People really have had enough haven’t they?

[DontWantTheRivalry]

I was in my local newsagent this morning and it was me, two women behind the counter and 7 other shoppers.

5 of us were quite huddled together whilst waiting to pay, so we were very close to the staff members behind the till too, and the other two people were still shopping.

Of the ten of us in the shop, which is quite a small newsagents I was the only one wearing a mask and nobody was even bothered that nobody else was. I mean, the shop assistants aren’t going to make an issue of it seeing as they don’t wear masks either.

I felt like such an idiot as I stood there wearing one.

I’m not threatened by Covid, I would love for things to go back to being mask-free, I only wear one because guidance says to rather than because I want to, but I was just so surprised that nobody else was wearing one too.

I felt so uncomfortable wearing one and I think if my hands weren’t full of food and things I probably would have taken mine off because I just felt silly.

It really has made me think that people have just had enough haven’t they?

It is rather clear that the politicians were not bothered by it, right from the start

@luckylavender

The “point” is to half arsedly adhere and, if need be, pull it up.

Basically a tick box / cover ass situation

@lightand

It is rather clear that the politicians were not bothered by it, right from the start

And that does have an impact on the extent to which the public are willing to 'buy in' to any restrictions.

Vulnerable people, and those looking after them, plus those maybe who are overweight, may still have ongoing problems with the virus. Rest of the people, a lot less so.
So people, myself included were saying this less than 6 months after the whole thing started. It has taken most other people to come to the same conclusion, another 15 months later that that.

Yes it does @VikingOnTheFridge

I’ve had enough of vulnerable people dictating how I should live my life. After two years if we can’t get our policies to protect those with greater need without penalising everyone else then they’re frankly not worth the paper they’re written on.

But it’s different in Scotland- our Lord and Saviour has told us that our Covid experience is different from England and as a result we Need Protecting. 🙄
So it’s full masks at all times here for the foreseeable future. Possibly well into spring.

It is rather clear that the politicians were not bothered by it, right from the start

What do you mean with 'it'?

The virus? The virus's impact on health? The impact of lockdowns on mental health and livelihoods? The economic impact?

take your pick, but I meant the virus

I agree with you that it seems most people have had enough an aren't bothering. But personally I would rather the decision on whether we lift restrictions or not is based on the science and medical advice in particular looking at the impact on the elderly and CEV rather than the majority of people just got a bit fed up after two years.

@Whatayear81

I half heartedly wear them just to avoid drawing attention to myself. But really, most of the time I have it below my nose

Ever since I saw this described as a mask penis I giggle whenever I see someone wearing one like this. Why bother though, it still draws attention to you? I don't find mask wearing a trial, I'd rather not have to, but happy to do so to protect wother (& myself, we wear FFP2 masks). My student DS & his housemates (all young & healthy, several of who have had it previously) are all wearing them around their house at the moment as soneone has tested positive. It doesn't seems to bother them to wear them & they'd rather not pass Covid around when they have exams.

Why bother

As I say… for example if I want to ask a shop assistant something or I bump in to a friend, then I will draw up over my nose.

If I’m just too strolling down the aisle, generally below my nose so I can breathe freely as I don’t like them at all!

I would rather the decision on whether we lift restrictions or not is based on the science and medical advice in particular looking at the impact on the elderly and CEV rather than the majority of people just got a bit fed up after two years.

Then you've first got to answer the question as to how many deaths you want to prevent and what the cost of that is. We could theoretically try to prevent every single death, but that would require huge sacrifices.

In other words we need to decide what the costs and benefits of various measures are?!

Ever since I saw this described as a mask penis I giggle whenever I see someone wearing one like this.

Absolutely. More and more people are seeing sense and living their lives in the present, not fretting about something that will very likely make them only mildly ill. We also know that the vaccinations have done a great job keeping people out of hospitals so there’s no need for ridiculous lockdowns. Personally, I was done with it all months ago.

@1dayatatime

I agree with you that it seems most people have had enough an aren't bothering. But personally I would rather the decision on whether we lift restrictions or not is based on the science and medical advice in particular looking at the impact on the elderly and CEV rather than the majority of people just got a bit fed up after two years.

To the extent that a definitive 'the science' exists, public responses to restrictions is part of it. It has to be, because restrictions never work without public support and having laws that the state can't enforce is problematic too.

That's why people being fed up is actually such an important issue. An approach to restrictions that doesn't take this into account isn't going to be much use. That's actually always been the case, but it mattered less earlier in the pandemic than it does now because there genuinely was quite high public buy in for some of it. But the two cannot be separated.

@lightand

It is rather clear that the politicians were not bothered by it, right from the start

Likely because they knew they would get the best possible hospital care, like Boris Johnson did. No wait for an ambulance or limited oxygen for them.

@TheKeatingFive

I agree that a shift towards medical grade masks for those who want to wear them to protect themselves is sensible.

Relying on the entire population (many of whom are low risk and know it) wearing masks badly, strikes me as not a great idea.

Very sensible suggestion 👍

[quote Whatayear81]@luckylavender

The “point” is to half arsedly adhere and, if need be, pull it up.

Basically a tick box / cover ass situation[/quote]
That's totally ridiculous

Did anyone watch Live at the Commons this afternoon?

As I was listening to people tell their stories about the sacrifices they made for the pandemic I nearly felt horrified. At the time the restrictions seemed acceptable, but now they just seem so barbaric. Hearing their stories was like listening to something that had happened on a different planet.

@MoonlightApple

I’ve had enough of vulnerable people dictating how I should live my life. After two years if we can’t get our policies to protect those with greater need without penalising everyone else then they’re frankly not worth the paper they’re written on.

What a delight you sound.

Perhaps the biggest challenge was always going to be accurate and effective communication, messaging and public relations. Early on in the pandemic is was relatively easy because it was all new to almost everyone.

Now the challenge is that people have two years of personal experience, that objectively speaking, for most people, the actual disease has been mild, while the mitigation has had a strong negative impact... convincing people that their personal experience is either not accurate, or does not apply.

The doommongers have been busted. By Omicron itself which isn’t very dangerous.

I’m in South London, epicentre of the highest stats, and most people wear masks at work, otherwise not.

@samyeagar

Perhaps the biggest challenge was always going to be accurate and effective communication, messaging and public relations. Early on in the pandemic is was relatively easy because it was all new to almost everyone.

Now the challenge is that people have two years of personal experience, that objectively speaking, for most people, the actual disease has been mild, while the mitigation has had a strong negative impact... convincing people that their personal experience is either not accurate, or does not apply.

Yes we’ve had Covid in the household and our personal experience is that mitigations far outweighed the illness in terms of impact.

Plus often posters say you are reacting out of fear - in denial etc - but that is not the case.

I understand the frustrations, but the more people be careful then surely the quicker society will get back to normal ?