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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Violet Affleck and mask mandates

335 replies

aold · 24/09/2025 09:44

AIBU think that this shouldn’t be encouraged? Violet Affleck advocating for mask mandates. Daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck. Speaking about the importance of masks. Says we should still be wearing them to curb the spread of Covid 19.
Shouldn’t a young privileged woman be enjoying her youth? Is there a reason for fit healthy people like her to still walk around in masks?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15127909/violet-affleck-mask-mandates-long-covid-ben-jennifer-garner.html

OP posts:
Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:48

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:45

I'm not convinced it does though. Everyone's immune systems seemed to be weakened after masks and social distancing. We aren't supposed to lead sterile lives.

People's immune systems are weakened because of repeat covid infections, which suppress the immune system. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2025/05/study-shows-sars-cov-2-corrupts-some-white-blood-cells-to-suppress-immune-system-suggesting-a-path-to-severe-covid

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:48

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:45

She was advocating for hepa air filters in public buildings and masking in medical facilities not "everyone masked up all the time". No need for such a hysterical reaction.

And her qualifications are what, exactly? What legitimacy does the teenage daughter of two actors have to talk about this?

Meep2024 · 24/09/2025 13:49

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:45

She was advocating for hepa air filters in public buildings and masking in medical facilities not "everyone masked up all the time". No need for such a hysterical reaction.

Sounds reasonable enough to me. Our A&E all started masking back up when flu went through it like wildfire. GPs did the same when Covid ripped through it leaving it with 2 staff who could still come in.

The HOP had HEPA filters installed before any MP would go back to work in person.

Ihatetomatoes · 24/09/2025 13:49

HermioneWeasley · 24/09/2025 09:54

She can wear what she wants but needs to stop preaching to the rest of us about her beliefs. It’s tiresome.

This.

She'll be the mask because breathing is dangerous (she can wear if she wants but leave the rest of us alone), the free Pal (ignoring the terrorists who run the place and what they did and do), save the planet (whilst swanning off for hols with the parents), TWAW (ignoring the real concerns of biological women. This type are so privileged they are completely up their own asses.

Ihatetomatoes · 24/09/2025 13:49

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:48

And her qualifications are what, exactly? What legitimacy does the teenage daughter of two actors have to talk about this?

A mega dose of self importance.

FuzzyWolf · 24/09/2025 13:50

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:38

Masks were worn in 2020-2021, by some adults and pupils in secondary schools. Not at home. And primary schools and nurseries had no mask mandates for adults or children. Can you explain how you think that caused speech and language delays in children under 5? I'm also interested in how the children who were not yet born during the era of covid precautions were affected?

I think the charity Speech and Language UK have been very vocal about this. This link shows show stats which might be useful for you: speechandlanguage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/speaking-up-for-the-covid-generation-i-can-report.pdf

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:50

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:48

I certainly didn't get repeat COVID infections and neither did my husband, but we certainly caught other things more easily after social distancing.

Needmorelego · 24/09/2025 13:51

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:48

And her qualifications are what, exactly? What legitimacy does the teenage daughter of two actors have to talk about this?

I assume she's studying about it as part of her Yale education.

HermioneWeasley · 24/09/2025 13:51

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:42

I think masks etc should be enforced on things like public transport, in hospitals, etc. Especially during cold and flu season.

I used to get really unwell when I got a cold. My dad gets very unwell from bugs, even if the rest of us are fine. A sniffle for me could end up putting him in hospital. I’m fed up of being surrounded by people who are coughing their lungs up on the bus (and don’t say I should just put a mask on - it doesn’t work like that, they’re to keep bugs IN, not out).

It’s a small thing that doesn’t affect the vast majority of the population and it would make us all healthier.

this an argument for you and your family to wear masks around your dad if you believe they’re effective, not for the whole population to mask up

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:52

Needmorelego · 24/09/2025 13:51

I assume she's studying about it as part of her Yale education.

Perhaps one of her teachers would be better placed to address the UN about it then.

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:53

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:50

I certainly didn't get repeat COVID infections and neither did my husband, but we certainly caught other things more easily after social distancing.

