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?

It's the Swiss cheese model innit. A slice of Swiss cheese has big holes in it, another slice of Swiss cheese also has big holes but in different places, so three or four slices of Swiss cheese on top of one another means there's a good chance that no part of your sandwich is cheeseless. Negative LFTs are no guarantee, triple vax is no guarantee, masks are no guarantee, and ventilation is no guarantee, but if everyone in the room has a recent negative LFT, is triple vaxxed, and is wearing a mask, and there's good ventilation, the chance an infection can get passed on is low, because all the gaps in all the layers of cheese would have to metaphorically line up. So I'm triple vaxxed, wear an ffp2 mask, do LFT if asked or if I think it's necessary, and try not to go to places that have lots of people with poor ventilation. Luckily, my household hasn't had Covid yet. Hoping to put it off as long as possible because DP and I are both CEV, and the longer it takes, the longer they've had to develop treatments and better vaccines.

@lilifer

Similarly, from the studies I’ve read - and my observations, the evidence is that they DO work.

But I’m a layperson, not an expert. So if the consensus of advice in every country worldwide is to - wear a mask - I would take that as my cue.

[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]
Look at Japan... Very high levels of mask wearing but rates have gone through the roof!

@RavenclawDiadem

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.

As a fellow Scot, I ask you to please stay in Scotland. Thanks.

[quote Emergency73]@lilifer

Similarly, from the studies I’ve read - and my observations, the evidence is that they DO work.

But I’m a layperson, not an expert. So if the consensus of advice in every country worldwide is to - wear a mask - I would take that as my cue.[/quote]
Masks, even cloth ones, do "reduce" the risk, even if cloth ones aren't especially effective. It seems that some people like to see people in masks more because it's comforting to them than because it provides much in the way of additional protection.

Hairdressers have been one of the worst hit occupations, I would of worn a mask out of respect and not made such a massive mental fuss about it all.

Hairdressers are often self employed, so catching covid would be damaging to their income. Even if you are totally sure you don’t have covid and are not infectious, other people may have been worried that you was not wearing a mask.

Look at Japan... Very high levels of mask wearing but rates have gone through the roof!

Germany looks high too and they use higher grade than here

Not falling yet in the same way

@treeflowercat

That reduction is important though, and even a psychological effect of ‘I recognise the need to be careful around others’.

But I don’t really want to get into whether masks work or not…

The fact is, the hairdresser is a small business - they need to protect their staff/customers and follow guidelines.

They provide a service that involves close contact.

If their staff test positive and need to isolate it impacts their business.

We should be supporting them as a business, whatever our feelings are regarding the effectiveness of masks.

[quote Emergency73]@treeflowercat

That reduction is important though, and even a psychological effect of ‘I recognise the need to be careful around others’.

But I don’t really want to get into whether masks work or not…

The fact is, the hairdresser is a small business - they need to protect their staff/customers and follow guidelines.

They provide a service that involves close contact.

If their staff test positive and need to isolate it impacts their business.

We should be supporting them as a business, whatever our feelings are regarding the effectiveness of masks.[/quote]
I’m ok to take the lead from the people working there

I usually do this whether nursery drop off, shops or PT etc

You get over it after a while. I can’t wear a mask because I have a lung condition but I’m young and look “fit and healthy” and used to think people must think I’m anti vax or a conspiracy theorist. After a while though you just get over it, no one ever said anything to me but I did sometimes want to announce to the room I have a lung disease to justify myself.

Sad really

@MarshaBradyo

Yes I do agree about ‘reading the room’.

I was attending a toddler group with DS, and the leader didn’t ask the parents to wear a mask at the time.

I can see it’s her business - and I think it’s best, in this case that the children can see their parents faces - as it involves singing.

She spaces us all apart.

If she started asking us to wear a mask, I would absolutely wear one - because I want to support her running her business! It’s her livelihood - so she needs to make her business work in the best way she can.

