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Original poster

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

415 replies

Iamchangingmyusername · 16/07/2020 15:37

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.

OP posts:
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8
sleepingpup · 17/07/2020 12:29

*One of the things I like about the mandatory introduction of masks is that it shares out some of the social responsibility.

Some people said Covid wasn't their problem, and that we should just shut the millions of vulnerable away indefinitely so that they themselves didn't have to adapt and could just carry on as they always have.

This is obviously neither practical, humane or fair.

And now we're all in it together to a greater degree which hopefully will motivate us to defeat Covid rather than deny its impact.*

This👏🏼

Carlislemumof4 · 17/07/2020 12:42

Scientists appear more certain now that the virus spreads through droplets that remain and circulate in the air. Now seems a sensible time to make face coverings mandatory so that by the Autumn, as the weather turns and we're all inside more, a high percentage of the population will have purchased masks and be used to wearing them. My guess is it will become necessary to make them mandatory in even more places through the winter.

Having worn mine for shopping for a few weeks I've got so used to it I forget I'm wearing it at times. I could now wear a face covering for a good few hours comfortably whereas to begin with it felt strange and a little claustrophobic.

ButterMeCrumpets · 17/07/2020 12:46

Now seems a sensible time to make face coverings mandatory so that by the Autumn, as the weather turns and we're all inside more, a high percentage of the population will have purchased masks and be used to wearing them.
They have made them mandatory for shops but not shop workers. I don't spend more time inside shops in the winter than I do in the summer.

You can't use a mask and eat and drink so no use in eating places.

I do spend more time indoors with friends or family in the winter but I doubt this government would go as far to make them mandatory inside your own home as I think most people would see that as a step to far plus how would they police that one Grin

LillianBland · 17/07/2020 12:54

I know it’s a serious subject and I’ve been wearing a mask since I started going shopping again, a few weeks ago, but this made me chuckle. Grin

To those that don't want to wear a mask...
bigknickersbigknockers · 17/07/2020 12:56

I will wear one when and where I HAVE to but if there is nobody enforcing it on the doors of shops I wont be wearing one.

bigknickersbigknockers · 17/07/2020 12:59

The whole wearing of face coverings makes me wonder how garages, banks etc can now ask people to remove their motorbike helmets when they enter the shop

Carlislemumof4 · 17/07/2020 13:00

@ButterMeCrumpets

Now seems a sensible time to make face coverings mandatory so that by the Autumn, as the weather turns and we're all inside more, a high percentage of the population will have purchased masks and be used to wearing them. They have made them mandatory for shops but not shop workers. I don't spend more time inside shops in the winter than I do in the summer.

You can't use a mask and eat and drink so no use in eating places.

I do spend more time indoors with friends or family in the winter but I doubt this government would go as far to make them mandatory inside your own home as I think most people would see that as a step to far plus how would they police that one Grin

Shop workers, offices, secondary schools, poss primary, cafes and restaurants until seated at table, cinemas in all areas other than seated in the screen room with other social distancing measures in place (empty seats around each booked group), theatres if they are to open this winter, museums, libraries etc.
Userzzz · 17/07/2020 13:01

There is no real science behind wearing a mask.
The virus is low risk to the majority.
I have a right say no.
I don't need to justify my decision to you. If you feel it protects you, wear it. If you feel endangered by other people not wearing it, stay home. I will not change my life to make you feel "safe".

LillianBland · 17/07/2020 13:03

@Userzzz

There is no real science behind wearing a mask. The virus is low risk to the majority. I have a right say no. I don't need to justify my decision to you. If you feel it protects you, wear it. If you feel endangered by other people not wearing it, stay home. I will not change my life to make you feel "safe".
So, I take it you’re not going to shop, after they bring in mandatory mask wearing? After all, the shops will have the right to refuse entry to you.
sleepingpup · 17/07/2020 13:08

. I will not change my life to make you feel "safe".

people don't like "change" do they.

sleepingpup · 17/07/2020 13:10

. I will not change my life to make you feel "safe".

really really wish it was just about "to make you feel safe"

Userzzz · 17/07/2020 13:12

@Stellaris22
Don't worry, you wont have to deal with it for long because you won't have a job to go back to. If people have to wear masks, many will just stay home (myself included). The fact that you can't see this is mind boggling.

ButterMeCrumpets · 17/07/2020 13:26

Shop workers, offices, secondary schools, poss primary, cafes and restaurants until seated at table, cinemas in all areas other than seated in the screen room with other social distancing measures in place (empty seats around each booked group), theatres if they are to open this winter, museums, libraries etc.

Well if they want to mandate them in those places I guess I will avoid those as well.

NothingIsWrong · 17/07/2020 13:31

@sleepingpup

. I will not change my life to make you feel "safe".

people don't like "change" do they.

