Omg masks under noses ...

[HMSSophie]

Just been out for cat food. I don't go out much!

Omg the number of people with their masks hanging under their nose. What the fuck is that about? It made me feel so angry, given we are about to hit lockdown 2.

I think I might start saying something. It's utterly mind boggling

@110APiccadilly

Wonder if the doctor I saw the other day (on the maternity ward) who was wearing a mask under her nose was thick and uncaring, and didn't understand Y8 biology. She seemed intelligent, kind and delightful to me, but what do I know, clearly I'm doing this, "judging other people" thing wrong.

The funny thing is that I didn't even notice until she pulled it up and said, "Whoops, better put that up before I get told off."

Quite the contrary. Both myself and the vast majority of doctors I know don't believe the masks do anything and find it to be those easily influenced, weak minded individuals who are the most viciously pro-mask.

@onedayinthefuture

OMG maybe they are finding it hard to breathe.

Then they would be better not to wear one at all rather than paying lip service and looking like a thick idiot who is hard of thinking.

It annoys me as well.

I can't breathe properly wearing a mask that fits properly tight around the face so I got a structured one (designed to avoid air pollution for cyclists). It's actually too big for my face so has a gap at the top and bottom to allow air flow, but it covers the front of my nose and mouth as legally required, so people don't really see the gaps and I don't get any comments about it.

Masks are a token gesture so I wouldn’t get too wound up about it. The virus spreads anyway. Medics in hospital all FFP3’d up still catch Covid.

The WHO recommend them after not recommending them from the outset. Great. The WHO also recommended open borders with China at the beginning of the pandemic. Now China has closed theirs to us!

Conclusion: take whatever the WHO says with a pinch of salt, they make it up as they go along.

Get a grip. You have no idea why they don't have it over their nose. But seeing as they have made the effort to put one on in the first place the most logical conclusion is that they are finding it difficult to breathe at that particular time.

Maybe:

They have been out for a long time wearing it and are finding it hard and need to breathe properly for a bit.

Have previously had Covid 19 and are still finding breathing a challenge. Something people don't think about.

Have another condition that doesn't give them exemption but nevertheless affects their breathing, like sinusitis, a common cold, a blocked nasal passage. Or maybe it worsens another mild condition vertigo, a headache... literally anything. I know some people get migraines after wearing them and I myself have Rosacea and the hot mask on my nose makes it ten times worse. I have exemption for Asthma, but I can tell you even if I didn't, I wouldn't be wearing one over my nose simply to stop you freaking out like the CovidStasi.

Next time why don't you ask them eh?

@Everlastingyes

This is probably me no matter what I do they keep slipping down especially at the self checkout when I’m looking down. Bloody things

Can't you tie a knot in the straps?

The disposable masks are way too big for me so I just tie a knot.

I usually wear a reusable one but wear a disposable to the hairdresser.

I do wear my mask properly (not under my nose) when I have to, but I hate it so much I avoid going to places where they have to be worn for long periods of time - most I can manage without feeling really quite unwell is about 45mins.

I have perennial rhinitis and suffer from frequent chronic sinus infections. It’s not a ‘serious’ condition and probably wouldn’t qualify for a formal exemption, but it’s very common and it makes mask-wearing very unpleasant - after a while I inevitably get headachey, dizzy and lightheaded, I end up breathing through my mouth only and this all makes me feel nauseous. No way would I be able to wear one at work all day, whatever anyone says about getting used to it.

I also have a toddler, and am generally having to navigate shops etc with a buggy, while trying to effectively communicate with her. This can be quite stressful and leaves me hot and flustered, in addition to all the other unpleasant symptoms.

I try to resist pulling down my mask wherever possible as I know it irritates people, but occasionally have to to avoid feeling faint etc. Despite everyone on MN insisting that they and their small children all wear masks without any issues whatsoever, most of the people I know irl struggle with it at least to some extent, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a sizeable number of those being complained about here are in the same boat. Not everyone who has difficulties with masks is a rabid Covid denier.

Fwiw many of those I see wearing masks under their noses are quite elderly, and I’d imagine general frailty and poor physical condition also makes effective mask-wearing tricky.

Ginfordinner

onedayinthefuture
OMG maybe they are finding it hard to breathe.

Then they would be better not to wear one at all rather than paying lip service and looking like a thick idiot who is hard of thinking.

Gin you sound grossly intolerant- people who are medically exempt (myself included), are forcing themselves to wear masks because they’re vilified, shamed and publicly judged and humiliated if they don’t.

The way people are now behaving is abhorrent.

@Superfoodie123

They don't work anyway, clearly. Lockdown 2 anyone?

Your logic is very flawed.

1. no one said they would eliminate the virus, but that it would reduce the risk of infection. So wearing masks means fewer people have caught the infection, not eliminating the virus altogether.

