Can we please have something done about the ableism and mask exemption hatred on here.

[HeIenaDove]

@MNHQ Its been running rampant on the AIBU and Coronavirus boards on here for months and is now starting to leak into Chat too.

Its getting ridiculous. There needs to be a zero tolerance with this as there is with racism. I got banned for a week last month for losing a rag and name calling but this was after months of this discrimination on here.

It needs to be treated in the same way racism is. Which is just as abhorrent But it isnt.

There's lots of people saying not to do anything about coronavirus and everyone who's vulnerable should stay at home or just maybe die. I feel like that's more anti disabled.

@ColonSemiColon

Lol at someone using ‘are you blind?’ as an insult while on a thread complaining about disablism.

I know! The lack of awareness is shocking

Totally agree, OP. If masks had any positive effect then I could understand the vitriol those exempt are getting on this site, but given their complete ineffectiveness against anything it is so out of proportion.

Some mask advocates get upset about the masks themselves being referred to as muzzles, or face nappies. I’ve been accused of name-calling for using those terms for the poor, sentient masks.

@Willow2017 It wasn’t a genuine question, was it? You didn’t genuinely think the poster might be blind, because if they were they’d be using a screen reader which ensured they read every post. You were using a disability to attack someone’s understanding, which is bizarre in this context.

Oh, anti-maskers. You’re not helping the cause of the genuinely exempt with your ridiculous ‘face nappies’ and ‘masks don’t make a difference’. I’m sure there’s a Trump forum somewhere that would welcome your contributions.

@HeIenaDove see my thread about protecting the vulnerable people here. It kind of links into what you Are saying.

@esmethurst I see Willow2017's comment as an unfortunate choice of words and didn't read any malice into the post. I'm not sure what your motivations were on the nursery abuse thread, however

It's just like most things. There are of course a very few people who genuinely can't wear a mask and there is another tranche of people who appropriate that exemption.

My aunt is a coeliac. She becomes extremely unwell when she eats gluten. She has been "glutened" on several occasions because another group of people "avoid gluten" except when they fancy a beer or a doughnut, so the understanding that coeliac is a serious condition gets eroded in some people's minds by this "fad" group who appropriate the trappings of the coeliac when they are "being healthy".

No one who looks at social media or watches the news will be unaware that there IS a small but noisy cohort who have a political objection to wearing a mask. They aren't even slightly unwell or unable to wear masks but if challenged they might say "asthma" vaguely.
I would say that those very who genuinely cannot wear a mask take this up with those who appropriate their difficulties for their own ends because it's THAT causing the problem. If it really was only those who really can't, who didn't wear masks, I am sure this problem would go away. As it is, everyone who looks vaguely healthy and isn't wearing a mask comes under suspicion of being a selfish year who simply doesn't want to wear a "face nappy" for the common good, and they are aggressively using disabled people as a cover for their selfishness "How do you know I ain't got an exemption? Huh?". Which is totally disgusting of course.

*selfish twat
not selfish year.

what is "ableism"?
I live in the sn world and never heard of it.

@9ofpentangles

The thread where a mum walked out after hearing her child be screamed at? The one where the mum left despite knowing her child was quite clearly scared and upset?

Because yeah, that was shocking behaviour.

It is getting ridiculous. We have victims of rape, domestic violence etc who have posted very candidly about their trauma having their face covered as a result - and they're being told quite openly to fuck off, get over it or not to go out.

We have the "oh they just bought the sunflower lanyard off ebay" comments if you DO wear one - the GPs are NOT issuing any verification about face masks so what the fuck do they expect people to do? Well what they actually want is anyone they view as weak or disabled or lesser than them to be welded into their houses pretty much - come on - is this the shit that MN wants to stand for?!

100% agree, please do something about this MNHQ.

@GirlCrush

its not comparable to RACISM at all!!

