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 don't notice many people wearing them anymore, regardless of sex / age.

[quote TiredButDancing]@stepupandbecounted I disagree with you re masks helping and y ou are clearly anti-mask etc so I won't engage further on that one. Also, while older children clearly transmit, all the information and research I've seen that younger children do NOT transmit it as easily.

On the people are still vulnerable point - are you being serious? So anyone vulnerable must just stay home forever? Honestly, I don't get that attitude. I agree that there has to be a point at which we can't keep doing epic things to support vulnerable people, but wearing a mask is not that much of a hardship and if it allows a vulnerable person to do their supermarket shopping in person, it's a small sacrifice I am willing to make.[/quote]
So you’re planning on wearing a face covering in the ‘necessary’ places for the rest of your life?!

So you’re planning on wearing a face covering in the ‘necessary’ places for the rest of your life?!

They do in many East Asian countries?

@Tealightsandd

So you’re planning on wearing a face covering in the ‘necessary’ places for the rest of your life?!

They do in many East Asian countries?

Honestly, I don't know. I do think that what's considered standard will change. As @Tealightsandd points out, it's pretty standard in other parts of the world already. For now, while we still have a lot of people unvaccinated, and treatments are still erratic, I'm happy to keep wearing them in certain environments. I'll reassess over time as needed.

I'd say when it comes to the benefits of masks, experts including the CDC and the WHO are worth listening to more than randoms on social media.

Japan has some very cool masks. Literally cool, as in built in fans, but also various other exciting options including one that will translate your voice into several different languages.

en.donutrobotics.com/c-mask

Mainly men here. I think it’s because men are less likely to be tutted at/confronted over not wearing one.
I really struggle with masks due to some past experiences but am still wearing one because I’m scared of being confronted for not wearing one.

There was a recent Bristol University study that found mask wearing reduces transmission by about 25%, but only if we all wear them - because they mainly protect others, not the wearer (unless it's a specific FFP2/3 grade mask).

OP, I've also noticed the same about it being mostly men not wearing them. I'm in London where they are compulsory on TfL operated public transport and the maskless are mainly younger, and mainly men. The frustrating thing is of course that vaccine take up is also lower among young men - I wonder how much cross over there is between those who've not had the vaccine and those who don't wear a mask?

The majority are still wearing their masks near me (central London) as are all friends and family. Covid hasn’t disappeared so better to keep trying to protect others.

They do in many East Asian countries?

This is a bit of a myth. I have lived in a couple of East Asian countries. While some (not all, by any means) people wear them when they have symptoms of a cold, they’re really not worn as standard in indoor or crowded places, for example.

@TempsPerdu

It seems to be more young women in my town centre with or without children, not that having a child would make a difference

Hmm, I’m not actually convinced about that last statement. I’m not a fan of masks, but from personal experience I found it much easier wearing one when out alone or with DP and able to focus than when I’m with my 3-year-old, juggling a buggy and a shopping basket around a stuffy supermarket, with DD pointing and chatting away, pulling down my mask whenever I bent down to hear or talk to her (since I struggle to make myself heard otherwise).

Plus there’s no way I was ever maintaining optimal mask hygiene when the mask was constantly pulled up and down, used to play peekaboo or worn as a hat, taken off and stuffed in my pocket between shops so I could interact properly with DD and so on.

I agree with this - I am a woman in my 30s with two toddlers. I do wear a mask where asked to, but I no longer feel anxious when I have to comfort my 1yo with cuddles or just generally carry her about in public places and she pulls the mask off my face, which can happen quite often. I feel more able to wait until things are calm again, or I can get somewhere where I can put her down safely, and then put it back on again. Instead of anxiously trying to get it back on again with one hand while she tries to grab it.

It's this type of emotions I find interesting.

Those who continue to wear masks generally just type in a non chalent way about how they'll help and how those vulnerable could be protected or feel safer.

Those who choose not to wear one have such an emotional response to those who do. Very emotive language along "cling to your life raft".
That's my experience too.

Definitely men less likely to be confronted, I don’t wear one anyway as I’m exempt but a few months ago I was on the bus and got verbally abused by a man for not wearing one despite there being two men on the bus not wearing one I was the only person he targeted, I asked him why he was only being rude to me and not the two men and he made up some crap about me having children (so basically it’s ok to start on a woman with children )

I went to the supermarket on Wednesday without a mask for the first time - I have an infection just under my nose and wearing a mask made it really hurt. it was bliss to be without a mask. If I have a cold/cough then I will wear a mask again.

50/50 mix where I live.

To add, I am a female and I choose not to wear one.

Came home from holiday yesterday using TfL services in London and both sexes were not participating in mask use...equally, I'd say.

tired I didn't say vulnerable people need to stay at home, only that surely the onus is on them to choose places that are not packed and busy, it is their responsibility to keep themselves safe and do what is right for them. They may feel like many CEV I know that are now flying all over the world on holiday that they trust the vaccine and are happy to do anything now. Or they may feel scared. It is not for me to decide or take responsibility for their health however (or you for that matter)

Wearing a mask might not be a big deal for you, but for me it is a major deal as I suffer from PA and find wearing one makes me worse. Many people are like me, others simply hate them as they work as barriers to human contact and interaction. To say that masks are nothing shows deep insensitivity tired and a thought process that does not take into account the huge sacrifices some people have made to wear masks in the first place.

