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Original poster

Why can't people wear masks?

171 replies

TomAllenWife · 06/12/2021 18:24

Properly!!!! It drives me insane!!!!

Either wear it or don't, but for the love of god stop wearing it on your chin or under your nose because it's doing fuck all

Surely it's not rocket science?

I was on a flight yesterday and would say a large amount of passengers were wandering around with masks under their chins, or just over their mouths

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 06/12/2021 22:52

@allbartwo

Many people are clearly only wearing masks to avoid confrontation or "getting into trouble". Masks aren't particularly pleasant to wear for a long period of time, so who can blame anyone for breathing a bit of fresh air?
This. All through the other lockdowns I have worn a mask as it should be worn but this time DH is dying and I spend every single day terrified of him dying and what the future holds for me without him. Sometimes that feeling becomes overwhelming and I feel like I can't breathe so I pull my mask down for a moment. I am not doing it because I am out to annoy anyone or because I think I am somehow more important than them, I am doing it because the fear I am living with at the moment is unreal and feeling like I can't breathe makes it worse. I know it is psychological and I can breathe but for a moment or two I feel like I can't.
Sparklingbrook · 06/12/2021 22:52

My MN mask thread Bingo card is nearly full. Again. I just need 'face nappy' and 'muzzle' for the full house I think.

Goldentimes · 06/12/2021 23:23

This is all so 2020 Grin

dissociated · 06/12/2021 23:25

Pointless thread OP on MN really, those who are considerate enough to wear masks already do it properly and those who don’t well they won’t understand and won’t take it seriously unless truly exempt. Same with vaccines Smile

TomBradysLeftKneecap · 06/12/2021 23:28

I have always been 100% pro mask and then I caught my first cold in two years and have never felt so sick in my life. Not covid, just a stupid common cold that we would all normally get. I will wear a mask anywhere I'm either mandated to or there is a sign on the door asking me to, the rest of the time, nope!

Topseyt · 07/12/2021 00:21

@Whyisitsodifficult

Masks are as effective as a pair of pants holding a fart in!
🤣🤣🤣 That seems a very good way of putting it.
sarah13xx · 07/12/2021 00:24

You’re right it really isn’t hard at all. Guy who served me today has his full nose out, as if he had purposely put it nowhere near his nose and it was almost half across his lips it was that far down. What is the point? Who are you satisfying by wearing it like that? If mine even so much as slips slightly down my nose I’m frantically pulling it back up so I don’t appear to be brazenly walking about spreading my germs 🙈

sarah13xx · 07/12/2021 00:27

@bloodywhitecat ☹️☹️ Sorry you’re having to deal with this. Your case is unusual and an exception, no one will be having issue with you doing that I’m sure. Some people provide no explanation but just don’t bother and it tends to be the same people who think the world owes them a favour in every aspect of life

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 07/12/2021 00:31

@Whyisitsodifficult

Masks are as effective as a pair of pants holding a fart in!
That’s not what this evidence review and a whole load more studies concludes:

www.pnas.org/content/pnas/118/4/e2014564118.full.pdf

“ The preponderance of evidence indicates that mask wearing reduces transmissibility per contact by reducing transmission of infected respiratory particles in both laboratory and clinical contexts. Public mask wearing is most effective at reducing spread of the virus when compliance is high. Given the current shortages of medical masks, we recommend the adoption of public cloth mask wearing, as an effective form of source control, in conjunction with existing hygiene, distancing, and contact tracing strategies.”

Sparklfairy · 07/12/2021 00:37

The attitudes on this thread are so different to last year. When it was all kicking off on the news with people in supermarkets yelling at journalists and shovinf grubby masks on then taking them down again as soon as they rounded an aisle, MNers were busy polishing their halos and calling them selfish Wink

I've never liked masks. I nearly drowned a few years ago and now hate anything around my face or even a scarf. My ptsd is much better though so I just didn't really go out, and made sure I was in and out in 10 mins if I did need to.

Where are all the saints gone? Grin

allbartwo · 07/12/2021 00:48

@brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Think about the average intelligence level in the UK.

Then remember that half the population is less intelligent than that.

No wonder so many don’t wear them properly, they’re just not bright enough to understand why.

Perhaps it's the people who just just blindly follow the mask mandates who are the unintelligent ones.

Just do as you're told, without question. After all, the masks definitely worked last time...

bumbleymummy · 07/12/2021 00:50

I agree. If you’re not going to wear them properly why bother at all?

