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!

Those I know who are exempt from wearing a mask wear a visor

This wont cover all those exempt but it does quite a few

But then there are those who feel their civil liberties are being eroded

Visors don't work.

Ds would chew, throw or hit someone with a visor.

@OhWhyNot

Those I know who are exempt from wearing a mask wear a visor

This wont cover all those exempt but it does quite a few

But then there are those who feel their civil liberties are being eroded

Visors do nothing. How can they? The only reason to wear a visor is to show you are trying to do Covid properly.

I’m not sure they do nothing I know they are not considered an alternative

Visors do nothing. How can they? The only reason to wear a visor is to show you are trying to do Covid properly.

They are fairly good deterrents against people who think it's OK to confront you in Tesco.

Because I don’t want to

@Pumpkin5piced

Because I don’t want to

Well at least you're honest about it.

I just can't understand this mentality of "it's all about me and what I want. I don't care about anyone else and I won't take any steps to do something for the good of the people around me if it inconveniences me a tiny bit".

Thank goodness the majority of people in the world still think kindness is important.

@DontTellThemYourNamePike

Aye alright *@BlaBlaSmthSmth* keep yer hair on. I get that there's judgement towards people who don't wear masks. But why do you suppose that is? Could it be because a large proportion of those people CAN wear them, but choose not to? It's impossible to know who has a genuine reason when no proof of medical exemption is required.

In NI there has been no relaxation of the requirement to wear masks in shops etc. Compliance was extremely high at the beginning, but has waned significantly over the last few months. Are there thousands of people who suddenly can't wear masks, or is it mask fatigue? I know what I think and it's pathetic.

Why are you telling me to keep my hair on?

I get that there's judgement towards people who don't wear masks. But why do you suppose that is? Could it be because a large proportion of those people CAN wear them, but choose not to? It's impossible to know who has a genuine reason when no proof of medical exemption is required.

Why do I suppose that is? It is because some mask wearers chose to behave like the mask police and feel they are entitled to make judgements.
It is not the maskless folks doing any of this, they are getting on with their day and minding their own business. You are blaming the wrong people. Who cares whether you know if someone is exempt?

@Cyrilgoggin

Alloalloallo I think I've expressed myself badly. Of course I think there should be exemptions. I find it disgusting the way people who are exempt are treated. I'm really cross at the people who are not exempt but don't wear masks as people who are genuinely exempt get lumped in with them as just being selfish people. It's a dreadful situation.

But who is treating those people badly? It's not the maskless is it.

People like you are perpetuating the idea that it's acceptable to be "cross" at some maskless. The fact is there is no way of knowing who can't and who won't wear a mask so why don't you encourage others to mind their own business and stop making pathetic judgments instead?

Because people are idiots. It's not rocket science, if you are in an enclosed space with someone else and you're both wearing a mask then the particles that you are both breathing out are going to be obstructed and less likely to pass on the virus.

But some people are so entitled and selfish that wearing a bit of cloth over their face for short period of time is just too much to ask of them. Unless you have genuine health reasons for not being able to wear a mask then I would really love to know why you think it's not worth it if it could keep others safe.

It is not the maskless folks doing any of this, they are getting on with their day and minding their own business. You are blaming the wrong people. Who cares whether you know if someone is exempt?

Me. I care. I care if there's a reason why people choose to breathe all over me during a pandemic. The number of exempt people must be very, very small. But the number of 'maskless folks' is huge. Certainly where I live. I give a very good impression of someone minding my own business though. I would never, ever approach someone to ask about why they aren't wearing a mask. Very few people do. So why do these voluntarily maskless individuals feel so put upon? Maybe it's because they KNOW they're doing something objectionable. And I still think they make life just a bit more crap for the (very small number of) people who have genuine reasons for not covering their face.

Oops, quotation fail! First two lines are quoting pp.

^Why do I suppose that is? It is because some mask wearers chose to behave like the mask police and feel they are entitled to make judgements.
It is not the maskless folks doing any of this, they are getting on with their day and minding their own business. You are blaming the wrong people. Who cares whether you know if someone is exempt?^

Yes! 👏🏻

My daughter is a young, fit, healthy teenage girl, whose Tourette’s make mask wearing impossible

It’s not the maskless who judge her, call her names, tell her she shouldn’t be able to leave the house and tell her she’s selfish.

Stop judging and mind your own business

It's because we all have lip fillers to show off

@Anonymous48 I really don’t mean this to sound as offensive at it sounds, but I think all of what you have just said in the context of masks is nonsense and I feel not one iota of guilt about not wearing one.

I’m just over the whole thing, I don’t like wearing a mask, I won’t be doing so this time, and refuse to believe that me walking around tesco without a mask means I’m responsible for killing people. I’m just done with all the hysteria.

