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Original poster

Buying lanyards when not required

149 replies

Family1st2020 · 30/10/2020 00:27

Today I saw a friend and the mask wearing conversation came up. She said how she hates them and makes her sweaty and she would have to wear a lot for the activities she does with her dcs, soft play etc
She then said she's purchased a lanyard on ebay to stop people asking why she won't wear one.
I said oh I didn't know you were exempt too ( I am which she knows) she replied. I'm not. But if I can buy a lanyard why not saves having to wear them shitty things!

I felt really angered but I know if I was to say anything it would fall in deaf ears.

Fwiw I am exempt as i have panic attacks wearing one. Due to an ex repeatedly suffocating me with his hand across my mouth. However I can sometimes bear one for very short periods if I'm in an OK mindest and I do always try. ( in case anyone asks),

OP posts:
MadameBlobby · 30/10/2020 11:41

It is a risk. My son is autistic with severe sensory difficulties and I got him an exemption card online, we already had the sunflower lanyard. Anyone can buy them. He is actually quite good with the mask but I have it in case of a meltdown.

Bwlch · 30/10/2020 11:55

Because faceshields alone only protect the wearer for direct splatter to the face.

I don't agree. I wear a faceshield at work and, at the end of the day, I have to clean splatter off the inside of the shield and none off the outside.

nether · 30/10/2020 12:33

@Bwlch

Because faceshields alone only protect the wearer for direct splatter to the face.

I don't agree. I wear a faceshield at work and, at the end of the day, I have to clean splatter off the inside of the shield and none off the outside.

If you're not like to encounter splatter on the inside, you may as well jettison the mask as it won't be doing anything useful
OpheIiaBaIls · 30/10/2020 12:39

@PicsInRed

A notable minority of teens say "I'm exempt" and older adults walk around with their internet lanyard. Why aren't they wearing faceshieds then, if they truly can't wear a mask? Because they just don't want to.

General compliance is going to rapidly fall apart.

Many people who can't wear masks can't wear visors either. Plus visors are useless by themselves - all they do is protect the wearer from large splashes and droplets, and they offer no protection whatsoever to anyone else.
OpheIiaBaIls · 30/10/2020 12:43

@NailsNeedDoing

I can’t be too bothered about people doing this tbh, I think it’s right that people make their own choices about wearing masks or not. It’s sad that the sunflower lanyard scheme, which had the potential to become more widely known and helpful to people with hidden disabilities, has become hijacked by Covid mask wearing.
It hasn't been 'hijacked' at all. The Hidden Disabilities website sells dedicated mask exemption cards and lanyards and it was officially extended to cover exemptions. Besides, while not everyone who's exempt has a hidden disability, many do - why shouldn't they use them?
Lockdowner13 · 30/10/2020 13:06

Are there really this many people that can’t wear a mask?! I honestly don’t see many reasons why people can’t wear one.

Lockdowner13 · 30/10/2020 13:12

What are the reasons? I can see that someone who has a mental or physical disability might find putting them on tricky or might not understand the purpose.

I can see that some people who have suffered severe trauma might not cope with a mask.

I can also see difficulties with deaf people and lip reading etc.

What are the other reasons?

Bwlch · 30/10/2020 13:20

Are there really this many people that can’t wear a mask?! I honestly don’t see many reasons why people can’t wear one.

Not being able to see through your specs can be a problem. My husband has to choose between a mask or specs.

TheFairyGarden · 30/10/2020 13:23

So you won’t wear one as it makes you ill so you say. But you’re happy to not wear one and make other people ill confused This virus has certainly lowered my opinion of humans from its already low starting point

Yes.

People who are genuinely exempt from having to wear a mask now have to wear them the only time they leave the house. They have to go shopping because all the hard “I’m not wearing a mask, masks don’t work brigade” have taken the home shopping and click and collect slots.

The very people who congregate with other people, thus more likely to contract Covid are selfish enough to not protect others because “I don’t like wearing a mask”. 2020 has certainly brought out the selfish bastards!

dollychopss · 30/10/2020 13:25

@fantasmasgoria1

It is definitely annoying. I have a card and lanyard because I have valid reasons not to wear a mask. It's mental health and trauma related. I spoke to my cpn again about it and she said that my reasons for not wearing a mask are very valid and my cause myself extreme distress. I see lots of people without masks who don't have a lanyard though.
Me too mine is mental health related I had a break down last year but even too scared not to wear one as people have a go !!! So I had to buy a lanyard
OhMsBeliever · 30/10/2020 13:26

My son has autism and adhd. Day to day he's pretty fine, though I home educate him due to the stress school put him under, and lack of help. We went out for the day recently and he had a massive shutdown after having to wear a mask for a long time. He was complaining about it but I didn't realise how badly it affected him till we got home.

I actually have a sunflower lanyard for my other son who also has autism, and learning disabilities, but he was fine wearing a mask.

So I told my 13 yo that he must try to wear a mask but if he felt like he couldn't it would be fine to take it off, and he can use the lanyard.

