Is mask wearing limiting your economic participation?

[byvirtue]

I knew mask wearing was mandatory in shops but I hadn’t heard about the new restrictions that have come out today www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53702291

I had planned to head to a spa for a couple of days this month for my birthday and we were going to book a staycation in a hotel in September. We would have easily spent £2k on these trips.

Now it seems that masks are mandatory for spa treatments and in hotel public areas we won’t be going. I personally find face coverings unpleasant and they significantly reduce my enjoyment so I'd rather not bother.

We are fit and healthy with money to spend and were happy to get out and spend money prior to face coverings becoming mandatory. These new rules mean the opportunities for us to spend money have been notably reduced.

I’m curious are these extended face covering rules going to lead to you spending more or less now?

I have been going out a lot more and spending a lot more since mask wearing became compulsory in places other than shops. Is it pleasant or a perfect system? No. But if it helps bring this thing under a semblance of control I will do it happily.

I feel for those who are exempt and feel uncomfortable going out without a mask for fear of being judged. They are not being supported by either the judgy mask wearers or the childish ‘a mask is infringing on my rights, it’s PC gawn mad‘ crew who, frankly, should get a grip.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the transmission and infection rates have been lower in countries where there is a sense of civic community duty rather than the selfish individualism that’s been so prevalent here.

I bloody hate masks, not because I’m a harridan, but for two main reasons.

1. They are incredibly discriminatory to those with disabilities. Hate crime is rocketing because people who think they know best abuse those who are exempt. This isn’t helped by people who are not exempt pretending they are. This leads to those with genuine disabilities self-excluding from society to avoid abuse. Absolutely abhorrent.

1. I have NEVER seen them used appropriately. If you’re touching it, it’s pointless. Everyone touches them constantly. Seeing reusable ones fished out of pockets/bags (Not Envy) makes me want to hurl. They’re filthy, and on top of that the thickest people think they’re some kind of miracle preventer, so they’ve stopped bothering with social distancing, and I suspect hand washing too.

Vile things.

Without a doubt. There is no way I will voluntarily go somewhere where I have to wear a mask. I walked past some lovely shops earlier who I am sure are desperate for custom. But there is no way that browsing in a mask would ever be enjoyable. So I will save my money. High street spending is down since the intro of masks...hardly surprising.

I just don't know how a stupid bit ioffabric being worn by the majority of people (wrongly) makes someone feel "safe"!!! it is just madness. Where is the thought gone. The analysis of the situation. I truly despair.

@epythymy

a pandemic which is basically over

a pandemic to which 90% of the world’s population is still susceptible, you mean. How is basically over??

Where is the thought gone. The analysis of the situation. I truly despair.

Well...

My analysis and subsequent behaviour in terms of risk taking has been based on the data that has come out of numerous studies based on the efficacy of masks in halting the spread of the virus.

But, pray tell, how you have reached your personal conclusions about the “stupid bit of fabric”?

I'm still spending money....just online! Spending on the house and garden, nice food etc rather than going to visit places. Masks definitely reduce my enjoyment of places so I am choosing to avoid them. Doing lots of outdoor stuff rather than the usual museums/galleries I would be visiting.

It's actually making me do lots of different things to usual so I don't really mind it right now, I guess when winter comes I'll need to get a bit more creative with activities but I've learnt I can quite easily live without all the stuff I did as a matter of course before.

I’m avoiding places that I need to wear a mask. It’s a shame as the local independent shops aren’t getting my business. It’s rubbish.

This reminds me I need to place online orders for those shops where they have an online presence, to show my support in a way I feel comfortable with.

The things that I do just for fun are less fun wearing a mask so I'm less inclined to do them. I wear a mask when I need to but discretionary spend, which was very low during lockdown and had started to creep up again is now right back down again.

@vinoandbrie

I’m avoiding places that I need to wear a mask. It’s a shame as the local independent shops aren’t getting my business. It’s rubbish.

This reminds me I need to place online orders for those shops where they have an online presence, to show my support in a way I feel comfortable with.

Yeah I am ordering online from local independents where possible. We've actually discovered some great food suppliers that we wouldn't have had time to visit pre-pandemic!

No, it's fine. Wish they'd do an information campaign on how to wear masks effectively though.

No option to try things on is really putting me off clothes shopping. I'm bad at judging what will fit/suit me. Not sure what shops ought to do about it, could it be made after?

I’m more likely to do stuff now, less likely to get covid, mask wearing is making my life a lot less stressful.

