If you're still wearing a mask are you feeling a bit daft?

[LegendaryReady]

If I'm honest, I've never been completely convinced about the value of masks, especially the way most people use them, but I have always worn one in indoor public places since we were first asked to do, as I know it makes some of the people around me more comfortable.

I've continued since restrictions were relaxed, although admittedly I'm less concerned now if I find myself without one by mistake. However, I've noticed that I am most definitely in the minority now and I feel like people are judging me for being one of those paranoid over anxious types and I'm not, I'm just trying to do the right thing. I think people are huffing when I'm the only one in a queue wearing one and there's a delay because I can't be heard properly, for example.

So if you're still wearing one, do you feel comfortable doing so?

If you're not wearing one do you have an opinion on those who do?

I don’t feel silly. I hope wearing mine will a) protect me and b) help other people who are scared of the virus feel I am doing what I can to protect them. If you are lucky enough to be able to wear a mask I can’t see why you wouldn’t.

Not silly at all. I think making mask wearing optional was ridiculous and with numbers soaring the way they are we should be doing everything we can to prevent spread.
I follow a number of people on Twitter who work in infectious diseases and their guidance is as it was - distance yourself, wash hands wear a mask etc. Tbh I judge those who don't wear masks but largely blame the uk govt

I wear my fabric masks too in supermarkets and shops. I swapped bags the other day and didn't have a mask and it was very odd - my DD reminded me that I didn't need one but I felt uncomfortable going into one shop when all the staff and other customers were wearing theirs.

@nordica, do you have a link to the masks you are using as I want to get some for when I head back onto public transport.

I still wear one, I would anyway but especially because I am pregnant. I appreciate I'll probably get COVID at some point but I really don't want it to be whilst I am pregnant. There are clearer links now to covid infection in pregnancy and poorer outcomes for the baby, and it isn't clear whether the vaccine is effective at mitigating these risks. I avoid public places but there are some places I can't totally avoid (eg shops). I greatly appreciate when I'm in one of those places and others are wearing masks too, as we all know they work best to protect others from getting your infection. I think it's the respectful thing to do for others and I plan to do it for as long as people are still vulnerable (even when I no longer am myself).

I wear mine in some circumstances and don't feel daft wearing it or not wearing it

Why does wearing a mask automatically make someone a "paranoid over anxious type"? Some people want to give themselves extra protection, some people want to protect those more vulnerable. If you want to wear one, great. If you don't...well that's not against the law so crack on.

In Wales we are supposed to wear them on public transport still and I think in shops - there are still signs up on shop doors.

I went to local tesco met twice last week - first time as I had to go to cash machine first I walked in having forgotten to put mask on - felt awful and got some telling off looks.

Two days later went in with mask on - felt awkward in queue realising I was only person in the shop wearing one even staff behind tills weren't.

I've been back since - as it's been a mix.

I have got FFP2 for when we are on buses and trains but have the disposableand cloth ones for school/college/ other places - I think we''ll wear them most of the winter if only to cut down on colds but I think even here fewer people are doing so.

I must admit, it was my first time on a bus last week. When I first got on the bus everyone was wearing a mask. I didn’t really pay attention to others whilst I was on the bus, I just zoned out.

However, when it came to getting off the bus, suddenly I realised no one else on the bus was wearing a mask.

It kind of took me by surprise and it did flash through my mind for a second, I must look quite paranoid and anxious to everyone else.

I hadn’t really thought about it since this thread. However, it was a really weird moment.

Usually I stay local and in my local area mask wearing is still pretty high. However, where I travelled to it was quite low really. Although it was a really quick trip to pick something up so I didn’t really see a lot.

The places where I’m wearing mine are full of people mostly doing the same. That’s supermarkets, coffee shop queues, other shops. I don’t feel silly. We’ve got quite high rates around here so it’s not exactly much inconvenience to put one on for half an hour to go round Asda.

