Genuine question for people who refuse to wear masks.

[Ronnijade]

Some information. I work in a pub as bar staff and as you all know it is now mandatory to wear masks inside, social distancing, etc etc.

Politics and personal views aside, I just want to ask why you feel it?s okay to give me a hard time about enforcing a literal law that could see me out of a job if I didn?t tell you you need to wear a mask. Why is it okay for you, knowing that I am nothing more than bar staff, to rant to me in your group of people who are all conveniently ?exempt? why you are so entitled that you DONT want to wear a mask, give me a shit time when I tell you that I won?t be able to serve you because of this, to shout at me in front of my customers because I?m being ?brainwashed by the government? and give me a rough time when all I?m trying to do is work my job? Why do you come in just to argue, when you know what the outcome will be every time? What is the logic behind it?

Thanks.

- A tired bartender.

[Penguin68]

I don't think people in bars do have to wear a mask once they are seated and eating and drinking - only when they arrive/ leave, leave their seat to go to the loo etc.

Having said that, most people actually aren't exempt

[Sephiroth]

My sympathies RonniJ

it is amazing, isn't it, how many people who are medically "exempt" also happen to believe this is a government brainwash exercise

[alice]

and all their friends are exempt too.

[monica]

I have a medical exemption from my GP, issued by the NHS, which I wear at work. I have been harassed by people who were not happy with me being in their shop, shopping wearing the medical exemption. There are 2 sides to every story, and I am tired of being harassed re my medical exemption.

[KidKruger]

Exempt from decency and common-sense more like !

[Sephiroth]

sounds unpleasant Monica

out of interest, what would the medical outcome be if you wore a mask?

[Ronnijade]

If you?re so ill that you can?t wear a mask for ten seconds while you walk through the pub then you shouldn?t be drinking alcohol which is bad for your health anyway. I understand being exempt in shops and things you HAVE to do to survive but I have plenty of customers who are ill, breathing problems etc who can put a mask on for ten seconds. Also Just because you?re exempt doesn?t mean we should have to jeopardise our own health/having an outbreak in the pub cus you can?t put a mask on for a fraction of a minute. Sorry if that?s harsh but I?m so sick of this sh*t.

[Penguin68]

The 'illness' can be physical (often do do with respiration) or psychological (fear of being suffocated etc.) Either makes the suffers lives very difficult - but not wearing a mask when you have to be out (for instance going to work or shopping for food or visiting the doctor) is one thing - but I do think that for discretionary activity - such as going to bars - one ought, if only for your own health's sake - not go, if you cannot or will not shield yourself or others. Many I know who do have mask problems wear a clear plastic shield, which is better than nothing and can often avoid the adverse symptoms that mask wearing can induce.

It's really not nice to have to wear a mask - but to crow over those who do have to (bar staff) - is not pleasant. Even if genuinely exempt.

[Sephiroth]

Monica

Don?t believe everything you hear from the medical ?profession?. It may well be the case you don?t have a condition at all. Maybe seek out some natural, complimentary advice and medicine. Should see you right

[Ronnijade]

-- moved topic --

[Earl Aelfheah]

Ronnijade Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Some information. I work in a pub as bar staff and

> as you all know it is now mandatory to wear masks

> inside, social distancing, etc etc.

>

> Politics and personal views aside, I just want to

> ask why you feel it?s okay to give me a hard time

> about enforcing a literal law that could see me

> out of a job if I didn?t tell you you need to wear

> a mask. Why is it okay for you, knowing that I am

> nothing more than bar staff, to rant to me in your

> group of people who are all conveniently ?exempt?

> why you are so entitled that you DONT want to wear

> a mask, give me a shit time when I tell you that I

> won?t be able to serve you because of this, to

> shout at me in front of my customers because I?m

> being ?brainwashed by the government? and give me

> a rough time when all I?m trying to do is work my

> job? Why do you come in just to argue, when you

> know what the outcome will be every time? What is

> the logic behind it?

>

> Thanks.

> - A tired bartender.

