Face masks - the new smile love

[PTW1234]

So it’s started already. Men telling me to take my face mask off because I will look prettier.

I am dreading 19th July it will be 1000x worse, it’s become the new “smile love”. I won’t get my double vaccination until the end of July due to my age (33) so I won’t be going unmasked until at least mid August, and if not further depending on cases.

I have been outside (I WFH) 4 times this week and each time I have had an unasked man telling me I should take my mask off. It’s fucking creepy and I wonder if there is anything we can do legally to make it stop

Really? I've but had this but I'm the age of invisibility so don't get this shit any more?

Nothing you can do legally.

What situations has it happened in- say the 4 you mention? Can try to help with strategy!

There are loads of masks with unfriendly things printed on them like the crazed grin ones. Maybe get one like that they might get the hint!

Literally the only times it has happened is in my local shops buying things like food and bog roll!.

I am up north and my city is a hotspot (surprisingly) I am starting to get anxious about how many males are going to insist my face mask needs to be off once they are not legally enforced

Maybe get one printed with a preemptive 'fuck off' on it?

So tempted to get a mask saying “so what” or “fuck off”

I do wonder if mask pulling down will be a thing though....

Maybe a mask saying MY CHOICE on it, or similar, might be an idea?

They weren't legally enforced anyway were they?

This sort of thing I've seen

www.spiraldirect.com/accessories/rock-jaw-premium-cotton-fashion-mask-with-adjuster.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3qeNn8Pe8QIVl4XVCh1aIANPEAQYAiABEgJO1_D_BwE

Although tbh they freak me out a bit and you don't want to scare anyone!

Just say back "well, maybe you should put one on for the same reason" and then run away

@Sparklfairy

Just say back "well, maybe you should put one on for the same reason" and then run away

Now that's a perfect response!

@Sparklfairy

Just say back "well, maybe you should put one on for the same reason" and then run away

😆 100% this if you can safely get away with it! Sadly the safety aspect, or lack thereof, probably goes hand in hand with the type of person you're dealing with though.

I suggest the "No is a Complete Sentence" mask.

wildwomynworkshop.com/store/face-masks/no-is-a-complete-sentence-feminist-face-mask/

Or the Women Don't Owe You Sh*t mask

wildwomynworkshop.com/store/face-masks/women-dont-owe-you-sht-feminist-face-mask/

Or this one might blow their tiny minds

wildwomynworkshop.com/store/face-masks/remember-resist-do-not-comply-feminist-face-mask/

Just remember, they can speak but they do not have the right to insist on your engagement with them. Literally just ignore every time. As if you hadn’t heard. They want a reaction - you don’t have to give them one.

@WorkingItOutAsIGo

Just remember, they can speak but they do not have the right to insist on your engagement with them. Literally just ignore every time. As if you hadn’t heard. They want a reaction - you don’t have to give them one.

Took me a while to learn this.

In my tweens I just shrunk in on myself.

In my early twenties I talked back.

In my late twenties and early thirties I just ignored.

Then one day it stopped altogether. Or maybe I just don't notice the occasional incident because I've trained myself to ignore so effectively....

Colin Brazier suggesting mask wearers are unsociable is not helpful.
twitter.com/GBNEWS/status/1414663452501630976
While there are some that take issue with this, others seem to feel that anyone continuing to wear a mask is some kind of threat.
Some of the comments: Masks are a sign that a lot of people have lost their f*cking minds.
Mask are like a small child’s comfort blanket. Take it away and they will scream
No. Anyone who does is an idiot. There are NO exceptions to this.

I find these attitudes really quite scary.

You need a few stock answers, so you’re ready if any other idiot tells you to take it off.

“No!”
“I’ve got Covid, so stay clear” (only half joking)
“It’s got nothing to do with you”
“Piss off”
Etc etc

Middle finger?

Wtf should the OP, or anyone else, want to be sociable with random blokes when she's minding her own business shopping?

Random telling women what to do - that's antisocial. It can inhibit women's freedom and sense of equality.

@PTW1234

So tempted to get a mask saying “so what” or “fuck off”

I do wonder if mask pulling down will be a thing though....

Yes!

Velcro pull down flap/sign saying fuck off.

Loving the idea of a pull down Velcro strap

Although I did mean by pulling down face masks, that if these entitled men will feel the need to see my face so badly to comment on my appearance, a subset would probably attempt to pull it off.

I can see it happening, even more so if I ignore them (which I generally do when cat called / whistled at - apart from the fact I am usually in my own world and jump out of my skin!)

That twitter thread made my skin crawl.

You are exactly correct @ErrolTheDragon, giving unsolicited comments about peoples appearance is the most antisocial you can get.. oh the irony

I had a man come and whisper in my ear this week about how prettier I would look without a face mask. Vile