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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:
MrsDeaconClaybourne · 27/12/2021 16:23

I wouldn't comment in the same way that I wouldn't comment on anything else that was none of my business. If I'm just walking past them in a doorway it's very unlikely to do me any harm.

If I was in a confined space with them I might try and keep my distance a bit more if I was worried.

StealthPolarBear · 27/12/2021 16:23

No I wouldn't and don't

Underhisi · 27/12/2021 16:23

"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."

Do you think everyone over the age of 2 can wear a mask or do you think it means that some people aren't able to go anywhere?

MarshmallowFondant · 27/12/2021 16:23

I'm exempt. I can manage a mask for 2 minutes in and out the co-op but not for longer than that. I'm perfectly comfortable with being exempt, sometimes I wear a lanyard, sometimes I forget.

I have never had anything said directly to me.

I have had lots of "hard stares", and people making loud comments to the people they are with about SOME PEOPLE who are anti-maskers or SO SPECIAL and so on. Not brave enough to do it to directly, but happy to do the snidey bit. When I'm with DH and my older children (who do wear masks), nobody looks twice. On my own? Fair game for the comments.

I also volunteer in a charity shop and have had customers ask me to pull people up for not wearing a mask, or not wearing it "properly". I always refuse to do so.

lesenfantsdelesperance · 27/12/2021 16:23

@SickAndTiredAgain

Where I live, to be exempt you have to see a doctor and get a certificate

Leaving masks aside, I am jealous of people who live in countries where doctors can do this - not because I particularly want them to, just because they must have more availability. My GP will only book appointments if it is an “acute medical emergency.”

Yes, I do realise I am lucky in that I can just make an appointment to see my doctor in the normal way and have been able to pretty much all the way through except for a very short period in April 2020. I know from family and friends that it hasn't been the case in the UK.
sofasonmondays · 27/12/2021 16:24

@ElizabethG81

It's your business if he or she infects you, by not wearing a mask and standing too close.

I don't really care though, I've had 2 vaccinations plus a booster so I've taken care of my own health as much as I can. I'm not anxious about catching it, and if I was anxious about it to the extent that I would start telling random people off in shops, then I'd stay at home.

Look after yourselves and stop obsessing over what other people are or are not doing, and whether or not that conforms to your own authoritarian views about how people should behave.

So it's fair for someone not to care about wearing a mask and infecting others, but I need to stay home if I'm worried they'll infect me ?

I thought we wanted everything to be fair here ?

I'm vulnerable so I can't go anywhere if no one bothers wearing a mask. How's that fair ?

Fair enough if people are actually exempt, but wearing it under your chin is a complete piss take for us vulnerable.

I deal with it, why ? Because life is not fair. I can't do certain things. Same with people unable to wear a mask, they also can't do certain things- like get on a plane. Life is not fair.

StealthPolarBear · 27/12/2021 16:25

@SickAndTiredAgain

im medically excempt, the only time i say anything is when i see people with their nose hanging out! what is the point of that? you either wear it correctly or not at all.

I’ve never understood this view, maybe it’s someone who, for whatever reason, finds wearing it over mouth and nose impossible but thinks they’ll try their best?

Agree sick and tired. Masks aren't airtight (obviously) so what they do is reduce the spread. Presumably wearing it over one orifice, while not as effective as wearing it over two, is still better than not wearing it at all? Now people wearing it on their chin, that I don't get!
user1745 · 27/12/2021 16:25

@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.
Some countries have decided that certain people, due to their physical or mental health conditions, should be relieved of the requirement to wear a mask. Other countries have not decided to do that. The fact that a person may not be exempt in another country doesn't invalidate their exemption in this country.
BeLessMe · 27/12/2021 16:25

@PlanktonsComputerWife

Only if I were a masochist looking for a mouthful of abuse.
Absolutely. No way would I risk it.

The only people not wearing masks near us also wear a “ask me, I dare you” hard faced stare.

No way are 6 people, 4 generations of the same family, all exempt.
I know COPD sufferers and someone with one lung that all wear a mask fgs.

The amount of posters on MN saying they won’t wear one and will declare themselves exempt is unreal.

AtLeastPretendToCare · 27/12/2021 16:25

Say something? No.

