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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:
NYnewstart · 05/02/2022 08:44

[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]
I can’t judge them because I can only judge on what I see or know.

Obviously I would if I knew.

rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 05/02/2022 08:45

mask are not a true indicator of how caring or responsible a person is.

I think it is, depend on the circumstances. You knew everyone was wearing. Most people who actually care about others would wear it if they can, instead of thinking what you are thinking.

IBelieveInAThingCalledScience · 05/02/2022 08:46

I'm judging you right now.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/02/2022 08:47

@Happy36

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.
You have the choice not to wear a mask anywhere, since they're no longer a legal requirement.
ifonly4 · 05/02/2022 08:48

Wearing a mask is mainly about protecting others. If everyone around you is courteous to wear a mask, it sounds a bit disrespectful.

We've presently got covid (annoyingly we'd been careful as were meant to be away right now). If you've had covid, I guess it was mild. My DH is sat opposite me, you can see the tension on his face, his eyes and throat are so sore. Luckily I have the odd bout of energy (like now on here) so can get us food, running out of soft stuff and to be honest I couldn't cope with sorting out a food delivery. Why would you risk doing this to someone else?

bumblefeline · 05/02/2022 08:49

I wouldn't judge you, it's personal choice now.

NETSRIK · 05/02/2022 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn as it quotes a deleted post.

NETSRIK · 05/02/2022 08:51

@Jacaranda75

If you came into my salon with that attitude, I would throw you out. Nobody puts my staff and other customers at risk.
And with your attitude I would happily avoid your salon so all good.
TheChip · 05/02/2022 08:52

[quote Twattergy]@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.[/quote]
I wouldnt even think about it. Each to their own.
I am curious to know if you apply that same thinking to those who are unvaccinated though. Do you think being vaccinated suggests a person is more caring or responsible?

Sunnyday321 · 05/02/2022 08:52

I had my hair cut this week as well , I wore a mask , likewise did my hairdresser. He said they are planning to continue , and he personally would not cut someone's hair who did not agree to wear one , he also said that he had got this far without catching covid , and doesn't want to catch it now by a non wearing mask client.

sashagabadon · 05/02/2022 08:53

I don’t care how what others do. Most people are triple jabbed now. I tend to assume now that mask wearers aren’t fully vaxxed hence they wear their mask but I don’t judge that either.

Aposterhasnoname · 05/02/2022 08:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Figgygal · 05/02/2022 08:55

Id have worn one
Its courteous in that environment yeah they couldnt force you doesnt mean you shouldn't have followed their lead and worn one

Bigassbeebuzzbuzz · 05/02/2022 08:59

I wouldnt judge you for not wearing a mask.
If you were repeatedly coughing I might.

MarshaBradyo · 05/02/2022 09:02

And with your attitude I would happily avoid your salon so all good.

After reading this thread I appreciate the relaxed attitude / no masks at hairdresser more.

Lilifer · 05/02/2022 09:16

@wondersun

I’d judge you. Lots of new variants. The mask narrative in this country is crazy. It’s airborne, just wear a mask to protect others in indoor settings. It’s really not that hard.
Yes, it's airborne but more importantly it's aerosolized which means most masks make fuck all difference anyway!
Emergency73 · 05/02/2022 09:19

It doesn’t matter if you are triple jabbed or not - if you test positive, or pass it on to the staff at the hairdresser - they cannot work for potentially 10 days!! How is that going to effect their business??

Should we be doing all we can to protect small businesses??

I’m triple jabbed. I tested positive last week, and I’ve still got a very strong positive line a week later! I can’t work, and it’s affecting my whole households ability to work!

Lilifer · 05/02/2022 09:20

@Sunnyday321

I had my hair cut this week as well , I wore a mask , likewise did my hairdresser. He said they are planning to continue , and he personally would not cut someone's hair who did not agree to wear one , he also said that he had got this far without catching covid , and doesn't want to catch it now by a non wearing mask client.
If he doesn't want to catch covid off a client he would be better served by insisting on a negative lateral flow test before their appointment starts. I can understand this totemic quality that masks seem to have acquired in terms of protection from CoVid.
Lilifer · 05/02/2022 09:20

I can't understand - should say

Emergency73 · 05/02/2022 09:25

@lilifer

With respect, I doubt you are a professor in medicine or expert in virology. Experts agree that they do provide protection which is why the global advice is to wear a mask.

Emergency73 · 05/02/2022 09:28

One of the huge negative impacts of this pandemic has been loss of small businesses, and people losing their jobs.

We should be respecting small businesses and doing all we can to protect them.

2ndTimeRound90 · 05/02/2022 09:36

I know of a number of people who have caught covid again within a matter of weeks, so yes I would probably judge you

Lilifer · 05/02/2022 09:40

[quote Emergency73]@lilifer

With respect, I doubt you are a professor in medicine or expert in virology. Experts agree that they do provide protection which is why the global advice is to wear a mask.[/quote]
Really? Then how come the covid cases in Scotland Wales and Ireland remained consistently high (and higher at times) than in England where the mask mandate was dropped between the summer and Christmas 2021? And even when England re introduced the mandate due to omicron the cases in the other countries still remained as high? If masks worked these counties would have a lower rate of infection than England. I'm not a professor or virology but I am capable of simple observation of facts and figures and drawing a conclusion from same.

Lilifer · 05/02/2022 09:43

The latest studies on masks all seem to conclude that cloth face masks are useless but surgical masks (FFP2 and the like) may provide some protection, but very few people wear anything other than cloth masks or those disposal ones.

treeflowercat · 05/02/2022 09:47

@gogohm

masks protect others mostly. My policy is that if staff are wearing one I wear one out of respect for them. From what you initially wrote, it sounds like they would have preferred you to have worn one "we can't force you" is hardly a resounding don't wear one!
That was the message when they were introduced, and relates to droplet not aerosol spread (the latter being one of the reasons more recent variants are so transmissible).... Simple face coverings provide pretty low protection.

My understanding is that you're significantly more protected wearing a FFP2 mask next to someone who is infectious and not wearing a mask, than if both you and the infected person wore cloth, or even surgical, masks.

The emphasis needs to move towards protecting yourself if necessary with a FFP2 or FFP3 mask, not expecting society to wear masks forever... and frankly that's what some people seem to want... They may not say so in so many words, but that's the clear implication of their attitude.

They will only be happy to drop masks if Covid falls to negligible levels... And as Covid is unlikely to fall to such levels even in lulls between waves, it follows they expect masks to be permanent feature of society from now on.