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.

@AlecTrevelyan006

Not necessarily as Covid and Covid safety measures and criminal laws have been updated and imposed to keep us more alive and hence able to still shop and support the economy.

Covid has essentially in half a year brought forward technology influenced trends including the digitalisation of online retail with express delivery, and both working remotely for those that are in traditional office or multi locational roles etc.

Traditional physical bricks and mortar businesses are unfortunately (for non digital natives and the off grid) a slowly evolving concept. Look at digital finance and payment as physical cash payments and high street financial businesses have also significantly moved on with the times. Not all good admittedly but it's all business as much more cost effective to employ smart AI technology than real people sadly.

Personally I am all for diversity and inclusion and so a smarter blended approach is best way forward as retail now need to step up their game and offer more customer care and customer experience to add functionality which online can't.

Not sure if all high streets will survive but possibly needs more destination attractions to keep the shoppers interested as much can be purchased remotely and delivered without too many issues.

Possibly some of the former retail will be suitable for residential conversion as ideal location for communities to bring some life back into some sad and increasingly deserted town centres etc.

For all that people huff and puff about it on social media I haven't come across anyone who has said they won't wear a mask without reason. I have come across plenty who say they will wear a mask when they have to but will avoid activities that require it. And that's fine because, the last time I checked, this is still a country where you can choose how to spend your time and it isn't compulsory to go browsing round the shops if you don't want to. Even if the reason you don't want to is because you don't like wearing a mask why is that anyone else's business.

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

Maybe that's true. Along with other SD measures and the possibility of catching Covid from an asymptomatic passer by in a crowd.

The people who choose not to go out shopping will further drive the rise of the internet. So be it.

It will reinforce that these bricks and mortar shops are no longer fit for purpose. 🤷‍♀️ Non food internet shopping has jumped by 48% since last year.

Choosing not to go shopping is the major influence here.

But please don't moan about the demise of shops and declare you 'won't wear a mask.' ( won'ts not can'ts )

And now hand-washing already seems to be vanishing now that we have magical masks to keep us safe

Nah just grubby people. you can hardly blame that one on masks.

And now hand-washing already seems to be vanishing now that we have magical masks to keep us safe

I haven't seen a decline in hand washing.
And I see people using anti bac gels all the time in top of hand washing too.

As a bit of perspective DDs and I arrived in Spain to visit family for six weeks six days ago.
Obviously had to wear masks throughout the airport and during the flight. We've come to a region where wearing masks are compulsory EVERYWHERE at all times, no exceptions.
Temperature mid 30's every day.
We've adjusted extremely quickly from wearing no mask to full time mask wearing.
It's really no hardship, already become a habit.
Luckily here every shop whatever the size have hand sanitiser dispensers inside and out side the shops.
Everyone going about their normal business

I agree with the comments if we didn't have a wear a mask at the HEIGHT of Covid, why now? If its to be believed, the mask is to stop you catching the virus, not to stop you giving the virus to folk. I am claustrophobic (couldn't do an MRI - ran sobbing from the machine in a wild panic). When I can't breathe freely, I get over-hot, sweaty and then feel faint. I agree with a couple of other posters, why shouldn't we be able to express an opinion about this situ on places like Mumsnet?! I hate the mask so drive everywhere at the mo but the shops from Fri, well I dread and hope I dont get panic-stricken like the MRI day..... this means I may only visit two shops then go home - if there's a big queue I may end up just abandoning my shopping..... This is genuine, not a made-up thing. I dont like masks / not being able to freely breathe. BTW pls can we keep free speech here and not slag off folk because they don't agree with "you"?!!!

If its to be believed, the mask is to stop you catching the virus, not to stop you giving the virus to folk.

This is the exact the opposite of all the communication from health bodies over the past couple of months.

@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.

To those who do - wear them

To those who don't - Good on you. No logical reason to wear them

It's mandatory - I'll wear but I totally believe it's a PLACEBO for the vocal minority. I and most decent people will totally accept that YOU have chosen not to whether or not you have a 'legal' exemption doesn't worry me or most people in the slightest. If someone challenges you - unless they are police - tell them to piss off.

If police explain - otherwise it's none of their business

I can imagine, after spending months locked up inside when they start getting back into the community, many will be taking their time. Don't blame them either, I wouldn't be in a rush.

Not seen the outside of a store since March? Had to rely on home deliveries, that's when they could finally get one. Had I waited, I'd be doing a month shopping trip without the mask and taking my time.

People talk about France, Spain and America as fine examples of the successes. How everyone is wearing them. Yet the exclusions are ignored. But what I find really odd is that the third wave China are going through, or even other countries that are starting to see a second wave are rarely mentioned.

It's also a bit hard to take serious when you're own government tell the nation to make one out of any random piece of clothing with no mention of material thickness, when to change them (posters on mn have said they have been advised it's 30 minutes, yet others all day). or even when to wash the reusable ones. At one point they even suggested a bandana but all research at that time said not a chance.

Never mind if knock a mask together from a random bit of clothing helped at all, government would have been all over this and enforced them in nhs to save a fortune on ppe.

Another poster said there's no longer a shortage of PPE, unfortunately this still isn't the case globally. Check local news within other countries.

Italy.......................handing out masks free outside pharmacies.
Japan..................cooled face masks in vending machines
UK make your own mask out of a sock.

Worth posting again.