I'm afraid that isn't how it works. You likely had at least one covid infection, whether you realised it or not, it's not always obvious. It only takes one infection to suppress the immune system for several months after infection and increase susceptibility to secondary infections. Repeat infections cause the same thing to happen again and increase the risk of various long term issues.

loulouljh · 24/09/2025 13:53

If she wants to wear one she can crack on.

DontCallMeLenYouLittleBollix · 24/09/2025 13:53

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:47

It should be a fine, or refusal to board.

I find anti-maskers hilarious at best and downright childish at worst.

Ok, what will you do when people take them off once they're on, and how will this fining system work- do you think the driver will take the details? Police on every bus, train and tram? Would there still be an exemption system like last time?

Do remember that the last time we had mask rules in various public spaces in the UK, they often werent being enforced. Various shops said in December 2021 that it wasn't going to be theirs and their staff's responsibility. It imposes a considerable cost, often to private businesses who haven't signed up for it and aren't given resources to enforce it.

Needmorelego · 24/09/2025 13:53

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:52

Perhaps one of her teachers would be better placed to address the UN about it then.

Maybe it was a group thing? I have no idea. Maybe she was the best from her class at speech giving. I have no idea.
If her name was Jane Smith would this thread even exist? I doubt it.

Morningsleepin · 24/09/2025 13:54

Deaf people, like myself, suffer greatly when everyone is wearing a mask and they can be quite awful for asthma sufferers. I presume that there are sound medical reasons for enforcing masks in hospitals

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:54

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 24/09/2025 10:39

So if she’s not advocating for forced masks by saying those quoted words what do you think she is advocating for. How do we access our right to ‘filtered air?’

HEPA air filters in public buildings. They are not masks you wouldn't even be any more aware of them than you are of air conditioning.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:54

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:53

I'm afraid that isn't how it works. You likely had at least one covid infection, whether you realised it or not, it's not always obvious. It only takes one infection to suppress the immune system for several months after infection and increase susceptibility to secondary infections. Repeat infections cause the same thing to happen again and increase the risk of various long term issues.

So does not being regularly exposed to a normal level of germs.

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:55

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:54

So does not being regularly exposed to a normal level of germs.

You cannot “train” your immune system by repeatedly getting poorly.

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:55

DontCallMeLenYouLittleBollix · 24/09/2025 13:53

Ok, what will you do when people take them off once they're on, and how will this fining system work- do you think the driver will take the details? Police on every bus, train and tram? Would there still be an exemption system like last time?

Do remember that the last time we had mask rules in various public spaces in the UK, they often werent being enforced. Various shops said in December 2021 that it wasn't going to be theirs and their staff's responsibility. It imposes a considerable cost, often to private businesses who haven't signed up for it and aren't given resources to enforce it.

Frankly I don’t care. I’m sick of selfish bastards getting everyone else poorly.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:55

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:55

You cannot “train” your immune system by repeatedly getting poorly.

That's...not what I said.

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:56

Morningsleepin · 24/09/2025 13:54

Deaf people, like myself, suffer greatly when everyone is wearing a mask and they can be quite awful for asthma sufferers. I presume that there are sound medical reasons for enforcing masks in hospitals

Mask mandates have always had exemptions for people who cannot wear masks or need others to take them off to communicate. There are also clear masks. I have a severe hearing impairment myself I still support mask mandates in hospitals.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:57

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:47

It should be a fine, or refusal to board.

I find anti-maskers hilarious at best and downright childish at worst.

The rest of us aren't responsible for alleviating your health anxiety.

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:57

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:55

That's...not what I said.

You’re trying to suggest that exposure to germs makes your immune system stronger. That’s not the case.

GPproblems · 24/09/2025 13:57

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:57

The rest of us aren't responsible for alleviating your health anxiety.

It’s “health anxiety” to have chronic health issues and an immunocompromised father?

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/09/2025 13:57

Turningworld · 24/09/2025 13:56

Mask mandates have always had exemptions for people who cannot wear masks or need others to take them off to communicate. There are also clear masks. I have a severe hearing impairment myself I still support mask mandates in hospitals.

How does this work if you need everyone to not be wearing a mask if you are to be able to communicate with them?

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