No masks after 19th July - Hoo-blardy-Ray!!!!!

[TeddingtonTrashbag]

As reported in the DM.
So happy if it’s true.

@apocalypsehow

This past year of enforced mask wearing has been really surreal to me. I've never worn one. Never owned one. I said from the beginning that I don't believe they are at all useful and in fact are detrimental to the cause the way the majority of people use them. Thorough hand washing and keeping out of people's space is more than enough. I can't participate in the theatre of something I truly believe is unhelpful to the pandemic.

They're apparently mandatory at my place of work, in shops, at my midwife appointments etc etc. I live in scotland where it feels like masks are going to stick around forever at this rate! I've never worn one and never been bothered by anyone about the fact that I don't wear one. I never lie about why I don't wear one. I decided as soon as they were made "mandatory" that if anyone asked why I wasn't wearing one, I would tell them.

I don't think enough people realise what happens when you don't wear one. Nothing really... it's not exciting. My life has carried on just the same. I wash my hands more diligently, keep away from people, and follow the same social restrictions as everyone else. But nothing bad happens if you disagree that masks are helpful.

I've name changed for this as the abuse I got off Mumsnetters for saying this at the beginning of the pandemic was really over the top. I notice now that a lot of people are saying to me that they wish they had taken a similar stand a year ago as now they feel they can't take off the masks for fear of... something. I don't know what.

It's truly been a bizarre experience to walk around maskless this entire time and still interact with people in the same way. No one has ever been nasty to me or been anything other than pleasant and chatty as normal. I've had a few people ask me why I don't wear one and their response has always been how they wish they'd stood their ground about it from day one too.

It's been a strange year. I'm glad to see restrictions gradually easing and normality on the horizon.

really? their response has always been how they wish they'd stood their ground about it from day one too.

I look at people who don't wear masks as either vulnerable (medical reasons for not wearing one) or arseholes for not caring about other people. Either way, i don't ask, and give them a wide berth.

Weirdly, sometime in January 2020 I remember hearing a woman ringing into the local radio saying she’d like to wear a mask but didn’t want to stand out!

The areas of London I saw most mask wearing before the pandemic were central and eastern sides where the financial sector attracts a lot of overseas staff. In the main tourist seasons I see more widespread use across the zones. However I can easily imagine someone feeling reluctant in an areas where its very unusual.

I'd just like to get to a situation where the discussion is a bit more nuanced and less "everyone will die without 24*7 mask wearing" vs "call Amnesty, I've been asked to wear a mask for 20 mins on a crowded bus".

@TeddingtonTrashbag
And yes to the shops that might initially insist on retaining them -will rapidly change when their only customer are the fussy stingy type (the two traits tend to co-exist by all accounts)
What an unpleasant individual you are🤬
Just because someone wants to continue wearing a mask, does not give you a right to start name calling and saying they’re fussy or stingy. Some people will continue to wear them to protect themselves if they’re CEV/CV for example.

@OliviaWainright

Nice levels of abuse in this thread for those that will continue wearing them!

Fussy and stingy? Irritating and hyper anxious??

Or, maybe they are more aware of the reality than you? Maybe they have worked on covid wards or long covid clinics. Maybe they've seen lives wrecked by covid, and understand that some things are for the greater good.

Sorry, I forget, mask wearers are snowflakes and sheep. Insert a MASSIVE eye roll here.

It would be incredibly helpful if people didn't resort to this kind of childish abuse, yes.

And that includes towards those who are unable to wear masks.

@TeddingtonTrashbag

lack of nuance is what is displayed by the dwindling but prolific posters who are still clinging on to the situation before vaccinations, and who are unable to grasp the difference between ‘cases’ which are overwhelmingly trivial and hospitalisations which are now almost nil.

How I agree with you - I really cannot understand the importance placed on numbers of new infections, if they only result in mild and short lived symptoms. Before we had any reliable testing, numbers for COVID might well have been astronomical. All we had to go on were hospitalisations and sadly, deaths. I do, however, understand it’s helpful for planning purposes to know where infections are peaking.

It was stated right from the word go, that the priority was that the NHS must not be overwhelmed. I feel that has been achieved with the amazing vaccination programme, and now it’s time for hospitals to get back to investigating and treating people for conditions that have been ‘on the back burner’ for too long. I am sure there have been many premature deaths for other conditions.

@Blossomtoes

Surely it will be simple - if you’re wedded to masks crack on with wearing them; if you’re not then burn them.

Precisely! This should be pinned at the top of MN!!

Me too. Tbh I’ve no real objection to wearing one but I don’t like the fact my line of vision is obscured. Stairs and masks are scary!

I'm double jabbed, don't use public transport and avoid crowded shops as much as humanly possible;e so personally I will keep a few masks in the car just in case but won't wear them if I don't have to

I have absolutely no issue with what anyone else chooses to do and those who wish to continue to wear them then its not my business.

