Hypothetical mask question

[Frazzled13]

Absolutely hypothetical question as obviously it would never happen like this.
Imagine the government said tomorrow that masks were no longer legally required, however they were still recommended, and they hadn’t suddenly discovered that they don’t work or cause some horrible side effect, and there also hadn’t been a massive drop in cases that made masks not necessary. Everything is the same, they just aren’t legally required.
Would you still wear one? Would you only wear it in some situations? Or would your masks be instantly thrown into a fire, never to be seen again? If you would keep wearing it, do you think you’ll continue to do so (post-covid) as a regular winter measure against colds etc?
I was only wondering because before masks were legally required, where I live the vast vast majority of people were not wearing them in shops but I think if they suddenly changed the rules more people would wear them despite not being legally obliged to than did earlier in the year, in part because I think people are a lot more used to them now.
(I’m not advocating a sudden random change in rules by the way.)

Nope, I have already fantasised about burning all the bastard things. Hate them with a passion, don’t think they do anything except make the world look horribly unnatural and for me they are the tangible symbol of this horror show of a year. I I will be the first to happily destroy them.

yes, I woild keep wearing them. Post covid, doubt it probably not.

Yep I would and I am debating wearing them much more in the future.

I have barely been ill this year and I know this is down to the mask wearing and social distancing. I have an auto immune condition and tbh this has shown me I really do catch everything!

I imagine most places would still ask people to wear them to protect their staff, so not much would change. If I was no longer been ask I would probably wear for the rest of winter, then put them in a draw over the summer and forget about it by next winter (assuming things are 'normal' by then)

No, I wouldn't wear one if they suddenly declared they weren't legally required. And not because I'm a selfish wanker who wants to spread my germs around, but because I am personally not vulnerable. I expect those who consider themselves personally vulnerable to take the steps to avoid catching what they don't want to catch (in the same way elderly people have always got the flu jab, to protect themselves. Whereas I only ever got it when pregnant, as the rest of the time it wasn't risky for me to catch the flu). If you are vulnerable and it's dangerous to catch it, protect yourself with a mask or whatever other tools available to you, and if you do that, it makes no difference whether I wear a mask or not because you protect yourself

I'd definitely still wear one in the supermarket, or any other public indoor space.
I'd love to stop wearing one on the school run where I'm already outdoors and over 2m away from everyone.

If you are vulnerable and it's dangerous to catch it, protect yourself with a mask or whatever other tools available to you,

You do realise that masks are to protect other people from you? And at the moment there is little that vulnerable people can do to protect themselves, they are relying on other people to be compassionate and responsible. In much the same that when you were pregnant you relied on other people to not do things that might affect the health of you or your foetus.

Not a chance. I'd stop immediately.

If eg shops asked people to still wear them I would do so even if no longer legally required to. If they didn’t then no I wouldn’t.

I would wear them in shops but not outdoors.

In theory I would indoors, but I'm also a glasses wearer and it would be lovely to be able to see where I'm going and what I'm actually looking at without my glasses streaming up.

^Yep I would and I am debating wearing them much more in the future.

I have barely been ill this year and I know this is down to the mask wearing and social distancing.^

^^This. I would keep wearing them until the pandemic has eased off, and I can't ever again see wanting to stuff myself onto a crowded bus or Tube without an N95.

No. I wearing be where it is mandated now ie in food shops or in school corridor between lessons, but at no other time. Don’t go into other shops at the moment because easier to buy online than faff with mask, but will go shopping again when the mask nonsense stops.

I'd still wear one and did so before they were required. The way I see it is ( in your hypothetical situation) it's a minor inconvenience for a potentially big risk reduction. So it's definitely worth it.

A little bit like in real life. We don't know how much they help although there's varying positive evidence. But actually for most people wearing one is no big deal.

Yes, I'd keep wearing them.

I think I might wear them in future on busy commuter trains, especially in winter. The thought of sitting in that fug of other people's breath while everyone is coughing and sneezing makes me feel very uncomfortable - no wonder I used to get endless colds when I was commuting.

It would be nice if people would wear them when ill themselves, as they do in some Asian countries.

@Lostinacloud

Nope, I have already fantasised about burning all the bastard things. Hate them with a passion, don’t think they do anything except make the world look horribly unnatural and for me they are the tangible symbol of this horror show of a year. I I will be the first to happily destroy them.

Why do you not think they do anything?

I think the same as you, OP. I didn't wear them before they were mandatory, but would continue tomorrow if they stopped being mandatory overnight but the risks remained the same.
Would prefer not to wear one on the school run too, but that is a recommendation by the school, so I think that would remain even with a change in the law 🤷‍♀️

I would continue wearing them, as I did before they were mandated.

I'd still wear one. Everyone should. They are to protect others, not yourself.

Very selfish not to.

It would be nice if people would wear them when ill themselves, as they do in some Asian countries.
I was going to say this. It is normal to wear them in some other countries - to protect others when you are ill. The 'I'm not vulnerable so I won't wear one' people are so selfish.

Before they were legally required there were some shops and settings that requested that people wear them and I did so then and would again, also if people I were meeting (friends, colleagues etc) requested it. But I wouldn’t wear them otherwise. People like me were called selfish before the legal requirement came in (which I comply with fully), but you have no idea of my circumstances. The word selfish is being thrown around as an accusation for all sorts of normal things now

Oh great so now it’s selfish not to wear one when it’s not mandatory anymore? Sorry but I’m not going to wear one when there is now requirement to. I agree with the pp who said those who are vulnerable should protect themselves. You can get masks that protect the wearer so maybe people should invest in these once masks aren’t mandatory anymore.

I'm happy to wear one in shops or other places. Tbh before masks came in this year I always said I'd be happy to wear one to reduce infection especially during winters months.

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer

I'd still wear one. Everyone should. They are to protect others, not yourself.

Very selfish not to.

I wouldn't wear one.
No. Not everyone should.
How many times do people have to be told that some people are exempt???
And no. It isn't selfish.

@Racoonworld

Oh great so now it’s selfish not to wear one when it’s not mandatory anymore? Sorry but I’m not going to wear one when there is now requirement to. I agree with the pp who said those who are vulnerable should protect themselves. You can get masks that protect the wearer so maybe people should invest in these once masks aren’t mandatory anymore.

It's the attitude expressed that is selfish - I'm alright sod the rest of you. It may or may not become part of our culture to wear one, time will tell.