Being made to wear masks.

[SeriouslyHateMasks]

For some reason, I can't really explain why, I just hate wearing masks. I absolutely HATE them. Aside from this, I have willingly followed all the rules and I worked in a key role throughout all the pandemic. Not NHS, more supply chain. I have to wear a mask all day at work and I hate it.

Anyway, I have been out of England for the past 2 weeks and was looking forward to ditching the mask. Except, I can't. Whilst I was away it turns out our town council did a survey and they are encouraging everyone to still wear masks. So, I went to the shops today and everywhere I went I had to wear a mask. I went to the supermarket too and every single person had one on, so I had to follow suit or probably get an earful.

I feel so gutted. I totally respect anyone's right to wear a mask, but they are no longer enforced by law and I shouldn't have to wear one if I don't want to. If we have to wear one now, then when exactly is this going to stop?

I have not once taken a supermarket slot during the pandemic and left it for others more in need. I just now feel f^ck it. I will buy everything online and get it delivered if I have to continue wearing a mask everywhere I go. Also, what is the point of me getting double vaccinated if I have to carry on wearing this on my face in 30 degree heat.

How can you possibly know that? Do you know everyone in the world? When i put my mask on i swear very VERY loudly. Because it was so uncomfortable.

And public transport companies need to meet us halfway. Hey Stephensons buses. TURN YOUR FUCKING HEATING OFF No more bellyaching about how it cant be turned off. Its late JULY and we are in a fucking heatwave.

@MercyBooth

I know still want to protect themselves and those around them

But only from Covid. Fuck everything else.

How does wearing a mask affect anything else? Other than preventing other illnesses like flu too.

@MercyBooth

I know still want to protect themselves and those around them

But only from Covid. Fuck everything else.

What does that even mean?

Yes, masks probably only protect from Covid (and other respiratory viruses). Your point?

Yes what the hell is wrong with bus companies?
Every year it's the same problem. Bad enough they have shitty little windows that do nothing. Used to love the jump on/off buses as at least the lack of door let in some air.

People use the community rhetoric when its Covid but when its anything else they arent bothered . I got this proved on another thread............not that i needed it proving.

@MercyBooth

And public transport companies need to meet us halfway. Hey Stephensons buses. TURN YOUR FUCKING HEATING OFF No more bellyaching about how it cant be turned off. Its late JULY and we are in a fucking heatwave.

My God yes!

Heating on full blast here so the engines don't overheat apparently, but windows open all the time, from last year for ventilation meaning you get rained on, and earlier this year, snowed on, and showered with twigs and leaves when the bus catches the overgrown hedges - and when it's cold, the heating isn't on!

The joys of public transport! 🤣

As for the masks, wear one if you want, don't if you want, just wish both 'sides' of this would show some respect for the other side.

Ditch the mask.

Totally anecdotal here and it might just be my experience.

I tested positive on Monday. In the few days before I went to the following:

1. Work. Our desks are spread out, we have screens up around our desks, temp checks on the way in, one way system with plenty of room for social distancing and EVERYBODY wears a mask when walking about or if someone comes to their desk. Always.
2. Supermarket. I live in an area with a high uptake of mask wearing. I've not seen this notion of many people not wearing that I've heard of in other areas of England
3. For a solo run (outside) didn't see anyone
4. For a solo walk (outside) again didn't see anyone - live rurally
5. Junior parkrun (outside)

So I caught Covid in one of those places, either outside or inside where everyone (including me) was wearing masks. The busiest place was junior parkrun, but that was Sunday morning, my symptoms started Sunday afternoon when I felt really really really tired. Would they have started so quick? Maybe, I don't know as I'm not a scientist.

Anyway going from my own personal experience I'm not totally convinced that masks are all that effective TBH. I'm considering to carry on wearing one until 2 weeks past my personal freedom day (ie when my isolation ends) and then maybe ditching it. After all the chance of me passing anything on by then must be very very very very slim as I've recently had and recovered from Covid. If I was still likely to pass it on then surely the isolation period would be longer?

I am, too hoping by then that people will just gradually ditch them. I think a lot of people are only wearing them now because everyone else is.