2. so many people are wearing them wrong, or not wearing them at all. So that undermines the effectiveness.

Japan has not been hit too hard by covid. One theory is that could be because of high mask compliance.

I like to wear mine on my chin. So much more comfortable tbh.

I can’t see when I wear a mask over my nose... my glasses steam up; tried everything to stop it. When I go into a shop I sometimes move the mask if we my nose so I can see what I’ve gone into buy

@ThirteenOClock

Ginfordinner

onedayinthefuture
OMG maybe they are finding it hard to breathe.

Then they would be better not to wear one at all rather than paying lip service and looking like a thick idiot who is hard of thinking.

Gin you sound grossly intolerant- people who are medically exempt (myself included), are forcing themselves to wear masks because they’re vilified, shamed and publicly judged and humiliated if they don’t.

The way people are now behaving is abhorrent.

I don't judge anyone who is not wearing a mask because I assume they have good reason not to wear one. So, no I am not intolerant. I just think just wearing one over your mouth is rather pointless.

And my glasses steam up with most masks, but I have found the holy grail of masks from Etsy for this problem. Can link later if anyone is interested.

Have another condition that doesn't give them exemption but nevertheless affects their breathing, like sinusitis, a common cold, a blocked nasal passage. Or maybe it worsens another mild condition vertigo, a headache... literally anything. I know some people get migraines after wearing them and I myself have Rosacea and the hot mask on my nose makes it ten times worse. I have exemption for Asthma, but I can tell you even if I didn't, I wouldn't be wearing one over my nose simply to stop you freaking out like the CovidStasi.

Some of the conditions you listed may be linked to other long term illnesses so the person is exempt. People are't just exempt for having chronic asthma and having COPD.

Anyway, all you need to do is be polite and say to the person whose nose is uncovered is "Do you know your mask has slipped down?"

I am also furious about this op.

Of course some people may have genuine physical health or psychological reasons for needing to put them under their noses for a bit, but I really don't believe that accounts for the very large number of people I see on public transport wearing them under their noses.

I take public transport to work. I have to wear a mask for much of my working day. I am pregnant and it makes my pregnancy nausea much worse, and gives me headaches. But I wear it as required nonetheless.

I saw a guy last week who had a mask over his nose but not covering his mouth - I'm afraid I actually laughed out loud!

Unless they have a condition deemed severe enough to make them exempt most people have been shamed (particularly by members of the CovidStasi and debatable statistics) into still wearing a mask. Many people are falling between the cracks of conditions that don't merit going without one. These conditions can still result in physical discomfort and a crappy day or week, yet they are still doing their best to comply in order to help with the 'effort' and pacify others.

But as you show, OP, once little people feel they have the power to dictate to others and tell them what to do, there's no ever pleasing them. Such is the nation we're becoming.

A bit of compassion wouldn't go a miss.

My sister can, and does wear a mask but there has been one or two occasions during her weekly shop where she has suddenly felt incredibly nauseous as she is in the early stages of her first pregnancy.

So she has ensured there is nobody within about 10 feet of her, and slightly pulled her mask below her nose so she can breathe some fresher, cooler air until the sickness passes.

Some despicable woman shouted at her in Tesco for doing this last week, despite being well over 10 feet away and not another sole in the aisle my sister was on.

The alternative is for her to take her mask off and vomit all over the floor I guess...

They don't want to wear a mask but its there so when the police say put your masks on they can pull it up and then when the police go they can pull it down. That's what I see at my job anyway. I also don't care about what other people do or don't do with masks.

@onedayinthefuture

OMG maybe they are finding it hard to breathe.

There is no obstruction to breathing with the masks on correctly. People look stupid wearing them like that, like they are too think to realise they aren't wearing them correctly.

No issue with what your sister did @ChickyNuggies and congratulations to her.

@Ginfordinner

Yes please to the link! It’s driving me mad!!

For all those saying 'they don't work hence lockdown 2' are you really that fucking stupid? Has it not occurred to you that part of the reason we are now in lockdown 2 is BECAUSE people are not wearing masks properly?

I'm not saying that's the only reason but the general 'don't give a shit' attitude of some of the British public is what's put us in this situation.

There is no obstruction to breathing with the masks on correctly.

If there was no obstruction no one would be exempt.

Technically people may still be able to breathe but a good many will find it harder. Others will have an underlying, but non-exempt condition that is exacerbated by wearing a mask for a prolonged period of time. Others are fine but occasionally need a break.

You must be possessed of a limited imagination not to immediately draw this conclusion, but perhaps it suits people of a certain nature to attach all manner of hyperbolic negative inferences to others rather than assume the best of them

Here you are @OverTheRainbow88.

The material sits away from your face so you have a little airspace to breathe in. I have a small face so went for the medium, and it is perfect.

It was recommended to me by another mumsnetter

@Ginfordinner

Perfect, thanks!