So masks are to become optional, do you think this is a good idea?

Anybody else like to post about how they don't understand the antipathy to wearing masks?

Anybody else like to join in the posting that stigmatises anybody who points out that the government are getting into legislating for things that they have never tried to legislate for before?

Anybody like to try to understand that you can accept a government's extreme influence in our lives in time of crisis but still be able to say that you are concerned about their increasing control over our lives? And that this isn't whinging?

Anyone like to have a debate about individual liberty versus societal impact or should we just all quietly do what we're told now?

Did I miss the bit abut dismantling Test and Trace? In Scotland they've just been given more funds.

I can’t help but feel that, when people talk about victimisation Johnson’s announcement yesterday has resulted in people who choose to continue to wear masks being the ones who will be victimised judging by the tone of some of the comments on here. I remember how relieved I was when we were advised to wear masks last year. I’m expecting to be sniggered at when I continue to wear my mask. Mask wearing will become political the way it did when Trump was President.

Prof Chris Whitty described three circumstances where he would wear a mask and I think these are excellent and I'll do the same.

I would put a notice up saying you would be really grateful if customers could wear a mask. Sometimes appealing to people’s better nature is the best way to go.

aggie

I’ve just ordered more washable masks , I’ll keep wearing them , might stop me getting Flu as well as Covid

Exactly that. For years fed up with people coughing all over me on buses and coming down with flu at Christmas.

I am extremely surprised Chris Whitty turned up for that press briefing as I was under the strong impression that he did not agree with the new policies. The circumstances he outlined were the ones where mask wearing should still be enforced as they are useless unless the vast majority do it.

The personal preference is a bit of a joke really. As another poster said mask wearing has become political. I myself while out at work (in a community based uk gov job where I’m required to door-knock) I had man pull off my mask after I departed a train and walked past a pub stating “you don’t need that anymore love”. I can see wearing a mask is going to making oneself a bit of a target.

I, like many other unmaskers, I will always have a mask in my handbag, ready to be donned if requested or in crowded situations. Examples would be buses and tube trains, not that I am likely to be travelling on either in the near future.

I think this division into maskers and unmaskers is unhelpful in what, in effect will be a situation where both maskers and unmaskers will make judgements based on the situation they are in.

When I went for my daily perambulation around the village footpaths this morning, no one I met was wearing a mask, not even when they stopped to have a distanced chat with someone and even though, I suspect, when it comes to shops etc. at least one of them will be a resolute masker. This has been the case throughout lockdown Most of us are already occasional unmaskers.

Alegrias1

Anybody else like to post about how they don't understand the antipathy to wearing masks?

Anybody else like to join in the posting that stigmatises anybody who points out that the government are getting into legislating for things that they have never tried to legislate for before?

Anybody like to try to understand that you can accept a government's extreme influence in our lives in time of crisis but still be able to say that you are concerned about their increasing control over our lives? And that this isn't whinging?

Anyone like to have a debate about individual liberty versus societal impact or should we just all quietly do what we're told now?

Did I miss the bit abut dismantling Test and Trace? In Scotland they've just been given more funds.

Here here. ???

BossyrossyI am sure if you put up a notice most of your usual customers will comply. The problem is going to be the emotional reaction people seem to have at present to those they feel aren't following what they are sure are the 'rules', we have all been shut up, some alone, for too long.
This older person will be returning to the small shops I have enjoyed using and using on line shopping more.
This business of people being victimised for catching the virus is positively mediaeval, perhaps we should hang rabbits feet round our necks.

Alegrias1

Anybody else like to post about how they don't understand the antipathy to wearing masks?

Anybody else like to join in the posting that stigmatises anybody who points out that the government are getting into legislating for things that they have never tried to legislate for before?

Anybody like to try to understand that you can accept a government's extreme influence in our lives in time of crisis but still be able to say that you are concerned about their increasing control over our lives? And that this isn't whinging?

Anyone like to have a debate about individual liberty versus societal impact or should we just all quietly do what we're told now?

Did I miss the bit abut dismantling Test and Trace? In Scotland they've just been given more funds.

