I'm wondering what types of medical conditions prevent people from wearing masks

[lovelemoncurd]

I'm trying to understand the rationale for not wearing masks. Patients with respiratory conditions routinely wear masks in hospital and it's not a problem so what are the conditions that are prohibiting mask use. After all coronavirus must surely trump them?

@concernedabc

sunis have you tried applying for benefits later? DM had ten seizures at her assessment - one after the other - DR said she was perfectly capable of working if they put a pillow under her and she could get up on and carry on working once done . Benefits system is very, very far from lax .

Dsis is non verbal, bites herself and faecaly incontinent - also told perfectly capable of working .

You might be right, given I know really little. I've never applied for benefits in my life.

I know that an acquaintance of mine got a 3 bedroom apartment for 400quid/months + enough money to live off easily. Her disposable income was higher than mine after taxes, rent and food. I had 200 pounds to spend on anything, she had 500.
And all because she was stupid enough to get knocked up, quit her job (otherwise she wouldn't have been eligible for anything) and on purpose get kicked out of the shared accommodation (same reason).
The problem is:

1. She decided to have the baby and then went looking around on how someone else can pay for it. on purpose. I know this because she didn't speak enough english to go talk to people alone and asked me to help translating.
2. after 6 yrs and kid obv. in school she is still milking the system and has not worked since.

As much as I agree to help her out even if she made a deliberate choice is okay. No one can tell if it happens or if it's on purpose at that point. But the fact that she can slip through the cracks and still not work is making me angry. And because of people like her the people who would really need it have less.

Your words were "30% of bus users"

"Id say about 30% of bus users seem to have this condition.

That statement is generalizing.

NOW its about 60% of the one journey you were basing this on.

In your next posts is it going to leap to 90% of half a journey.

[quote Ibake]@TheSunIsStillShining because they've not yet invented a visor the floats unsupported in front of their face. Any pressure/contact, at all, is excruciatingly painful.

And yes, you're damn right I'll shout about civil liberties and defend the right of anyone exempt to not have a sign confirming their exemption. Or do you think that eg a rape victim should wear that on a sign visibly round their neck just to satisfy you that they are deserving of their exemption?[/quote]
I just made that point about civil liberties.
We should all believe. Full stop.
Why can't people acknowledge that this is a virus we are trying to stop? Or slow down long enough to have a cure?
It has nothing to do with civil liberties.
It has everything to do with the fact that if not kept in check it could kill/disable/get very sick a lot of people.

I have mild asthma and wear a mask as required. I have to wear one for work anyway. In shops I wear a three layer cloth ones and at work disposable papery ones as when I'm virtually running around my job I find them easier to breathe through.

I can easily image that someone with a worse lung condition than mine might struggle.

@concernedabc

Trigeminal neuralgia - because anything contacting face or head at all can cause an attack so severe it can cause blackouts, incontinence, and vomiting . Been there done that with patients screaming even if air from a window contacted their face . It’s sometimes called ‘suicide disease’ .

Thanks for the civilized answer. I have the same, but only part of my head (on the back) is affected and I gathered from the doc that the case is usually that only parts are sensitive, not the whole head. Well, I've learnt something new today. :)

Do you feel the same way about age exemption or just medical exemption @Dadnotamum72 Some 11 year olds look older so should they produce a copy of their birth certificate on request
And if you think not then why more onus on those with medical exemptions?

But her behaviour doesn’t mean the rest of us should spend life in endless distress, fear and shame because some of us have difficulties or disabilities . I’ve had to help my 54 year old mum to bed tonight in floods of tears after seizures this afternoon because she can’t cope with the world just now . Also trying to reassure sister that she will one day be allowed to go back to her day centre . And dealing with my 80 year old gran who’s rapidly getting confused and tired . I’m 29 - I have no friends, no interested family and not a whole lot of money either .

I’m fucking knackered, and I’m damned if I should be feeling ashamed for not forcing or condemning my mum for not wearing a mask today .

So I’m sorry you’re angry at your friend, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us should suffer any bloody
More than we do already .

I’m sorry if I’ve come across as angry, I’m shattered and probably should be venting to someone in real lire ! Going to try get some sleep !!

@TheSunIsStillShining you were the one that wanted to tag exempt people but made a flippant comment re shouting about civil liberties. I merely told you I would defend people against needing to identify themselves, as per your suggestion, as that is an infringement of their civil liberties imho and there is legislation to support that.

This is not a debate about the wearing of masks generally, so your comment about why can't people understand this is a virus is irrelevant. This is a discussion about a minority group of people who are exempt and should be left in peace. If enough of the population wear a mask then the few that can't will be offered a degree of protection too, just like you don't need the entire population to be vaccinated against a disease for most of us to be protected.

There's always a massive logic fail when it comes to disabilities, especially if hidden.

First is the "people are dicks, so I'll treat you as such until you prove you're not a dick rhetoric ".

Then there's the "me/my dog/my auntie/my brother's wife's grandmother's gardener has x and can do y so all people with x can do y."

Then there's this absolute insane fear of possibly letting someone get away with something that people take it upon themselves to police others and decide if they're worthy.. of understanding, benefits, parking spaces, different rules/adaptations and so on to the point of abuse. Who died and put you in charge?

Is it really that important that no chancer slips through the net that it's worth making someone's situation/condition/illness/life a lot worse than it already might be?