[quote PuzzledObserver]@epythymy

a pandemic which is basically over

a pandemic to which 90% of the world’s population is still susceptible, you mean. How is basically over??[/quote]
Oh I'm sorry, professor. I must have missed the part where you have the answers to population susceptibility which the worlds best scientists don't have.

I mean, if you read about this there's plenty of evidence to suggest that herd immunity is reached at around the 20% mark. Based on cruise ship studies, for example. With the rest of the population not susceptible, potentially due to natural immunity.

Masks reassure us.

We both have friends in mask-wearing Asian countries who have been getting on with life this whole time.

Just with a mask on.

(And an adequate test and trace system)

I would be going out even less without the masks, so masks are helping me spend more.

I hate the mask so it’s not like I am out frequently, but it at least means we can go out occasionally.

I will wear a mask where I need to but am avoiding any unnecessary visits to public places as I don't like wearing them. I understand their importance but just don't like them.

I am aware that businesses are suffering because of reduced footfall due to the requirements to wear a mask and might start making a few trips to local non-essential shops when the weather is cooler and mask-wearing less uncomfortable.

Spas, hotels, restaurants (even without a mask) and cinemas won't be seeing me for a long time.

I have cancelled a 7 day break in the UK and dont visit shops unless I absolutly have to because of mask wearing

Yes it is actually. I have to wear one for work for hours and hours and it is horrible. My skin is also worse than ever because of it so I'm keen to limit the amount of time in masks as much as possible.

Happy to eat and drink out as you don't have to wear them then. But shopping will still be online or a quick in and out job no browsing, just too unpleasant.

[quote ThatDamnScientist]@epythymy

...a pandemic which is basically over...

What fucking planet are you living on?! The current pandemic is far from over!![/quote]
The one where the data relating to coronavirus deaths are trending downward. The one where we're being put in local lockdowns because a handful more people have tested positive out of tens of thousands (completely ignoring the specificity of tests and the potential for false positives). The one where unemployment is high and GDP is low. The one where the QALYS of people that have died because of lockdown is higher than those that died of coronavirus even now. Goodness knows what that figure will be within a couple of years. The society where civil liberties have been thrown to the wind, where critical thinking is long gone and where idiots rule. Where the educational rights of children have been completely abandoned, letting down a generation of children and widening the gap between the rich and poor even further. That's where I am. And I'm angry.

I avoid doing anything that requires a mask. I absolutely hate them

@Starsabove1

I have been going out a lot more and spending a lot more since mask wearing became compulsory in places other than shops. Is it pleasant or a perfect system? No. But if it helps bring this thing under a semblance of control I will do it happily.

I feel for those who are exempt and feel uncomfortable going out without a mask for fear of being judged. They are not being supported by either the judgy mask wearers or the childish ‘a mask is infringing on my rights, it’s PC gawn mad‘ crew who, frankly, should get a grip.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the transmission and infection rates have been lower in countries where there is a sense of civic community duty rather than the selfish individualism that’s been so prevalent here.

Yes, when peoples rights are taken away from them they should simply switch off critical thinking and conform and "get a grip"

Out of curiosity, where do you draw the line on removal of rights, Stars?

Gosh, cases are already slowly rising again, local lockdowns announced every week, and the only thing that has prevented and continues to prevent catastrophic social and economic disaster is a set of highly restrictive conditions that in themselves have huge negative consequences, and someone thinks the pandemic is over.

@NameChange84

Where is the thought gone. The analysis of the situation. I truly despair.

Well...

My analysis and subsequent behaviour in terms of risk taking has been based on the data that has come out of numerous studies based on the efficacy of masks in halting the spread of the virus.

But, pray tell, how you have reached your personal conclusions about the “stupid bit of fabric”?

Based on the other studies which suggest the use of masks in this way is at best useless and potentially more harmful. Obviously

I'd be more willing to go out and do things/spend money if people are wearing masks.

Went on the SettleCarlisle tourist special train last week because I'd seen reports from the week before that people were respecting the rules, wearing masks on the stations and when moving around the train, so, that's why we booked to go on it. Glad we did, very enjoyable day out, everyone following the rules/guidance, so it felt safe.

When we're out and about, if there are people not following the guidance/rules in shops or other enclosed spaces, then we simply don't go in, so those places lose our custom because they're not providing a safe place (in our opinion).

I have resolved to try not to moan about mask wearing and just get on with it especially as health professionals need to wear them for much longer
However they are not conducive to shopping and I think I am both leaving shops earlier than I would have done and doing more online shopping since they became mandatory