Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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:
Hbh17 · 10/12/2021 18:03

Well, the evidence that they actually make any difference is questionable, at best, and at a time when it was not legally required then everyone was free to use their own judgment.

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 10/12/2021 18:03

Because they're fucking ridiculous and we need to just accept covid like flu/noro/colds now. I was fine with it last year. But now, like many I'm done with the covid scare moungering. I wear one when legally require. But I don't agree with it.

If masks actually worked why did we have lockdown 2 and 3?

CovidCurious · 10/12/2021 18:05

Is it safer? I wear a mask where legally required and in places where they are not legally required if asked to wear one, because if my wearing a mask makes someone feel more comfortable I don't particularly mind. But I've not seen any data that makes me think wearing a mask is clearly safer than not.

JuneOsborne · 10/12/2021 18:05

I went into the city centre today, large shipping centre and was really amazed at how many people were wearing masks. I'd say well over 90% and the few that weren't were wearing sunflower lanyards. Although, there were the odd one or 2 without a mask. But out of probably thousands of people. I even said to my sister about how many people were wearing them!

And the queue at the drop in vaccination centre was something else too! My sister got her booster!

So, I'm not seeing what you're seeing at all. Did you come to the UK when masks weren't required?

WildFlowerBees · 10/12/2021 18:06

Because it seems England doesn't have much of a social conscience and the 'fuck you I'm alright Jack' attitude reigns supreme. We have some incredibly stupid people on this little island.

The selfishness of people has really come to the fore since the pandemic began.

Playgrind · 10/12/2021 18:07

Historically, continental Europe is more given to fascism.

Just sayin'

Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 10/12/2021 18:07

people can cough and sneeze around you in the middle of a supermarket without a mask

If people understood covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing and washing their hands it wouldn’t be such an issue.

notanothertakeaway · 10/12/2021 18:07

Where I live, most people are wearing masks

But it's nonsense that anyone who didn't fancy it could pick up a sunflower lanyard in Tesco & claim to be exempt. This and many other incidents just gave the message that masks didn't really matter

granny24 · 10/12/2021 18:08

Because they are so stupid they voted for Brexit and then Boris.

Username916 · 10/12/2021 18:08

You say British people but I think you mean English. Haven't noticed this in Scotland where it has always been mandatory in shops etc.

gojoroyco · 10/12/2021 18:09

@HardbackWriter

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'

Confused 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.

Hahaha completely agree.

It's so boring. Self-flagellation and irony in so many posts

frogswimming · 10/12/2021 18:09

The whole attitude is much more us vs them in the uk with regard to the government. The people don't feel like rallying round for the common good it appears. I'm not criticising the general public, I think the government created this problem with inconsistent messaging and hypocrisy. I'm English but I live in another country and here there is a feeling of pulling together to support the government in whatever measures are necessary. There's much more trust.

gojoroyco · 10/12/2021 18:11

@WildFlowerBees

Because it seems England doesn't have much of a social conscience and the 'fuck you I'm alright Jack' attitude reigns supreme. We have some incredibly stupid people on this little island.

The selfishness of people has really come to the fore since the pandemic began.

As has the self-righteous attitude
OneTC · 10/12/2021 18:11

It's cos lots of British are fucking wet

KirkstallAbbess · 10/12/2021 18:11

@icedcoffees

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.

This

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 10/12/2021 18:13

Maybe other countries care even less about mental health and therefore people who would have grounds to be genuinely exempt either can’t get an exemption granted or feel ostracised from society?

If this last 2 years has taught me anything it’s that all the “mental health is so important” and “be kind” stuff is seen by some, in reality, as a luxury. The minute it comes at a perceived cost - such having to accept that measures such as masks cause a genuine problem for some people at a time when they’re scared and want to see full compliance - then suddenly it’s “I DON’T CARE, WEAR A MASK AND SUCK IT UP”.

userxx · 10/12/2021 18:13

So you're judging for people not wearing masks but it's ok for you to flit country to country ? All right then.

Valhalla17 · 10/12/2021 18:13

I would say the majority are wearing masks Confused

SusieBob · 10/12/2021 18:14

@icedcoffees

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.

We're all sick of it.

But so what? This winter, despite what that twat Boris came out with was always going to be a bit problematic. Wearing a mask does limit how much of a viral load spreads into the air when you are out and about and it's of no hardshit at all to the vast majority of people, so people should really just STFU and get on with it.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 10/12/2021 18:14

Why are people saying a tatty bit of clothe in bottom of bag… I keep mine clean, was one daily and put a few filter in it daily…! So it’s not a dirty bit of fabric and much science/evidence shows it beneficial

Egghead68 · 10/12/2021 18:14

Mask wearing in Spain but not here might have something to do with this:

Why won’t so many Brits wear a mask
LegoPandemic · 10/12/2021 18:15

A lot of people in this country are stupid. 48% voted for Brexit after all!

Egghead68 · 10/12/2021 18:16

The figure’s difficult to see but our Covid rates are in the middle and Spain’s are near the bottom

FabriqueBelgique · 10/12/2021 18:18

I wonder if others are wearing them to be polite rather than because we generally believe then to work. Better safe than sorry really, so I’m not overly fussed we have to wear them. But when I found myself in a shop without a mask on the other day I was mortified I might look like a selfish twat, rather than worried about anyone’s health.

Crinkle77 · 10/12/2021 18:20

You really need to ask?

Swipe left for the next trending thread