SpringRainbow · 07/12/2021 02:48

This is mainly why masks in the UK are pointless, because we collectively (for whatever reason) don’t wear them correctly.

If everyone wore masks, and wore them correctly and practiced good mask hygiene. Yes masks are effective.

However, for some reason in the UK there are too many people not wearing them correctly/ at all. I don’t believe in the UK they make enough difference.

They are mostly just for show here.

Mrbob · 07/12/2021 03:47

There is increasing evidence that masks make a huge difference. No of course they don’t completely stop a pandemic. But they do reduce risk. But those who disagree with that statement probably like their Facebook evidence better so won’t listen to me or the scientists and think they know better

Dishhh · 07/12/2021 04:06

@Whyisitsodifficult

Masks are as effective as a pair of pants holding a fart in!

If only you knew what was in your fart ... they're actually really effective at holding your fart particles in, so you disproved your own theory, I guess Grin

aramox1 · 07/12/2021 07:08

Really irritated by mask-refusers saying they 'don't like them'. Like the rest of us do!

Billandben444 · 07/12/2021 07:28

The OP isn't referring to mask refusers or the medically exempt though - if you belong in either of those catagories then why have one dangling under your nose as you don't need to have one on at all. By the by, to the rest of you paying lip service in this way - it makes your nose look massive.

Summersdreaming · 07/12/2021 07:31

I haven't worn a mask again yet. My skin has just about recovered bar the scarring from the constant spots on my cheeks and chin. So yes I'm being selfish but I've never been so low than with the bright red angry spot rash across half my face. I'm vaccinated, do lfts and I've had covid at least once so I'm not willing to do that again to make others feel better. I'm rarely in a shop so don't all flap at once.

PercyPiggington · 07/12/2021 07:38

@Sparklfairy I’ve been trapped underwater, absolutely terrifying experience and I hate the feeling of masks too.
I’ve been avoiding shops since last Tuesday same as I did when they were mandatory last time although I walk past a supermarket every day and looking through the window, most people aren’t wearing them anyway.

Parker231 · 07/12/2021 07:42

People don’t wear them properly because they are an idiot! Other countries where Covid has been handled much better have had total mask compliance.

It’s not pleasant but you are only on public transport or in shops for a limited period of time so wear them properly.

Gearedtoyou · 07/12/2021 07:43

The government spent the first several months telling people that masks were pointless, even harmful. Right or wrong, people believed that.

Now people feel obliged to have one for appearances sake and mostly wear them correctly, but when they start getting annoying, they'll adjust it to be more comfortable.

It's not surprising that when people were taught there's no need for them at all, that when they do wear one they don't see doing it "right" as a priority.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 07/12/2021 07:43

“Perhaps it's the people who just just blindly follow the mask mandates who are the unintelligent ones.

Just do as you're told, without question. After all, the masks definitely worked last time...“

There’s plenty of evidence that masks reduce transmission. It’s nothing to do with blindly following a mandate, it’s behaving in a way proven to slow the spread. Unfortunately there are those who mistakenly believe they know better who are pulling in the opposite direction who either won’t bother or won’t do it properly. Those people who ignore the evidence and “believe” they know better are in the bottom half of the table when it comes to critical thinking. Picnics with a disappointing number of sandwiches. Bags full to the brim with spanners.

LethargicActress · 07/12/2021 07:47

People who don’t wear masks properly are doing it because they don’t want to wear a mask for whatever reason but they know they have to, or because they know there is no need for them to because they’ve tested negative or are already recovering from covid, but the rule applies to them anyway.

I wear my mask properly, but I got a lovely comfy satin one, and I’m pretty sure it does next to nothing.

Fairylights25 · 07/12/2021 07:53

Most people realise that mask wearing is an utter waste of time, and will not stop a highly transmissible virus that is airbourne from infectingt them unless they are going to wear goggles and full ppe in Waitrose et al. They wear them because they have to, and we are all virtual signalling but they don't have to do it 'well' or care about it.

Why do you care op? Seriously why -

Parker231 · 07/12/2021 07:54

@LethargicActress

People who don’t wear masks properly are doing it because they don’t want to wear a mask for whatever reason but they know they have to, or because they know there is no need for them to because they’ve tested negative or are already recovering from covid, but the rule applies to them anyway.

I wear my mask properly, but I got a lovely comfy satin one, and I’m pretty sure it does next to nothing.

If you think your mask isn’t working properly why use it? Get one which does work.