I fear you're wasting your breath.
Control creeps step by tiny step usually, but this pandemic allowed a huge step to be taken with, mostly, our consent. Show just reason why controls are in place and reasonable people will comply. When reasonable people start to question the validity of an action then maybe it's time to actually examine it? It's the conditioning factor that "they" know best and it's our's to just obey that is concerning.
I don't know if this is the correct time to abandon compulsory mask wearing or not, but I'm pretty certain Autumn would definitely not be with the increase of winter viruses appearing. I probably would have preferred a more staged approach to easing of restrictions in line with good scientific data not "plucked from the air".

No Facemasks should stay as mandatory for me. I shall still be using them and so will the majority I know

MerylStreep

Alegrias1

Anybody else like to post about how they don't understand the antipathy to wearing masks?

Anybody else like to join in the posting that stigmatises anybody who points out that the government are getting into legislating for things that they have never tried to legislate for before?

Anybody like to try to understand that you can accept a government's extreme influence in our lives in time of crisis but still be able to say that you are concerned about their increasing control over our lives? And that this isn't whinging?

Anyone like to have a debate about individual liberty versus societal impact or should we just all quietly do what we're told now?

Did I miss the bit abut dismantling Test and Trace? In Scotland they've just been given more funds.

Here here. ???

Sorry but I have my opinion about masks. Fine for those who can’t wait to be rid of them, all I’m asking is what their reasons are and nobody answers.

Surely we all “do as we are told” to a certain extent already ? Send our children to school, drive within the speed limit etc and now follow pandemic induced guidelines.

Elizabeth1

Being very frightened of Needles is causing me to think too far ahead into the autumn when we’re being offered flu jabs and another Covid jab. Ive had three jabs already this year including shingles and the thought of more jabs does my head in can anyone put my fears to the side? I’ll be wearing Masks when in a crowd and in shops just like the Japanese have been doing for years.

Elizabeth I would like more information on how long the effects of the vaccines last.
I'm not scared of needles but do wonder if having several vaccinations in a short space of time could overload the immune system in older people who may have underlying conditions.
I wasn't allowed the shingles vaccine but did have the pneumonia one.

Add in a booster Covid and flu vaccine and that could be 6 in just over a year.

More information is needed, I feel.

growstuff

Unfortunately, many of them are JaneJudge. My local secondary school doesn't enforce mask wearing, but pupils have told me that nearly all the pupils and all the staff still wear them. There was a serious outbreak a couple of weeks ago, seeded by a pupil whose family don't wear masks. The names couldn't be released, but just about everybody knows who it was and I've read some of the comments about the family on local social media. They've been more or less blacklisted. I wouldn't like to be in that child's shoes when he returns to school.

What kind of society have we become!?

Why not give them a bell and get them to shake it wherever they go as they did with lepers centuries ago?

Oh, no need these days, shame them on social media.
Point fingers at a child.

My point is that peer pressure might very well result in the majority of people continuing to wear masks, if that's what most people in a community are doing.

If mask wearing in future is not compulsory then it will surely be up to individual choice.

DillytheGardener

I am extremely surprised Chris Whitty turned up for that press briefing as I was under the strong impression that he did not agree with the new policies. The circumstances he outlined were the ones where mask wearing should still be enforced as they are useless unless the vast majority do it.

The personal preference is a bit of a joke really. As another poster said mask wearing has become political. I myself while out at work (in a community based uk gov job where I’m required to door-knock) I had man pull off my mask after I departed a train and walked past a pub stating “you don’t need that anymore love”. I can see wearing a mask is going to making oneself a bit of a target.

He did point out that it was a political decision and not a scientific one. Imo he’s weak and should speak his mind more often. I don’t understand why the message from the PM couldn’t have been this is no longer mandatory but we would really like you all to continue to wear masks to protect others. He did sort of say it but in his usual wishy washy way. Right from the start mask wearing has been made to look like an imposition and people have latched onto that. It’s like a doctor saying ‘this is going to hurt’ so it then does.

You're incredibly naive if you don't think community peer pressure works like that, which was actually the point of my original post.

We know how it can work.
We know how it worked in pre-war Germany.