I would say around 80% of customers in my local supermarket are wearing them now.

Think they're pretty pointless myself, if a mask can't stop a fart it's not going to stop coronavirus.

To be honest I think most people in a supermarket aren’t really concerning themselves with whether other people are wearing a mask or not. I know from reading on here it seems like everyone is up in arms about it, but in real life most people just get on with it and dont pay all that much attention to others.

I've been told "You don't have to wear one of them you know now!" By a couple of busy bodies.

When I respond that I work in care, we are currently in an outbreak and although I've tested negative that day, tomorrow might be a different story, and it'd be a bit irresponsible to not take all precautions I can to try and prevent me spreading it if I have it, they definitely took a step backwards.
Quite right too because on one of those occasions I was probably infected although I'd tested negative on an LFT that day 🤷

In the same way no one knows the reason behind anyone not wearing a mask, no one knows the reasons behind someone wearing one.

Live in Wales so masks are still compulsory in most places. Don't feel daft at all. I've definitly had less colds and coughs etc over the past year so will probably keep wearing one when they're not compulsory any more

I don't feel silly. It minimises me spreading my germs. I double mask, fabric over medical.

I wear a mask in some indoor situations but not in others. I think most people are the same. There is almost certainly less logic behind my own decisions on this than I like to think. I don’t have any assumptions about why people are or aren’t wearing masks. It’s obvious from threads on here that others are highly likely to be making judgements about why I might or why I might not be wearing a mask, but I don’t care as long as they keep it to themselves.

I'm currently sat in a tyre place, sat nearish to another woman, occasionally chatting. They have a door and windows wide open and no requests for customers to wear masks.

I am wearing a mask, she isn't. Neither of us has batted an eyelid, it's just personal choice. As it should be.

I feel the ones not wearing them are daft. I make very exaggerated side steps away from them too in the shops, like pantomime style, I no doubt look like a dick but I truly couldn’t care less.

It’s the very elderly ones I can’t understand. Literally like swimming in shark infested waters with a steak strapped to their back. But what can you do, they’re doing what is their right no matter how wrong it may seem to me. They’ve been told by the government that it’s safe to do so if they choose.

I'm in Scotland so still need to wear a mask. Weekend just passed I had to attend an event in England and stopped at Supermarket (England side) for toilet stop. Not being a lover of masks I thought great don't need to wear one. Wow the looks we got for not wearing one. I was very aware of people looking and most were still wearing a mask even though they didn't need to be.

I'm a nurse, keep having flashbacks to people dying without family members in the first wave. There was one day where I did last offices (where you clean a person after they have died) four times before lunch. For reference, I'd normally do that once a month at most. I can't bear the idea that I might put someone at risk, so I'm wearing a mask in all indoor spaces. I don't mind if someone thinks I'm being overzealous, I'm doing what I can to protect my own mental health and to protect the mental and physical health of people more vulnerable than me.

Also Scottish, still wearing them inside here and there still seems to be very high compliance in my area. Delta is sweeping through the local schools so I think it's given lots of people a bit of a shake after the summer holidays.

I'm still wearing one and feel perfectly comfortable in it. Shops here ask you to wear one and most people do.

I’m no longer wearing one outside eg in school playground or at school sports activities but I still am inside. I got told by 3 separate people that I didn’t need one anymore when I went to Tesco on Sunday. Tbh I probably would still wear one in the playground if anyone else was but I am put off by being the only one!

It's a lot easier in London as they're compulsory on public transport if only. I was in a fairly crowded tube carriage the other day and in the section I was sitting in (so about 1/3 of the carriage) there were 11 people with no mask on or wearing one under their chin like a scarf. We wouldn't need a fares increase if they sent inspectors onto the tubes to fine people for not wearing their masks properly.

It's a choice so do what you want though I am not a believer that in some places you are forced to wear one. Covid is not going anywhere it will be around forever and for my own sanity I do t want to wear one forever

Dont