AIBU to expect the majority of people in a full basement theatre in central london to wear masks?

[Rosiestraws]

I went to the Leicester square theatre on Mon to see Michael McIntyre (400 capacity - sold out and every seat full).

The information on booking was requesting mask wearing and advising there would be temperature checks on arrival. The latter happened but I was astounded that there was no mention of masks on the tannoy inside (they were able to comment on not recording the show etc but not a gentle reminder that they request mask wearing!?), nor signs up anywhere and I was one of very few people who wore a mask - I would say it was about 85% of the packed theatre without them.

This has been the first time I've encountered this in a similar setting - most theatres for plays/musicals which I have been to (I have been out regularly) have encouraged mask wearing and the public were at least 75% wearing them. I was just so shocked that it was the opposite.

I also noticed that the majority of the people there were over 50 - does anyone think this is perhaps because they have had their boosters perhaps and aren't as concerned to wear masks?

Adding to my concern was a gentleman directly behind me with a cough who coughed multiple times throughout the show (made worse by his raucous laughing of course as it was a comedy show). Surely common decency would mean wearing a mask if you have a proper cough.. he kept having a coughing fit and then saying "oh dear" or "deary me"...

I know that mask wearing is optional now, but you go down two flights of stairs to go into a basement theatre, in Winter, in central London when cases are rising - surely it's just common sense to wear a mask in these circumstances - it could not be more high risk, especially with people cheering and laughing loads? The strange thing was quite a few of the same people who were in the theatre mask-less then ended up leaving and heading to the tube at the same time as me and wearing masks on the tube!

Just wanted a rant and wondered if others were encountering this too and what they thought. I would not have attended the show if I had thought it would be majority maskless and it hasnt been my experience anywhere else (in central london, where I live) so just wondered if things are changing or if i was unlikely on this particular night...

I had forgotten about checking this thread until I saw the news about mask wearing being compulsory again. As you can imagine, I'm very happy about it!

I think there's a very sad and selfish mentality in society and on this thread where the comments come out of "if you're that bothered then stay at home". Why should I, or anyone else, have to stay at home because others aren't following the rules which have been put in place to keep us all safe? OK, it wasn't legally required to wear a mask when I booked the tickets, but the terms said staff would be wearing face coverings and we request you to do the same when inside the venue. That was a risk I was comfortable with taking. It's not the most comfortable thing to wear a mask for a couple of hours, but it's not the end of the world (for the majority of people who aren't exempt etc). Doctors/ nurses/ surgeons wear them for hours and hours...

Anyway, I'm glad that it's back in place and it hopefully means that I'll be able to go to a few more shows in conditions I'm comfortable with...

@Rosiestraws

I had forgotten about checking this thread until I saw the news about mask wearing being compulsory again. As you can imagine, I'm very happy about it!

I think there's a very sad and selfish mentality in society and on this thread where the comments come out of "if you're that bothered then stay at home". Why should I, or anyone else, have to stay at home because others aren't following the rules which have been put in place to keep us all safe? OK, it wasn't legally required to wear a mask when I booked the tickets, but the terms said staff would be wearing face coverings and we request you to do the same when inside the venue. That was a risk I was comfortable with taking. It's not the most comfortable thing to wear a mask for a couple of hours, but it's not the end of the world (for the majority of people who aren't exempt etc). Doctors/ nurses/ surgeons wear them for hours and hours...

Anyway, I'm glad that it's back in place and it hopefully means that I'll be able to go to a few more shows in conditions I'm comfortable with...

So you were happy to take the risk that people would not be wearing masks when booking but are now moaning that people weren’t wearing masks?

And the new rules apply to shops and PT, so I wouldn’t be banking on those mask free shows.

I go to the theatre 2-3 times a month.
Only one so far that was actively enforcing mask wearing - and that was quite early on after theatres started reopening.

I think the theory is that in a theatre, everyone is facing the stage rather than each other, so the risk of breathing in vapour is reduced.

I've been to plays and symphonies in New York City. Everyone wears masks.

They aren't mandatory in theatres are they though? They only said shops and public transport.

The news rules don't apply to theatres. Also, I think you'd be disappointed even if they did, OP, I can't see people complying at the level they did before.