“ Control creeps step by tiny step usually, but this pandemic allowed a huge step to be taken with, mostly, our consent. ”

In terms of control I’m much more concerned about the new Policing Bill than measures to keep the public safe during a pandemic.

Of course people are going to be wary about the government intervening in our lives, because it isn’t in our nature, as an Individualist culture, we value personal freedom and choice. This it could be argued is why countries such as China have dealt better with the pandemic.
However there are at present legal restrictions which do affect our personal freedom, and which we accept. Laws on say drink driving, speeding, and wearing seatbelts are mainly deemed sensible.
I think with Covid restrictions, the debate has sharpened and polarised the debate along political lines. Those who think personal freedom is paramount and those who are more collectively minded.

Rosie51
I started to question ( and carried on questioning) the validity of the rules when Professor Neil Ferguson predicted that 500, 000 could die if we didn’t abide by the rules.
Then, proceeded to call his mistress who lived some way away to come to his flat to have some afternoon jiggy jiggy. While at this time us plebs weren’t allowed to go anywhere.
So that’s when I said f#@k the lot of you. I’m going to see my family anytime I want, carry on supporting 2 vulnerable neighbours
And I did.

MayBee70

My two year old grandson, when leaving the house used to say ‘mask’. All these people are saying children are being damaged by it but the kids have just taken to it and accept it as part of life.

It's not compulsory for young children to wear masks here; senior school pupils have to wear masks all day in school apart from when they are outside, primary pupils do not.

Older children travelling by public bus have to wear masks and I hope that continues as they are in very close confinement for quite a long time.

Otherwise I think optional mask wearing in certain circumstances is the appropriate way forward.

Sorry but I have my opinion about masks. Fine for those who can’t wait to be rid of them, all I’m asking is what their reasons are and nobody answers.
Surely we all “do as we are told” to a certain extent already ? Send our children to school, drive within the speed limit etc and now follow pandemic induced guidelines.

Yes Lucca reasonable people do follow reasonable rules and guidance. But surely government should interfere with our personal lives as little as possible? The stance by so many that forced wearing of a mask is of no consequence and anybody who has found it difficult is somehow "wrong" is not helpful. I've worn a mask in all situations required, and will continue to wear one voluntarily in those situations where I think it appropriate. However I will still hate them, find myself hyperventilating at times, feel claustrophobic and unsettled. But hey, you dismiss my discomfort and me all you like.

Mask wearing is now part of MY life.I see no reason to change .
What others chose to do is their choice and of no concern to me.

So should smokers be allowed to smoke in pubs and public places even though people around them could possibly then have the diseases that they’re knowingly subjecting themselves to?

DillytheGardener

“ Control creeps step by tiny step usually, but this pandemic allowed a huge step to be taken with, mostly, our consent. ”

In terms of control I’m much more concerned about the new Policing Bill than measures to keep the public safe during a pandemic.

I obviously didn't express myself clearly. The new Policing Bill is just another example of the way things progress step by step. Of course public safety during a pandemic was necessary, and by and large the public accepted government interference in their private lives. Blind acceptance of being told what to do and for how long in your private life without question is not good for a free society.

Rosie51

^Sorry but I have my opinion about masks. Fine for those who can’t wait to be rid of them, all I’m asking is what their reasons are and nobody answers.^
Surely we all “do as we are told” to a certain extent already ? Send our children to school, drive within the speed limit etc and now follow pandemic induced guidelines.

Yes Lucca reasonable people do follow reasonable rules and guidance. But surely government should interfere with our personal lives as little as possible? The stance by so many that forced wearing of a mask is of no consequence and anybody who has found it difficult is somehow "wrong" is not helpful. I've worn a mask in all situations required, and will continue to wear one voluntarily in those situations where I think it appropriate. However I will still hate them, find myself hyperventilating at times, feel claustrophobic and unsettled. But hey, you dismiss my discomfort and me all you like.

I am not dismissing your discomfort I was just asking what the objection was and you have answered, thank you.
My feeling has been that we should have done whatever we could to help the spread of the virus regardless of who contravened those guidelines, so the attitude that someone disobeyed so I will too is unhelpful and a tad childish (not you I hasten to add)