Why won’t people wear masks

Just to say unless it's a totally sealed mask with a tank in your back to breathe they are useless. The particulls of viruses are small enough to pass right through or under the paper masks. They do next to nothing to stop transmission and actually aid transmission if you use it more than once in one area only.

While wearing a mask may help to reduce the spread of respiratory infections and flu, we were all threatened during Covid that we would kill "Granny" if we didn't wear one. I am 74 and we have never had to wear masks until the last four or five years, we got through bad colds, severe illnesses etc. If I am unwell I stay indoors. I cannot control selfish members of the public and oh dear, there are many of them, but I will not be wearing a mask again.

VANECAM

If we were meant to have masks, God would have provided them.

So god meant us to catch all these, sometimes deadly, diseases?

Had the four week coughing g cold before Christmas. Stayed in and asked folk to not visit. Went out once, to Surgery. Wore a mask. The following week, found out that the Surgery instructed patients to wear masks.
If you can do something to stop disease spreading, then why not try?

MayBee70

I want to start using public transport again and would like to wear a mask. But I feel self conscious about wearing one and feel that people would laugh at me. So I continue to drive everywhere instead. I thought after the pandemic people would get into the habit of wearing masks to protect others the way they do in eastern countries but it never happened. If masks don’t work why do eg surgeons wear them?

Please don’t feel self conscious. You must do what is right for you. Nobody will be judging you. I totally believe that a face covering, however flimsy, must stop some, if not all, germs. As you rightly point out, surgeons wear them.

I’ve still got dozens of masks left over from COVID. All different colours following a pattern from one of the American hospitals. I quite liked matching them to my clothes, had to do something when we were locked up for 2 years through our stupid government here. I could make one in about 15 minutes in the end, lined and pleated. All my family were given them.

MayBee70

And people were given advance warning of lockdowns so they then went out and partied for the whole weekend. Had people in this country acted in a more public spirited way the death rate would have been much lower. I don’t agree that people in eastern countries just wear masks because their governments are authoritarian, I think they are far more conscious of protecting others.

That last point says it all. Wearing a mask isn't all about you - it's also about protecting others, especially those who are more vulnerable to infection. Clearly many couldn't give two hoots about that though.

I wore the mask during the covid outbreak where it was required. But as a specs wearer the fogged up lenses as I came indoors (yes tried the wipes at some expense) was a bit of a nightmare I felt stifled and blind for a few minutes every day.

I’m sure though they prevented me from spreading germs to those more susceptible than me, that and careful handwashing, and sterilising habits.

And people were given advance warning of lockdowns so they then went out and partied for the whole weekend. Had people in this country acted in a more public spirited way the death rate would have been much lower. I don’t agree that people in eastern countries just wear masks because their governments are authoritarian, I think they are far more conscious of protecting others.

Bukkie

MaizieD It has been proven beyond doubt masks were useless as was lockdown. As I previously said I have no issue with anyone wearing a mask if they choose to. Likewise people can choose not to wear one.

No it hasn’t! The Covid enquiry concluded that had lockdown begun just one week earlier, many more thousands of premature deaths would have been prevented.

Please stop spreading misinformation.

Basgetti

kircubbin2000

I've never worn a mask and don't intend to now.

Well, aren’t you a rebel? 🙄

Indeed, maybe we should have badges for all the 'no mask and proud of it' brigade...

kircubbin2000

I've never worn a mask and don't intend to now.

Well, aren’t you a rebel? 🙄

Before Covid nobody would even think about wearing a mask we all managed perfectly well without them.
As for catching coughs and colds I will take my chance I am more concentrated on good hand washing to avoid bugs.
Oddly I have not had one cold since Covid.
If anyone chooses the wear one thats entirely up to them but I certainly won't entertain one ever again horrible things !

I researched the effectiveness of the standard blue NHS masks and this is what I found:

Source Control: They are very effective at reducing the distance and intensity of air, moisture, and droplets released when coughing, sneezing, or talking.

Protection Level: They provide a physical barrier to large droplets and splashes, protecting the wearer from direct contamination to the mouth and nose.

Limitations: Because they do not fit tightly to the face, they allow for leakage around the sides, meaning they are less effective at filtering out very fine, airborne particles.

Clinical Evidence: A 2024 review found that when worn consistently and correctly, masks and respirators reduce the transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19.

Those thin masks don’t work. You would have to wear a proper graded filter mask.
Not only that they in courage you to keep touching your face.
Main thing, imo, is hand sanitation. Which I am religious about doing.

