Annoyed that masks can be a way that people are judged

[Twattergy]

I went to a hairdresser today. All staff wearing masks. I asked on entry ' do you require me to wear a mask?' and receptionist said 'no we can't force you to, it's up to you'. So I didn't put one on. I had one with me, but now it isn't mandatory, I made my choice based on fact that I have been tripled jabbed and recovered from covid 2 weeks ago. I kept having the urge to tell the staff 'I have been tripled jabbed and recently recovered from covid which is the main reason I'm not wearing a mask'..but I thought why should I have to justify this? Any of the masked people in there could be unvaccinated, or even knowingly have symptoms of Covid, but because they are wearing a mask it is assumed they are doing 'the right thing'. And me in no mask, I think many people would assume I'm being anti social, when in fact I have been highly responsible with vaccination. I'm annoyed at the huge potential for judgements around mask wearing now that it isn't mandatory. (I would wear a mask where is is mandatory eg London transport or health care settings BTW I'm not a radical anti masker). Ifnyou were sat next to me in the hairdresser would you judge me? Would you want me to tell you I was fully vaxxed and recently recovered?

[quote Metacat]@2X4B523P, I'm not coming back again after this one, you'll be delighted to know . I've been reasoned, courteous and friendly, apologised when I've got things wrong, offered my best wishes... I honestly don't think it helps to deliberately misunderstand my arguments. For the last time, before signing off:

1. Most experts appear to agree masks can make a difference, and many people are still at risk of severe illness or worse, so if it makes little to no difference to someone to wear a mask, it seems considerate for them to do so.

2. Some people find wearing masks difficult, and I really sympathise with this. They shouldn't have to.

3. The figures are falling and this is great - no experts consulted to draw this conclusion...

4. ...But anyone who interprets this as decisive evidence of one thing or another is either unable or unwilling to accept the complexity of what we're experiencing.

5. I hope things continue to get better and will continue to trust in whatever consensus emerges when deciding whether or not I support eg. mask-wearing etc. as things progress.

6. Not putting a date or terms on this isn't evidence of my embracing the apocalypse, agitating for the end of democracy, or being a psychotic supervillain.

(Sorry).

7. I enjoy debate.

Once again, I wish you all the best.

PS I've learned a few things here (eg. quasi experiment, & that experts DON'T seem to agree re. masks in schools for younger kids to the degree I'd thought, given the potential issues - unexpectedly uncovered while reading about quasi experiments) & am taking them away; thanks to everyone who engaged in good faith.

Enjoy Spring - nearly there now.[/quote]
Love your points @Metacat

Tealightsandd
Re T cells. Several T cell specialists are researching what they believe to be an issue, of SARS-COV-2 possibly damaging or destroying T cells.

Yes I've been reading about this too. One theory is that because T cells develop memory over time, that this makes the more elderly susceptible to a T cell over reaction, causing more severe illness, but children having less developed T Cells means that they do not become as poorly.

Also T Cells age, become exhausted and so do not work as well as we age.

That also unfortunately covid might also attack our whole immune system, including T Cells. So repeated infection might cause repeat damage.

I would suspect that if everyone in a workplace is wearing masks it's the employer's decision, and may or may not reflect what the employees would choose on their own. So who knows they might be thinking lucky sod."

At this point if people are still arguing for masks, they will want to keep them forever because we are not going to see the back of covid. That should be up to them but not something to impose on others.

At this point if people are still arguing for masks, they will want to keep them forever because we are not going to see the back of covid. That should be up to them but not something to impose on others

Depends what forever means. If the transmission is high then surely it makes sense to wear a mask and even for it to be mandated at that time? If its low and especially if you're vaccinated then it wouldn't be as important. I think that's how most people see it

Cases are dropping here aren’t they?

Whereas in other countries with masks they aren’t yet

Although debate on relaxation is still occurring (eg Germany)

[quote DoraSpenlow]**@ADisgruntledPelican

The figures are dropping because they're telling people to take lfts and then not including lft results in the official figures

They are counting lateral flows. Scroll down to "Cases by test type and specimen date".

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases?areaType=ltla&areaName=Braintree[/quote]
But only if they are registered and most aren’t.

Personally I wear a mask in shops , but now more fun places with the kids I don’t. I do in shops as I want to keep vulnerable people safe, like I don’t need to go bowling but you do shopping…
Although saying that I do wish non mask wearers would still keep a good distance today in the queue had my baby in the pram and she kept standing right over the pram (was a L shape queue and I did feel a bit annoyed and she was literally on top of me when I turned the pram to get her a bit further away), I test twice a week as well. For me personally if I don’t wear a mask try to keep a good distance and if I do would like others to appreciate that. However totally open to people having a choice.

@Flaxmeadow

At this point if people are still arguing for masks, they will want to keep them forever because we are not going to see the back of covid. That should be up to them but not something to impose on others

Depends what forever means. If the transmission is high then surely it makes sense to wear a mask and even for it to be mandated at that time? If its low and especially if you're vaccinated then it wouldn't be as important. I think that's how most people see it

Given that countries with mask mandates are faring no better, I don't see why you would conclude that.

Even nurses wearing proper ppe are getting covid at work. Regular mask wearing is not really doing much if anything.

Mandates like this which infringe of normal decision making need robust evidence, and that just ins't there. Individuals can always choose to wear proper fitted masks if they feel their own health is vulnerable.

Given that countries with mask mandates are faring no better, I don't see why you would conclude that.

That is not true.

And it's like the WHO says. It's about an arsenal rather than just one tool. So, Vaccine Plus - and also, Mask Plus.

If the staff are wearing them, I would wear one. It’s respectful. If the staff aren’t, I make a choice myself - sometimes I wear one, sometimes not.

@Tealightsandd

We are second lowest on this list for cases. I know they are all European countries but as we are a European country that’s what many people would like to compare to. It will be interesting to see how Denmark figures look in the coming weeks as the graph is only just before they dropped the mandate.

Official cases, yes.

But also, why must we be so western centric? And, Europe is not one homogeneous place.

@Tealightsandd

But also, why must we be so western centric? And, Europe is not one homogeneous place.

Because we are a western country. To become more like the East we'd have to change our entire way of thinking. There are major cultural and health differences. Not gonna happen.

Anyway I'll leave you to it. I'm off out.

This thread has usefully reminded me that I need to buy some more masks. Running low.

Have a nice evening all.
😷

Have a nice time out. 💉

Some feel they are saving the world by wearing a thin piece of fabric over their face, that's the way they are. Ignore them.

Some care and some don't, like most things there are people who will and people who won't. Be happy in your choices.

Eventually a huge number will have had this much milder variant and have some immunity towards other similar variants.

47 User1isnotavailable

Some feel they are saving the world by wearing a thin piece of fabric over their face, that's the way they are. Ignore them.

Some care and some don't, like most things there are people who will and people who won't. Be happy in your choices.

Eventually a huge number will have had this much milder variant and have some immunity towards other similar variants.“

Some feel they are invincible and need no protection.

Personally, we wear FFP3s/N95s to protect ourselves. Don’t really care what you do. Don’t understand why you would care what others do.

@User1isnotavailable

Some feel they are saving the world by wearing a thin piece of fabric over their face, that's the way they are. Ignore them.

Some care and some don't, like most things there are people who will and people who won't. Be happy in your choices.

Eventually a huge number will have had this much milder variant and have some immunity towards other similar variants.

Omicron doesn't even give us immunity to Omicron, never mind to another variant