So far since Monday, I've been in my local pub, M&S, One Stop, swimming at the local leisure centre and Morrisons without a mask and no one said a thing to me. A lot of people are still choosing to wear one but quite a few aren't; I'm one of those. I have chosen not to be vaccinated as well.

@RufustheBadgeringReindeer

As far as ive seen lots of shops have said they prefer masks to be worn, but they won’t be enforcing it

Plus they cant cos its not legal

I wear a mask but if you really dont want to i think you just have to brush off any comments you might get

Of course shops/ transports/ restaurants etc...can ask you to wear a mask or refuse service in the same way they cab if someone isn't wearing a top or footwear (frequently seen sign in seaside towns!). Doesn't matter if it is law it can be a condition of service.

Most shops are being hardline as most people are still wearing them. But they are fully entitled if they wish.

I've just finished a 12 hour day in a mask in a 28 degree room with no air flow.

I've worn my mask to protect the others and they've worn them to protect us.

Nothings changed for me from last week to this week that makes me want to stop wearing one.

Figures in my area are hugely going up

Yes I'm double jabbed but it doesn't stop you getting Covid and I really can't afford to lose anymore financially as the last 18 months has nearly broken my business and I also don't want to be like some double jabbed people that are getting really ill.

I have an auto immune disease so it's not as simple as just taking it off is it.

Right popping back on to say that shops didn’t enforce it when we were all supposed to be wearing masks

I doubt they will when we dont have to

A number of the big shops have stated clearly that they wont be enforcing it

But yeah its like no shirt no service…so your point stands 😀

Shops have generally said that they would prefer people to wear masks but are not enforcing it. Perhaps small independent businesses might enforce it more.

I’ve posted this video on a few mask threads now as it good visual demonstration on how pretty useless they are. They may help contain larger droplets from a cough or sneeze, until evaporation takes over.

It was advised early on that if taking to someone then to do so not face to face but side to side to lower the risk. The video clearly demonstrates how wearing a mask defeats this advice!

I shouldn't have to wear one if I don't want to

Apart from sounding like a 3 year old, you are behaving selfishly.

Masks protect others from the risk you post to them. So nice to know how much you care for others’ safety.

I don't enjoy wearing masks, I just appreciate that it's sensible.

Why does it matter what other people think? You don't want to and you don't have to, so don't! Don't make yourself miserable. Other people want to and can, so they do. Try not to worry about it.

I'm in Scotland and can't wait to ditch them, it's fuckkng tedious and pointless. As soon as we are allowed I won't put another one near my face. Anyone that says anything will be told to fuck off. Just don't wear it OP.

The shops are encouraging you to wear one . You don't have to . For all practical purposes you have never had to wear one really anyway. Just claim you are exempt and you didn't need to wear one before anyway, but even this is not needed as a reason to drop the mask now

It seems you don't just want to stop wearing a mask, you want everyone else to stop wearing them too.That is an unreasonable request. They have the right to wear one if they want to

I've noticed quite a few people not wearing them here now.

@OrangeBananaFish a cloth mask, and anything made of flimsy, thin material, or with a valve, is indeed not very effective.

That’s why some countries made FFP2 masks compulsory. Where I live they cut down to surgical and FFP2 in February, FFP2 only in March. Valves are not allowed either. You can clearly see the drastic downward trend in infections, and when we got hit with a third wave in April (mostly Alpha variant which we hadn’t had, so more transmissible), the numbers never got as high as before. Our vaccination programme was behind back then, so it wasn’t that either.

Most masks offer some protection to others, if any. Only FFP2 masks protect both the wearer and the people around them. They’ve proved extremely effective in places where it was the sole option for most of the pandemic.

Just don't wear it! I'm exempt and have never been challenged in a bad way. I've been asked but when I've politely declined it's been fine.

Your mask protects other people if you have Covid
lots of people have Covid and not know it lots of people have it before they know it

Just wear your bloody mask it’s a small mitigation that you can do if you give a shit about other people. Do you need a law for you to make a decision that is right for others?

@EileenGC I agree with what you have said and I did mean to say something along the lines of "I'm not totally convinced that masks as they are currently worn are all that effective TBH." but it was a longer reply than I was intending so didn't think about adding bits in. We will only keep the bits of cloth here in England I can imagine.

Just don't do it. I've been the only maskless one a couple of times now and it's been fine. They can't make you do it.