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Original poster

Being made to wear masks.

189 replies

SeriouslyHateMasks · 22/07/2021 20:23

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.

OP posts:
godmum56 · 22/07/2021 22:38

@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

they can enforce....shops can set their own rules on who can use their shops and provided the rules are enforced equitably they can set what they like.....like bars and cafes in holiday spots who say "no shoes, no shirt, no service"
RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 22/07/2021 22:40

Thanks god

Someone else has already reminded me of that

millenialblush · 22/07/2021 22:40

Just take it off? What is wrong with people that they have managed to lose the ability to think for themselves. Why are you doing something that you don't want to do, when it's not a legal requirement?

UmteenthUser · 22/07/2021 22:42

People have to come on here to ask permission to do things, fucking hilarious.

RolloTomassi · 22/07/2021 22:47

Don't wear one, you don't have to. The social compulsion is strong now but that's all it is, and it'll wear off the more that people get back to doing things more normally.

TempsPerdu · 22/07/2021 22:59

You really don’t have to wear one OP. Like you I’ve always hated then but while I’ve complied until now I went mask-free around my local shops today and it was great - I could actually concentrate on choosing what I needed without getting overwhelmed by feeling hot and uncomfortable.

I’d say compliance was around 60:40 in most of the shops I visited, which is noticeably lower than earlier in the week. The vast majority of the shop staff were choosing not to wear them either. I think lots of people are watching others and removing masks if they feel confident then won’t be the only ones along so. Certainly lots of people I know have only been continuing to wear them because everyone else is.

PopcornMuncher · 22/07/2021 23:01

Not wearing a mask is wrong, unless you can't.

In your opinion

Do you think its equally wrong for Johnson, Vallance, Van Tam, Whitty etc not to wear them in downing street press conferences? If they really made such a difference they would wear them too

Joft85 · 22/07/2021 23:05

Everyone else wearing one does not mean you have to wear one.

If everyone else jumped off a bridge would you? Turns out a lot of people would, especially if the news and gov told them too.

But seriously, if you don't wanna wear one don't, don't feel pressured. I haven't worn one for months, no one says anything. It's fine.

Silverparting · 22/07/2021 23:11

Come to the shops by me in Birmingham, where mask compliance is poor.

Birchtree1 · 22/07/2021 23:21

I wear a mask 10 hours a day at work and I expect my clients to wear one if they want to see me. It’s annoying but not that difficult. Am double jabbed too but will continue to wear one in supermarkets etc and at work! Don’t want to spread Covid and put poorly people with underlying problems at risk. It’s not just about ourselves!

myspicynutsarefried · 22/07/2021 23:23

Covid is here to stay, it will be here next year and the year after and the year after that. I don't plan to wear a mask for the rest of my life. I don't get why some people who are still wearing them leave their noses hanging out, either wear them properly or don't bother. Don't keep taking them on and off, and sanitise your hand before removal, then put on a new mask in each new environment disposing your old one safely, not just shoving it in a pocket to be hoiked on a few minutes/ hours later, thereby touching potential virus particles and spreading it around by touching trolley handles/ escalator hand rails / items in a shop etc etc. If everyone does this then the chances of reducing transmission might, just might be effective, but people don't and won't and therefore it's pretty bloody pointless. Transmission started to rise the minute we came of of lockdown (whilst masks where still mandated) and will continue to do so. Obviously if you are ill stay at home. If you get messaged by T & T then stay at home and isolate. Otherwise it's time to start living again. It's a shitty situation. But unless wearing the proper FFP2 it's a bit like using a sieve to stop a leak.

Whammyyammy · 22/07/2021 23:25

@SnarkyBag

Don’t wear one anymore then you can stop whining
This^.
Finknottlesnewt · 22/07/2021 23:28

Wear one if you have any common sense and the intelligence to understand why they need to be worn.

Don't wear one if you are a self absorbed idiot with limited cognitive ability and care not a jot who you infect.

