To those that don't want to wear a mask...

[Iamchangingmyusername]

I've seen a lot of threads on here with people annoyed that they have to wear a mask in public.

Aside from those with a legitimate medical reason, why are some people so anti mask?

Genuinely curious. I have had to travel to and from work throughout lockdown and the introduction of masks on public transport made me feel somewhat safer. Noticing less and less people wearing them, or wearing them as a decorative chin strap.

I put one on for about 10 minutes yesterday and it was awful. It was hot and claustrophobic. I will wear it when I have to but avoid Going to shops etc.

Some of the comments here are horrifying me. So judgemental, so nasty. So unbelievably discriminatory! It's very sad and I genuinely hope that these comments aren't reflective of the whole of society.

I can absolutely see why people find it hard to take the necessity of wearing masks seriously. At the height of the pandemic, when community transmission was high, we were told that they were not necessary. The way most people wear them and behave in them does little to minimise the risk of contagion. And people seriously saying that disabled or unwell people who cannot wear masks should accept that they can't go out in public for the foreseeable future. For the satisfaction of some virtue-signallers who are, I'm sorry, accepting political decisions as scientific fact! I have tried not to comment, but I just find this way of thinking horrible.

Ok, I’m on a train. A woman comes in, just now, she’s in at least three higher risk groups. She’s wearing a mask.

She sat down, took her mask off and started a long shouty conversation on her phone. Spittle flying everywhere.

Am I judgemental to think she’s an utter twat?

This conversation seems unique to the UK.

I was reading an article about masks on a US website and the comments on the article were similar to this discussion, including comments saying "why is America the only place where people are complaining about masks??. You don't see this nonsense in other countries"
I imagine people in all countries that didn't previously wear masks are having similar conversations.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Ok, I’m on a train. A woman comes in, just now, she’s in at least three higher risk groups. She’s wearing a mask.

She sat down, took her mask off and started a long shouty conversation on her phone. Spittle flying everywhere.

Am I judgemental to think she’s an utter twat?

No, you're not.

A man gets on my train every morning, lowers his mask and holds a battery powered fan to his face for the entire journey.

Blimey, that’s a really innovative way of spreading your manky germs to the carriage.

But he might have reasons for this!

This conversation seems unique to the UK.

I doubt it.

And I mean In countries where mask wearing is new thing . ie In Europe, USA etc.

Many European countries came down harder and earlier with masks. And people have gotten used to it. So it's not really a thing now.

I think they will get used to it here. In Costco yesterday all non mask wearers were being ( politely) told they would need to be wearing a mask after Friday ( or have an exemption) .

We are wearing them a fair bit right now as we are in France and using trains. Currently coming to the end of an almost three hour train ride wearing one.

Initially they felt strange to wear but now we are just used to them.

It's 30 degrees here and even then it's not really an issue.

Everyone round her seems to be just getting in with it. There doesn't seem to be anywhere near the fuss as I keep reading about in England and on MN. There also doesn't seem to be anywhere near the number of people needing to be exempt as I read about in MN.

It's just no big deal at all for the vast majority of people, once you get used to them. Same as the anti bac for your hands entering shops and restaurants, etc.

That have no impact on your ability to breathe and no negative impact on oxygen levels.

You're wearing them not just to protect yourself, but even more so to help protect others around you.

I watched a tv show last night here and the audience all had masks in which were their own faces. They matched up exact! Was weird though as from a distance everyone looked 'normal' but with rigid facial expressions.

I've discovered after a week of contestant use and going out that you can gather people's emotions a lot from their eyes. Even without seeing their mouth you can get a good idea of how people are feeling.

@Kazzyhoward

Fair enough for those who have sound medical reasons for not wearing them, but if they're not, then keep 2 metres away from me or I'll be telling you to keep your sodding distance. Regardless of medical issues, I don't want you infecting me. The least such people can do is maintain 2 m social distancing.

Are you always so rude?

I can't wear a mask and I make sure I keep a good distance from everyone who does. But many, many people don't bother staying half a metre from me, let alone two.

Can I ask if you were telling those not wearing masks to keep their 'sodding distance' all through the pandemic, or have you just started now?

@IloveJKRowling

I wonder how the surgeons, who wear masks to protect their patients during long hours in surgery, feel when reading this thread.

Or all the other healthcare professionals wearing masks for long days at work.

There's a poster on here who had planned to become a surgeon, but due to her severe asthma couldn't wear a mask and had to change her career plans.

I suspect many HCPs would be sympathetic of those they care for who are unable to wear a mask.

I suspect many HCPs would be sympathetic of those they care for who are unable to wear a mask.

Totally agree but Maybe less for the "i can but won'ts".

@Fuckinellitsme - masks are literally only required for shops transport and medical appointments. There's another option where you get supermarket deliveries, shop online and use GP phone appointments. Many elderly and vulnerable people have had months of having to stay in, perhaps now it's your turn to stay away from places so that you don't risk infecting others. It's annoying, yes, but pandemics seem to be constant annoyance and it doesn't seem fair for it to keep being the same people shut away when everyone else could do their bit.

