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.

It’s unpleasant and claustrophobic. It stinks. You can smell your own breath. Your glasses steam up. I will wear a mask for safety reasons when I have to, but I’ll avoid it as much as possible by staying home.

Because I find them really unpleasant. But to be clear I will wear one. Isn’t that enough, do I have to like it as well? (like a smear test or a vaccination I accept that the ends justify the means, but I don’t have to enjoy the means).

you can smell your own breath

I've heard it all now. Clean your teeth then perhaps?

Lots of reasons. My biggest issue is my glasses steaming up, I removed it after 5 mins in supermarket because I couldn't see (was trying to show willing). I've worn them on the train (take glasses off) and they hurt my ears and even the feeling on my face is almost painful, hard to describe but it's horrible. I do have neurofibromyalgia though which makes my skin hurt.

@Treaclepie19 thanks, I have tried all different shaped ones and no luck my glasses still steam up.

Ps as I can sit in a pub for hours not wearing one, I cannot see why I need one to pick up a basket full of groceries when the store is nowhere near as busy as the pub! (Plus I had c19 in March )

@Meredithgrey1

Because I find them really unpleasant. But to be clear I will wear one. Isn’t that enough, do I have to like it as well? (like a smear test or a vaccination I accept that the ends justify the means, but I don’t have to enjoy the means).

This is my point.

I hate them, I hate Everything about them and I absolutely don't want to wear them.

I will cover my face though as it's the law

Why is this not enough for some people?

I love them. I always hated having to smile and look approachable... now I can just scowl behind my flowery jolly face covering to my hearts content and I'm considered an upstanding member of society.... I'm having the time of my life now tbh

Why do you need a reason? Some people just don't like it, like loads of other things in life. Why do they need to justify it? They will have to wear one on public transport or in shops anyway.

Who ever said rub your glasses lenses with fairy washing up liquid to stop fogging......

Please don't do this!!!

Over time Fairy washing your liquid will not only smear your lenses anyway but more importantly will erode any anti-reflective coatings on your lenses meaning you'll have to fork out for new ones!

If you don't want them to steam up heat up your glasses slightly or tighten the mask around the bridge of the nose.

@LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus

Because it is controlling of the government to enforce this, I believe I have the right to have my face exposed at all times, because I accept the risk of coronavirus and I refuse to live in fear, and because I believe I am at low risk of the illness as I actively try to be healthy.

Fabric masks don't give you protection from covid. They prevent you from infecting others. Putting one on doesn't mean someone is "living in fear", it means they'd rather take the (fairly minor) inconvenience of wearing one to protect other people who might be higher risk.

I washed the acrylic paint on the front of my house with washing up liquid and it stripped the colour out. It also strips dye out of your hair. It will wreck your glasses!

@okiedokieme

Yeah masks can make your ears sore quite quickly, look for some with ties that go round your head, or some 'ear protectors' - you can buy them off amazon etc or make some with a couple of buttons and some fabric.

True that being able to sit in the pub all day unmasked is a bit odd, but I suppose it's a choice for people to make if they go to wetherspoons or not, whereas everyone needs to buy food.

@flutterbean it might just be luck with mine but they're the best I've had. Moulded wire around the nose.

"don't really want to, but will where I need to."

^ That.

@TheGreatWave

Many people are "don't really want to, but will where I need to."

I don't have to justify any further than that.

Exactly.

I don't like it. I will do it wherever and whenever it is mandated. Doesn't mean I can't be a bit pissed off about it.

I think some here actually want to wear masks.

I will wear a mask but you do understand what 'want' means.

@TheGreatWave

Many people are "don't really want to, but will where I need to."

I don't have to justify any further than that.

That's how I am about it. I'll wear one when I need to but I just go shopping or to restaurants. I haven't done either since March so I won't miss it.

I'll try and wear one although I'm exempt because its the "rules" and I have to follow rules, but I'm not going to like it.
I struggle to understand the meaning behind what people are saying when I can see their whole face, going to struggle even more when I cant pick up any cues.

I also believe that they've only been brought in now for 2 reasons (neither of which is actually to do with reducing the spread)

1. The government bowing to pressure from the mainstream media (yet again)
2. To try and reduce the near hysteria that they deliberately spread, and make people more comfortable going out and spending money.

I will wear one if I am required to by law, even though I think the time for mask wearing was back in February and March. I don't have to like it, and I'm allowed to moan about it.

I don't think by not wearing one that I will be personally responsible for the death of someone's grannie either, and plenty of experts agree with me.

Personally I hate the feel of the them on your face and spend more time pulling at it and trying to get comfy than anything else - which can't be good. Prepared to believe it would be better in colder weather than warm.

And to be honest its another very visible sign that life has completely burnt to the ground. Still wobbly every now and then about aspects of how life has changed so obviously will wear one but hating it partly for how they feel and partly for what they represent about how life is now

I don’t take any real joy in wearing one but I’m already doing it because I want to keep others and myself as safe as possible. Also it’s becoming much much harder to constantly maintain distance on public transport. I bought a buff today to use going forward and it’s the most comfortable thing I’ve found.

Here's an interesting link for all the anti-maskers out there:
www.fox5ny.com/news/doctor-demonstrates-how-face-mask-blocks-respiratory-droplets-from-spreading

Still not wearing one after seeing that?

Regarding public transport, if you suffer from anxiety, breathing problems etc, you don’t actually need to wear one. Our local bus company are issuing exemption cards, but you don’t actually need any proof.

Arriva bus

@TheWhalrus

Here's an interesting link for all the anti-maskers out there: www.fox5ny.com/news/doctor-demonstrates-how-face-mask-blocks-respiratory-droplets-from-spreading

Still not wearing one after seeing that?

Why such an irrelevant comment on a thread where everyone who says they don't like them has also said they will wear one, just not cheerfully.