MT62

Last time I had Covid I stayed indoors.
Even now, if I hear someone sneeze, I reverse my trolly back down the shopping isle.
If a person with a heavy cold won’t wear a mask ( I wouldn’t want to now), at least cover the mouth & nose with a scarf.

Shopping aisle 🙄

Last time I had Covid I stayed indoors.
Even now, if I hear someone sneeze, I reverse my trolly back down the shopping isle.
If a person with a heavy cold won’t wear a mask ( I wouldn’t want to now), at least cover the mouth & nose with a scarf.

I wish people who have cold and flu would stay at home or wear masks instead of infecting others.
I use the bus a great deal and am surrounded by passengers coughing.

I took one of my friends to the Christnas lunch at church .
She can't stand staying at home and goes out all day every day.
She didn't tell me that she had bronchitis.
I began to feel really ill on Christmas Eve and was so ill over the holiday .
It's lingered on and on .

It needed explaining it seemed - as those who want the rest of us in masks would keep us that way for evermore left to them.

We can't all live permanently in the way a minority wants us to live to suit them. That is not how our society is. Just when would people "wanting others in masks" accept us binning them? 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, never?

It had to be stated clearly - the minority will not rule the majority for evermore because that is what they personally want.

CariadAgain

MayBee70

CariadAgain

MayBee70

I want to start using public transport again and would like to wear a mask. But I feel self conscious about wearing one and feel that people would laugh at me. So I continue to drive everywhere instead. I thought after the pandemic people would get into the habit of wearing masks to protect others the way they do in eastern countries but it never happened. If masks don’t work why do eg surgeons wear them?

Errrr....maybe a bit more about patient reassurance if anything?

We've all had to come out of masks regardless at some point - as we had to get back to looking/acting normal or what would be the point?

We run the government - not the government running us. They are our servants - though they seem to conveniently forget it at regular intervals.

You refer to "eastern countries" (presumably China?) - but we are a western country and we are more individualistic and expect to make our own decisions.

Yes. We decide not to protect other people because it inconveniences us….

Reframe that as "We are a Western society. Western societies do not expect or demand their citizens wear masks as a regular thing - as we are a democracy and Western. So it's an individual decision". Anyone who doesn't like living in a society like ours and accept that is how we are and we will remain is obviously totally free to either a. Stay at home permanently or b. Move to a different type of society than ours - rather than trying to change our society.

So if one individual doesn't like how our whole society is - then they must have worked out how to live their lives personally within the confines of their own home....so........

Well that’s me told then….

Not many wear them here and I have to admit if I see someone in one I avoid them and assume they are ill. Same if I hear someone coughing- duck down the next aisle quick smart.

I think we need to start getting less worked up about bacteria and viruses. There is no way we can avoid the.

Our bodies contains more than 3 trillion bacteria and virus cells. Without them we would die. Some bacteria and viruses are dangerous, but the best way to gain some immunity is to have contact with themin small uantities. This is why we have vaccinations. We have to trybto walk a line between over protectionism that means we have poorer immunity than those who lead much 'dirtier' lives.

I had the virus before Xmas, I stayed in , I don't like wearing a mask,I'd do it if absolutely necessary but don't want it to become a regular thing

The FFP2 masks are apparently effective ( you could research this) but otherwise I think you’re wasting your time. Personally I wouldn’t opt for any of them. But I do think it’s not good to be coughing etc over others if unwell. Better to keep at home until better ( and I find it hard yo understand why so many don’t) or if you must go out, keep your distance from others.

MayBee70

CariadAgain

MayBee70

I want to start using public transport again and would like to wear a mask. But I feel self conscious about wearing one and feel that people would laugh at me. So I continue to drive everywhere instead. I thought after the pandemic people would get into the habit of wearing masks to protect others the way they do in eastern countries but it never happened. If masks don’t work why do eg surgeons wear them?

Errrr....maybe a bit more about patient reassurance if anything?

We've all had to come out of masks regardless at some point - as we had to get back to looking/acting normal or what would be the point?

We run the government - not the government running us. They are our servants - though they seem to conveniently forget it at regular intervals.

You refer to "eastern countries" (presumably China?) - but we are a western country and we are more individualistic and expect to make our own decisions.

Yes. We decide not to protect other people because it inconveniences us….

Reframe that as "We are a Western society. Western societies do not expect or demand their citizens wear masks as a regular thing - as we are a democracy and Western. So it's an individual decision". Anyone who doesn't like living in a society like ours and accept that is how we are and we will remain is obviously totally free to either a. Stay at home permanently or b. Move to a different type of society than ours - rather than trying to change our society.

So if one individual doesn't like how our whole society is - then they must have worked out how to live their lives personally within the confines of their own home....so........