I don’t because I’m exempt. But I also have a young son and the idea of having my face covered up the whole time and him constantly seeing that disturbs me. Yes I know someone will come along and say ‘yes but that’s better than catching covid’ but kids learn so much about the world especially the social aspects through watching and mirroring people’s reactions especially that of their main care giver. Covid has been around for nearly 2 years now… For basically his entire life peopleMs faces have been covered. I constantly think about how different his experience of the world must be compared to those growing up ore-covid. it’s bad enough that everywhere he looks people are to him expressionless because more than half of their face is covered for me to do that too it’s just too much. It’s just a miserable situation either way.

Sorry I went off on one but my point was that even if I wasn’t exempt I don’t know if I’d wear one either except for hospital etc and other people in the uk who don’t have kids but sympathise with my sentiment just don’t think the statistic of wearing a mask outweighs their own personal feelings. For example, I know lots of people who have worn masks religiously and still managed to get it.

[quote Pumpkin5piced]@Anonymous48 I really don’t mean this to sound as offensive at it sounds, but I think all of what you have just said in the context of masks is nonsense and I feel not one iota of guilt about not wearing one.

I’m just over the whole thing, I don’t like wearing a mask, I won’t be doing so this time, and refuse to believe that me walking around tesco without a mask means I’m responsible for killing people. I’m just done with all the hysteria.[/quote]
I'm not in the slightest bit offended, because I know that you are wrong. It's a fact that mask wearing helps reduce the spread of the disease.

If I was selfish enough not to wear a mask because "I didn't want to", then I wouldn't let myself believe that I was responsible for killing people either, or else how could you live with yourself? The fact is that you not wearing a mask DOES make a difference, however small, and could potentially result in someone catching covid who then goes on to die.

@DontTellThemYourNamePike

It is not the maskless folks doing any of this, they are getting on with their day and minding their own business. You are blaming the wrong people. Who cares whether you know if someone is exempt?

Me. I care. I care if there's a reason why people choose to breathe all over me during a pandemic. The number of exempt people must be very, very small. But the number of 'maskless folks' is huge. Certainly where I live. I give a very good impression of someone minding my own business though. I would never, ever approach someone to ask about why they aren't wearing a mask. Very few people do. So why do these voluntarily maskless individuals feel so put upon? Maybe it's because they KNOW they're doing something objectionable. And I still think they make life just a bit more crap for the (very small number of) people who have genuine reasons for not covering their face.

Me. I care. I care if there's a reason why people choose to breathe all over me during a pandemic.

So you care about what you think/know, what has that got to do with anyone else? 🤷‍♀️

I give a very good impression of someone minding my own business though. I would never, ever approach someone to ask about why they aren't wearing a mask. Very few people do.

You may not say anything in person, but you're here, running your mouth with the rest of them. Creating the impression that is making the exempt feel like social pariahs. Making life that but more difficult. It is not the maskless doing that, it's you. You, and others who think they're entitled to judge.

So why do these voluntarily maskless individuals feel so put upon? Maybe it's because they KNOW they're doing something objectionable. And I still think they make life just a bit more crap for the (very small number of) people who have genuine reasons for not covering their face.

Do they feel put upon? I very rarely hear anything from them, unless it's in response to questions like this. It's the mask police who are behaving as if they're 'put upon'. They're the ones going on and on at everyone, putting their opinions on everyone, name calling, bringing everyone down.
I'm a rule follower and I'm so sick of the nastiness. Someone even brought up brexit upthread, it's the same thing. I'm a remainer and the disgusting attitudes and behaviour from other remainers has made me sick.

I will probably get flamed for this but the majority of people I see on the Tube not wearing masks are Eastern European men.

I don't know why it's less common in Britain maybe alot of people think it's their right to choose.
Personally I knew the people on my sm who would claim exemption before they announced they were exempt.
It was the same people moaning about or refusing to adhere to every single restriction then moaning that 2 years later everything is still crap.
My thought is just because we don't have to shouldn't mean we don't.
Im not a scientist and yes alot of the data has been confusing but my opinion is if me wearing a mask even remotely reduces the possibility of me infecting someone then why wouldn't I.
Technically I could be excempt but in all honesty I put it on and now it rarely bothers me.
I've followed all of the rules. And I test regularly even though it isn't a legal requirement. I spent Christmas day on my own last year even though i didn't have to by law and I've had all 3 jabs.
Do I agree with every rule that has or is been put in place...no. Have I followed them yes. Why....because I'm not a scientist and I don't have the knowledge to make a decision that I can be sure won't impact someone's life.
I understand not everyone agrees with me about this but I do get fed up of being ridiculed and called names like a sheep for doing what I think is the right thing.

And im not saying there arent real reasons for being exempt, there are. I'm saying there also a lot of people claiming exemption that aren't. It's those I get angry with.

Because they're a bunch of selfish ignoramusses who think that their personal opinions trump science and that their desire to do what what they want, where and when trump everyone elses.

And are invariably the ones who will whine when they dont get the NHS care they'll need.

"Technically I could be excempt but in all honesty I put it on and now it rarely bothers me."

Then you are not exempt. There is no such thing as 'technically exempt '.

@ALittleBitConfused1 nope, you’re not technically exempt.