How should masks be enforced in public?

[User158340]

Indoors in general (shops, public transport etc).

I don't believe in making it mandatory because there are people who are genuinely exempt but there's so many piss takers.

There should be 'medically exempt' badges dished out by GP's only, on prescription essentially.

This should have been GP led from the get go, not trusting the British public. We see where that gets us.

I have every right to stop someone potentially spreading the virus, we all have a right to do that.

No you don’t have that right. You may think you do, but you really don’t. And frankly, given your complete ignorance of the actual laws and rules around mask exemptions you are a dangerous vigilante.

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]@XenoBitch
Exactly. Mask exempt are being vetted on entry into shops by staff or security. Once they are inside, they should not have to worry about random @Ilovemypantry types harrassing them.[/quote]
Yes! This!!!

Whatever you like to think, it’s no one else’s business and no one else has the right to even ask. You should be keeping your distance, getting on with your own shopping and not put other people at risk with unnecessary interactions with people not in your household or bubble.

The government provided a card that can either be printed, or book marked on your phone. That’s it.

I bought my daughter a lanyard in the vain hope that people would leave her the fuck alone if she was wearing something visible.

It’s not official, it doesn’t “prove” anything, it’s not a legal requirement, anyone can buy one and it doesn’t fucking work anyway as she still gets hassled by dickheads who think it is ok to abuse and insult her

@Ilovemypantry unnecessary social interactions spread the virus. When you stop people to ask them why they're not wearing a mask - that's an unnecessary social interaction. It's unnecessary because they've already been vetted by shop staff.

And no, you absolutely do not have the right to do what you're doing. Apart from being illegal, you're aiding the spread of the virus by interacting with others. You may catch it from someone (maskless or not), be asymptomatic, and pass it on to countless others when you speak to them. We are meant to be limiting all social contact, including having conversations with people in shops. You could infect me, and my family.

Not only is what you're doing illegal, you're acting as a potential superspreader.

Good god. Who the hell strikes up conversations with strangers in enclosed spaces in the middle of a pandemic?

[quote CarolEffingBaskin]@Ilovemypantry

Contrary to other posters, I don't want you to stop harassing people. Please continue. Because soon enough you're going to harass the wrong person, and end up arrested under the Equality Act. Let us know how that goes won't you? Can't wait! [/quote]
Equality Act? Are you actually serious? I think the police would be more interested in why the person wasn’t wearing a mask than the fact that I challenged them.

[quote MerciSeat]@Ilovemypantry unnecessary social interactions spread the virus. When you stop people to ask them why they're not wearing a mask - that's an unnecessary social interaction. It's unnecessary because they've already been vetted by shop staff.

And no, you absolutely do not have the right to do what you're doing. Apart from being illegal, you're aiding the spread of the virus by interacting with others. You may catch it from someone (maskless or not), be asymptomatic, and pass it on to countless others when you speak to them. We are meant to be limiting all social contact, including having conversations with people in shops. You could infect me, and my family.

Not only is what you're doing illegal, you're acting as a potential superspreader.

Good god. Who the hell strikes up conversations with strangers in enclosed spaces in the middle of a pandemic?[/quote]
All the more reason for everyone to wear a mask or a lanyard ...no unnecessary interactions needed.

I won’t be breathing my potentially infected breath all over you. I will be wearing a mask and standing at least 2 metres away

@Ilovemypantry to make yourself heard in a busy store environment at a distance of 2m you'll have to shout. Even with a mask, the resulting aerosols are enough to infect others.

What is the reasoning for refusing to wear a lanyard? It's incredibly helpful for retail staff.

Equality Act? Are you actually serious? I think the police would be more interested in why the person wasn’t wearing a mask than the fact that I challenged them.

They really wont. I imagine any 999 dispatcher would be laughing from the other side of their mouth to hear you call them and ask for immediate police presence because someone does not have a mask or lanyard. You are more likely to be calling an ambulance to deal with your broken nose for challenging the wrong person at the wrong time.
What if you challenge someone and they don't engage with you? Are you going to follow them about? What exactly has to be on this lanyard you keep insisting on?

the police would be more interested in why the person wasn’t wearing a mask than the fact that I challenged them

@Ilovemypantry they really won't, given shop staff have already confirmed them exempt when allowing them into the shop. The police will be far more interested in a woman shouting at and harassing other shoppers, causing logjams in aisles, in the middle of a pandemic.

@Stellaris22

What is the reasoning for refusing to wear a lanyard? It's incredibly helpful for retail staff.

What has to be on this lanyard that people keep mentioning?

All the more reason for everyone to wear a mask or a lanyard ...no unnecessary interactions needed.

@Ilovemypantry
There is no requirement to wear a lanyard. Therefore there is no reason for you to challenge maskless people not wearing a lanyard. And therefore, any challenge you make is by definition an unnecessary social interaction which could spread the disease. You really need to stop. The mask exempt that you harass every time you go shopping do not deserve to be treated that way.

All the more reason for everyone to wear a mask or a lanyard ...no unnecessary interactions needed

@Ilovemypantry

So you're prepared to put your family, yourself and the community at risk simply to harass people who have already been confirmed exempt by shop staff? You've just told us in some detail about how staff at your local Tesco wouldn't let someone in who they couldn't confirm was exempt, and told us that this was how all supermarkets proceed now. You're quite confident that only people staff know to be exempt will be allowed in maskless. Why do you feel the need to harass anyone, given you accept only exempt people are let into shops?

