Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Would you comment on a non-mask wearer when in public?

511 replies

92miles · 27/12/2021 15:48

If you passed a fit young person coming into a busy venue as you were exiting, and that person wasn't wearing a mask, would you say anything to them?

I wouldn't because you've got no way of knowing if that person is exempt. It is also possible the person does have a mask and had simply forgotten to slip it on. I think they will pretty soon notice others wearing masks and it will remind them if that's the case.

I've witnessed other people making comments to non mask wearers when in public though.

OP posts:
Youaremypenguin · 27/12/2021 15:49

No, you have no idea why they're not wearing a mask.

littlepeas · 27/12/2021 15:49

Absolutely not.

CarrieBlue · 27/12/2021 15:51

I wouldn’t say anything, but I’d give them a hard stare

Indoctro · 27/12/2021 15:51

Nope I'd just secretly think to myself they are a d*

CrunchyCarrot · 27/12/2021 15:51

Of course not!

Original poster
92miles · 27/12/2021 15:53

@Indoctro

Nope I'd just secretly think to myself they are a d*
The problem is though that they could be medically exempt.

The announcements on some public transport do refer to this and the fact that it may not be apparent that the person is exempt.

OP posts:
PilatesPeach · 27/12/2021 15:54

That busy venue - is a mask legally required though? Where one is not legally required then you do your thing and others will do theirs. I wear one when legally required that's it.

RedCandyApple · 27/12/2021 15:55

No, I don’t wear a mask as I’m exempt but I’ve had stuff said to me on the bus in the beginning, not anymore though as not many people wear them where I am anyway in south east London. So I think most people don’t care anymore.

Coughee · 27/12/2021 15:56

I wouldn’t comment and I’ve never seen anyone being picked in or confronted for not wearing one. I absolutely wouldn’t assume they were a dick either, thinking the worst of complete strangers is a miserable way to live.

SamMil · 27/12/2021 15:56

No I wouldn't. I don't know their circumstances, and it's none of my business

FflosFfantastig · 27/12/2021 15:57

No. You don't know other people's circumstances. I'd mind my own business.

firef1y · 27/12/2021 15:58

The thing is what does mask exempt actually look like.

Look at me and there's no way you would know in autistic. I look just like everyone else, that's why it's called a hidden disability. I look and am fit, I run, I lift heavy weights and I do very high intensity workouts.
You might be able to pick up on the traits if you really knew what you was looking for (and even if you didn't if I'm suffering sensory overload and have started stimming), but other than that I look like a normal, healthy middle aged woman and I'm pretty sure that at age 20 I looked like a normal young woman

MakkaPakkas · 27/12/2021 15:58

No, I absolutely would not. They may well be exempt, but anyway I don't consider it to be any of my business.
I know 2 people who don't tolerate masks well and for both of them it's from previous trauma and sexual abuse involving being smothered.
Height of rudeness to bring it up because you think someone 'looks healthy'.

Geamhradh · 27/12/2021 15:58

I'd have to where I am (if I were doing my job) as they are obligatory and exemptions and part of my job is to make sure Covid protocol is observed.
In the UK, no. Because it's not obligatory iirc, and even when it is, lots of people are exempt.

Original poster
92miles · 27/12/2021 15:58

@RedCandyApple

No, I don’t wear a mask as I’m exempt but I’ve had stuff said to me on the bus in the beginning, not anymore though as not many people wear them where I am anyway in south east London. So I think most people don’t care anymore.
Did you respond? All the times I've witnessed it the person not wearing the mask has not responded.
OP posts:
WhiteXmas99 · 27/12/2021 16:00

Round here everybody is exempt - whole groups of exempt young people, whole families of exempt mixed age people, whole groups of exempt people exiting the pub etc

I would not say anything though as at best I would get I would a mouthful of abuse.

Geamhradh · 27/12/2021 16:00

@Geamhradh

I'd have to where I am (if I were doing my job) as they are obligatory and exemptions and part of my job is to make sure Covid protocol is observed. In the UK, no. Because it's not obligatory iirc, and even when it is, lots of people are exempt.
Part of my post disappeared

Meant to say "are obligatory and exemptions of any kind must be medically certified and the holder of the exemption needs to show that"

RedCandyApple · 27/12/2021 16:02

Yes I did I told him I was exempt he didn’t not care. I asked him why he was only being rude to me and not the two men on the bus not wearing a mask either and he said “because you have children “ I was with my children on the bus, I told him it’s because he’s a coward that only picks on women

littlepeas · 27/12/2021 16:02

I hate the sort of black and white thinking of:

Mask wearer - upstanding member of society, selfless, intelligent, thinks constantly of others, etc.

Non-mask wearer - selfish, stupid dick.

There are plenty of dickheads in masks. You can’t sort people into good and bad based on whether they wear a mask or not (or by any measure, really).

I don’t like confrontation, so I wear a mask. The mask police make me more anxious than covid. I suspect that’s the case for many people.

FlowerArranger · 27/12/2021 16:02

I don't get this concept of 'exemptions'. Where I live there are no exemptions. Everyone over the age of 2 has to wear a mask.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/12/2021 16:04

Absolutely not and anyone who does is an arse.

sofasonmondays · 27/12/2021 16:05

I might kindly ask someone to pull their mask up if I need to pass nearish to them in a shop and there's no other way. If they're wearing it under their chin or something and aren't wearing a lanyard.

I might say, I'm so sorry, I need to get past- do you mind pulling it up for a sec.

This was always met with people doing it..

wintersdreams · 27/12/2021 16:06

No, you don’t know why people aren’t wearing a mask, they could be exempt for a number of reasons.

Admittedly, I do internally eye roll when people wear a mask under their noses or with half their mouth hanging out though…

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/12/2021 16:06

@FlowerArranger

I don't get this concept of 'exemptions'. Where I live there are no exemptions. Everyone over the age of 2 has to wear a mask.
That's not a good thing and could be ablist in some cases.
RedCandyApple · 27/12/2021 16:07

He also got on a fairly empty bus with many choices of seats that was nowhere near me yet chose to sit on the seat opposite me, so he couldn’t have been that bothered.