I will change my life, but it will be to stop spending money on the high street. Which will keep you safe, surely?
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 17/07/2020 13:33

Some people said Covid wasn't their problem, and that we should just shut the millions of vulnerable away indefinitely so that they themselves didn't have to adapt and could just carry on as they always have.

No, now we're just shutting away another group of people.

I can't wear one. I'm not going anywhere they are mandatory, shops, doctors or public transport. Although on the bus which drove past me and ds this morning, no one was wearing one. Our shopping bill has more than halved since dh started doing it because he can only buy what's on the list. It's my birthday in a few days. I have just over £1000 to spend on myself. Normally I'd do that on the high street, this year it's probably going to join the thousands we spent online during lockdown.

My mother can wear a mask. She's a shopping addict with a high disposable income but masks have cured her of that. Most of my friends are sending their husbands to the shop because it's become so unenjoyable and like dh, they spend less.

sleepingpup · 17/07/2020 13:36

I will change my life, but it will be to stop spending money on the high street. Which will keep you safe, surely?

👍🏻

Stellaris22 · 17/07/2020 13:41

I work in food retail @Userzzz so doubt I'll be out of a job. But thanks for the reminder of the daily abuse shop workers get.

sleepingpup · 17/07/2020 13:47

My mother can wear a mask. She's a shopping addict with a high disposable income but masks have cured her of that. Most of my friends are sending their husbands to the shop because it's become so unenjoyable and like dh, they spend less.

It will be really interesting to see who adapts and who does not.

Possibly it's an age thing. Though anecdotally my DM and DMiL both already wearing masks and over 75.

Shops where mask wearing is already mandatory eg Germany have not really been affected.

But we're not Germany, so this could be it for shops then. With so many on their arse from the internet anyway.

Time will tell.

MadameTuffington · 17/07/2020 13:51

Because I do regular 60 hr weeks wearing the heinous things for the entirety of a 12 hr shift.

I regularly use public transport and shop so sadly will be obliged to put one on - I detest them - I know this is crazy but I have the overwhelming desire to tear them off people’s faces because they irritate me, they look bizarre and I love to see people’s faces!!!! - awful isn’t it?

As an aside, it would be far wiser to focus on our overall health (less booze and crappy food, more exercise blah blah blah) - that would be a much better preventative measure but I’m sure I’ll get lambasted for saying so.

I have recovered from Covid and stared it in the face multiple times over the last 3 months - I know we have to collectively adhere to the wearing of masks in order to protect others but think that there are also other ways to avoid getting really sick with Covid!

sleepingpup · 17/07/2020 13:54

@Stellaris22
Don't worry, you wont have to deal with it for long because you won't have a job to go back to. If people have to wear masks, many will just stay home (myself included). The fact that you can't see this is mind boggling.

@userxx Tbh from your replies. That sounds like a great idea.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 17/07/2020 13:57

It will be really interesting to see who adapts and who does not.

She's 76. I think it's a combination of things, she referenced lack of social interaction, feeling uncomfortable and that just with all the rules it was an unpleasant experience. Her food shopping gets delivered anyway so it's more unessentials, clothes, books and jewelry. It's already mandatory here.

My inlaws aren't really "shoppers" anyway and Fil does things for fun which involve masks (bee keeping/welding etc) so even though they are older, they'll be fine. Shopping for them is mostly supermarkets and online anyway.

My friends range from late 20s through to mid 40s. Masks plus concerns about employment are definitely affecting their shopping patterns.

sleepingpup · 17/07/2020 14:03

My friends range from late 20s through to mid 40s. Masks plus concerns about employment are definitely affecting their shopping patterns.

Employment - personally I think that's the big one. Mask or no mask.

Feel it's going to get much worse before it gets better. And masks will seem inconsequential compared to that.

ChavvySexPond · 17/07/2020 14:04

^
No, now we're just shutting away another group of people^

We're not though are we. That's a false equivalence.

Having a tantrum about wearing a mask obviously isn't remotely the same as getting an official letter off the government telling you to stay in.

Userzzz · 17/07/2020 14:08

@LillianBland
Absolutely I will stop going to the shops if masks are made mandatory, as will a lot of people. The economic fallout from this has yet to be seen but I'm sure we all have an idea which way this will go, don't we?
How long does everyone on this thread think they will be wearing masks for? Until a vaccine is made? What if no vaccine comes about? And what of the next cold and flu like illness? We'll just be in masks forever? Be very careful what you wish for, it's very easy to take away your rights but not as easy to get them back!

Kaykay066 · 17/07/2020 14:12

No one is forcing you to wear it, you just can’t shop without one? I wear one for work in the heat of a ward for 12 hours and it’s not pleasant. I do my grocery shop and I have a hair cut booked but I’m not bothered about shopping tbh I’ve got a mask to wear but as it’s so uncomfortable at work I’m not planning wearing one just so I can go shopping I’ve managed for the last few months so I’ll just carry on