I know not your main point but on the man coughing - I wish there were more campaigns targeting people who have coughs to wear masks. Unfortunately many still seem confused about why you wear a mask and think it’s to protect the person wearing it. In Japan and some other countries it’s rude not to wear a mask out and about if you have a cough as you’re basically showing you don’t care if they catch what you have.

Everyone's posting as though a scholarly, peer reviewed study had not been published only last week showing that masks have zero effect on the transmission of covid.

Going to the theatre later. No, I will not wear a mask; just my leper badge.

There wouldn’t really be much point in the show issuing a ‘gentle reminder’ as it was optional so people could just ignore it if they wanted to.

Unfortunately I think unless you phone venues up beforehand and ask if they will be refusing entry to those without masks then this is a chance you basically just need to take. Or take a break from going to shows.

@lisaandalan

I stupidly went to the theatre a few weeks ago, no temperature checks and hardly anyone had a mask. I caught Covid, this was the first time I'd been anywhere inside since this all started. X

I'm not surprised, your immune system is likely very low if you've avoided inside areas for the best part of 2 years. However here you are, presumably alive and well as posting on mn and can go about your daily life much more confidently, knowing it's highly unlikely at least in the next few months, that you'll catch covid again, and that if you do you'll probably be fine anyway.

@Maskless

Everyone's posting as though a scholarly, peer reviewed study had not been published only last week showing that masks have zero effect on the transmission of covid.

Maybe because you haven’t posted a link?

@MimiDaisy11

I know not your main point but on the man coughing - I wish there were more campaigns targeting people who have coughs to wear masks. Unfortunately many still seem confused about why you wear a mask and think it’s to protect the person wearing it. In Japan and some other countries it’s rude not to wear a mask out and about if you have a cough as you’re basically showing you don’t care if they catch what you have.

I cough due to acid reflux, which you can't catch

People cough due to asthma, which you can't catch

I wish their were more campaigns to educate people that not all coughs are contagious.

@Rosiestraws

I had forgotten about checking this thread until I saw the news about mask wearing being compulsory again. As you can imagine, I'm very happy about it!

I think there's a very sad and selfish mentality in society and on this thread where the comments come out of "if you're that bothered then stay at home". Why should I, or anyone else, have to stay at home because others aren't following the rules which have been put in place to keep us all safe? OK, it wasn't legally required to wear a mask when I booked the tickets, but the terms said staff would be wearing face coverings and we request you to do the same when inside the venue. That was a risk I was comfortable with taking. It's not the most comfortable thing to wear a mask for a couple of hours, but it's not the end of the world (for the majority of people who aren't exempt etc). Doctors/ nurses/ surgeons wear them for hours and hours...

Anyway, I'm glad that it's back in place and it hopefully means that I'll be able to go to a few more shows in conditions I'm comfortable with...

They were following the rules. That's the point. Nothing in the booking information or legislation indicated that mask wearing was a rule, and you made a mistake in assuming it. With that in mind, best you don't have the cheek to call anyone else selfish.

@Maskless

Everyone's posting as though a scholarly, peer reviewed study had not been published only last week showing that masks have zero effect on the transmission of covid.

Hi @Maskless, could you post the link? I’m only aware of the BMJ study last week which said completely the opposite

I've been to a few gigs recently and no-one wore masks.

@Rosiestraws

I had forgotten about checking this thread until I saw the news about mask wearing being compulsory again. As you can imagine, I'm very happy about it!

I think there's a very sad and selfish mentality in society and on this thread where the comments come out of "if you're that bothered then stay at home". Why should I, or anyone else, have to stay at home because others aren't following the rules which have been put in place to keep us all safe? OK, it wasn't legally required to wear a mask when I booked the tickets, but the terms said staff would be wearing face coverings and we request you to do the same when inside the venue. That was a risk I was comfortable with taking. It's not the most comfortable thing to wear a mask for a couple of hours, but it's not the end of the world (for the majority of people who aren't exempt etc). Doctors/ nurses/ surgeons wear them for hours and hours...

Anyway, I'm glad that it's back in place and it hopefully means that I'll be able to go to a few more shows in conditions I'm comfortable with...