We will avoid going out anywhere where he has to wear it for a long time now I know how hard he finds it, so he should be ok.

I'd hate to think that other people think he's just being an awkward teenager, he tried so hard, and he hasn't had such an awful shutdown since he was at school (he gets migraine type symptoms, headache, nausea, feeling dizzy and faint, lethargic) I felt very guilty for not realising he wasn't coping.

dollychopss · 30/10/2020 13:30

@Lockdowner13

What are the reasons? I can see that someone who has a mental or physical disability might find putting them on tricky or might not understand the purpose.

I can see that some people who have suffered severe trauma might not cope with a mask.

I can also see difficulties with deaf people and lip reading etc.

What are the other reasons?

Mental health Asthma
OpheIiaBaIls · 30/10/2020 13:36

@Lockdowner13

Are there really this many people that can’t wear a mask?! I honestly don’t see many reasons why people can’t wear one.
Good job the government, for all their faults, can and that's why they've allowed for exemptions.

To answer your question, though - PTSD/trauma as a result of domestic abuse or rape, neurological conditions, some respiratory conditions, sensory issues, autism, severe skin conditions and some chronic pain conditions are all reasons why someone may be exempt. Some of these conditions will also prevent someone from wearing a visor. Not everyone who lives with these conditions will be unable to wear a mask - but that doesn't mean that everyone with them can.

OpheIiaBaIls · 30/10/2020 13:39

I find that even with a lanyard I get abuse - a lanyard isn't proof of anything and people do just assume you're an antimask type who's just bought one online. Or they don't believe in exemptions and think that everyone could wear a mask if they tried hard enough.

Pumpkinstace · 30/10/2020 13:40

I need a lanyard for hidden disability. I am exempt but still wear a mask because I can.

I can't get a lanyard due to the shortage because people like your friend are arseholes.

Lockdowner13 · 30/10/2020 13:44

Asthma Uk say it’s ok to wear a mask. They say most people with asthma can manage perfectly fine with a mask for short periods

Lockdowner13 · 30/10/2020 13:48

I think there are lots of people that are ruining it for the few. “I can’t wear it as I’ve got asthma” not a valid excuse in all cases I’m afraid.

My MIL won’t wear one because it takes away her tights as a human Hmm she’s an idiot.

Plussizejumpsuit · 30/10/2020 13:53

So sorry you had that experience and mask wearing is too much for you. I can't imagine what him doing that was like. This is selfish of your friend. It's especially galling when you have this experience. It just makes it harder for all the people who can't wear a mask because of piss takers like her. I'd be angry if I was you.

OpheIiaBaIls · 30/10/2020 13:56

@Lockdowner13

Asthma Uk say it’s ok to wear a mask. They say most people with asthma can manage perfectly fine with a mask for short periods
But not EVERYONE with asthma. So best not to assume that if someone says they have asthma and can't mask up, they're lying.
ZolaGrey · 30/10/2020 14:01

@yawnsvillex

Masks don't work. I've never been so ill since wearing one, constant bastard cold. So now I don't wear one as it makes me sick. Is that good enough or do you want proof?
Er yes, what you're saying is circumstantial nonsense.
StarCat2020 · 30/10/2020 14:01

Are there really this many people that can’t wear a mask?! I honestly don’t see many reasons why people can’t wear one
Just because you can't envisage the reasons, it doesn't mean there aren't any.

StarCat2020 · 30/10/2020 14:04

I am exempt but still wear a mask because I can
This statement confuses me slightly though but it could be because I have misunderstood the rules.

I thought that exemption was dependent on NOT being able to put on, wear or take off a mask?

If a person can wear a mask then how can they be exempt (NOT wear one)?

Please feel free to come and correct my misunderstanding.

Northernsoulgirl45 · 30/10/2020 14:05

I have a relative who is into the conspiracy theories and shares dhit like you dlnt need to wear a mask as you can't be challenged etc etc. She claims she is exempt when challenged. Although I am not aware of any medical conditions. She also shares the scamdemic anti vaxxer type posts. Apparently people are dying with COVID etc not of and that clearly those with any pre existing medical conditions are collateral damage and woud die next year anyway
It boils my piss tbh as I have asthma and glases but still manage to wear one. Autistic dd also. Dh is ecv so clearly if he gets COVID and dies it will be his chronic non life limiting condition which kilks him. Yeah right
Op yes she is selfish.

Northernsoulgirl45 · 30/10/2020 14:09

I think what thry mean is that they have a medical condition which would warrant an exemption but as they are variable sometimes a mask can be worn. For example I am asthmatic but can wear a mask for limited periods without difficulty. The ither day I was inside for longer and I was starting to feel very uncomfortable so I went outside and took it off for a while.

movingonup20 · 30/10/2020 14:14

The question I want answered is why nearly all the teenagers around here seem to be "exempt" when questioned by the bus driver they claim to have asthma, what all of them??? Obviously there's a hidden epidemic of severe asthma around here that definitely should be investigated by public health people, it's unusual kind that only affect young people not travelling with their parents???

The government I think need to issue exemption cards, no card you wear a mask