They feel it's OK to give you a hard time because they are asshats. Sorry you've had to deal with that nonsense.

[Alan Medic]

I presume having a 'medical exemption' does not make it any less possible for a person to transmit the virus. In which case it shouldn't be beyond the wit of man/woman to make alternative arrangements. I appreciate some people genuinely do not want to or can't wear a mask, but that's not going to make me feel any better if I pick up the virus for a good cause.

Also, those idiots who abuse the term to avoid having to wear a mask should be asked to prove it or leave an establishment.

Sorry for your troubles, bartender.

[Sephiroth]

Any number on crossover of "people exempt from masks" and "not taking the vaccine"?

[ed26]

I feel for you Ronnijade. I hate wearing a mask. I actively avoid going to the shops as I find it a horrible experience - stuffy air, tickly nose and steamed up glasses, and trying to keep an eye on the kids playing hide and seek around the shelves while you can't see out of your glasses. But I wear one, as it is courteous to do so, notwithstanding the Covid rules.

I've also noticed Sepiroth's observation that a lot of anti-maskers seem to claim physical exemptions, and start to quote conspiracy theories (like Russia, China, North Korea and the West have teamed up on this one). And the anti-maskers who quote stats about masks not stopping you getting Covid don't seem to realise it's not about you, it's about other people. Have some respect!

I do have respect for people with true medical exemptions and I'm not having a pop at them, but it does seem unlikely that so many people are unable to cover their faces for the 20 secs it takes from entering a put to being seated.

[jazzer]

Simple:-

Please wear;

A face covering on public transport.

In shops and enclosed spaces (other than your own home or a visitors home.

Get both your Covid jabs

and finally

Treat others as you like to be treated

And be kind to each other

[Ronnijade]

Your replies have made me gain some faith in humanity. Thank you all. :(

[NewWave]

Ronnijade Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Your replies have made me gain some faith in

> humanity. Thank you all. :(

I so feel your pain! I work in a west end shop and we have to wear the masks all day at work (like you) unless exempt when staff members wear a badge or lanyard stating their exemption-HOWEVER I'd say about 70% of customers either drop masks to their chins once they enter the store or just dont bother wearing them (we were offering masks to people upon entry when we 1st reopened) It really upsets me.

We wear a mask to protect them so by association they consider our health and those of our loved ones of zero importance.

We have been told not to tell customers off not wearing masks to avoid altercations BUT the other day there was a man with his family mask on chins (all of them) shouting at his kids spraying spit everywhere and I asked him politely could he please put his mask on-He totally lost his s**t with me-shouting in my face "f-off! you cant tell me what to do! I dont have to wear an F-ing mask if I dont want to!" Our staff regularly go against the rules and try to ask customers to put their masks on and most get ignored or laughed at.

I've found this whole situation with the wearing of masks a bit of an eyeopener as to how selfish the majority of people are- I wear a mask for almost 12 hours (10hour shift + commute) I HATE it I've had both vaccines but because I'm not exempt I wear my mask to protect others.

The other day on the tube there was a young woman(20's) sat down next to me and took off her mask and started putting make up on-I asked her if she could please put her mask on-she refused said if I didn't like it I should move (there were no other seats it was morning rush hour) I then told her she was bloody selfish -other commuters in masks just stared nobody stood up for me -The girls retort was "You should be ashamed of yourself an old woman like you (I'm in my 60's) picking on a young girl!".....

It was horrible I ended up feeling really bad and unsupported when I was actually 'in the right' is her Lipgloss more important than other peoples lives?

I ended up getting up and standing for 6 stops with the selfish b***h sneering at me for the duration of the journey.

I'm so over it-over wearing a mask over peoples selfishness especially towards those of us in the service industries.

[Sue]

I think part of the problem - apart from some people's pure selfishness - is that there are no sanctions if you don't wear a mask.

Virtually nobody gets fined, and others are scared to say anything for fear of the kind of reaction NewWave got.

It's very depressing.

