Non mask wearers

[Menora]

I’ve been generally observing in recent weeks since 19th July (and before too really) and the majority of people I see with no mask are men. I noticed for a while in the pandemic that in petrol stations it was men with no masks on, so got me noticing when I am out. Does this seem the same to you?
I am just interested, is this a general view or me being sexist (hope not). I wonder if men feel like they ‘look stupid’ in a mask so less likely to wear one?

I haven’t noticed this, but even if more men have decided to ditch the mask, what’s wrong with that? They are allowed to now, so they are doing nothing wrong.

Your post just comes across as a cheap dig at all men tbh.

Forgot to mention that I am in London so wearing one on London transport is still a requirement.

I haven't noticed more men ditching masks.

What I have noticed is a difference in the places I've been.

Certain places and shops seem to have more mask wearers. This could of course be just a coincidence.

At this point in time I couldn't really care less what people do.

@Unfashionable

It’s basic human psychology. Men are, in general, significantly less risk-averse and less neurotic than women. They take more risks and they worry less about what could go wrong. Which is why fewer men wear masks and why more men are killed in motorbike accidents.

This is what I was thinking. Plus they are less anxious about a potential confrontation. Men are programmed socially to be more self confident too, unfortunately.

where on earth do you (and others) get the idea that wearing one doesn't help to to reduce the transmission of covid? Common sense says that they do.

But no research does!

(Common sense told us the earth was flat for a very long time.)

igel nope I am afraid it reduces transmission by a tiny tiny percentage. Most people are wearing incorrect masks, that do not do anything at all to reduce transmission.

'Given the large number of particles emitted upon respiration and especially upon sneezing or coughing (4), the number of respiratory particles that may penetrate masks is substantial, which is one of the main reasons for doubts about their efficacy in preventing infections. Moreover, randomized clinical trials have shown inconsistent or inconclusive results, with some studies reporting only a marginal benefit or no effect of mask use'

science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6549/1439

If you read the full article you will see that masks have little or no effect. Ventilation, social distancing and other methods can work to minimise.

So wearing a mask will do little or nothing to protect you, unless you are wearing a full hazmat suit (and in some cases even this will not prevent the virus) you are wasting your time. Fact.

Not the ‘masks don’t work argument’ again. How many times?

Also, people telling others not to judge. What is wrong with having an opinion on the behaviour of others? You cannot tell someone how to think.

@Dontfuckingsaycheese

I noticed Aldi's sign outside said please feel free to continue to wear a mask if you wish... I did notice more and more peeps are opting out and not wearing one. I bumped into 2 ex-neighbours and they were maskless and I was just thinking Why? Why? Why wouldn't you? But enough people still wearing one for me to not feel the odd one out. Other shops I've been to eg B+Q said please continue to wear a mask and everyone was just popping one on on entry no issue.

I don't wear one because I test daily, I've been double jabbed, I sanitise my hands on entry, and I don't openly sneeze or cough (into my elbow if needed).

There is no way, given the above, that anyone is catching anything from me. Therefore I do not need to wear a mask.

The Aldi sign - a bit bizarre. As if giving you permission should you want to. As if you probably won't. I do feel that communication was a little unhelpful at this time.

refuse to follow the one way system.

I did not observe many one way systems after about March because I found them to be largely performative actions that, if anything, seemed to prolong the length of time people needed to be the building and increased the number of aisles for instance that I needed to visit.

They seemed to be something that shops did in order to be seen to be doing something, rather than because it made logical, practical sense.

Another piece here:

Masks and Face Coverings for the Lay Public : A Narrative Update
Thomas Czypionka et al. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Apr.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33370173/

The abstract of which says:
To date, only 1 randomized controlled trial has examined a community mask recommendation. This trial did not identify a significant protective effect and was not designed to evaluate source control.

But things may have moved on in the meantime. I'm genuinely interested to know if anyone is aware of any peer-reviewed research which concludes that masks help. The claim is regularly made here, but never corroborated.

Pretty even around here between men and women I'd say.
I don't wear one anymore and neither does my fiance. My parents still do so maybe it's more of an age thing than gender.

I haven’t noticed. I don’t have time to go round staring at people’s chins. I don’t wear one and I’m a 30yo woman.