Why on earth anyone would follow the advice of a government that changes its mind with the wind in a desperate need for populism is entirely beyond me.

Finknottlesnewt · 22/07/2021 23:29

@Joft85

Everyone else wearing one does not mean you have to wear one.

If everyone else jumped off a bridge would you? Turns out a lot of people would, especially if the news and gov told them too.

But seriously, if you don't wanna wear one don't, don't feel pressured. I haven't worn one for months, no one says anything. It's fine.

I rest my case. Unfettered ignorance.
tedsletterofthelaw · 22/07/2021 23:29

It's encouraged, which means you don't HAVE to wear it.

I went to a supermarket today and 90% of people were wearing them. I didn't.

I do wonder how many of those people are wearing them because everyone else is and they believe it's the 'done thing' now, rather than that they actively choose to wear them.

MySecretHistory · 22/07/2021 23:29

@UmteenthUser

Just because the council are encouraging it doesn't mean that you have to wear one, everywhere is encouraging it because Boris told them to
Well a business can refuse to let you in
tedsletterofthelaw · 22/07/2021 23:30

@Finknottlesnewt

Wear one if you have any common sense and the intelligence to understand why they need to be worn.

Don't wear one if you are a self absorbed idiot with limited cognitive ability and care not a jot who you infect.

Why on earth anyone would follow the advice of a government that changes its mind with the wind in a desperate need for populism is entirely beyond me.

Nice.
ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 22/07/2021 23:38

Wear masks to help kill the pandemic.

Don’t wear masks to possibly help kill granny or eventually yourself.

Simples. Even for hard of thinking hiding under a rock.

Finknottlesnewt · 22/07/2021 23:39

Tedsletterofthelaw

I do wonder how many of those people are wearing them because everyone else is and they believe it's the 'done thing' now, rather than that they actively choose to wear them.

Hmmm 🤔 let's think about that. Could it be that the 90% are smart, selfless people who also hate wearing the bloody things but are not so selfish as to want to risk passing the virus on to those for whom the infection could be life threatening.

Although it is heartening that only 10% couldn't work this out for themselves. (Or simply so selfish they put their mild annoyance above someone else's health , and in some cases life)

tedsletterofthelaw · 22/07/2021 23:42

@Finknottlesnewt I rather suspect a high percentage wear them to avoid a sanctimonious lecture.

Saidtoomuch · 22/07/2021 23:46

Masks are supposed to protect other people. I'm fed up that I'm wearing a mask out of respect for my clients, but since the rule change they don't show me the same courtesy. I know I'm immune to Covid as I'm double jabbed and the only person in a house of 4 that didn't get the virus. I'm starting to think its not my problem, and if my clients won't wear one, then neither will I.

TempsPerdu · 22/07/2021 23:47

I rather suspect a high percentage wear them to avoid a sanctimonious lecture

Anecdote not data, but this is true of almost my entire social circle. People are wearing them to conform, and little else.

Finknottlesnewt · 23/07/2021 00:08

[quote tedsletterofthelaw]@Finknottlesnewt I rather suspect a high percentage wear them to avoid a sanctimonious lecture.

[/quote]
Yes of course. Someone pouting out that it's not a great idea to spread a virus that is in a huge surge ... is sooooo much worse than taking every practical measure to protect the health of others.

It's only a 'sanctimonious lecture' if you haven't already worked out why mask wearing is essential to your fellow man. Otherwise it's simply facts you already know.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 23/07/2021 06:58

And think a year ago so many were screaming about being killed because of incompetent ministers not ordering masks; if only we were like North Korea etc etc.

Now, masks don't work and we're not going to wear them ever again.

How many people/posters do you think said both?

Whiskycav · 23/07/2021 07:20

Op didn't come back?

This thread made no sense. Op felt like she should wear a mask. No one made her. But it seems like she wants to make other people not wear them. So she can feel better about not wearing one.