No masks ffs

[custardface47]

Took my two dc to the evening showing of Spider-Man last night and the cinema was pretty much full with hardly anyone wearing a mask. I was really shocked. I thought this was a rule now in indoor spaces and after I made the booking I received an email from the cinema chain saying that everyone was expected to wear make inside unless exempt. It was really hot in there and no distancing (previously I think cinemas made some seats unavailable to create bigger spaces between people). I just felt really uncomfortable.

Obviously I realise I could have got up and left but didn't want to disappoint two excited kids. Plus they've both had it recently so it was only really me at risk.

Has anyone else experienced this in cinemas? With rates so high and it being close to Christmas I just would have thought people might be more careful.

We went to the cinema this week and no we didn't wear and a mask, we're going again today and we'll take them off when the film starts no doubt. It's one thing wearing it around a shop, another during a 2 hour film- we have drinks and food as well like most people. If anyone is that nervous about Covid I assume they wouldn't be going to the cinema the week of Christmas.

@Foolsrule

I think it’s wrong that you can buy a ticket from a cinema that purports the myth that patrons will be made to wear masks and then doesn’t enforce that rule. The only reason OP chose that particular cinema might be because their marketing/rules gave a false sense of security.

Went to the theatre a couple of weeks back. Wholly different experience. Covid passes checked before entry, spaced out seating and mask wearing mandated. Assistants scouting the audience and telling people in no uncertain terms that masks needed to be worn.

It’s always going to be the same. Those who follow the rules for the greater good and the selfish people who think only about themselves.

What the OP wanted was her interpretation of masks when not eating or drinking to be adhered to. There's no law or guidance on the specific point of what to do when people are likely to be grazing, so it's sheer entitlement to assume other people will interpret the rules in the same way as you. If the OP booked purely on that basis without checking, and apparently also without realising that exempt people would also be present, the fault is hers and only hers.

When you went to the theatre, who bore the extra costs of the spaced out performance? I hope it was you rather than them.

You chose to go to an entirely voluntary leisure activity which, given it's just before Christmas and it's a new blockbuster, was always going to be busy. Nothing wrong with that, but there's also nothing wrong with people not wearing masks while eating and drinking.

As others have said, if you were that worried, you should have stayed at home and watched Netflix.

I don't wear a mask though choice, I'll put one on if I'm challenged but so far I haven't been, I suspect alot of people feel the same.

@custardface47

It’s wrong, but I’m sort of accepted now that if I go to events/cafes etc that there will be people there who are not following the guidelines.

While infection rates are high - I’m just selective about where I go, or find an area/venue that’s less crowded.

I can select and access events on my terms, but it’s very difficult / impossible to assess the terms of others who are also attending - plus I don’t want my annoyance with others to effect my enjoyment.

And the guidelines - even if stated - vary so much from place to place. Think I know now which supermarkets/venue etc are good for guidelines and stick to those!

When you went to the theatre, who bore the extra costs of the spaced out performance? I hope it was you rather than them.

Good point. It annoy s me when people fail to take into account the fact that 'distancing' is very costly for businesses.

Since it's not legally required in England, would these people be prepared to pay extra for their 'distanced' tickets, rather than demand an extra service for free? Because they want to be 'safe', of course.

OP, we are also in the West Midlands. Nobody else wore masks at the cinema (Spiderman) either.

I was not surprised though, as I'd recently seen another thread on here about this.

My son went to the barbers. Not one customer waiting or stylist had a mask. I just don't think people are bothering, large numbers not wearing in supermarkets.

Is it a West Mids thing? I don't know. In the summer, nobody was wearing masks while shopping in Birmingham. I was almost the only one. Yet we went to Exeter and everybody was wearing masks!

OP I am with you. It is very rare for people to be genuinely eating and drinking all through a film. My kids had usually finished their sweets and drinks before the trailers ended.
I would go to the cinema if people wore masks. I wont because lots of people are not that bright and refuse to take even basic measures to prevent infections.

@custardface47

I'm in the West Midlands.

Yeah the email I received said that face masks are mandatory except if eating or drinking. We all had snacks but nobody is eating consistently through a 2.5 hour film are they. Perhaps wouldn't have bothered me if it hadn't been so busy.

I seem to eat my minstrels non stop. No wonder I always come out of the cinema feeling ill!

These threads are the most tedious and annoying thing about the pandemic tbh.

Do you honestly think masks are some magical shield? They're not 'better than nothing' when people are moving them up and down all the time to eat or have a drink, which they're perfectly entitled to do at the cinema.

If you're that worried, why go, just before Xmas as well? I don't want to catch it before Xmas, had had enough with covid and non-covid illness in my house over the past few months and would like to get my booster next week before catching it. But that's my choice and it's therefore down to me to avoid busy places atm, rather than whinge about everyone else's behaviour. If you're anxious about getting it right now, why go to the cinema?

Was watching some of the darts on Sky at Ally Pally last night, my god it was good to see a live crowd, having a laugh, no masks.

