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Original poster

Why won’t so many Brits wear a mask

484 replies

IloveConkers · 10/12/2021 17:50

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!

OP posts:
BlaBlaSmthSmth · 11/12/2021 19:37

@A580Hojas

Bollocks to "never mind what others are doing". So inane. I've just spent the day cancelling 3 Christmas events I was going to. When are people going to wake up?
Wake up to what? We've been living with this pandemic for two years now, with restrictions that have made us alter our entire lives. WTF else are we missing? What do you want us to wake up to exactly?
A580Hojas · 11/12/2021 19:43

Wearing a mask in a shop is hardly a restriction except for a very tiny minority.

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 11/12/2021 19:44

@A580Hojas

Wearing a mask in a shop is hardly a restriction except for a very tiny minority.
Is that to me? Where did I say wearing a mask was a restriction?
A580Hojas · 11/12/2021 19:45

Just because you want Covid to disappear like the Spanish flu did, it doesn't appear to be complying. So we have to live with it with certain restrictions. There's no point wishing things were different to how they are.

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 11/12/2021 19:46

@A580Hojas

Just because you want Covid to disappear like the Spanish flu did, it doesn't appear to be complying. So we have to live with it with certain restrictions. There's no point wishing things were different to how they are.
Who are you talking to?? If you're responding to my message, what is the relevance to what I've asked?
Mrbob · 11/12/2021 19:49

Does it matter? You do as you wish and never mind what others are doing!

Yes. Selfish fuckers not wearing masks (without a reason that isn’t “I don’t like it”) makes my chances of getting Covid higher and makes it more likely they will get sick and make the health care system even more of a cluster fuck. But I guess It depends if you want to care about other people

QueenofKattegat · 11/12/2021 20:03

@A580Hojas

Bollocks to "never mind what others are doing". So inane. I've just spent the day cancelling 3 Christmas events I was going to. When are people going to wake up?
People who aren't cancelling events need to wake up? Are you quite sure you've got that the right way round?
A580Hojas · 11/12/2021 20:08

Absolutely certain without a doubt @QueenofKattegat.

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 11/12/2021 20:11

@A580Hojas

Absolutely certain without a doubt *@QueenofKattegat*.
Wake up to what though? You didn't answer me when I asked you? What else do we need to wake up to after two years of pandemic restrictions?
icedcoffees · 11/12/2021 20:22

@A580Hojas

Bollocks to "never mind what others are doing". So inane. I've just spent the day cancelling 3 Christmas events I was going to. When are people going to wake up?
Wake up to what?

We've worn our masks, we've had our jabs (and our 2nd and 3rd jabs in many cases) and it's made no difference. We're still back under more restrictions because it's not actually working.

Because it's a virus and nothing we do will actually get it to go away.

A580Hojas · 11/12/2021 20:31

BlaBla - it's so obvious, I wouldn't have thought you'd need it spoon-fed to you. Wake up to the fact that we now have a super highly infectious strain which will still affect the vulnerable and un-vaccinated, as well as some unfortunate double and triple vaxxeds. It's been in the news a lot recently, haven't you seen it?

liltreasuretree · 11/12/2021 20:33

Well it obviously has made a difference @icedcoffees because you're still here to tell the tale Wink

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 11/12/2021 21:07

@A580Hojas

BlaBla - it's so obvious, I wouldn't have thought you'd need it spoon-fed to you. Wake up to the fact that we now have a super highly infectious strain which will still affect the vulnerable and un-vaccinated, as well as some unfortunate double and triple vaxxeds. It's been in the news a lot recently, haven't you seen it?
Yes it's been all over the news, it's impossible not to know about it, so what do you want us to wake up to that we haven't already? We're living with it daily, we've vaccinated, locked down, masked, isolated, home schooled, worked from home, cancelled plans, missed precious time with loved ones, avoided contact with others...what is it that makes you think we need to wake up exactly? Go on, spoon feed me 🙄
Rosebel · 11/12/2021 21:34

