Sainsbury's and Tesco have joined the bookseller, Waterstones, which has said customers should wear masks to protect staff and other shoppers.

[UndercoverToad]

Good.

@herecomesthsun

If you read my first thread, I simply stated as it wasn’t mandatory to wear a mask I wouldn’t be wearing one (even in Tesco’s). I wasn’t actually on this thread to debate the science of masks. I just put my two pence worth in and someone responded about how it was immoral not to wear one. So please do keep up.

As you were…

@Fangsalot89

I would just like to say fangs a lot for keeping us all safe on Monday. You’re my hero.

but sainsbury's and tesco and waterstones are doing nothing......zero.....about mask wearing

they are not policing it

you wear one or you dont...they couldnt care less

@Lemonmelonsun

It's only fair to the poor staff. I don't mind the staff not wearing them but us shopper's really should think about the cashiers etc.

This makes no sense!

@gardeninggirl68

but sainsbury's and tesco and waterstones are doing nothing......zero.....about mask wearing

they are not policing it

you wear one or you dont...they couldnt care less

Exactly. This is what baffles me. People are saying they’re more likely to shop in these places because they’re saying they expect people to wear masks? It’s just words. They’re doing nothing about it, and aren’t claiming to be.

@Chillychangchoo “Fangs a lot” 🤣

@gardeninggirl68

Exactly, if someone has decided they’re going mask free on Monday, they’ll be mask free whenever they can be. They’re not going to comply just because Tesco’s has told them too. 🤣 Heavens they’re not even complying now (in my local store).

Cloud cuckoo land on here.

[quote Chillychangchoo]@herecomesthsun

If you read my first thread, I simply stated as it wasn’t mandatory to wear a mask I wouldn’t be wearing one (even in Tesco’s). I wasn’t actually on this thread to debate the science of masks. I just put my two pence worth in and someone responded about how it was immoral not to wear one. So please do keep up.

As you were…[/quote]
You're the one that's not keeping up.

With the science.

What you wrote on another thread is by the by.

As you were

@herecomesthsun

What on Earth are you talking about? I haven’t discussed the science of masks on this thread.

I spoke about them not being mandatory and also the issue of a poster being divisive. In my opinion of course.

I mean, are you okay?

Like I said on the other thread about this…it’s simple those who wish to continue wearing masks can and those who don’t won’t have to.

No shop is going to care if the customer is wearing a mask or not (most don’t care now) all they care about is getting the money in the tills.

Those who say they are really happy that certain shops are saying it and will shop there more are deluded if they really think everyone in the store is going to be in masks just because the store they are in ‘encourages’ mask wearing 🙄

@Chillychangchoo
Have a snickers for fuck sake.

@Fangsalot89

No fangs.

@herecomesthsun

Very good news though, I do shop quite a bit in Waitrose, John Lewis, Aldi & Tesco, so very reassuring.

And it's another reason to support Waterstones.

Not sure why you would wish to support Waterstones - particularly given that you are doing so because they're paying lip service to masks, so clearly covid safety is important to you. Remember at the start of the first lockdown when Daunt tried to insist that Waterstones was an essential retailer and therefore should remain open, much to the consternation of his staff (whose wellbeing clearly wasn't at the top of his agenda then). He only backed down after outrage on social media made it clear that to open would damage his brand - and after he was told in no uncertain terms that a book shop was not considered essential retail.

James Daunt will say whatever he needs to say to keep the tills ringing. And bear in mind, he (nor the other companies you've mentioned) has not said that masks will be mandatory in stores - just encouraged. It's a non-story.

Exactly. This is what baffles me. People are saying they’re more likely to shop in these places because they’re saying they expect people to wear masks? It’s just words. They’re doing nothing about it, and aren’t claiming to be.

@Ifitquacks

But that's it isn't it? Job done. Pro-mask people are more likely to shop there. Ker-ching. (At least once, until they notice that it's not really what they expected. But still )

@Chillychangchoo

Ok so you said you were "amazed at the speed at which people can be con ditioned"

So, I would say that the important reason why people are wearing masks is not because they are conditioned.

There are very good arguments for wearing masks and these involve science.

That is where science came in,

It's not about conditioning it's about science, not wanting to infect other people etc.

Do you understand now?

@MurielSpriggs

Exactly. This is what baffles me. People are saying they’re more likely to shop in these places because they’re saying they expect people to wear masks? It’s just words. They’re doing nothing about it, and aren’t claiming to be.

@Ifitquacks

But that's it isn't it? Job done. Pro-mask people are more likely to shop there. Ker-ching. (At least once, until they notice that it's not really what they expected. But still )

In the current climate, it's very welcome that shops are supporting people who take the current situation seriously.

Of course they are not going to lock people in the Tower for wearing masks, they can't do that now either.

But support for sensible measures is very appreciated by vulnerable shoppers.

Why don't they have a "mask hour", where absolutely everyone must be in a mask for one hour a week. That way, people who feel safer being surrounded by people in masks can do their shopping with no anxiety.

Oh wait... that sounds like a terrible idea? The opposite (so an hour for people not in masks) idea got trotted out all the time when the mask mandate first came in.

But support for sensible measures is very appreciated by vulnerable shoppers

But the ‘support’ is just a sound bite. It doesn’t make the situation in that shop any different to any other shop. They’re just saying what they think the public want to hear. And that’s fine, it’s entirely up to them. But saying what they’ve said doesn’t mean there will be any more mask wearers in their stores than anywhere else.

@herecomesthsun how are shops supporting people though? what are they doing to support?

How many of you mask lovers were wearing them before Boris told you to wear one? Practically no-one. Didn't bother you before did it!

@herecomesthsun

I stand by what I said. I am amazed that people have been conditioned (very well) to be so frightened of covid that they are willing to accept ongoing mandatory restrictions forever more (this was in response to a poster saying we shouldn’t be “allowed” the choice. Nowhere in that was I discussing the science of masks). I was referring to the blind acceptance of the “rules by government”. It’s not my problem you got the wrong end of the stick.

If people want to follow science and wear a mask then good for them but that’s not actually what I was even talking about.

Do you understand now, is that clear enough for you?

Shops aren't supporting anyone. They're simply parroting what the government have said, ie that they recommend/encourage mask wearing in indoor spaces.

I'm really confused as to why the companies mentioned on this thread are getting all the 'well done' and 'good' and 'thank you for protecting vulnerable shoppers' stuff when they've literally said nothing that the government hasn't already said - but when the government said it, they were roundly criticized for passing responsibility to individuals.

Make it make sense!

Why don't they have a "mask hour", where absolutely everyone must be in a mask for one hour a week. That way, people who feel safer being surrounded by people in masks can do their shopping with no anxiety.

This does not sound like a bad idea! It could be rigidly enforced, which would normally trigger claims under the Equality Act for disability discrimination for those with trouble wearing masks, but they could clearly shop freely at any other time of the week

There might be a commercial incentive for the supermarkets here?

I think all the big retailers will do this. I think also all the public transport companies will do this too

@MurielSpriggs

Why don't they have a "mask hour", where absolutely everyone must be in a mask for one hour a week. That way, people who feel safer being surrounded by people in masks can do their shopping with no anxiety.

This does not sound like a bad idea! It could be rigidly enforced, which would normally trigger claims under the Equality Act for disability discrimination for those with trouble wearing masks, but they could clearly shop freely at any other time of the week

There might be a commercial incentive for the supermarkets here?

so who will 'rigidly enforce' that??