If face masks are made mandatory...

[CathyandHeathcliff]

How long do people suspect they will be needed / kept mandatory?

*It’s interesting how people who favoured lockdown now favour compulsory mask wearing.
*
you know that right?

I think it shows a lack of critical thinking and a dependent mindset. People who think the world revolves around them and that others need to be made to do things to protect them.

I think that statement shows a MASSIVE lack of "critical thinking".

The two are not automatically correlated and the calls for masks are quite recent. They only really appeared after it became clear that relaxing lockdown was not going to cause a massive second wave.

You're all across the second wave are you?

People have been wearing masks since the off.

easterisland you misread my post. I said the poster's dad would be protected by others wearing masks.

@ItMustBeBedtimeSurely apologies

I live in Portugal, we have had mandatory mask wearing in enclosed public spaces for weeks. Everyone knows the rules and complies, no fuss, no tantrums, all fine. Some people need to grow the fuck up

I'm in Spain they have made them compulsory even outside they only concession is while seated a bar to eat and drink , seated on your towel at the beach and excercise they will be worn I think until it's totally contained maybe years without a vaccine

If masks are made compulsory in England, the government are signing the death warrant for the retail industry.

I don't want to wear a face mask. I have a tendency towards eczema on my face which has become infected with impetigo and I am really not going to be encouraging a repeat episode.

I've been shopping and spending since shops reopened. Making a point of buying lunch out at work. I won't be doing that if masks are mandatory.

I went shopping in town yesterday for the first time since February. I ended up wearing a mask to make me feel safer because I could not believe how many people there were, how little distancing was being done and how mad it all felt to me.

I was in the "won't be wearing one" camp until yesterday. Now, I will be - if I go to town - will probably spend a lot more shopping time on line now.

@mum2jakie there is another PP on here who said she couldn’t wear a mask because of impetigo and she was given advice on what to use to prevent it whilst wearing a mask. Hopefully they might see your post and be able to advise you.

The idealisation of places like China is pretty terrifying. I'll wear a mask if I have to, I don't want to and I won't enjoy it. I can guarantee it will make me touch my face more.

The idea of a 2yo wearing a mask all day is vile and not something to be aspired to imo.

It will put a lot of people off shopping and spending, it will be awful for the economy.

If someone chooses to wear a face covering then that’s fine. I believe that not wearing one should also be a choice. I also believe that if wearing one is made compulsory it will accelerate the economic collapse we are currently experiencing, leading to more redundancies, more job losses and a huge increase in poverty and social unrest and all of the negative things associated with them.

I think until there is a vaccine.

People in Asia have been wearing masks for years. I went to Tokyo a couple of years ago, and I reckon at least 75% of people wore them. It will just become a normal thing to do, in my opinion.

@AlecTrevelyan006

It’s interesting how people who favoured lockdown now favour compulsory mask wearing.

The two are not automatically correlated and the calls for masks are quite recent. They only really appeared after it became clear that relaxing lockdown was not going to cause a massive second wave.

I think it shows a lack of critical thinking and a dependent mindset. People who think the world revolves around them and that others need to be made to do things to protect them.

I don’t think the support for masks is anywhere near as strong as the support for early lockdown. If these people really believed in them, then they would be wearing them already and, if anything, it seems to be reducing where I live.

I think you’ve got that a bit backwards.

People who “favoured” lockdown did so because they understood that it reduces transmission. People who “favour” masks do so because they understand it reduces transmission.

People who can wear masks need to wear masks to protect who can’t (people with asthma/COPD/ptsd just to name a few examples from this thread). Not because I “expect people to protect me”, we’ve seen enough times that masks protect the people around the wearer more than the wearer.

It’s not a lack of critical thinking, it’s common sense and altruism

And I can’t speak for everyone who’s happy to wear a mask but for me I’m annoyed with everyone who could but won’t - do you want another lockdown? Do you want schools to have to close again? Do you not want life to go back to “normal” sooner than later?

You can’t be enjoying the way things are at the moment so why would you not, if possible for you, just wear a mask?

I wonder if people in places like Spain and Portugal feel the same about how it might destroy the economy. People still seem to want to go on holiday there.

@Costacoffeeplease

I live in Portugal, we have had mandatory mask wearing in enclosed public spaces for weeks. Everyone knows the rules and complies, no fuss, no tantrums, all fine. Some people need to grow the fuck up

Or, more likely, the people who can't wear masks are just stuck at home 24/7 because they can no longer go outside

Sadly it's going the same way in England. People with hidden disabilities, breathing difficulties and PTSD are being belittled and shamed on social media because they can't wear a mask and still need to go out in public - y'know, to work, feed themselves and generally live their lives.

But yeah, those people should just grow the fuck up, right?