I only hope that the self appointed covid police now realise this is the time to stop berating others for not doing exactly what they think is right. I'm so sick of what this has done to divide us and made society so judgemental

Sorry was answering @C8H10N4O2

@IcedSpice

Yes. Really. I can elaborate if you'd like but "yes" probably covers everything.

I agree it’s now finally (!) the time to feel freer from other peoples decisions

Masks, no masks

It might feel more like pre mandatory wear last year when about a quarter wore them, idk

But I’m pleased to be unhooked from having to do all these things and making a decision. Happy about that

I look at people who don't wear masks as either vulnerable (medical reasons for not wearing one) or arseholes for not caring about other people. Either way, i don't ask, and give them a wide berth

Why do you assume that mask exemption = vulnerability? And how do you differentiate between 'vulnerable' and 'arsehole' on sight alone?

@bluejelly

I'll carry on wearing mine in enclosed spaces. I think lots will

That's the best approach isn't it. Wear the really good ones with the filters and protect yourself if you feel you want or need to.

I look at people who don't wear masks as either vulnerable (medical reasons for not wearing one) or arseholes for not caring about other people. Either way, i don't ask, and give them a wide berth

Cool, I love social distancing!

@TheVampiresWife

I look at people who don't wear masks as either vulnerable (medical reasons for not wearing one) or arseholes for not caring about other people. Either way, i don't ask, and give them a wide berth

Why do you assume that mask exemption = vulnerability? And how do you differentiate between 'vulnerable' and 'arsehole' on sight alone?

I don't differentiate, thats the point.

You either have a medical reason for not wearing one, or you are an arsehole to me....

Apocalypsenow if facemaks are pointless why do surgeons wear them?

@TheVampiresWife

I look at people who don't wear masks as either vulnerable (medical reasons for not wearing one) or arseholes for not caring about other people. Either way, i don't ask, and give them a wide berth

Why do you assume that mask exemption = vulnerability? And how do you differentiate between 'vulnerable' and 'arsehole' on sight alone?

Thinking someone doesn't care about others because they don't wear a mask is completely bizarre to me. When a person abides by regulations, keeps away from others, washes and sanitises regularly, gets vaccinated etc etc how are they an uncaring arsehole?

Some like to cling to the belief that masks are necessary. I have never agreed with this and I don't participate in things I disagree with. That would be illogical to me. If you agree with them that's fine.

I feel sorry that so many people I speak to agree with me but don't feel confident enough to act it out.

Societal pressure is clearly very powerful.

@apocalypsehow so do you disregard any rules you don’t agree with? Why do you think you know more than scientists that recommend masks?

@Blossomtoes

Surely it will be simple - if you’re wedded to masks crack on with wearing them; if you’re not then burn them.

that makes no sense. Masks protect others, they don't protect you.

I want YOU to wear a mask so you don't spread your germs - and not just Covid.

Masks should be mandatory, and for at least another year. It would be very interesting to see the numbers for flu etc.. with or without masks (out of lockdown, last year cannot count).

People had to be told to wash their hands and taught how! The general public is generally stupid. And dirty.

I'd just like to get to a situation where the discussion is a bit more nuanced and less "everyone will die without 247 mask wearing" vs "call Amnesty, I've been asked to wear a mask for 20 mins on a crowded bus".*

Me too - but nuanced debate is a dying skill :(

Personally speaking, my own experience of masks is that they've been a pretty minor inconvenience to me, so whether they stay or go won't make too much difference to me.

@wewereliars

Apocalypsenow if facemaks are pointless why do surgeons wear them?

Surgeons wear masks as they are in close proximity for hours on end over patients with open wounds. They work in sterile environments that are the sum of much more than the masks they wear.

I also don't walk around with surgical gloves on or sterilise everything I come into contact with. I don't wash up to my elbows and have special taps in my place of work that can be turned off with my elbows. I don't have an assistant passing me sterilised things.

This is not comparable.

Surgeons wearing masks is necessary. I think people pulling masks on and off their faces all day to hop on buses, or to walk down the corridor in their place of work, is detrimental to the cause.

Societal pressure is clearly very powerful.

so if someone doesn't agree with not spitting on the floor, no smoking indoors, they should be free to do as they please?

Yes, I can see how that would work... you mean people should follow YOUR rules and beliefs, not their own basically.

@Whatalottachocca

People who want to wear them can carry on. Meanwhile, the rest of us can smile at each other again. (I won't actually believe it until I hear it come out of Bojo's mouth though!)

You believe anything that comes out of Boris Johnsons mouth?????????????

One important reason for them to go is mission creep. It is already too ‘normal’ to see people in masks and it has only been a year. People habituate very quickly. I din’t want my children to grow up in a world where your face has to be covered as automatically as clothes in public.

Thank god. I'm deaf and rely to a degree on lip reading.

I've stopped wearing a mask, it was distorting my voice just enough and it was actually making it hard for me to hear myself and because of that, speak.

Not being able to hear yourself speak is actually quite distressing after a while.

I wore it as long as I could tolerate.