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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:
RobotValkyrie · 28/12/2021 20:20

I have not interest in policing other people's behaviour, unless it presents a clear and immediate danger (to themselves or others).

Clear and immediate danger would be something like "someone is practicing motorcycle stunts on a public car park" or "someone is about to fall onto a rail track".

Not wearing a mask doesn't really come anywhere near that threshold. It would feel like telling someone off because they didn't wash their hands after going to the loo. Actually, that's arguably a lot more gross and likely to spread bad germs: everyone's faeces contains harmful bacteria, whereas most people DO NOT HAVE COVID. The idea that non-mask wearers "must" be spreading death around them is hyperbolic nonsense if you consider the probability for someone to actually have COVID at any given point in time.

Note: I do personally wear a mask. Personal choice.

CoffeeWithCheese · 28/12/2021 20:24

@whiteroseredrose

I have been wondering, if you are someone who doesn't wear a mask because you are exempt, are you at all concerned when you are surrounded by others not wearing masks, potentially infecting you?
Nope because I have kids and I work in a range of settings including some schools, doing therapy so usually in the smallest of the small rooms - if I'm going to catch a bug, I'm going to catch it. Fairly sure I had covid right at the beginning of the pandemic, shook it off and have had the kids at home in peak cuddling mode draped all over me watching Christmas movies and not succumbed to omicron.

I fear for my mental health and social isolation because of the mask stuff - I don't fear the virus.

DickMabutt73962 · 28/12/2021 20:36

It's interesting. I'm currently in Canada for Christmas (Ontario, if that matters). There isn't a single person when we're out and about who doesn't wear a mask. I asked my friend about it, saying that so many in the UK don't wear one due to exemptions. She said there are no exemptions.

Now I know that maybe there are somewhere buried in legislation, but in terms of the culture of mask wearing, everyone is told to mask up and they do. She knows people who are asthmatic and they just 'suck it up'.

I'm not particularly bothered by people who aren't wearing a mask, but I definitely think a lot of non-wearers aren't actually exempt, or claim what I consider to be a weak reason not to wear one.

But it does make me wonder why the UK seems to have so many unable to wear one, for whatever reasons.

XenoBitch · 28/12/2021 20:37

@whiteroseredrose

I have been wondering, if you are someone who doesn't wear a mask because you are exempt, are you at all concerned when you are surrounded by others not wearing masks, potentially infecting you?
No, I am more worried about the self appointed mask police having a pop at me.
user1497207191 · 28/12/2021 20:40

I’m happy to say something to someone without a mask who gets too close and isn’t social distancing.

TheVampiresWife · 28/12/2021 20:48

@user1497207191

I’m happy to say something to someone without a mask who gets too close and isn’t social distancing.
Are you also happy to say something to people not SD who do wear masks? (Incidentally, SD hasn't been required in public places in England for months - why are you attempting to enforce it?)

And why don't you just move away from them if you're so concerned, rather than stay close enough for long enough to admonish them?

That doesn't sound like concern to me. It sounds like an excuse to be a bit of a bully.

MindTheChristmasGap · 28/12/2021 20:50

No.

Spikeyball · 28/12/2021 20:53

"I have been wondering, if you are someone who doesn't wear a mask because you are exempt, are you at all concerned when you are surrounded by others not wearing masks, potentially infecting you?"

Ds is exempt. The only time he might ever be surrounded by others is in school where none of the other children can wear masks. He never goes to any other busy place but that is an autism issue not a covid issue.

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 28/12/2021 21:03

@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.
Me too.

And I work with autistic people. And my daughter is autistic. Somehow autistic people here manage to wear masks. Because it's the law.

Josette77 · 28/12/2021 21:36

I'm in Toronto, Canada and we all wesr masks. You can't go into a store without.
My son has sn's, but he wears one because it's the law. If you go to school you wear masks, if you are a parent at pick up you wear a mask. There are no exemptions. I have asthma and ptsd but I get on with it, because I have to.

SueSaid · 28/12/2021 21:50

@Josette77

I'm in Toronto, Canada and we all wesr masks. You can't go into a store without. My son has sn's, but he wears one because it's the law. If you go to school you wear masks, if you are a parent at pick up you wear a mask. There are no exemptions. I have asthma and ptsd but I get on with it, because I have to.
Interesting isn't it how people in other countries manage.
Wishfulthinking1977 · 28/12/2021 22:27

I go shopping with 2 other friends that are exempt, all due to different reasons! Because I feel safer with them than with my dh who has stayed that if I get challenged he will not be polite back!! I can't shop alone due to my exemption!

Mumma331 · 28/12/2021 23:36

No I wouldn’t. There is more risk by saying something to them, then them turning to face you and saying something back to you in defence. All it really does it puts you EVEN MORE at risk because then that person is actually talking in your direction and breathing their air and potential Covid partials right into your face! Not worth it to prove a point or vent your frustrations.

HolesInMySocks · 28/12/2021 23:54

No

I don't wear a mask, I'm exempt. I rarely remember a lanyard.

Ive had 2 people make comments very rudely and that gets my back up. So replied. Be thankful I'm not coughing over you, I tested positive 3 days ago, you interfering twat.

If course I didn't test positive. But no one at all had any right to comment on what I am or am not doing

HolesInMySocks · 28/12/2021 23:57

No I don't worry about other non mask wearers /exempt people or people who may just not want to wear them

I love seeing it normal, a few months ago when barely anyone wore one. It was nicer to shop.

Viviennemary · 28/12/2021 23:58

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XenoBitch · 28/12/2021 23:58

@HolesInMySocks

No I don't worry about other non mask wearers /exempt people or people who may just not want to wear them

I love seeing it normal, a few months ago when barely anyone wore one. It was nicer to shop.

When the mask mandate came in, I tried to make a point of smiling at anyone else that was not wearing a mask.
Pensieve · 29/12/2021 00:06

I wouldn’t and try not to judge on age/perceived fitness etc. What does annoy me however is mini groups who go in a shop together and none of them have masks. Statistically v unlikely they are all exempt.

HolesInMySocks · 29/12/2021 00:07

Umm no I don't wear a mask.. End of! . I am exempt and to be honest if I wasn't I wouldnt wear one.

I don't give two shiny shits what other countries do or do not do.

My gp and my MH team have all said I am exempt.
I tried to wear one. And I had such a big panic attack a shop called an ambulance, what a waste of resources for something that can be avoided.
I'm not going to go into the exact reason I'm exempt because it would be on my mind before bed. But either way I cannot and will not wear one.

Spikeyball · 29/12/2021 00:17

"Somehow autistic people here manage to wear masks"

People like my son won't be wearing masks.

"I'm in Toronto, Canada and we all wesr masks."

That is not correct. Toronto has mask exemptions.

XenoBitch · 29/12/2021 00:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted as it quotes a deleted post.

Pensieve · 29/12/2021 00:26

It’s not the exempt or the occasional genuine forgot my mask people that are the problem - it’s the chin hammock people! Just stop it, wear the mask or take it off and own not wearing one.

Whataday198 · 29/12/2021 00:34

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.

Which means that a number of disabled people will not be able to leave their homes. Odd thing to be proud of.

orchid2021 · 29/12/2021 00:37

I don't wear a mask and no one has said anything and tbh in the last week I've not seen many people wearing them.

Spikeyball · 29/12/2021 00:50

It is blatantly obvious that there are some people who cannot wear a mask. People who think everyone can are really lacking in life experience or possibly don't view some people as actually being people. They will be the same posters who bang on other threads about ' everyone can learn' and ' everyone can understand'.