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.

@OrangeBananaFish. Chances are, an asymptomatic person infected you in an indoor setting.

For example, one asymptomatic person breathing (maskless) in an indoor space for 10 minutes will release enough viral particles to put anyone else using that space at risk.

So a single maskless person in the office, or in the supermarket is enough.

CV is airborne, and lingers. So when other people aren't wearing masks, ours are needed to protect us from them.

Frankly, we wear ours because we have some humility. When the pandemic started, I read Dorothy Crawford's work. I trust her more than Johnson/any other Tory, so I continue to wear a mask, becaue I know that CV needs a carrier, and people's breath is a big carrier.
They're not comfy, but they do help. So we wear them.

Masks have become kind of a comfort blanket for many people. You see people walking in the street with masks, even though the risks of outside transmission are almost zero. Not to mention that masks were never about being protected, but about protecting others.

There is very little evidence that mask wearing has any substantial effect, yet for some it's become a quasi religion in which they're fundamentalists. If you don't want to wear a mask, just don't.

@TheVampiresWife

Don’t wear masks to possibly help kill granny

WILL NOBODY THINK OF THE GRANDADS

I was probably one of the first to wear a mask in my borough (literally!) and was met with quizzical looks. How things have changed. I initially wore the mask as I had friends in Italy and other places where they were recommending it. At the time, the data on Covid and how it spread focused on droplets and there was very little talk about aerosols (even though I think most of us thought it was likely it would spread that way).

Since then, more studies and data are available and with it now firmly established that Covid spreads mainly via aerosols, most masks will not be effective and you really need to go for high grade N95 and similar to get and give protection so, yes, masks are mainly comfort blankets. This is a good description/overview: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/17/cloth-face-masks-comfort-blankets-do-little-curb-covid-spread/

Having been one of the first to wear the masks, I might now - on the back of new findings - be the first to drop it! ;)

@Finknottlesnewt

Topseyt

Not wearing a mask because of a valid exemption has always been acceptable because the rate of people who GENUINELY can't tolerate a mask are few and fat between. That said - Perspex shields are an option.

That said . Which is more important to you ? A few uncomfortable minutes in a shop or the knowledge that your comfort resulted in landing someone in hospital. Or even dead. Because that is the reality of the decision you are making.

I know I did mention supermarkets, but I am actually more concerned about when I am on the train for hours really. It is for several hours and is a problem because I begin struggling to breathe.

I was allowed to remove mine in our doctor's surgery the other day because I had to lie down on the examination couch and began struggling.

@TheVampiresWife

Don’t wear masks to possibly help kill granny

WILL NOBODY THINK OF THE GRANDADS

Ive thought this all the way through 😀

@UpstreamSwimmer

Masks have become kind of a comfort blanket for many people. You see people walking in the street with masks, even though the risks of outside transmission are almost zero. Not to mention that masks were never about being protected, but about protecting others.

There is very little evidence that mask wearing has any substantial effect, yet for some it's become a quasi religion in which they're fundamentalists. If you don't want to wear a mask, just don't.

I am sick to death of posts like this using language that infantilises people using masks. All this "comfort blanket", "hiding behind the sofa", "scared" makes you sound more childish than the people you are insulting. It's not big or clever.

I think I have a much firmer grasp on why masks are a good thing than you do about why they aren't. The research says they help to reduce transmission. It's not perfect by any means, but it's one of the many and very simple things that you can do. But no, that's too much to ask.

I don't expect anyone to wear a mask outside either and I never have myself. Indoors is another story. I imagine most do it because taking your mask on and off is not a great idea, so if anything they are doing it better than the rest of us.

@knittingaddict there is no evidence to suggest they do anything to stop the spread though, especially the way the majority wear them, so they are just a comfort blanket. The government have said themselves that they are used to remind us that there is a danger, but as a functional item, they are useless unless worn properly.

People have essentially been brainwashed into thinking they do something; I cannot understand why people refuse to acknowledge this.

@TerritorialPissings

People have essentially been brainwashed into thinking they do something; I cannot understand why people refuse to acknowledge this.

Because I don't believe it's true or do you think it's only you that has a handle on truth and facts?

What I'm finding with all these moaning minnies about masks is that it;s not just that THEY don't want to wear one, it's that they don't want ANYONE ELSE to wear one either to make them feel better/ so they don't have to feel guilty or risk anyone judging them.

Indeed NormaSnorks

@knittingaddict of course I don’t. I do know that it IS a fact that masks were encouraged to make people think there is a danger and that there is no clinical evidence that they do anything. So I’d rather not wear something utterly pointless, that actually hinders my every day life. If it did something, I’d wear one, but it honestly baffles me why someone would wear a mask that does nothing to protect someone else.

@TerritorialPissings
Why does it bother you so much that people want to wear the masks at this moment in time? You can make your own decisions. So can we. It might be best to stop with the whole ‘brainwashing’ rhetoric as you are increasingly looking like the ones who are brainwashed and think as a crowd. Buy a sunflower lanyard to wear if you are genuinely concerned that people will judge you for not wearing one and you are struggling- or just have the courage of your convictions and do what you want. You have the support of the law.

[quote TerritorialPissings]@knittingaddict of course I don’t. I do know that it IS a fact that masks were encouraged to make people think there is a danger and that there is no clinical evidence that they do anything. So I’d rather not wear something utterly pointless, that actually hinders my every day life. If it did something, I’d wear one, but it honestly baffles me why someone would wear a mask that does nothing to protect someone else.[/quote]
Well this is a danger out there, isn't there and the fact that you say this gives me a clue as to where you are coming from. There's really no point in engaging further with you.

Sorry that should have said "Well there is a danger".

@BustopherPonsonbyJones I have no problem whatsoever with other people wearing masks. I do worry that long term they will become normalised, and this saddens me as they are pointless and hinder communication. If people were more aware of why were encouraged to wear them in the first place, maybe they would be a bit more measured about the whole thing rather than giving them far more weight than they deserve.

@knittingaddict

Sorry that should have said "Well there is a danger".

But there’s danger everywhere. Always has been, always will be. I think a little bit of perspective is needed to realise that those little pieces of fabric are doing nothing to help. Reducing social mixing helps prevent the spread, yes. I’m not a Covid denier. I just cannot grasp why so much significance is being attributed to something so very limited in efficacy.

Tesco this morning was 50%/50%. Nobody batted and eyelid. Do whatever feels best for you.

Of course there's danger all around us, but that's why we take precautions to avoid them and the harm they cause. I'm sure that helps you argument. Do you do nothing to help yourself? [confused[

I am sick to death of posts like this using language that infantilises people using masks. All this "comfort blanket", "hiding behind the sofa", "scared" makes you sound more childish than the people you are insulting. It's not big or clever

Neither is it big or clever to call people selfish, or granny killers, or snowflakes, or covidiots. Or to tell people who can't wear masks that they're not trying hard enough, that they should stay home, that they're whiners. Yet these things are said all the time on MN.

Perhaps everyone should just stop being twats.

"I'm not sure that helps your argument"

I blame the heat.

Yes, of course. That’s my point, I’ll happily partake in precautions that DO something. Masks simply don’t afford others the protection that so many people think they do. No more, no less.

I have not once taken a supermarket slot during the pandemic and left it for others more in need
Why? Stop being a martyr and book a delivery slot. There are plenty of delivery slots available, if you don’t want to go to the supermarket, just book a slot. I’ve just looked at Tesco and they have slots every day available Round here, including tomorrow.