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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:
EdgeOfTheSky · 13/12/2021 07:48

@GreatBigBeautifulTommorow

Inconsistent messaging around effectiveness. A culture of selfishness.
This.
Raffiamat · 13/12/2021 07:54

I live overseas in Vietnam. We all have to wear a mask, all the time - no exemptions. Even babies wear them. There's no fuss, it's just what we do and everyone respects that. I don't get how people in the UK can be exempt? Sorry, not trolling, just genuinely interested when it's not a thing here.

Spikeyball · 13/12/2021 08:19

"I don't get how people in the UK can be exempt?"

If there are no exemptions at all in Vietnam then people like my son who is severely autistic, will not be leaving the house. It won't be that they can wear them. It will be that they are kept at home. There will be some very distressing behaviour going on involving people getting hurt.

Raffiamat · 13/12/2021 08:25

Sadly this will be true yes.

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 13/12/2021 09:37

@DontTellThemYourNamePike

Yes, some angry people on here. One in particular who dissected one of my posts bit by bit and accused me of being nasty about people who don't wear masks, whilst wilfully/stupidly (not sure) ignoring my support for the genuinely exempt. I'm not allowed to express annoyance at the sheer volume of non compliance without being pounced upon and accused of making things worse for those who have a medical exemption. This is a discussion thread about mask wearing. If a stray mask refuser wanders on here and doesn't like my opinion, tough. If a person unable to wear a mask wanders on here, they will see that I sympathise with the problem of them being lumped in with those who can't be arsed wearing a mask.
Are you talking about me? Where did I dissect your post bit by bit? I disagreed with what you said and as it is a discussion board, I expressed my counter opinion. And if someone addresses me or my post I am allowed to respond to the points they make to me, that's not dissection that's a conversation.

I was making the point that regardless of your sympathy for the exempt, it is the idea that people find it acceptable to judge others actions that is harmful. That is what is directly causing harm, not the people who choose not to wear a mask. The "mask police" are causing the issues and blaming the maskless, they are the ones here being awful or making derogatory comments. And You talk about a stray mask refuser being offended but they are not the ones upset at being judged, did you not read the post upthread from @alloalloallo her daughter has been bullied (and many others like her) by people who are probably bolstered on by comments like the ones on this thread, and the feeling of being judged by nosy nobodies is being cemented every time people make their pointless comments...and unsurprisingly people are sick of it. It's none of your business.

My opinion on people being nasty, wasn't solely directed at you. It was at the whole lot of you who think you're entitled to make your judgements. But mainly directed at the ones who think it's acceptable to name call and demean vast swathes of people. It's not acceptable and I hope more people call them out on their shitty attitudes.

firef1y · 13/12/2021 10:20

@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
The mask itself might not do me any harm but the meltdown from the sensory overload will
TheVampiresWife · 13/12/2021 10:27

@mogsrus

I’m sorry, it’s just I fail to see what there is intolerable about a bit of cloth for 20 mins, it’s not going to stop you breathing
There are many, many reasons why people can't wear masks. Respiratory issues are just one.

If you have TN, or PTSD as a result of rape or DV, or sensory/skin/neurological issues, for example, you'd understand just why masks are intolerable. In fact, I'm perfectly willing to swap places with you for a few days so you can find out what living with one of these conditions is like. I promise you wouldn't make nasty, ignorant and ableist comments afterwards.

TheVampiresWife · 13/12/2021 10:34

@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

Many who can't wear masks can't wear visors, either.

They are absolutely useless anyway - my hospital has banned them (as has Scotland, unless worn with a mask underneath). As per the UK gov website, face coverings must be cover the face with no gaps at the side (or words to that effect). A visor that's open on three sides - and only guards against large droplets and splashes - isn't going to help.

And again - many can't wear them anyway.

Draggondragon · 13/12/2021 10:35

Meanwhile in the rest of the entire world, everyone wears one. Hmm

TheVampiresWife · 13/12/2021 10:37

God this thread is depressing. It's like last year all over again.

Can't wait to be spat at/told I'm a disease breathed tramp or that I shouldn't get NHS help if I catch covid/sworn at/reported to shop staff/called a filthy bitch etc again. It's been nice not having to worry about being out in public but I suppose it adds a frisson to a usually uneventful Sainsbury's trip.