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]@XenoBitch
Exactly. Mask exempt are being vetted on entry into shops by staff or security. Once they are inside, they should not have to worry about random @Ilovemypantry types harrassing them.[/quote]
Which would work well in theory if

A) genuinely exempt people did carry a lanyard/card/something on their phone
B) the genuinely exempt didn't get stroppy and arsey about being asked or carrying something to appease the little Hitler's as some people are so fond of describing shop assistants tasked with policing this, that they realised this is not a personal dig at them, or a reflection of any disability they may have, it's to protect them as much as anything else from being hassled and harassed, during this time.
C) those taking the piss were refused entry across the board, and those refusing the entry were backed by the people who actually have the power to do something rather than just thrown in the firing line, so shop staff don't challenge anyone at all because it's safer for them.
D) other shoppers understood that enforcement of masks is being done and that anyone wearing a mask is exempt, lanyard or not, and have not just bullied their way past shop workers to get in without a mask. And anyone giving someone not wearing a mask shit is also out the door.

It wouldn't be perfect, and for the amount of time left wearing them it might take too long for the tide to turn now, but as I said in a pp, the only people who are winning here are the piss takers.
They've created a situation where genuinely exempt people are being challenged because everyone is well aware you can obtain a card etc anywhere, and other people are being put unecessarily at risk by people who just don't want to do it.
Anyone not wearing a mask increases the risk, for people who genuinely can't, that's a necessary and acceptable risk, they can't be expected to never leave the house, not work, not shop. But what is unacceptable is those that can and choose not too. It's right people are challenging that.
But what effectively has happened is we've got the genuinely exempt arguing with those who are concerned about the rising numbers and infection risk, and the piss takers? Well they're all out shopping without a mask!!

It's an incredibly useful visual cue that means retail staff know you are exempt from wearing a mask.

Imagine working in a supermarket and you know you need to enforce mask wearing.

Seeing someone wearing a lanyard means you immediately know you don't have to challenge or question them.

Ignore the right/wrong debate of challenging for now. It's about signalling to staff. It's very useful and it means you are doing a tiny thing to help already stressed out staff.

@Stellaris22

What is the reasoning for refusing to wear a lanyard? It's incredibly helpful for retail staff.

Nobody on this thread is refusing to wear a lanyard, but some people don't wish to. Some charities have expressed concern that it marks people with some conditions as vulnerable, which makes them a target for some unscrupulous people.

@Stellaris22

What is the reasoning for refusing to wear a lanyard? It's incredibly helpful for retail staff.

1)It’s not required to be worn by mask exempt. 2) Anyone can buy one off eBay so it proves nothing. 3) The U.K. government recommended and issued an exemption card that can be printed out or displayed on your phone. So a lanyard is not even government recommended. 4) Many mask exempt are uncomfortable wearing a visible and constant sign of their disabilities

@Stellaris22

It's an incredibly useful visual cue that means retail staff know you are exempt from wearing a mask.

Imagine working in a supermarket and you know you need to enforce mask wearing.

Seeing someone wearing a lanyard means you immediately know you don't have to challenge or question them.

Ignore the right/wrong debate of challenging for now. It's about signalling to staff. It's very useful and it means you are doing a tiny thing to help already stressed out staff.

I have a lanyard with aliens on. Will that do? What has to be on this lanyard?

Ok.

So people get annoyed when challenged for not wearing a mask.

Solution: wear a lanyard (yes, I know it's pointless as anyone can buy them).

Response: I refuse to wear a lanyard.

If this is your attitude then accept supermarket staff have the right to challenge you and don't get annoyed.

Although as a supermarket worker I already know that we are terrible and evil apparently just for wanting a safe working environment.

@Maverickess
Yes I agree the fakers are the ones causing all the problems.
But I don’t think random members of the public inside shops are any better qualified to challenge maskless people and discern genuine from faker.
If there is a staff or security person at the door, that should be enough.

"I think the police would be more interested in why the person wasn’t wearing a mask than the fact that I challenged them."

The police will think you are bonkers if you are lucky and if not, that you are a public nuisance.

@Stellaris22

Ok.

So people get annoyed when challenged for not wearing a mask.

Solution: wear a lanyard (yes, I know it's pointless as anyone can buy them).

Response: I refuse to wear a lanyard.

If this is your attitude then accept supermarket staff have the right to challenge you and don't get annoyed.

Although as a supermarket worker I already know that we are terrible and evil apparently just for wanting a safe working environment.

Again, is there a specific lanyard? Because just saying "a lanyard" is very vague. That is like saying wear a hat.

Members of the public should t be challenging people, it's not really your place.

The lanyards we see are ones with sunflowers on, but really, a quick google search will show you.

Here you go

@Stellaris22

Ok.

So people get annoyed when challenged for not wearing a mask.

Solution: wear a lanyard (yes, I know it's pointless as anyone can buy them).

Response: I refuse to wear a lanyard.

If this is your attitude then accept supermarket staff have the right to challenge you and don't get annoyed.

Although as a supermarket worker I already know that we are terrible and evil apparently just for wanting a safe working environment.

No one is saying that shop staff or security should not challenge people not wearing masks. That’s part of their job.

What we are objecting to are self appointed members of the public, such as @Ilovemypantry who is not a member of any shop staff but a member of the public also shopping there. She thinks she has the right to challenge her any fellow shopper she encounters who is not wearing a mask or lanyard.

What are your thoughts on this as shop staff? Do you want shoppers to be challenging and harrassing mask exempt shoppers that you’ve already challenged and let in?

My closest supermarket has a problem with gangs hanging around outside, and there have been several muggings in the past week. I can't shop there anyway, but if I did I wouldn't be wearing something that marks me out as vulnerable.

Stellaris, I've not seen anyone call supermarket staff evil.