Why won’t so many Brits wear a mask

[IloveConkers]

I live in mainland Spain where I haven’t seen a single person without a mask in a supermarket since March 2020. I hear it’s the same in Germany and Italy. What is it about so many British people that makes them not do it when it’s clearly safer. I returned to the UK for a visit and found it horrifying. I was even looked at with disdain for wearing one! I just don’t get it!

Is it safer? Where’s the proof?

I haven't seen anyone without one except little kids and even some of them are wearing them.

Mostly because they are a bit thick and haven't read the research.

Or just plain selfish, of course.

‘Horrifying’, really?

For a while this year masks were not legally required in places like supermarkets in lots of the UK. So that’s probably why most people weren’t wearing them.

There are a lot of stroppy morons in the UK. I don’t have actual data to back this up, but it is an empirical fact.

Yes, we're all so much safer with those grubby fabric facemasks stored at the bottom of grubby handbags/pockets/car doors.

Everyone wears them in the supermarket where I live, except little kids.

little evidence bit tatty cloth actually does much
a symbol of the restrictions on our lives for nearly 2 years with little hope of freedom

Because they have only self interest in heart and don’t understand why working together, even at small personal compromise, is a good thing. See also: Brexit.

possibly because we were told we didn't have to. I always have but that was my choice

I was on a flight from Spain to UK last month and so many wankers were wearing them under their noses.

A tiny number of people have genuine reasons for not wearing one.

As for everyone else? They are just a bit stupid.

Inconsistent messaging around effectiveness.
A culture of selfishness.

Yes horrifying. We are in the middle of a pandemic and people can cough and sneeze around you in the middle of a supermarket without a mask. After not experiencing this for the first 18 months of the pandemic in Spain, I was shocked. It was like the pandemic was over.

I mean, it’s fairly obvious that most people don’t want to wear a mask for the rest of their lives. So lots of people probably saw “everyone who wants to had been double-jabbed and masks aren’t legally required” any more as a reasonable point to stop.

If you think they’re total morons for that, when do you think it would be reasonable for them to stop? Because “when I personally feel comfortable, not sure when that’ll be but I’ll let you know and meanwhile do what I want” is not a brilliant argument to many people.

Because they are exempt or 'exempt'.

The public cannot be challenged about mask wearing by anyone else, so lots of people take advantage of this and don't wear masks because they simply don't want to. I wouldn't wear one if I didn't have to but I have no cause for exemption and I'm not always an arsehole so I wear one (as well as being fully vaccinated).

What proof is there that wearing a mask actually works anyway?

I think you can infer the reasons why from a lot of responses to your thread OP!

@SpanielsAreMyLife

Yes, we're all so much safer with those grubby fabric facemasks stored at the bottom of grubby handbags/pockets/car doors.

Speak for yourself you mucky pup.

I love the way these threads always go:

'it's because English people think they're SO SPECIAL.'.
'yeah, that's right, there's nothing special about English people'
'that's right, they're the worst people who have ever existed and unlike every other nation on earth who are selfless'

and no one ever seems to spot the irony.

I also like all the people who pat themselves on the back for being Scottish or Welsh.

Most people in Scotland are wearing them on shops etc. Minority don't.

Well, if it’s anecdata we’re after… my German colleague says everyone wears masks where he is in the NW, but most of the SE are right wing voting “you can’t take away my freedom” thick idiots. With low mask wearing and high infection rates.

I don’t know myself, but I’d say you can’t make one comment that fits an entire nation 🤣

There isnt much trust on the government overall as they dont flow any rules. And they spent partrs of the pandemic convincing people they werent needed and the focus was on handwashing and cleaning door handle and that message stuck, even though the message moved on.
For parts of the pandemic I was expressly not allowed to wear them at work.

I do wear one now when out and about.

Because they've all got some mystical hidden disability or they could just be twats. I work with at least 3 people who have bought exemption lanyards online and admit they are not exempt. One lady actually is exempt and wears a shield to protect herself as much as others.
If the last couple of years have shown us anything it's that a lot of people are arseholes.

I think lots of people are sick of it, tbh.

They've worn their masks. They've had their jabs. And yet we still end up back under some kind of restrictions because nothing we do is actually working.

I wear a mask when I have to but I personally don't think wearing a piece of cloth over your mouth makes any difference to whether you catch/spread COVID or not.

Why are so many people travelling to other countries when it's "clearly safer" to stay at home? 🤔

Perhaps you shouldn't judge others when you're taking risks yourself 🙄