That with bells on.

so what the fuck do they expect people to do?
Those posters don't care what people do. Imo they don't even care about the issue. They're being nasty and abusive all over AIBU and tbh they need deleted and banned.
There are lots of places on the internet for conspiracy theorists and bullies, for racists and misogynists, for ableism - MN has to make it clear that values matter more than numbers, more than engagement, more than courting controversy. At the bare minimum they should be upholding the principles of the Equalities Act.

In what way is ableism not a serious form of discrimination?

It is a serious form of discrimination. That's why disability is a protected characteristic.

Well done for starting this thread OP, I agree entirely.
I have read so much vitriol towards people who can’t wear masks for so many reasons, including some extremely distressing cases such as PTSD caused by sexual assaults. Compassion and tolerance seems to be entirely lacking in some people who seem to be thriving on attacking vulnerable people. MNHQ does need to take it much more seriously.
BTW - I also feel great sadness for those who have lost their lives to Covid and their grieving families. It is possible to feel compassion for both these people and those who are exempt from wearing a mask.

Having experienced plenty of ableism I definitely know how serious ableism is, but also how overlooked/minimised it is do people think it doesn't exist, that disabled people are exaggerating? Or do they think we deserve it? I don't know

I'm so glad you posted this @HeIenaDove. Some of the replies on the thread that's going just now have turned my stomach. The blatant ableism and lack of empathy is shocking.

It's also concerning to see on a few threads the attitude that PTSD is not reason enough for someone to be unable to wear a mask. PTSD has many causes and even within similar causes people can be affected in very different ways. I have, among other disabilities, PTSD, and I personally am able to wear a mask. This does not prevent me from understanding that some other people who have PTSD simply cannot.

The problem with mask exemption is that No-one can be questioned or challenged for not wearing a mask so all anyone has to say is “I’m exempt” and the authorities have to accept that.

Given exemptions only exist in the UK I do think that too many people are claiming they should be exempt when they just don’t like wearing a mask. There should be a proof system for genuine exemptions, that way you could legitimately not wear a mask without being challenged by authorities/shop staff etc.

As for the public, usually those types will find anything to be irate about so if it wasn’t masks it would be something else and they’re best ignored.

But given you can walk into a shop where the majority of people aren’t wearing masks, or get on a bus/train with the same I don’t believe for a second that that many people are exempt.

Oh and, I am exempt (serious heart condition including potential for breathing issues,) but I have also spent time on a ventilator and on oxygen and I think given the choice I’ll settle for the mask.

Oh and just for clarity, I am blind and am using a screenreader....

But @AlternativePerspective what does any of that mean for ableism on MN?
Posts seem to come from a perspective of 'because a few may abuse the system then we can be abusive to everyone'. But MN works on the basis that posters are who they say they are. The site functions on the assumption that posters are genuine. In that case, then the starting point should be that posters who say they are disabled; are disabled. That posters who say they are exempt; are exempt. And as such, they should not be subject to discrimination and abuse about their disability.

It's interesting to see some of the posters on this thread are happy enough to promote eugenics and post ageist stuff from morning till night on other threads.

I agree with Helena, no place for ableism, racism, or ageism in civilised society.

The anti-scientific-fact poster could perhaps do with educating themselves though before spouting made up bollocks.

[quote ColonSemiColon]@Willow2017 It wasn’t a genuine question, was it? You didn’t genuinely think the poster might be blind, because if they were they’d be using a screen reader which ensured they read every post. You were using a disability to attack someone’s understanding, which is bizarre in this context.[/quote]
I wondered if they were only reading the supportive posts because they were deliberately blind to the abusive ones. Its a common enough expression when people are deliberately ignoring something that doesn't fit thier agenda.

Its not an insult i would expect any adult to know that. If anyone took offence i apologise.

But the fact remains the vile comments and bullying on here are becoming more acceptable and encouraged by several regular posters whos only recourse when challenged on their behaviour or their unfounded 'facts' is to hurl abuse at others because they dont posses the actual facts nor the intellectual capacity to do anything else. its time MNHQ stood up and shut this shit down in support of the ethos of the site.