@vanillandhoney

I realise they're not the most comfortable things. But if healthcare staff, including myself, can wear them for 13 hours straight at work you can manage 30 mins in a shop.

No, not everyone can.

Why has that STILL not sunk in for some people? Jesus.

There is not any way that I would be able to wear a mask. It would have massive implications for me.

*The idealisation of places like China is pretty terrifying. I'll wear a mask if I have to, I don't want to and I won't enjoy it. I can guarantee it will make me touch my face more.

The idea of a 2yo wearing a mask all day is vile and not something to be aspired to imo. *

" Idealisation" . you what?

No one wants 2 year olds wearring masks all day.🙄

But someone mentioned that in SE Asia they can and do.

But no one wanted the 1,000s of Covid deaths either? or more?

I don't think it will become mandatory/law. If the UK government did this then I think the UK population would expect to be provided with facemasks free and the government won't want to fund this.

I think people should make their own decision on this, the same way they should have, to a certain extent, made their own decisions before/at the beginning of lock down. This pandemic has sadly shown how lacking in any ability to use common sense and think for themselves UK society has become, it has also shown how we are definitely not 'one society' but a collection of groups who just live on the same island. I do wonder how society in Spain, Italy etc have handled this, I always feel that those countries are very 'in it together'.

@copingnotcoping yes, me too

I'm just utterly sick of comments telling me to grow the fuck up, or get over myself, or suck it, or all sorts of other things.

And before anyone pulls me up on it, I know legally there are exemptions, but just look at the comments on here. I would not feel at all comfortable going out in public without a mask when I know how people would think about me.

People who can't wear masks have been called selfish, childish, immature, pathetic and more. It's awful and I can't believe how accepted those attitudes are. I see it on here and on social media (especially from friends in America) and it's really changed how I feel about a huge number of people. People who are protesting about BLM and equality don't seem to care when it means disabled or autistic people don't have to wear masks.

I don't think it will become mandatory/law. If the UK government did this then I think the UK population would expect to be provided with facemasks free and the government won't want to fund this.

I'm in the U.K. - my government has done this. And nobody needs to be provided with face masks for free. You can wear a scarf, snood or make one at home using an old sock. Some businesses are picking up the tab and providing them at the door for anyone who needs them. And you can also buy them very cheaply.

@BeyondMyWits

I went shopping in town yesterday for the first time since February. I ended up wearing a mask to make me feel safer because I could not believe how many people there were, how little distancing was being done and how mad it all felt to me.

I was in the "won't be wearing one" camp until yesterday. Now, I will be - if I go to town - will probably spend a lot more shopping time on line now.

Wearing a mask yourself, wont protect you from those who dont wear a mask though.

This is why the masks issue is so contentious, as people just dont understand it. Again this is evidenced in how many people you can see with the masks not over their nose, or only covering their chin. Who remove it to chat to someone. Those who constantly fiddle with it and let's face it, the majority of the population wont know how to remove a mask "safely".

I dont want to wear a mask, I have asthma and struggle to breathe at the best of times but if they become mandatory I will wear one as much as I can. But I can also say that I wont go out as often either.

I did watch an interesting video for the surgical masks that are too loose. Apparently trying the elastic on each side helps them fit better..

As a side note, I'm disgusted by how fucking nasty some posters are on this thread. One pp cant wear a mask due to PTSD from previously being fucking STRANGLED and shes essentially being told to STFU and get on with mask wearing.

Covid has caused a lot of issues. The saddest by far is how its shown just how cruel and judgemental some people can be towards others in what are very dark and challenging days. When did people lose their empathy?

I agree with the masks and will be wearing them; however I doubt it will be for ages and ages. Over the winter perhaps? Or not even that if the transmission rates go down and down.

If you have real problems you can get an exemption; for those who just don't like the feel of a mask, if you try it you do get used to them after a few 'wears'. And I am sure those who are giving up shopping completely will eventually venture out...we can't live abnormal lives forever....

I well remember the passionate anger when seat belts were introduced years and years ago but they are normal now, only a few people refuse to wear them. Masks may go the same way....?

@TaxTheRatFarms - yes I do want things to get back to normal sooner rather than later.

The problem is that the government did such a good job of scaring everyone that they are now finding it difficult to unscare them.

We now know who the vulnerable groups are - the govt should focus on protecting them and let the rest of society get on with their lives

The death rate is in decline even whilst things are open. The lack of mandatory mask wearing isn't killing pensioners as fast as you wish it was.

sorry don't understand what you are talking about?

@countfosco

Covid has really brought it home to me how awful diseases like measles (which no one really gives a second thought to) really are. I watched Chris Whitty at one of the select committee meetings describing how 10% of children who contract measles die from it in countries where the healthcare systems are not robust.

My baby turned 1 in May and I whisked him straight to the GP for his MMR. Thank god for vaccines.