Quick poll: how many people are still wearing masks in your area?

[Monsterathai]

I'll start! I'm in North Yorkshire and prior to today it has been almost 100% mask compliance. It was more 70%-ish here today following the mandate being lifted. Where do you live (city or county) and what's it like where you are?

P.S: if you think this is a boring topic, irrelevant or if you're sick of talking about masks then please feel free not to read any further.... and no, I don't have anything better to do

[quote Downton57]**@Whammyyammy* @SummerBluez*' The aggression is unnecessary. 'And suggesting clinically vulnerable people should 'Lock yourselves away' is pretty callous. It's a little piece of cloth. What's the big deal?[/quote]
The minimising of the issues people have around mask wearing is a massive part of the problem and epitomised through phrases such as- 'why wouldn't you', 'it costs nothing', 'it's no hardship'etc. It is much more honest to admit that masks do have a cost (albeit one that you personally are willing to pay), but denying that there's any cost whatsoever, and calling anyone who thinks there is 'stupid and 'selfish', is very gaslighty.

The costs of masks (depending on your situation you personally may have experienced all of these downsides to mask wearing or none):

-Masks make it very difficult for some people with a hearing impairment who rely on lip reading. Likewise, they are difficult for some glasses wearers.
-Masks hamper full communication with other people - they leave many feeling isolated and like they are living in a dystopian world.
-Masks especially stop parents from effectively communicating with very young children who are learning the basics of speech and communication.
-Masks trigger panic attacks in some people who have experienced trauma. They also can exacerbate some physical health conditions. Not everyone wants to wear a yellow lanyard to highlight themselves as having a 'hidden disability'.
-Many people find masks uncomfortable, a faff and do not want them as part of their day to day life in the long term. Obviously, others are free to wear a mask for as long as they like.
-Many other reasons personal to the millions of individuals that live in this country!

Now, you may not agree with any of the reasons above, or they may not apply to you personally, but clearly there are some 'costs' and 'hardships' for some people, and just repeating that there is not is really not helpful.

Over 90% in Waitrose including all the staff.

I’ve been working so not had a chance to go anywhere in town yet but last time it lifted it seemed to take a couple weeks before most people felt comfortable without wearing them again. First few days most people were wearing them as if checking what others were doing then they gradually declined.

Personally, I am glad they are no longer mandatory and I’m unlikely to wear them now unless directly requested - such as at doctors - or if
somewhere particularly crowded.

@ThroughThickAndThin01

Not a single person in a busy south east pub last night.

I imagine a mask makes it rather difficult to actually drink your drink....🤔

Manchester Arndale today - barely any, maybe 10% - 20% of people? Similar level on the train. Which is fine with me as I'm absolutely delighted to have ditched mine this week!

East Mids

Almost all people still wearing them in shops I’ve been to (Waitrose, B&Q, M&S, book shop, petrol station, pet shop).

Easy England, around 90% in masks in shops today, 100% on public transport

West Yorkshire. No one at all wearing masks when I did my food shop earlier this afternoon. Same in town yesterday.

@KurtWilde

West Yorkshire. No one at all wearing masks when I did my food shop earlier this afternoon. Same in town yesterday.

Very similar to what I have experienced just over the Lancs border.

@Monsterathai you forgot to mention the actual cost of masks, ie the money that it costs to keep buying them. Oh and the environmental cost too. Especially if you do as the mask mafia want and change your mask every time you leave a shop.

@SummerBluez

Seaside town today. Haven't seen ONE mask *@AndAnotherNewOne* your pious attitude makes a poor impression. Maybe look into some therapy if a mask free society fills you with such anxiety.

Doing the right thing is pious? OK.

I'm not filled with anxiety or aggression. I want everyone to feel safe enough to not lock themselves away as some here seem to prefer. Why would you want to do that to anyone when wearing a mask prevents people getting ill? It's your attitude that is questionable.

Lock themselves away so you don't have to do something as simple as wear a mask. Right. Nice.

[quote Downton57]**@Whammyyammy* @SummerBluez*' The aggression is unnecessary. 'And suggesting clinically vulnerable people should 'Lock yourselves away' is pretty callous. It's a little piece of cloth. What's the big deal?[/quote]
It's been proven fairly comprehensively that wearing a bit of cloth - as you put it - reduces transmission by a factor of zero to fuck all.

Maybe it's time for those who are anxious about catching covid to wear proper, effective masks rather than relying on less anxious people to wear a little piece of cloth.

Absolutely bang on with people wearing FFP2/3 to protect themselves. Maybe we should be asking one of those really annoying patronising wide eyed questions back - 'Why wouldn't someone want to wear a stronger mask to protect themselves?'

@Monsterathai

Absolutely bang on with people wearing FFP2/3 to protect themselves. Maybe we should be asking one of those really annoying patronising wide eyed questions back - 'Why wouldn't someone want to wear a stronger mask to protect themselves?'

Very good question.

I don't want anyone to feel like they have to lock themselves away, not at all. But if there's a simple way to protect themselves whilst out in public (FFP2/3 masks), then surely that's the way to go forward?

Nope. Still not convinced . Still not wearing a mask. Im not the only one, it will be most people therefore deal with it.

They have a fear of Covid and dying. People like you are forcing them to lock themselves away, all because you are too precious to wear a mask.

Then frankly that's an irrational fear. The virus is highly transmissible and is still going to be in circulation even if everyone wears masks. If you're going to 'lock yourself away' just because people don't wear masks, but will 'feel safe' if they do, then your understanding of how the virus transmits is very poor.

For the 100th time - you wear it to prevent transmission of a virus that kills people. How can you not understand that?

But masks don't 'prevent transmission'. At most, they reduce it by a fairly small amount.

The almost religious faith some MNers have in the magical power of masks never ceases to amaze me.

It's been proven fairly comprehensively that wearing a bit of cloth - as you put it - reduces transmission by a factor of zero to fuck all.

No, it hasn't. A quick google proves that to be a lie. Masks have been proven to help prevent transmission.

I really can't be arsed to copy all the links but here's one.

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449

@Monsterathai

Absolutely bang on with people wearing FFP2/3 to protect themselves. Maybe we should be asking one of those really annoying patronising wide eyed questions back - 'Why wouldn't someone want to wear a stronger mask to protect themselves?'

Exactly, if I was vulnerable I'd look after myself and wear a proper mask. Not expect everyone else too compensate for your own self induced fear.

if I was vulnerable I'd look after myself and wear a proper mask. Not expect everyone else too compensate for your own self induced fear.

So would I.

Wiltshire here. Just went to the supermarket, and it was about 50/50 masks/no masks.

Again.
The evidence that proves masks do cut transmission relies on CORRECT USE.
Not wearing the same disposable one for days at a time, not touching your face or adjusting the mask, correct storage, not putting in your pocket between shops, washing them at the correct temperature etc etc.
The "evidence" doesn't reflect reality and the reality is masks are pretty much useless.