@A580Hojas

Wearing masks in shops is now compulsory. Who else is going to enforce it if not shop staff? Most have a security guard who could do it. We should be back to limited numbers in shops, queuing outside and only 1 adult allowed in to shop.
Shop staff have been told not confront non mask wearers. It's frankly not their business why people aren't wearing masks. We get enough abuse on a daily basis already without questioning people about their health. I'm sure if you'd like to do the job of policing masks in the shop you'd be welcome to do the job, as long as you can deal with the abuse and swearing you will receive.
marvellousnightforamooncup · 11/12/2021 21:39

Most people are still wearing masks in Scotland. I can't understand the fuss, it's not much of a hardship to wear one.

Topseyt · 12/12/2021 01:47

@A580Hojas

Bollocks to "never mind what others are doing". So inane. I've just spent the day cancelling 3 Christmas events I was going to. When are people going to wake up?
Wake up to what?

I'll wear a mask on the very odd occasion I actually go into a supermarket these days (prefer click and collect), but I don't see why I should give a shit whether others do or not. I am not a signed up and bona fide member of the mask police and have no wish to start that malarkey.

Believe it or not, some of us do struggle to breathe easily through face coverings. I have somewhat reduced lung capacity so I do have to pause and life lift mine quite often, which probably means I might as well not bother wearing it.

Mrbob · 12/12/2021 01:54

I'm sick of it now and have become convinced it's all about making us feel scared

That’s not how evidence works. You being sick of them doesn’t mean they don’t work. There is evidence they do work. People just want to ignore it because it doesn’t support their view

Tealightsandd · 12/12/2021 02:12

@marvellousnightforamooncup

Most people are still wearing masks in Scotland. I can't understand the fuss, it's not much of a hardship to wear one.
I was going to say British exceptionalism then I saw your post.

I guess, it's English exceptionalism.

I've long admired (going back way before the pandemic) the civic mindedness of East Asia. People often wear masks when sick out of decency and courtesy towards others (particularly, but not only, the vulnerable).

Studies have shown that masks do work. To protect the wearer (to what extent depends on the type of mask) but equally as important to protect other people around us.

Just as seatbelts don't prevent all car accident deaths and injuries, nor do masks perform miracles. But they make a difference - and during a pandemic every little helps.

liltreasuretree · 12/12/2021 05:55

@Topseyt You do realise that you can be asymptomatic with covid?
Therefore if someone does have the virus and isn't wearing a mask then the likelihood of transmission to you is higher than it would be if they were wearing mask. That is why you should 'give a shit', especially if you have reduced lung capacity normally even without the virus.

mogsrus · 12/12/2021 07:24

I never fail to laugh at the word exemption, what are you exempted from.? It’s small piece of cloth that’s worn for about 20 mins in a shop or whatever, it’s not going to do you any harm

Sleepyblueocean · 12/12/2021 07:51

"I never fail to laugh at the word exemption, what are you exempted from.? It’s small piece of cloth that’s worn for about 20 mins in a shop or whatever, it’s not going to do you any harm"

It might do you some harm when you attempt to restrain ds and try to force him to not pull it off.

mogsrus · 12/12/2021 08:07

With you all the way on the abuse, They seem to think that YOU never go out & have to do the same thing as well, only they have to do it, if only

Sleepyblueocean · 12/12/2021 08:17

I'm guessing that someone trying to put something on your face doesn't make you bite and hit yourself and them.

mllke · 12/12/2021 08:20

@mogsrus

I never fail to laugh at the word exemption, what are you exempted from.? It’s small piece of cloth that’s worn for about 20 mins in a shop or whatever, it’s not going to do you any harm
And this is why disability discrimination is still alive and well.
Topseyt · 12/12/2021 08:57

@mogsrus

I never fail to laugh at the word exemption, what are you exempted from.? It’s small piece of cloth that’s worn for about 20 mins in a shop or whatever, it’s not going to do you any harm
That means you laugh at people with disabilities and medical conditions which make them unable to tolerate the mask.

That is discrimination and is a disgrace.