@ChristmasCarcass

People say exactly the same thing about blue badge holders who don’t look sufficiently disabled.

This is ablism, pure and simple, so stop trying to justify it by saying “it’s just what everyone is thinking, you’re just the only one brave enough to say it”.

2 things

1. on not sufficiently disabled.... it might have to do with lack of trust in institutions "awarding" these badges. Where I come from (eastern europe) for decades anyone with high connections or enough money could buy one. The result was that A) no one truly believed if you had one that you actually needed it B) nobody bothered any more to leave the blue badge parking spaces empty. Which obviously was an issue for those needing it.

1. on ableism. Def on wikipedia: "Ableism is discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities or who are perceived to have disabilities. " I did look it up as I was not sure what it was referring to.

I feel you are forcing another agenda. I don't think it's discriminatory to say "blind people should not apply to be cab drivers". At the moment if we want to slow the spread of a virus we have to all do our parts. And yes: if someone has a disability that makes them drool and sneeze and can't wear a mask it is a reasonable expectation from others in the community that that person should not be in close proximity with others and should not be touching things. Not saying always stay in, but get someone else to shop.

Nobody is entitled to anything more than the other person, so why is it so appealing in Britain to expect individual responsibility?

The issue is that in this country everyone is citing MH issues or hidden disabilities to slack off (both in terms of personal responsibility with covid and many in terms of claiming benefits because it's easier than working)

Having worked for both the DWP and it's predecessor as well as in Housing and for a local authority's homeless team, I really disagree with the last sentence I quoted. A lot of the people we dealt with were failed on so many levels before they got out of childhood and were still being failed. For the vast majority, there was nothing easy about their situation. The system absolutely needs overhauling, families need proper support, education needs to improve and there needs to be a focus on employment running throughout but there is going to be even less money in the pot now. I had intended doing a social work masters because it's something I'm passionate about once I'd finished the degree I'm doing for "fun" (next year) but I now realise I'm probably never going back to work because I can't see myself ever being stable enough.

For the record, I'm not on benefits and I'm also not going anywhere masks are mandatory so taking full responsibility for my worthless little life.

However I have checked out your username. You're not quite all there, are you

YAWWWNNN

@concernedabc

I’m sorry if I’ve come across as angry, I’m shattered and probably should be venting to someone in real lire ! Going to try get some sleep !!

No probs, I can take it. If it helps, "punch" a stranger through the internet rather than someone in real life :).

My point is exactly that if everyone adhered to the basic hygiene rules and common sense (mask, sanitizing, distancing) than many more things could resume and the shielding of groups who are potentially more at risk would be easier.

Where I come from (eastern europe) for decades anyone with high connections or enough money could buy one. The result was that A) no one truly believed if you had one that you actually needed it B) nobody bothered any more to leave the blue badge parking spaces empty.

If you're from an ex communist country NEWS FLASH .. there's no need or benefit to police others anymore.

If you're not, the same still applies.

You don't get to decide who is disabled,who isn't, who can wear a mask and who can't and more importantly you don't get to decide what and how these people choose to do.

Personally don’t see any medical issues that prevent people wearing masks lots of doctors have gave evidence on this . In fact people having panic attacks are advised to put paper bags over their mouths . The blue disposable ones are like paper . My father in law does struggle to wear one he’s claustrophobic, steams glasses up but he wears it when he has to on public transport but try’s to avoid shops etc . No excuses really.. can’t wear one stay out of the shops. Protect others who are wearing them , But that would be to easy . Everyone seems to manage them in other countries just the British who seem to really struggle following simple instructions and need to bend the rules to fit around themselves. Everyone banging on at the beginning why aren’t masks being worn ( there was not enough supplies at the beginning nhs had to take priority and the great British public moaning they couldn’t get hold of them ) now there everywhere half don’t bloody want to wear them . 2 steps forward and 5 steps back .

Ah, right, your views are formed by your heritage and we all know that Eastern European countries have an outstanding track record in human rights and Equality discrimination*

• I am, of course, deliberately making unfair generalisations about half a continent in the vain hope that I can prove to you that's what you're doing with your blinkered and stereotyped views on disabilities. Drooling and Sneezing? WTAF?

Here you go again, speaking down to people in a disgusting manner. It's a worry that your parents procreated, you absolute lowlife

IM a lowlife for expressing concerns about the attitude of an ableist.

Rigghhhttt

@HeIenaDove I recognise your name from various threads. Many times you've raised issues I wasn't even aware they were an issue, and I always find your posts informative, sometimes very robust but passionate. Always taking a stand for people with disabilities, when it would be so much easier and less stressful to scroll on past. I hope you're ok.

In fact people having panic attacks are advised to put paper bags over their mouths.

That’s not even slightly comparable.

I'm amazed at how many people start threads about masks. It's an obsession on MN.
It's a covering that medical staff and dentists have worn for years. You'd think we've been asked to put a badger's fanjo over our faces.

In fact people having panic attacks are advised to put paper bags over their mouths .

They are advised to BREATHE in a paper bag, not cover their mouths and noses with them. The rest of your post is just as accurate and well informed.

Ah, right, your views are formed by your heritage and we all know that Eastern European countries have an outstanding track record in human rights and Equality discrimination

Oy! I'm EE too!