I'm a woman and don't wear one, haven't really noticed with other people whether they are men or women as I'm usually thinking about what I'm doing

Half and half here in terms of men and women. I’ve not worn one since the 18th, can’t be bothered to and like someone else has said what’s the point anyway?

I’m female, early 40s, and no longer wear one other than on busy public transport. Haven’t noticed any significant difference between either ages or sexes where I am (London suburb), but I definitely see fewer people wearing them every day. I no longer worry about possible confrontation when I enter shops etc, and am enjoying smiling and chatting properly to shop workers again, the vast majority of whom are also choosing not to wear one.

Went to a kids’ theatre performance last weekend - out of maybe a hundred or so families attending only a handful were wearing masks. Lots of people turned up wearing them, saw others unmasked and took theirs off too. Same with all the preschool groups I’ve attended - most parents around me just seem to want to interact unhampered with their children.

I went to the garage and tescos yesterday with no mask. I forgot it and didn't care. I'm not a man

I just went into a large supermarket which was pretty quiet and saw 5 men with no masks but no women.
Then walked though a shopping centre it was similar
Petrol stations have been like this for a long time no masks worn by mostly men

I was just thinking Why? Why? Why wouldn't you?

@Dontfuckingsaycheese Because I don’t want to

But they don’t have to, unless somewhere specifically asks for it.

You obviously have way too much time in your hands to be counting mask wearing!

For your statistics I have just been to the farm shop and didn’t wear one. Because it was very quiet so I came nowhere near anyone other than the server who was behind a screen (and she to had chosen to not wear one)

I feel abit sorry for people still wearing masks, and clasping the sanitiser and desperately clinging on to the old rules. I assume they have anxiety or possibly CEV and feel uncomfortable (the latter is entirely understandable) and treat them with good grace and respect.

I do not feel any need to continue with something that didn't work anyway, and was largely encouraged as a psychological prop to make people feel safer rather than reduce covid. If the masks worked we wouldn't have had so many waves over the winter when everyone was wearing one every where. They don't work but work as a good reminder when the waves are peaking to remind others to take care, and keep distance. They were never meant to be more than that, and I worry people still wear them for the wrong reasons, and find it sad they are unable to understand the facts behind the brain washing techniques used to corral the public. If I was in gov I would be very worried about the lack of CT skills and wonder if the education system has succeeded in truly producing a society hell bent on following 'rules' even if they make no sense and are actively damaging (in the case of children wearing masks)

@Unfashionable

It’s basic human psychology. Men are, in general, significantly less risk-averse and less neurotic than women. They take more risks and they worry less about what could go wrong. Which is why fewer men wear masks and why more men are killed in motorbike accidents.

Thanks yes I think this is what I was wondering

The question could have been that mostly I have seen women still wearing them even when it’s not legally required to. I didn’t even state my own personal choices or preferences just that I noticed this

@stepupandbecounted

igel nope I am afraid it reduces transmission by a tiny tiny percentage. Most people are wearing incorrect masks, that do not do anything at all to reduce transmission.

'Given the large number of particles emitted upon respiration and especially upon sneezing or coughing (4), the number of respiratory particles that may penetrate masks is substantial, which is one of the main reasons for doubts about their efficacy in preventing infections. Moreover, randomized clinical trials have shown inconsistent or inconclusive results, with some studies reporting only a marginal benefit or no effect of mask use'

science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6549/1439

If you read the full article you will see that masks have little or no effect. Ventilation, social distancing and other methods can work to minimise.

So wearing a mask will do little or nothing to protect you, unless you are wearing a full hazmat suit (and in some cases even this will not prevent the virus) you are wasting your time. Fact.

Did you actually read the article and understand it? It concludes that the wearing of masks combined with other mitigations is important. It does not say they have little or no effect.

I'd say a pretty even split of the sexes where I am too, but much more younger people (say under 40s) than older people. Also agree that staff in supermarkets, shops etc are a lot less likely to wear them than the customers. Which doesn't surprise me because of course it's nowhere near as big an inconvenience to throw one on for 10 mins to nip round a shop, much more uncomfortable to wear it for a 7.5 hr shift! Even when masks were mandatory, half the shop staff didn't wear them really, they often had them round their chins and that. Didn't blame them either.

I couldn't wait to throw my mask away and, if anyone thinks a flimsy bit of material will protect them from getting any disease, that's misguided in my opinion. If it was the case, then how did covid spread so quickly!