It’s new and nobody likes it really but we do seem to have problems following the rules generally and pointing out all the reasons we are special and the rules don’t apply to us and questioning who made the rules and why and where is the research please to back it up. I just think it’s probably a positive as it shows how free our country usually is when compared to others who have to obediently follow the government or you know. Sanctions.

[quote MRex]@Fuckinellitsme - masks are literally only required for shops transport and medical appointments. There's another option where you get supermarket deliveries, shop online and use GP phone appointments. Many elderly and vulnerable people have had months of having to stay in, perhaps now it's your turn to stay away from places so that you don't risk infecting others. It's annoying, yes, but pandemics seem to be constant annoyance and it doesn't seem fair for it to keep being the same people shut away when everyone else could do their bit.[/quote]
So those of us who are exempt are not to use public transport or go to work? How are we to get to hospital appointments?

The government has absolutely not advised those who are exempt to stay at home. And my GP (in common with others) has said that those who are exempt do not require a mask for visits. Similarly many large retailers (including Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury's etc) have said that those who cannot wear masks do not have to while shopping in-store.

Why, then, do you feel the need to take it upon yourself - directly against government advice - to tell us to stay away from shops, transport, doctors and work?

Also, I'm not sure why people keep invoking 'other countries'. They have exemptions, too.

@Fuckinellitsme - if you need public transport to get to hospital then that's a necessary trip, exemptions are intended for required activity. What seems very odd to me are people who want to roam around shops without a mask because they have an exemption. It isn't necessary, so don't do it.

[quote MRex]@Fuckinellitsme - if you need public transport to get to hospital then that's a necessary trip, exemptions are intended for required activity. What seems very odd to me are people who want to roam around shops without a mask because they have an exemption. It isn't necessary, so don't do it.[/quote]
Please show me where in the government guidelines/law it states that exemptions are intended for required activity?

Clue: It doesn't say that. Anywhere.

Please don't make things up.

I start to understand how the Stasi managed to operate so effectively.

I didn't say it did, I was very clear in everything I've said that it's my opinion. I think the allowable exemption is much too broad and that some different people should take a turn at being the ones inconvenienced for a bit. If you aren't willing to be even mildly inconvenienced by doing a bit of shopping online instead of in person to help protect vulnerable people, then that's been left by government as your choice.

@MRex

I didn't say it did, I was very clear in everything I've said that it's my opinion. I think the allowable exemption is much too broad and that some different people should take a turn at being the ones inconvenienced for a bit. If you aren't willing to be even mildly inconvenienced by doing a bit of shopping online instead of in person to help protect vulnerable people, then that's been left by government as your choice.

Why do you think the allowable exemption is too broad? How should it be altered?

And not being able to go to work, hospital appointments, shops etc isn't being 'inconvenienced'. Those shielding were entitled to receive help (quite rightly, and not enough help was given imo). There is no such help for people unable to wear a mask, also quite rightly.

The infection rate is incredibly low, which it wasn't when shielding was introduced. Ergo a handful of people not wearing masks for genuine reasons (while everyone else who can, does) is not going to push infection rates sky high. As others have said, mask wearing is like vaccination - it only needs a majority of people to do it for it to be effective.

Please can I ask that you do not translate your opinions into judgemental looks and comments when you see people out and about without masks. Many of us already have enough to deal with without being the subject of witch hunts.

@Fuckinellitsme - I'm giving my opinion here based on information given here, I have no idea why you think that means I'm doing "witch hunts". I'm not a retail assistant, police officer, medical professional, security guard nor transport worker, so I've no need to speak to strangers in shops, but please just be polite and concise if one of those workers approaches you because their work requires it.

[quote MRex]@Fuckinellitsme - I'm giving my opinion here based on information given here, I have no idea why you think that means I'm doing "witch hunts". I'm not a retail assistant, police officer, medical professional, security guard nor transport worker, so I've no need to speak to strangers in shops, but please just be polite and concise if one of those workers approaches you because their work requires it.[/quote]
Their work doesn't require it, and they've been told by their unions not to do so. Neither are they allowed to ask for proof of exemption.

If only the man tutting at me for an entire bus journey or the ladies talking about how selfish I am loudly enough for the whole bus to hear were so polite.

Compulsory wearing of a face covering will be final nail in the coffin for many retail outlets.

@Kazzyhoward

Fair enough for those who have sound medical reasons for not wearing them, but if they're not, then keep 2 metres away from me or I'll be telling you to keep your sodding distance. Regardless of medical issues, I don't want you infecting me. The least such people can do is maintain 2 m social distancing.

While I was shopping this morning, I told three people to keep their sodding distance (or words to that effect). They were all wearing masks - I wasn't and I won't be. I don't want someone within 2m of me after they've been breathing through the same bit of homemade tat for a week without bothering to wash it.

And now hand-washing already seems to be vanishing now that we have magical masks to keep us safe I went to the loo in Tesco - a member of staff followed me in. She came back out of the cubicle and went straight back into the shop without washing. While I was washing my hands, a woman who was in there before me left her cubicle and went straight out to the shop. Let's just say it was obvious for various reasons that she hadn't just gone in for a wee. Clearly it takes more than a pandemic to over-ride the fact that many people in this country are disgustingly filthy and unhygienic but that's fine as long as your wearing a sock on your face.