But really, I don’t believe everyone who I see indoors without a mask is exempt. To take some recent maskless examples I saw - The 4 builders in Their company logged polos in Greggs, the boisterous three women in their early 20s on the tube, the lairy group of young men buying beer in Tesco Express, they were all exempt were they? All members of their group?

LibbyL92 · 27/12/2021 16:25

I don’t wear one. And if a random member of the public had the cheek to ask me why I’m not, I’d tell them to fuck right off.

I’m 29. And there is a solid reason I don’t wear them, and it’s no ones business. If I’m approached by a member of staff or the police I’d be happy to explain and show my doctors note.

However, if it was a random person on the street I would not be impressed.

PieMistee · 27/12/2021 16:25

Whilst all mask wearer's aren't great, most non-mask wearers (unless exempt) are dicks.

Omicrone · 27/12/2021 16:26

@littlepeas

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.

Yeah, posting a social media profile picture of yourself wearing a mask was a big virtual signal in 2020! Look at me, look at what a wonderful person I am!

Who has the time to even notice which people around you are or aren't wearing masks, it wouldn't even occur to me to say something to someone who wasn't wearing one.

Iluvfriends · 27/12/2021 16:26

Seeing a single person without a mask i can get my head around the fact that person may be exempt. A whole family of non mask wearers, presumably mum dad and adult children, no way all of them are exempt, that's not giving a toss.

I wouldn't say anything to anyone, have really wanted to when standing for checkout and a non mask wearer is standing on my bloody shoulder.

Tootsey11 · 27/12/2021 16:29

I don't and wouldn't pass comments on someone not wearing a mask. As someone who has a condition in their face I hate the judgemental looks I get.

I am also hugely pissed off that here in NI they have removed the bit we're a person can in distress at wearing a mask and therefore is exempt. From the 7th of Jan we have to now prove we are exempt or we will be fined in all settings, so have to tell our medical history to police and security before we get in. Add to that there have been doctors here stating on the radio that there are no medical conditions that allow you to be exempt. None. Fucking tossers.

MajorCarolDanvers · 27/12/2021 16:30

Absolutely not.

twelly · 27/12/2021 16:30

I wouldn't but that said I do think it should be all or nothing ie either everyone wears on or not - no exemptions as I think the whole situation is divisive with people feeling irritated by those who don't whilst some of those who don't feeling others are sheep. I just think the country needs to be clear cut about things

ElizabethG81 · 27/12/2021 16:31

Do those of you who would comment on non-mask wearers also comment on smoking and vaping in public? That's damaging your health too. Do you comment on people's food choices? After all, if they're eating unhealthily then that's not fair on you as they may one day be "blocking" a hospital bed that you so desperately need. Do you tell people to stop drinking? Shout at people going 1mph over the speed limit? How far does all of this policing of behaviour go?

DartmoorChef · 27/12/2021 16:32

If anyone says anything to me when I'm not wearing one they will sharply get told to mind their own effing business.

I have supraventricular tachycardia and attacks can be brought on when I inhale awkwardly and a mask makes this worse.

Starlitexpress · 27/12/2021 16:32

Nope, not a chance. On the bus all the non mask wearers are 6ft men aged 18-25 and look like they would rather punch you than put a mask on.

ArianaG · 27/12/2021 16:32

Definitely not, none of my business. We need to show kindness and tolerance, they are not required to explain their personal reasons for not wearing one to random members of the public.

Potatodrivers · 27/12/2021 16:34

@wintersdreams

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…

I agree. I dont care if people choose to wear them or not, but wearing them under their noses really does my head in. Just own your decision to either wear one or not!
SmudgeButt · 27/12/2021 16:34

I';m more likely to say something to the arses that are wearing a mask and think that gives them the right to lean past me to get something off a shelf without an excuse me. I wouldn't want them 6 inches away from my face pre covid so why is it deemed ok now?

sofasonmondays · 27/12/2021 16:35

Would you comment on anyone getting too close ? Mask wearing or not?

What about if someone tried to catch the same lift you were already in ? Would you let them in ? Or ask them nicely to wait for another one ? Or get out yourself ?

JustLikeaJingleBell · 27/12/2021 16:35

No of course not

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