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

[92miles]

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.

"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"

Do you think everyone can wear one?
We have exemptions because we have the equality act.

@SickAndTiredAgain

One of the (possibly only!) positive of Covid is that our GP has actually introduced a booking system. Beforehand you literally just turned up and waited, which could have been hours obviously. Now, because you have to book, you don't have to wait nearly as long.

I took my mask off when I travelled on London Underground recently as I started feeling faint. I was very glad that no one cared.

@twelly

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

Well then that would mean no one wearing a mask wouldn't it. Because how would it be right to make people who can't for medical reasons wear a mask? What about their health? What about the woman who can't wear a mask because she finds it traumatising after previously being attacked?

So you would have to make it so that no one wears a mask. When in reality, the majority of people do wear a mask. They certainly have been whenever I've been in shops. I wear a mask and it doesn't bother me but it's not hard for me to get my head around the fact that not everyone is in the same position.

Perhaps people need to stop frothing about the few people who don't wear them. Because most people are actually making an effort to do it which is surely a good thing. And it's no one's business as to why some aren't.

@92miles

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.

No chance.

I'm exempt but do tend to wear a mask. I'd probably tell you to fuck off if you asked why I wasn't wearing one. My medical needs are none of your business.

I like the idea of giving someone a "hard stare" from behind a mask!

I told a bloke on a checkout whose mask wasn't covering his nose that it had slipped down (I knew it hadn't, he just cba wearing it properly). I would never however challenge somebody not wearing one at all. I'm sure that most are not genuinely exempt but you have to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I would, and I did. Today, in TK Maxx, where I’d taken my 90 year old mother for a bit of a run out. Like many old people, she gets bored sitting in the house.

A maskless woman stood right next to her, coughing, whilst my mother was looking at a display. You bet I said something.

The woman responded with, “I can’t breathe in a mask!”. She backed off though, so mission accomplished.

I later saw her outside puffing on a fag. Fuckwit. In my view she should have stayed at home rather than putting law abiding and considerate people at risk.

From a poster upthread:

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.

Well, bully for you. What about people who are vulnerable, or anxious about catching the virus? Why should they have to stay at home because selfish sods can’t be bothered obeying the law? I’m with the PP who noted that very few people can’t wear a mask in a shop, whatever their medical condition.

Some of you really talk some bullshit on here.

I am medically exempt. I did try to wear a mask but couldn’t, so don’t. Looking at me you’d think I was a young fit person but I’m not. And the thing about whole families can’t be exempt is also shit. As a family of 4, 3 of us are exempt. If we went out with grandparents, as a family of 6, 5 are exempt

Yes, because where I live exemptions are rare and accommodation doesn’t always mean being allowed to walk around maskless.

I also extended my arm to fend off another non-mask wearer who was getting too close. I’d do that again, too.

@ElizabethG81

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?

I'll bite. I don't think it's the same. And I wouldn't comment on the masks, but I understand why people feel annoyed by it.

You are conflating so many things.

As a rule of thumb though, I would consider commenting on people's behaviour as it affects me in the moment, not in the possible. So if somebody is smoking in a non-smoking area and it is affecting me, absolutely I would say something. For masks though, they may be exempt, and so I wouldn't.

So the "policing" (or requiring basic respect from others) goes as far as how much something affects me in the moment.

@Iamthewombat

I would, and I did. Today, in TK Maxx, where I’d taken my 90 year old mother for a bit of a run out. Like many old people, she gets bored sitting in the house.

A maskless woman stood right next to her, coughing, whilst my mother was looking at a display. You bet I said something.

The woman responded with, “I can’t breathe in a mask!”. She backed off though, so mission accomplished.

I later saw her outside puffing on a fag. Fuckwit. In my view she should have stayed at home rather than putting law abiding and considerate people at risk.

From a poster upthread:

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.

Well, bully for you. What about people who are vulnerable, or anxious about catching the virus? Why should they have to stay at home because selfish sods can’t be bothered obeying the law? I’m with the PP who noted that very few people can’t wear a mask in a shop, whatever their medical condition.

Your contradicting yourself here.

You want people to follow the law (guidance?) and wear a mask but your picking on the same guidance that allows exemptions. Can’t have it both ways.

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

Same here. I'm exempt and had all sorts said to me the first time round. Nobody really seems to take notice anymore.

I did have someone give me a "hard stare" last week, so just asked them what their problem was.

If there's a big group of people with no one wearing a mask, it's hard not to judge. Unlikely they all have an exemption.

But I wouldn't say anything

Absolutely not. I don’t know their circumstances and I’m not entitled to know their private business either.
I wouldn’t want to risk being attacked either (I have heard this happening).

I think the problem is that so many people in England are exempt compared to other countries where obtaining an exemption (like any other disability) needs to be done through a doctor. Not all of those people are genuine. If they were, there'd be a whole series of medical studies as to why, one small country has so many people clinically unable to wear a mask. It just isn't possible. And does a dreadful disservice to people who, as we've seen on this thread alone, are genuinely exempt, but get abuse from others who are sick and tired of the fakes.

I would be medically exempt in the UK. The mask triggers panic attacks. I am still expected to wear one and I agree with that policy 100%. I manage to keep them at bay for the most part, though the longer it is on, the more my brain turns to mush. I have just had to arrange my life to try to keep the need to wear them as minimal as possible.

The law allows exemptions for exempt people. Not for one second do I believe that the woman I challenged was (1) medically exempt, (2) incapable of wearing a mask for a short while or (3) justified in coughing over a 90 year old woman she decided to stand in close proximity to.

No way

I seem the odd person and it doesn’t bother me

No I won’t comment. I do often wonder how whole families can all be exempt or maybe just a family of idiots.

See..

@Iamthewombat

The law allows exemptions for exempt people. Not for one second do I believe that the woman I challenged was (1) medically exempt, (2) incapable of wearing a mask for a short while or (3) justified in coughing over a 90 year old woman she decided to stand in close proximity to.

That woman was an absolute selfish idiot to do that. I would have done the same thing as you, bravo ! So inconsiderate to behave that way next to a vulnerable person too.

No I wouldn't challenge anyone. It's interesting how different it is in England though to other countries. I was in Greece at half term and literally everyone policies mask wearing - staff in shops, elderly people, random people in the street - everyone. There doesn't seem to be the worry there about people (we'll men let's be honest) kicking off. You only had to look as though this might go j to a shop and people would tell you to put your mask on!

I internally roll my eyes at the groups of young men who are all apparently have an invisible disability.

@WhiteXmas99 I am surprised that so many families, couples and large groups of friends are exempt but it must be nice to know so many people that share exemption status; what are the chances?

I concluded that Bluewater has been made a haven for the exempt when I visited on Christmas Eve.

To those of you genuinely exempt