You can continue for as long as you like - that is a matter for you - but taking some misguided pious stand on 'saving the world' by wearing one is annoying, and I don't blame your dh for choosing to be free of them. No doubt he wonders to himself quietly why you have chosen to continue. It works both ways.

I haven't come across people getting annoyed with others not wearing masks/wearing masks IRL. Online, lots of emotive language aka sajid cowering/hiding/lockdown lover vs selfish/covidiot/lockdown lover (in different way) etc. It's been pretty even between men/women wearing masks where I've been.

In answer to the ops question- where I live I’ve noticed it seems to be quite often men going into our local shop who aren’t wearing masks now. I took my 11 year olds daughter into town and in The Entertainer all the young staff wore masks.. popped into the works and none of the staff were wearing masks . I’m still wearing one because I’m CEV but I have no issue with people not wearing them . It’s up to the individual. My 72 year old mother has largely lived life as normal and more so since being double vaccinated and has ditched the mask but tbh if I was 72 and double jabbed I’d just want to enjoy life ! My father (parents are divorced) who is nearly 80
. Despite being double jabbed is still very anxious and insisted on wearing an ffp2 to sit in my garden the other week he is however classed as CEV. He wouldn’t even step into my house

@stepupandbecounted

tired I didn't say vulnerable people need to stay at home, only that surely the onus is on them to choose places that are not packed and busy, it is their responsibility to keep themselves safe and do what is right for them. They may feel like many CEV I know that are now flying all over the world on holiday that they trust the vaccine and are happy to do anything now. Or they may feel scared. It is not for me to decide or take responsibility for their health however (or you for that matter)

Wearing a mask might not be a big deal for you, but for me it is a major deal as I suffer from PA and find wearing one makes me worse. Many people are like me, others simply hate them as they work as barriers to human contact and interaction. To say that masks are nothing shows deep insensitivity tired and a thought process that does not take into account the huge sacrifices some people have made to wear masks in the first place.

You can continue for as long as you like - that is a matter for you - but taking some misguided pious stand on 'saving the world' by wearing one is annoying, and I don't blame your dh for choosing to be free of them. No doubt he wonders to himself quietly why you have chosen to continue. It works both ways.

You are putting all kinds of thoughts and motivations to me that I didn't say or think.

I have no issue with people who choose not to (including DH - which I thought I'd made that clear up front). If a person finds wearing a mask really unpleasant, then sure, go ahead and don't wear one. I make choices based on the fact that for me, wearing one is not that big a deal and if it slightly reduces the overall risk, then great.

As for vulnerable people, yes, they will have to take a fair amount of responsibility for themselves. But I'm quite happy to accommodate them if it doesn't negatively impact me to do so. I believe that as members of community we have a responsibility to other members. So we don't drink and drive because it's dangerous not just to ourselves but to others. But we do drive generally even though arguably it's not risk free, because we all need to get places.

I'm certainly not going to simply shrug my shoulders and say, "tough shit" re vulnerable people. But I'm also not going to impose whatever Im' doing on anyone else, including you.

@Menora

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

What do you think should happen to all these non-conforming men OP?

No doubt he wonders to himself quietly why you have chosen to continue. It works both ways.

Oh, and please, do not tell me what my DH is thinking. He totally understands my thinking and in fact, said he'll make more effort to wear one in shopping centers/ supermarkets.

In SW London today I noticed about 1/3 wear one in shops still 2/3 don't. Yes probably notice more men without but plenty of women too. I've stopped but will still wear on public transport or if the covid cases rise and I feel more at risk, I will wear it again.

Completely understand shop workers not wearing them. I used to have to wear one all day (teacher) and it was really unpleasant when talking etc all day everyday- especially with hotter summer weather. I can see how they've decided to just take the risk and have a more pleasant working day.

@Imnothereforthedrama

Maybe just get on with your life and stop judging people. I use my own judgement if it’s not busy I don’t wear a mask if it is I do . I also social distance probably more so than mask wearers . If you can social distance if you can’t wear a mask . Some mask wearers are so close to you when it’s really not necessary .

Agree!

@nordica

There was a recent Bristol University study that found mask wearing reduces transmission by about 25%, but only if we all wear them - because they mainly protect others, not the wearer (unless it's a specific FFP2/3 grade mask).

OP, I've also noticed the same about it being mostly men not wearing them. I'm in London where they are compulsory on TfL operated public transport and the maskless are mainly younger, and mainly men. The frustrating thing is of course that vaccine take up is also lower among young men - I wonder how much cross over there is between those who've not had the vaccine and those who don't wear a mask?

Thanks @nordica, this is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. There's a press release here: www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2021/june/covid19-maskwearing.html

(Although do note that it is not altogether reliable:
Please note this is a preprint, it is a preliminary piece of research that has not yet been through peer review and has not been published in a scientific journal – so this is early data. )