You can see how busy a screening will be before you go when you book the tickets (as you select the seats yourself and can see how many are already booked) you can also choose another screening at a less popular time or choose seats away from others like at the front if you want to.
Plus you can wear higher grade masks too and choose not to eat and drink yourself if you are worried.
I am not sure why anyone is shocked cinemas are busy for a popular film?

1. The paper / fabric masks do very very little.
2. People are eating and drinking.
3. If you so anxious then going to a busy cinema is probably not the correct place for you at the moment.

Edited correctly, this post would read;

I took my children to the cinema that has rows of fixed seats in very close proximity to one other last night.

Lots of people were sat close to me in their non movable seats and were not wearing masks as were eating popcorn (as per current guidance), whilst watching this newly released and popular film.

Whats wrong with all these people.....🤔

It is not true that fabric or paper masks do little. There is research on this, they do offer some protection.
Why are people anxious because they are willing to take some level of risk but want that risk reduced if it can be?
I am doing lots, going out to restaurants and pubs. But I wouldn't sit in a crowded cinema full of unmasked people.

@custardface47

I'm in the West Midlands.

Yeah the email I received said that face masks are mandatory except if eating or drinking. We all had snacks but nobody is eating consistently through a 2.5 hour film are they. Perhaps wouldn't have bothered me if it hadn't been so busy.

The thing is, if you're taking your mask on and off every 10/15 minutes for nearly 3 hours (I'm assuming you stayed for the two credit scenes) how hygienic is it actually? I wore mine inside until I was sat and had my first drink

If you go to a restaurant do you put it back on e every ime you stop eating to talk?

It is not true that fabric or paper masks do little.

They don't do much if they are being taken on and off for people to eat and drink, which they are perfectly entitled to do.

Different on the bus, in the supermarket. Even then, I can't get that worked up about it. It's not my business what other people are doing. The vitriol on here to women who struggled to wear a mask for reasons like prior abuse/being attacked was absolutely disgraceful. It's no one else's business at all why someone isn't wearing a mask.

@LumosSolem people are annoyed because others refusing to wear masks limits what they are happy to do.
But I know I am wasting my time. This thread is full of anti markers and I will do what I want people.

@RoyalFamilyFan

It is not true that fabric or paper masks do little. There is research on this, they do offer some protection. Why are people anxious because they are willing to take some level of risk but want that risk reduced if it can be? I am doing lots, going out to restaurants and pubs. But I wouldn't sit in a crowded cinema full of unmasked people.

The most important part of that post is the last sentence.

You've correctly identified that going to the cinema to see a popular film where lots of people will be eating and drinking and/or exempt, meaning lots of mask absence is guaranteed, is risky. You appear to understand that there's no law obliging everyone in a cinema to be masked if no food or drink is currently in their mouth. So your response to that is to not go, because the level of risk is unacceptable to you. That's the right answer. It's sensible. Expecting other people to adhere to one's own interpretation of a rule, having not bothered to check cinema policy first, is not.

The law is you are supposed to wear a mask.

I'm not an anti-masker. Whenever it's been mandated to wear them I wear them happily enough because it doesn't really affect me.

I just don't presume to know everyone else's reasons for not being able to wear them, even if some are taking the piss. I'd rather not be the nasty judgemental person who makes someone who has genuine reason not to wear one feel like shit, like many on here were quite happy to do at various points of the pandemic. I also just cba to get worked up about stuff like this. If people are worried, I still think the onus comes down to them take measures to feel 'safe', not anyone else.

Not do I think there is much logic in masks being put on and taken off constantly in a setting like a cinema. It's not a train or a supermarket where masks are reasonable and probably make sense.

@RoyalFamilyFan

The law is you are supposed to wear a mask.

You've missed half of it out there. The law says you are supposed to wear a mask, unless exempt, but don't need to whilst eating or drinking. There is nothing in the legislation to state that in a cinema or theatre this means masks between mouthfuls. It is therefore a question of interpretation. Anyone who for whatever reason only feels safe if other patrons mask whilst nothing is in their mouth should be checking the policy of the venue, because that's not what the legislation says.

BBC news had a report from an Iceland store somewhere early this morning and a lot of the people in there were not wearing masks.

@RoyalFamilyFan

The law is you are supposed to wear a mask.

Do people really think that the laws brought in around covid are really akin to other existing criminal laws in this country? Really? That it was ever acceptable for laws to be in place from banning people going inside a relative's house or for partners who lived in separate households not to see each other?

Go ahead and accuse me of being a conspiracy theorist, granny killer 🥱 whatever else you like. I thought it was right to have some level of measures in the first months of the pandemic, but all sense of balance and reason was lost. It still seems that a few are incapable of balance, although it's refreshing to see how different the responses on threads are compared to 2020.

@RoyalFamilyFan

The law is you are supposed to wear a mask.

Not sure why you're stating what the law is, it's irrelevant in this situation.

It's perfectly legal to be maskless if exempt, under 12 or when consuming food and drink which would probably cover 99% of those in any cinema at any given time.

Why would you expect this when you’d know most people eat or drink something at the cinema