... to ask why people are still wearing masks?

[KatyKopykat]

I've seen several people wearing a mask in shopping centres and on buses and trains.

This sort of thread brings out the conspiracy theorists.

I mentioned previously I have a close relative whose partner is extremely clinically vulnerable. She has been advised by her clinician to wear masks in indoor public spaces and avoid respiratory infections, and he wears one for her sake - N95, which do help to prevent transmission.

They have face rudeness and some hostility for this - which is no one else's business - presumably from people who think that they're 'attention seeking'. They are young people who can't live normal lives because of her condition - they shouldn't have to suffer this kind of attitude as well.

Well OP you've had lots and lots of replies giving various explanations for why people may be choosing to wear masks.

Your only responses have been defensive in tone. But given you've now got your answers I'm assuming it now makes much more sense for you.

I can see why the "simple question" might offend people as COVID is still around, many people are suffering with long COVID, there are still many unknowns about the viruses and people with immune deficiency/susceptibility are living in fear. They don't need people asking them why when it's pretty obvious.

Well, I can put two and two together.

People have posted in good faith explaining their situations and why they are still or again wearing a mask.

Your only comment on the topic since remains as quoted in my post above.

Possibly because there's a new variant that has a huge amount of mutation so current vaccines and immunity from prior infection are ineffective against it. In the US they've named it "Pirola" and it's spreading rapidly, but I don't know if we have it here yet.

And Long Covid is shit, and life changing for some.

@inadarkwood as masks have long gone for most people, and recently made a noticeable reappearance, @KatyKopykat ‘s question is still valid.

Her question is ostensibly valid, but she has shown zero interest in or appreciation for people's honest resonponses to her question. Merely sneered at the idea of masking continuing on. Most people would be able to figure out that coming into the cooler months, with infections of colds, flu, and covid on the rise, and more indoor mingling, might be a time that masking would resume, though...

I go to loads of large events and never see them any more, or in supermarkets.
I don't even know anybody that's been ill recently, never mind had covid. Our sickness rates at work aren't rising either (the stats are part of my role)

Maybe just lucky in this area!

Because she starts off by pretending she's "just asking questions" and other people wearing masks doesn't affect her, she's neutral about the whole thing and just innocently wondering.

Then says how we'll never see the end of mask wearing... revealing (as if it weren't already obvious) that really she does think it's a bad thing. People making their own choices and wearing masks if they wish is something she denigrates and hopes to stop.

It's just a slightly different flavour of the old "it's the SHEEP COMPLYING that will make this last forever!" conspiracy bullshit. People are wise to it now and so she's been treated accordingly.

@SirCharlesRainier I see. I can never fathom why anyone cares who wears a mask or not. Interesting to know why, but people could wear a teapot on their head forevermore as far as I’m concerned.

The question was obviously raised to cause a debate and didn't come over as an 'innocent' question at all. It just screamed 'people are stupid for continuing the mask wearing to me'. As I stated in my first reply, I am in the CEV group for various respiratory conditions. I err on the side of caution in any case as my daughter is a nurse. I may not catch Covid (and haven't done so far) but could be a carrier and unwittingly pass it on to her, which would not only cost her time off work (they are so short staffed) but would put her patients at risk. It is no hardship to wear a mask and it is personal choice. I don't question why people don't wear a mask so don't see why people that do wear a mask are questioned. The whole post was made to deliberately cause an argument for no reason at all. Perhaps she was bored.

Most of the time, yes. When dealing with questions like yours - no.

No-one is asking people who don’t want to wear a mask to do anything though (other than ideally stop being aggressive towards people who do). Part of the reason I wear a mask is that I’m well aware there will be people with Covid walking around without one.

Well enlighten us, then. What was the thought process behind starting the thread?

The question is about as ridiculous as saying 'why are you wearing a woolly hat, it is not cold today. I am not wearing one, so why are you?'

Out of consideration for others as COVID is on the rise again, plus there seem to be some ‘super colds’ around at the moment that people probably don’t want to pass on.

@KatyKopykat

we might not “see the end of masks” no

that is cos they serve a purpose - to protect the clinically vulnerable, those with a poor immune system, those who have a bug or virus and don’t wanna pass it around (very considerate of them I think).

Soz Op, I reckon they’re here to stay!

I've been wearing a mask again recently. I have an activity coming up that I really want to do and have already had to postpone once due to illness, so just trying to do my best not to catch anything but I do still HAVE to go out into crowded places.
It may or may not help but it makes me feel like I'm doing something to try to avoid catching Covid or a cold

There are various possibilities.

Maybe they're clinically vulnerable and have been advised this may help.

Maybe they're naturally cautious and want to do this to protect themselves and others. After all, there aren't any massive downsides.

Maybe they have cold symptoms and want to reduce the risk of infecting others. This has been a major reason for mask wearing in countries like Japan for many years. No suprise it's less common here as we're rather more individualistic as a society, but there are still altruistic/community minded people among us.

Yabu

"She" (Who's she, the cat's mother?" to quote my grandma) has been travelling from one end of the country to another, not glued to Mumsnet. Though I have been reading the responses. Also I've not sneered at anyone; maybe you have me confused with some of the other vehement posters.

I did see someone wearing one during the week, and it was over 26 degrees. I don't think that's a ridiculous question to ask oneself (or Mumsnet - though wait ..)

I saw people in puffa jackets, a man in a shirt, tie and woolly jumper, someone in a hoodie. But we're digressing.

Does it matter? Maybe it's a good thing. I lived and worked in Japan for 2 years, it was considered normal to wear a mask if you had a cold or any other respiratory infection. I always think being considerate to others is positive. I'm just getting over Covid and have been very careful to stay away from others or wear a mask if I can't. It was horrible, I was really unwell for 2 weeks and certainly don't want to inflict that on other people. I would wear a mask in indoor crowded places if I didn't want to get ill myself, at least that is socially acceptable in this country post Covid.