For the uninitiated the standard surgical cloth masks are second nature after a few times. Only downside is that they are obviously not brilliant for any physical exercise (apart from short sprints to catch the bus etc). I understand they are designed and intended for surgical use in the operating theatre so presumably a few hours ultra high concentration mentally optimal to facilitate and allow steady breathing and eye hand coordination.

The standard 3 ply cloth surgical masks are now readily available and sold online for substantially less than a pound per 2 (even for three masks) though obviously daily wear disposable as with contact lenses etc. You can also buy reusable masks from high street discount stores for just one to two pounds each. Many people I know have experimented at home until they are satisfied with a suitable home made mask using unused fabric or old clothing etc.

We all need to respect those that are medically (and mentally) exempt as these people can't safely put masks (or shields) on and take them off as apparently that is the acid test for legality supposedly. I personally know many shielded elderly who are just healthy enough to not be included in the initial UK government special support group but obviously given their age with age related health are finding life more challenging than most. Luckily there are many Good Samaritan sorts and lots of voluntary local support groups to undertake responsibilities for basic necessities like food and medicines logistics etc. Still not nice for older people to feel trapped inside their homes for so long especially those with limited outdoor space. And if you are unmasked then technically you are obviously not as protected and may inadvertently be a super spreader unless you are regularly negative tested.

It does look very unlikely there will be any credible vaccine despite all the hype and so we must all (if we can) just put on a face covering but also not forgetting all the other good and necessary Covid mitigation and hygiene practices as only combined can we save lives and the economy.

Some people may be perplexed why the sudden recent face coverings u turn? Well I personally always wore (for months) some PPE including for young child and I am guessing initially there were no masks available even for UK frontline medics and so the political leadership took the view from those less common scientists who down played their pubic health benefits. There will always be a scientist somewhere who will prescribe this increasingly rare view as with those who initially suggested herd immunity.

Good luck people and remember the whole globe wear these things now so it's just no other option unless you are going to stay away from people and use technology instead which is never going to replace humanity! Not even close and that is someone used to working remotely and internationally and so have much experience in video conference (crap!). This is not about human rights and being told what to do but it is about saving lives including your own possibly and for that reason we should accept the instructional advice and obey the laws even if it is not desperately comfortable.

And if you are unmasked then technically you are obviously not as protected and may inadvertently be a super spreader unless you are regularly negative tested

It's this sort of codswallop which makes those of us who cannot wear a mask the focus for filthy looks, judgement and abuse.

Masks do not protect the wearer (at least the cloth coverings we've been advised to wear, and which most people are wearing, do not) - they're to protect others.

And how do you imagine painting all those who cannot wear a mask as 'potential super spreaders' will go for us?

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia you've said this sort of thing on other threads (including rants about disabled people claiming benefits while the responsible masked go out to work). Please stop creating division and intolerance under the guise of concern.

@Fuckinellitsme YY The motivations there are very sinister.

Masks do not protect the wearer (at least the cloth coverings we've been advised to wear, and which most people are wearing, do not) - they're to protect others.”

HEPA filters do to a good extent, as well as protecting others.

Have posted this on the understanding mask thread as well

Had a look on the gov site to see if they have improved their mask advice.They haven't btw.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

Clicked on one of the links and found a Government endorsed exemption card. It can be printed or an app on the phone. They do emphasis that the card is optional and you have no legal requirement to produce this or any written evidence.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Absolutely love it when people say they don't believe masks actually help. Would like to read their independent studies they've conducted. That's the wonderful thing about science, random people don't actually get an opinion.

There's information coming out now that masks do protect the wearer. It's really not a great hardship to protect yourself and others www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-08-oxford-covid-19-study-face-masks-and-coverings-work-act-now#

COVID-19 & Mask Myths DEBUNKED!

Wow, after reading these comments my respect for surgeons and nurses has just gone through the roof. What a nation of jelly babies.

But what I find really odd is that the third wave China are going through, or even other countries that are starting to see a second wave are rarely mentioned.

China aren’t going through a second or third “wave“. They’ve had a couple of tiny outbreaks that they’ve pounced upon extremely aggressively.

Masks aren’t perfect... No one is saying they are. They reduce your ability to transmit the virus, not eliminate it. Pointing to countries that have had outbreaks since wearing masks as a way of trying to claim masks don’t work, is a bit like trying to claim seatbelts are useless because there are still car accident fatalities.

@Coconutbear1

Wow, after reading these comments my respect for surgeons and nurses has just gone through the roof. What a nation of jelly babies.

Public transport stats suggest 90% of passengers are wearing masks. Of the remainder, at least half are medically exempt. Hardly 'nation' status. However, there is more than enough evidence to show that we are well on the way to becoming a nation of ignorant, judgemental arseholes.

What do the posters who say they don't want to wear a mask think about the study in Poland that found narcissists and people with sociopathic/psychopathic tendencies are most likely to refuse? It's because they don't think they work (they know better than scientists) or they don't care about others. Interesting stuff!

I’d use any shop or supermarket that handed out to shoppers a free disposable mask at the door, no questions asked. Not very environmentally friendly I know but realistically if they want my custom, that’s the best way to win it.

@DianaT1969

What do the posters who say they don't want to wear a mask think about the study in Poland that found narcissists and people with sociopathic/psychopathic tendencies are most likely to refuse? It's because they don't think they work (they know better than scientists) or they don't care about others. Interesting stuff!

I wonder what the personality traits are of the many people who see an unmasked person and decide it's 'won't' not 'can't'. I wouldn't imagine it would be flattering.