TheVampiresWife · 13/12/2021 10:37

@Draggondragon

Meanwhile in the rest of the entire world, everyone wears one. Hmm
Unless they can't.
alloalloallo · 13/12/2021 10:47

I don't get how people in the UK can be exempt? Sorry, not trolling, just genuinely interested when it's not a thing here.

My daughter has Tourette’s, I’ve posted a couple of pages back about the affect masks have on her.

Without an exemption she wouldn’t be able to go to school, get a bus, attend medical appointments, attend therapy appointments, go in a shop etc, etc.

Not having exemptions for people unable to wear a mask means people with disabilities are unable to leave their houses, it is not the good thing some people seem to think it is

IcedPurple · 13/12/2021 10:52

I returned to the UK for a visit and found it horrifying.

In the same way many people found it horrifying how Spain locked up its children, often in small apartments with no outdoor space, for weeks on end?

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 13/12/2021 10:55

@TheVampiresWife

God this thread is depressing. It's like last year all over again.

Can't wait to be spat at/told I'm a disease breathed tramp or that I shouldn't get NHS help if I catch covid/sworn at/reported to shop staff/called a filthy bitch etc again. It's been nice not having to worry about being out in public but I suppose it adds a frisson to a usually uneventful Sainsbury's trip.

God that's disgusting. Some people are utterly despicable! I'm so sorry you've had to go through that. FWIW if I saw anything like that you'd have my support, and I think many of us are waking up to the awful attitude a lot of people have been displaying throughout this pandemic so I hope that there would be plenty of others out there who would also support you in the moment.

Threads like this have widened my eyes to the nasty attitudes of others, and tbh I think a lot of these people are just spiteful/hateful and have found a 'legitimate' outlet for their nasty personality.

NotSonicTheHedgehog · 13/12/2021 11:08

Some really unempathetic people on here. Just because you personally can’t see why some people can’t wear masks doesn’t mean there aren’t genuine cases. There was lots of talk in the first lockdown of how society was now beginning to understand mental health issues more (after experiencing their own for the first time) obviously that’s worn off… Hmm

userperuser · 13/12/2021 11:09

@Bairnsmum05

Most people in Scotland are wearing them on shops etc. Minority don't.
Not my experience of recent trips to Scotland, there were more people in England wearing them when they were not even mandatory.
Anonymous48 · 13/12/2021 12:50

@elliejjtiny

I'm curious about what the exemption rules are in countries where lots more people are wearing masks than in England.
Where I live being exempt isn't a thing. If you go somewhere that requires a mask and you're two years old or older, you have to wear one, with no exceptions.
BlaBlaSmthSmth · 13/12/2021 13:01

There will still be people unable to wear them, however they will just be excluded from those places. Which is pretty disgusting.

TheVampiresWife · 13/12/2021 13:10

Where I live being exempt isn't a thing. If you go somewhere that requires a mask and you're two years old or older, you have to wear one, with no exceptions

Where do you live, @Anonymous48? Almost all countries have exemptions. If yours doesn't, I'd like to commiserate with you for living in a country which does not allow disabled people/those living with health conditions to access employment, healthcare, essential shopping and so on. It must be awful to live somewhere so discriminatory, I'm so sorry Flowers

alloalloallo · 13/12/2021 13:22

Where I live being exempt isn't a thing. If you go somewhere that requires a mask and you're two years old or older, you have to wear one, with no exceptions

People will still be exempt.

Anyone with a disability that leaves them unable to wear a mask, is simply excluded from society instead

Unable to work, a child can’t go to school, unable to access medical help, or shop?

Raffiamat · 13/12/2021 13:28

I don't think a lot of people in the UK get how some countries are. No exemptions. You are made to wear a mask if you want to leave your house. It's not up for debate!

TheVampiresWife · 13/12/2021 13:30

@Raffiamat

I don't think a lot of people in the UK get how some countries are. No exemptions. You are made to wear a mask if you want to leave your house. It's not up for debate!
Again, which countries?

Surely anyone with an ounce of common sense can see that barring disabled people from accessing employment/healthcare/education etc is not something to be celebrated?

Spikeyball · 13/12/2021 13:30

"Meanwhile in the rest of the entire world, everyone wears one. hmm"

No they don't unless they lock away or kill off all those that can't.

alloalloallo · 13/12/2021 13:34

People will still be exempt

Sorry, that should say people will still be unable to wear masks

Flaxmeadow · 13/12/2021 13:35

The USA and all the nutjob theories and 'freedoms' tropes crossing the Atlantic from there. Same English language and so unfortunately it spreads via social media

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