Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Annoyed that masks can be a way that people are judged

344 replies

Twattergy · 04/02/2022 22:06

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?

OP posts:
MrsLargeEmbodied · 05/02/2022 07:51

i didnt wear a mask in the pub a few days ago,
then i developed a cough.
imagine how i would have felt if i had tested positive

Cornettoninja · 05/02/2022 07:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn as it quotes a deleted post.

rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 05/02/2022 08:04

I think you deserve to be judged, since knowing everyone else is wearing a mask, and you physically can, but chose not to.
Point you made about being triple jabbed and had covid is irrelevant. It's not mandated, but still recommended to wear a mask inside. It's about respect for others, imo.

Original poster
Twattergy · 05/02/2022 08:05

'i didnt wear a mask in the pub a few days ago,
then i developed a cough.
imagine how i would have felt if i had tested positive'
Er...fine? If you decide you are happy to not wear a mask then you need to be fine with that possibility. As you would have been pre-covid if you'd developed any infectious illness.

OP posts:
BellatrixOnABadDay · 05/02/2022 08:06

@halfsiesonapotnoodle

Masks protect others. I can't believe some people choose not to wear such a simple thing to help protect everyone. I was on a train yesterday and most people didn't wear one, coughed randomly and I sat there, wearing mine, judging everyone and praying I haven't picked it up.
Are we still supposed to be wearing masks on trains, or is it personal choice now?
Happy36 · 05/02/2022 08:08

I wouldn't go into someone's workplace and not wear a mask. To be honest, I would think you were selfish. Going to the hairdresser is (usually) not essential so you still have the choice not to wear a mask, at home and outdoors.

Emergency73 · 05/02/2022 08:10

@Twattergy

I think the issue is more the effect it has on other people.

If the hairdresser has a very relaxed mask policy, their staff could be off for days isolating,

They could be struggling as a business, and - as I said earlier - you may be careful, but they have no way of knowing if ALL their customers are being careful.

Emergency73 · 05/02/2022 08:12

@Twattergy

We currently have Covid in the household and the knock on effect for DP is - potentially a month of WFH, and he really needs to be in the office. A hairdresser simply cannot do their job if they need to isolate.

Original poster
Twattergy · 05/02/2022 08:12

@rainrainraincamedowndowndown I understand that I will be judged by some. But isn't it weird that a fully jabbed and recovered from Covid person is assumed to have less respect for others than an unvaxxed person wearing a mask? I understand why that judgement would be made because masks are visible. But it is a flawed logic. I've not seen anyone who says they would judge me accept the flaw in the logic of that judgement. In a world where some people are vaccinated and others aren't, mask are not a true indicator of how caring or responsible a person is.

OP posts:
NYnewstart · 05/02/2022 08:13

I’d judge you!

I’d immediately jump to the conclusion that you were selfish and didn’t care about your impact on others.

Emergency73 · 05/02/2022 08:16

@Twattergy

I’ll say it again - can you see how a hairdressers need to be particularly careful - to protect themselves as a business? It could have a huge impact on them - if their members of staff need to isolate.

RavenclawDiadem · 05/02/2022 08:18

This isn't new though. People who can't wear masks have been judged as selfish/reckless for 2 years almost.

I'm in Scotland where Nicola Sturgeon will not relinquish control and give us the choice of mask wearing or not. If I were in England, the masks would all be in the bin.

Original poster
Twattergy · 05/02/2022 08:19

@NYnewstart but the unvaccinated customer next to me who has gone to the hairdresser despite having symptoms isn't judged because they happen to be wearing a mask?

OP posts:
Littlecaf · 05/02/2022 08:20

I would have worn one. It’s polite.

It think it’s a bit off in public places to not wear one if others are.

MarshaBradyo · 05/02/2022 08:22

It was so relaxed in their workplace when I went, with no signs or staff wearing them I didn’t think about it

Chatting showed how he felt about restrictions etc but also he’d not had Covid/ symptoms the entire time despite doing hair cuts, nor have I (knowingly anyway)

PeakyBlender · 05/02/2022 08:25

Yes I would judge you if I worked there and everyone else had put one on.

Cocogreen · 05/02/2022 08:28

I think in this situation you need to read the room.
If everyone else is wearing a mask then I would do it so I don't have to go through the mental gymnastics you are by asking this question on MN, and imagining people's opinions about you because of your lack of mask.

Snailhaterz2 · 05/02/2022 08:29

I'd probably judge you in the hairdresser, to be honest, as you'd be in relatively close contact with the person who was cutting your hair, and I (and they) wouldn't necessarily know that you'd just had Covid. So, you're potentially putting them at risk and they're in a job where they can't really escape close contact with you. I wouldn't judge you if you weren't wearing a mask in the supermarket (as long as you weren't being a twat and breathing down someone's neck in a queue), however.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 05/02/2022 08:35

if you dont want to be judged op, wear a mask indoors

IncompleteSenten · 05/02/2022 08:35

"receptionist said 'no we can't force you to, it's up to you"

I would have interpreted that to mean "we want you to but some people kick off if we say that"

If I went into a business where everyone was wearing masks I would take my cue from that.

hellobabyyy · 05/02/2022 08:36

Most people around here don’t wear them anymore. I’m going out today so have had multiple grooming sessions this week (hair dressers, nail salon, eyebrows) and the majority of people weren’t wearing a mask. I also got on a busy train yesterday and there were two people I could see mask wearing.

Undertheoldlindentree · 05/02/2022 08:40

[quote Twattergy]@NYnewstart but the unvaccinated customer next to me who has gone to the hairdresser despite having symptoms isn't judged because they happen to be wearing a mask?[/quote]
Oh for heavens sake OP....you must realise people make judgements on the information they're given. Unless hairdressers are given the right to check vaccination status on entry, the only thing staff and customers can judge social responsibility on with regard to this, is mask wearing!

Most people are triple jabbed now, and very many have had Covid recently. I have and I don't swan about without a mask indoors because of it. I still take precautions as it's very little bother to me and reduces risk to others.

southeastdweller · 05/02/2022 08:41

@MrsLargeEmbodied

if you dont want to be judged op, wear a mask indoors
Alternatively she could go to a hairdressers where nobody wears masks.
gettingolderandgrumpy · 05/02/2022 08:42

If it bothers you wear one , quite frankly I don’t care who judges me . I’ll wear one if it’s busy but not somewhere like the hairdressers. You’ve made a assumption they are judging you op when really they want to wear a mask if you don’t why do you care ?

Jacaranda75 · 05/02/2022 08:44

If you came into my salon with that attitude, I would throw you out. Nobody puts my staff and other customers at risk.