[ed26]

I really admire you NewWave. There's no way I could wear a mask all day. It's such an unfair situation, that wearing a mask is to protect others, but the people who refuse to wear masks refuse to acknowledge that and spout nonsense about their civil liberties.

Some idiot was spouting "stats" on TV the other day about the average age of covid deaths being 80+, and now that fewer people are dying, all covid measures are unnecessary. It's never been about the number of people dying. From day 1 it's been about protecting the health service from being overwhelmed, and it's BECAUSE of these measures that more people aren't dying or in hospital.

[Nigello]

I have to be frank and say that I find it hard to believe that everyone I see sans mask in a mask-compulsory environment is being truthful about the condition they say exempts them. There can't be that many people with such severe pulmonary disease, extreme fabric allergy or deep trauma that they cannot wear a face covering. I know there are some, but the number can't be that large. I feel the wool/mask is being pulled over our eyes more often than not (but acknowledge there will be some who are in such a bad way physically or psychologically that the exemption is valid). So, if you are swinging the lead - do us all a favour and tolerate the inconvenience whilst thinking just how you woudl feel if you got ill or made someone else ill, yourself.

[KidKruger]

Yeah agreed, even some of those ?exempt? legitimately could actually wear a mask if they wanted to.

Needs to be clear, standardised, certification for ex emotion imo.

[NewWave]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have to be frank and say that I find it hard to

> believe that everyone I see sans mask in a

> mask-compulsory environment is being truthful

> about the condition they say exempts them. There

> can't be that many people with such severe

> pulmonary disease, extreme fabric allergy or deep

> trauma that they cannot wear a face covering. I

> know there are some, but the number can't be that

> large. I feel the wool/mask is being pulled over

> our eyes more often than not (but acknowledge

> there will be some who are in such a bad way

> physically or psychologically that the exemption

> is valid). So, if you are swinging the lead - do

> us all a favour and tolerate the inconvenience

> whilst thinking just how you woudl feel if you got

> ill or made someone else ill, yourself.

What annoys me is that when people claim to be exempt (99.9% of these claiming exemption that we encounter in the shop are under 30) always state "I have Asthma" they never say "I am Autistic" or "I am claustrophobic and afraid of having my mouth and nose covered" or any of the other reasons where one could be medically exempt-I must also add none of these 'Asthma sufferers" wear an exemption sign and state they left it at home or they're waiting to get it.

I Hate wearing the mask (I wear disposable ones and usually get through 2 per day)my skin is a mess in the areas the mask covers now after over a year of having to wear it (we worked through all the lockdowns ) but health is wealth and if a bit of discomfort saves the potential of someone losing a family member to this wretched virus then its worth it.

Everyone missed their pubs, their eating out, their holidays abroad...but again thats a small price to pay for peoples lives.

So many jobs have been lost because of this virus-in retail and hospitality and other businesses

Unless people get a grip and stop denying that not wearing a mask contributes to the spread this will become I fear an endless spiral.

Eating out is a luxury, going to the pub is a luxury, going in a non-essential shop is a luxury.

respecting and safeguarding the health of others Is the most important thing of all.

Unfortunately with Zero enforcement of these 'rules' that I can see by those with the powers to do so I cant see things changing.

I hear from friends who live in Spain,France and New York that this seems to be a very British problem and compulsory wearing of masks (on the streets in some parts of spain I'm told) is largely adhered to and actually enforced.

[malumbu]

There will be multiple excuses for not wearing a mask. The UK is doing pretty well compared to most other western countries in terms of how the public has responded. Without having a police state we should be grateful that most are doing their part. Official surveys are pretty positive so please do not take word of mouth from friends in Spain, France and New York. And let's face it much of the US is a basket case, and France went from hero to zero in a few months.

Not an excuse, but a reality check. You could have similar discussions on WTF people are not getting vaccinated.

Of course continued mixed messages from the Prime Minister and Government do not help. Book your holiday abroad, don't book your holiday abroad, book your holiday abroad etc etc. The handling is far more of a concern to me.

[Seabag]

People like to be contrary, for the hell of it. It makes them feel special or different.

They?re wrong, but there you go.