@postchristmasflab Don't worry I didn't make a 'massive mental fuss', I had a nice relaxing time and am happy with my hair! But I did wonder if others in the room might judge me - hence asking the question here. And I now have my answer - yes, probably some did and some didn't. It doesn't worry me either way, but it has made me question the logic of judging purely based on masks. I think it is fine to judge others either wearing or not wearing a mask, as long as you accept your judgement is quite possibly flawed. I'm content to be judged as impolite or uncourteous for not wearing a mask, if what I am doing doesn't meet your view of politeness/courtesy. I'm less content with being judged as more of a public health risk for not wearing a mask when all of the masked people around me could quite possibly be posing more of a public health risk.

@CarrieBlue

Isn’t it nice that the people in the hairdressers wanted to protect you despite you not wanting to protect them.

Go and fart somewhere!

I am delighted that masks are no longer mandatory in England. I will now only wear one in medical settings.

I think you're overthinking it and imagining that others are judging you. As far as I know, most people don't care if you wear a mask or not.

@Twattergy

I think you followed what the receptionist advised really. I think it’s up to the receptionist to express their requirements.

So I don’t think you were ‘wrong’ - but personally I would have worn one.

I wouldn’t judge you - can’t be arsed, but I think wearing a mask when possible is the sensible and responsible thing to do.

In this case it’s also clear the hairdressers would prefer you did, so out of respect and politeness to them, you should have done.

I think you know that, feel bad about it, and that’s why you’ve started this thread.

@DockOTheBay

I think you're overthinking it and imagining that others are judging you. As far as I know, most people don't care if you wear a mask or not.

I don't think she's overthinking it... quite clearly on this thread, a few posters would judge her.

Should she care ? Not one bit.

@DockOTheBay responses on this thread would indicate otherwise !!

[quote Emergency73]@treeflowercat

That reduction is important though, and even a psychological effect of ‘I recognise the need to be careful around others’.

But I don’t really want to get into whether masks work or not…

The fact is, the hairdresser is a small business - they need to protect their staff/customers and follow guidelines.

They provide a service that involves close contact.

If their staff test positive and need to isolate it impacts their business.

We should be supporting them as a business, whatever our feelings are regarding the effectiveness of masks.[/quote]
Despite my comments, I do still wear a mask in shops because I realise that others will be fearful... I just think we need to move away from this as a society as I don't think it's reasonable for mask use to be embedded in society long term in all indoor settings outside of the home, whereas I suspect some posters on here would be very comfortable with that.

I'm also triple jabbed , test twice a week but wear a mask in most indoor settings. Always when shopping or at the hair dressers and even when the lady who colours my hair comes to my home.

I wouldn't go as far as to say I would judge you but I would keep my distance from you.

I don't think I can ever guarantee that I'm not a risk to others. My DS had no symptoms other than a headache the day he tested positive and would have been spreading it around everywhere in the days before even though his LFTs were negative. At least his mask wearing may have reduced the risk to others slightly.

I have a DD who is CEV so I am much more cautious because of needing to protect her.

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

I totally agree with all of this.

Mask wearing does create problems for people, including those with certain anxiety issues and those relying on lip reading, so 'making people feel better' isn't in itself a good enough reason. With medical masks, there exists a way of reliably lowering your risk, so do that.

I do still wear a mask in shops because I realise that others will be fearful

I'm not fearful. I'm vulnerable. There's a difference.

My phone tried to replace vulnerable with bilberries

My daughter is a hairdresser and definitely prefers people to not wear one! They make her job alot harder! She is forever catching the strings and they ping off around the salon! It's harder to judge her work as framing a style needs to be able to see someone's features! She still has to wear one but has been told when less people come in wearing them she can stop! She can't wait as working and trying to communicate for long hours daily is not easy!

I figure that if the hairdresser who is working can wear a mask all day, then I can wear one for the duration of my visit to them, while I relax and they work: to acknowledge their efforts to keep everyone safe.

Yes, I am triple vaxxed but that doesn't stop me being positive and spreading virus. In fact, since it actually makes my symptoms likely to be milder than otherwise, it's more likely that a fully vaccinated person, if knowingly positive, would be shedding virus all round.

Everyone else was wearing a mask, too.

@TheKeatingFive

No - I think that’s disinformation, plus a good dollop of mental health weaponisation thrown in for good measure.