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.

How does one keep distance on the Tube when there are groups of people not wearing masks and getting on at the same time though? I find it hard to believe they are all exempt. However, I can't do anything about it, so I carry on.

I wouldn't say a thing. I'd mind my own business.

@Waxonwaxoff0

Absolutely not and anyone who does is an arse.

This

Exactly @JanisMoplin.
I would always want to give the benefit of the doubt. I teach lots of children with sensory needs and many can’t wear a mask. And nor should they. I wear a mask so they have less of a need to.
But as for all this ‘tear them a new one/giving both barrels’ chat… honestly given a choice I wouldn’t like to be near non mask wearers. The living and letting live cuts both ways. If I get Covid and give it to my husband he will die even sooner than he’s going to anyway and my children will have even less time with their dying dad.

In fact, DS who gets the train to school and who gets freaked out by people choosing not to wear masks (because dying father, worrying about infecting him) suggested there should be carriages for those who don’t. Like the old smoking carriages.

It's funny how in the UK a significant proportion of people seem to be 'exempt'. In other European countries there is a MUCH higher compliance rate. Funny that.

I am sorry to hear that @OneOfTheGrundys. My own DS also gets the Tube to school in rush hour. The school discourages any other form of transport except cycling so he really has no alternative. Must be very worrying for you and other CEV people.

@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 I wouldn't because as you said, no one knows why! There are exemption clauses in the Irish government's Statutary Instrument on Mask Wearing so I should imagine other countries have exemption clauses too and no one would know how the person without a mask qualifies without poking their nose into matters that are none of their business i.e. someone's private health issues!

I wear my exempt lanyard most of the time but I did forget it on Christmas Day when I went out for a meal with my family. I was the only one in my family not wearing a mask but the staff didn't say anything and no one mentioned it in the restaurant either. I did get some looks though but what can I do I cannot wear one. We all tested before we left the house and we've been on lockdown for a week so we deffo don't have covid.

@Iamthewombat

Regardless, you're still completely unqualified to comment on the genuineness of this woman's exemption and things you have made up are meaningless.

(From a poster upthread, who thinks that I was in no position to judge the woman who stood right next to my 90 year old mother, leaning across her and coughing whilst not wearing a mask!.

Nonsense. Did you read that I later saw her outside the TK Maxx store, smoking? Not for one second do I believe that somebody sucking enthusiastically on a B&H has breathing problems that they can’t help and that explain their need to cough all over a vulnerable old lady and disregard both social distancing and the law requiring them to wear a mask in a shop.

My Nana has severe COPD, has been hospitalised 6 times in the past two years with it along with pneumonia. Coughs horrifically and uncontrollably, can’t wear a mask because it makes her cough and dry wretch.

Also smokes 40 roll ups a day to everyone’s absolute dismay. It happens.

Thank you @JanisMoplin. That must be hard for your DS. Such a balance and so hard to balance the risks.

[quote gogohm]@LondonWolf

We have two autistic DD's, one with severe lds and they wear masks. It took weeks of coaxing but now they wear them fine. Worth trying [/quote]
Almost two years into the pandemic…believe me I have tried. Sometimes she will, others times it’s impossible. This was a day she couldn’t.

I couldn't care less. If the 2 jabs plus a booster work, why would anyone fear someone not wearing a mask?

@LumosSolem

I find it hard to believe that some people have such a narrow experience of life that they believe everyone can wear a mask.

This.

I don’t find it hard to believe. That people have narrow lives and cannot imagine anything outside of their own immediate sphere of life experience, is apparent on MN almost every day.

No, I happily wear a mask and acknowledge that the research shows they are beneficial, but I also don't give enough fucks to make a comment to someone not wearing one.

It does indeed itsmybaby. I'm not saying it's a wise decision, but the existence of people who both smoke and have significant lung problems really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

@TheCreamCaker

I couldn't care less. If the 2 jabs plus a booster work, why would anyone fear someone not wearing a mask?

Because the jabs are not enough for everyone. They are for the majority. But given a choice, most people give a fuck about not infecting people like my dying husband for whom 3 jabs still won’t be enough.

@Iamthewombat

Regardless, you're still completely unqualified to comment on the genuineness of this woman's exemption and things you have made up are meaningless.

(From a poster upthread, who thinks that I was in no position to judge the woman who stood right next to my 90 year old mother, leaning across her and coughing whilst not wearing a mask!.

Nonsense. Did you read that I later saw her outside the TK Maxx store, smoking? Not for one second do I believe that somebody sucking enthusiastically on a B&H has breathing problems that they can’t help and that explain their need to cough all over a vulnerable old lady and disregard both social distancing and the law requiring them to wear a mask in a shop.

Lots of smokers have breathing problems- they do after all cause them.

Smoking causes them that is

No way. I'm pissed off with wearing them and they make me feel like I can't breathe properly. I'm not exempt and wear one because I have to but when I see someone not wearing one I think 'I wish I had the balls like you'

Absolutely not

Not in that exact situation but I did tell a man not to follow me into a lift unless he put on his mask, he was coughing and he'd managed to wear one all through airport security just fine (I know because he was basically stood over my shoulder the entire queue) and I live in a country with no exemptions.

Not something I would even consider for a minute.

I can't wear a mask due to previous physical and sexual abuse that has left me unable to have anything over my face - well precovid it was on my hospital notes not to give me oxygen masks when I was not under anaesthesia! If I was confronted by the mask police I would probably have a panic attack and have to go home! Luckily the only time I have been confronted I had a more confident friend with me who told them exactly what she thought! I'd love nothing more than to be able to put a mask on and not have to worry about it.!

I think that during the pandemic government actions have been ambiguous and disingenuous this has led to confusion amongst the public. There should in my view be clarity.