruses.

It doesn't stop HIV or norovirus, for sure.

@Lweji

I'd be irritated as I don't believe masks are particularly effective in stopping the spread of viruses.

It doesn't stop HIV or norovirus, for sure.

Damn….knew there was somewhere I went wrong 🤭

@Lweji

I'd be irritated as I don't believe masks are particularly effective in stopping the spread of viruses.

It doesn't stop HIV or norovirus, for sure.

HIV isn't a good example because it's not an airborne virus\can only be spread through certain body fluids.

HIV isn't a good example because it's not an airborne virus\can only be spread through certain body fluids.

Well... that was my point.

Still baffled that people still state that they don't "believe" scientific data, and don't even bother to specify which viruses.

If I’ve said this once, I’ll say it again Being mask exempt doesn’t miraculously stop you from catching or spreading COVID. If you really can’t wear a mask, could you wear one of those plastic face shields instead?

@Lweji

HIV isn't a good example because it's not an airborne virus\can only be spread through certain body fluids. Well... that was my point.

Still baffled that people still state that they don't "believe" scientific data, and don't even bother to specify which viruses.

I have to specify ALL the viruses a flimsy scrap of paper doesn't protect against?

@RichPetunia

If I’ve said this once, I’ll say it again Being mask exempt doesn’t miraculously stop you from catching or spreading COVID. If you really can’t wear a mask, could you wear one of those plastic face shields instead?

If I've said this once, I'll say it again.

Many people who cannot wear masks cannot wear shields, either. The condition I have prevents it, as do many others.

Shields alone offer no protection to the wearer or others. The Scottish rules do not allow them to be worn without a mask underneath for this very reason. My hospital doesn't allow them to be worn without a mask. They are completely open on all sides - it doesn't take a genius to realise how useless they are.

And nobody's denying being mask exempt means you can't spread Covid.

However, you do need to have Covid to be able to spread it. I'm double jabbed and have had Covid twice (most recently less than two months ago). I'm about to get a third primary dose of vaccine and will get a booster in six months. I do regular LFTs. What are my chances of having it, do you think?

And one more important point: Mask exemption isn't a thing anymore anyway. You can't be exempt from a law which doesn't exist.

I have to specify ALL the viruses a flimsy scrap of paper doesn't protect against?

No. But coronavirus, or respiratory viruses would be nice.
Together with "believe", makes your opinion on the subject is not worth much.

Personally I'd be glad if Covid changes people's attitudes to going to activities/work while ill, even if "just" a cold.

I think presenteeism is bad for everyone and people should be considerate instead of not even bothering to think about whether they're spreading illness.

Not to mention how bloody irritating it is to have to sit and listen to someone coughing and sneezing and sniffing. Just fuck off home and do it there.

I have to specify ALL the viruses a flimsy scrap of paper doesn't protect against?

Also, just the mention of a "flimsy scrap of paper" shows you don't know how surgical masks are made or work.
Nor cloth masks, btw.