But it wasn't a risk you were comfortable taking, was it? The risk was that the venue requested mask wearing, and that many people would decline that request.

If I had to wear a mask at the theatre or cinema, I just wouldn't go. Wearing a mask is uncomfortable for me, and steams my glasses up if I am wearing them. I wouldn't pay to be uncomfortable for several hours. In a shop it doesn't bother me so much as it isn't for long, so I'm happy to do it.

That being said, when do you suggest we stop wearing masks?

@Rosiestraws

I had forgotten about checking this thread until I saw the news about mask wearing being compulsory again. As you can imagine, I'm very happy about it!

I think there's a very sad and selfish mentality in society and on this thread where the comments come out of "if you're that bothered then stay at home". Why should I, or anyone else, have to stay at home because others aren't following the rules which have been put in place to keep us all safe? OK, it wasn't legally required to wear a mask when I booked the tickets, but the terms said staff would be wearing face coverings and we request you to do the same when inside the venue. That was a risk I was comfortable with taking. It's not the most comfortable thing to wear a mask for a couple of hours, but it's not the end of the world (for the majority of people who aren't exempt etc). Doctors/ nurses/ surgeons wear them for hours and hours...

Anyway, I'm glad that it's back in place and it hopefully means that I'll be able to go to a few more shows in conditions I'm comfortable with...

Looks like you are going to be disappointed again then as they are just mentioning shops and transport.

Not sure if I've managed to quote correctly but to the person who said it's a cheek to call someone selfish who doesn't wear a mask. Why not? It's the very definition of selfish, surely, to not wear a mask when you are requested to do so? You're considering your own comfort and enjoyment over the protection of others or even let's say the reassurance of others and following guidelines set by the place you are choosing to visit. Fine if your argument is "why shouldn't I be selfish if it's not the law" but you are, by very definition, being "selfish" aka "lacking consideration for other people; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure" If you don't feel comfortable admitting that's what you're doing because you don't like the connotations of the word that's your own issue but I believe it's a factual statement....

Agreed to others who said I misunderstood the news about masks. I was incorrect and assumed it was indoor places.. a shame it's not but hopefully this will be enough to limit the spread.

As to when face masks should stop being worn, I'm not sure to be honest..and thankful it's not my decision! If it continues as a way of life I can learn to live with it for as long as necessary...

@Maskless

Everyone's posting as though a scholarly, peer reviewed study had not been published only last week showing that masks have zero effect on the transmission of covid.

Don't be silly.

Went to the Albert Hall recently and hardly anyone wearing masks. Also to a London Theatre, same there. Will all change from Tuesday I believe

Yanbu.
I saw people cramming into the middle tube carriages without masks last week. I assume they're people who have the luxury of time and money to get ill. They're not all exempt.

If you’re healthy and fully vaccinated, the chances of you being severely ill let alone dying from Covid are minimal. Why should vaccinated theatre-goers wear masks to protect fuck-wit anti-vaxxers? I’ve no sympathy whatsoever for the unvaccinated who peg it. Evolution in action.

@Rosiestraws

Not sure if I've managed to quote correctly but to the person who said it's a cheek to call someone selfish who doesn't wear a mask. Why not? It's the very definition of selfish, surely, to not wear a mask when you are requested to do so? You're considering your own comfort and enjoyment over the protection of others or even let's say the reassurance of others and following guidelines set by the place you are choosing to visit. Fine if your argument is "why shouldn't I be selfish if it's not the law" but you are, by very definition, being "selfish" aka "lacking consideration for other people; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure" If you don't feel comfortable admitting that's what you're doing because you don't like the connotations of the word that's your own issue but I believe it's a factual statement....

Agreed to others who said I misunderstood the news about masks. I was incorrect and assumed it was indoor places.. a shame it's not but hopefully this will be enough to limit the spread.

As to when face masks should stop being worn, I'm not sure to be honest..and thankful it's not my decision! If it continues as a way of life I can learn to live with it for as long as necessary...

You've got a cheek because you expect people to wear a mask when there is no legal obligation to do so, and in a venue that evidently wasn't bothered. The request stuff is meaningless. You are doing exactly what you berate others for here, considering your own comfort over that of others and expecting them to prioritise it. You just aren't comfortable admitting it...