Why won't British people wear masks?

BigHandsOliverKahn

BigHandsOliverKahn

Well-known member
Been out today and avoided B&Q, Home Bargains and The Range because not a single person in the queue outside was bothering to wear a mask. Went to an ethnic shop and all the staff and ethnic customers were wearing masks. The only ones in there without masks were a British couple.

What's wrong with people here? Why don't they get it when the rest of the world does? Do we have a national lack of intelligence or is it down to something else?

No good blaming the government all the time when the people won't do the right thing. No wonder we have the worst figures in Europe and the infection rate is remaining so high.
 
Only yesterday a saw a middle aged couple driving a top of the range soft top Merc with roof down and both were wearing sunglasses and masks. 😂
 
  • Haha
Reactions: no9
I ordered some six weeks ago which arrived beginning of the month but I do not wear one mainly because I shop once a week or possibly twice late at night just before they close at 10pm, usually no other shoppers or just one or two in the store.
Out and about on walks I only usually see the odd person so do not wear one, the only reason I purchased them in the first place was anticipating the government ordering us to wear them in supermarkets and that might well happen if there is a second wave.
The boy scouts motto, BE PREPARED.
 
My wife doesn't wear one and she works in a hospital only when it's needed for full PPE.
Why folk are getting angry as they have been proven to be pretty useless don't protect the eyes and can only be used for around 90 mins as they get wet(probably less with this heat).
 
I bought 500 last week. 😉

Only need to be worn if you are going to be within 2m of anyone who has the virus for longer than 15 min. Generally a complete waste of time when outside..
 
jack_bfc said:
I bought 500 last week. 😉

Only need to be worn if you are going to be within 2m of anyone who has the virus for longer than 15 min. Generally a complete waste of time when outside..
Click to expand...

Agreed Jack. They're a waste of time outside.

However, the mask isn't necessarily to protect you, but more to protect people you go near to.

I wear a mask and disposable gloves whenever I go into shops but I'm afraid many people are getting very lax. I was in the main Tesco on Wednesday and a lot fewer people were wearing masks and gloves.

It's becoming very worrying. I think it's a combination of the Cummings effect, the Governments push to "end lockdown" and peoples ignorance and selfishness.

This is going to end in tears.
 
FFS get a grip of yourself.

Its peoples personal choice.If it makes you feel better then wear one but dont push it onto anybody else its none of your business what they wear.

There is no scientific evidence they protect you from anything.
 
Ormergod said:
FFS get a grip of yourself.

Its peoples personal choice.If it makes you feel better then wear one but dont push it onto anybody else its none of your business what they wear.

There is no scientific evidence they protect you from anything.
Click to expand...
I think the idea is that they protect other people from you tbh.
 
Insider said:
I think the idea is that they protect other people from you tbh.
Click to expand...
How?

If you believe in particle transmission which I dont then a particle will just pass straIght through it and as PS mentioned any mucus exposed area of your body would be at risk.Eyes and nose.
 
Ormergod said:
FFS get a grip of yourself.

Its peoples personal choice.If it makes you feel better then wear one but dont push it onto anybody else its none of your business what they wear.

There is no scientific evidence they protect you from anything.
Click to expand...
I wear one inside shops so I don't spread my germs on to you. Breathing out, I can spread the virus to you if you are within 2 metres if me. If I cough, you could be half way down the isle and catch it from me. If I sneeze, you might be in the next isle and catch it from me. I am trying to protect you.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
I wear one inside shops so I don't spread my germs on to you. Breathing out, I can spread the virus to you if you are within 2 metres if me. If I cough, you could be half way down the isle and catch it from me. If I sneeze, you might be in the next isle and catch it from me. I am trying to protect you.
Click to expand...
I think you'd struggle to breath it onto anyone who wasn't isolated in a confined space with you for some considerable time. If you are coughing and sneezing, then the best place for you is isolated at home, not in a supermarket (mask or no mask). Also, arguably a disposable tissue, binned after use, seems a far better option than a germ infested mask for anyone who may need to cough or sneeze.
 
The point is still relevant that cover your mouth, with anything, and it REDUCES, but doesn't eradicate, the chance of spreading the virus. Of course some barriers are better than others. I wear a N95 standard mask when I go into a "shop". If it reduces risk of catching or infecting by 10% that's 10% better than 0.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I think you'd struggle to breath it onto anyone who wasn't isolated in a confined space with you for some considerable time. If you are coughing and sneezing, then the best place for you is isolated at home, not in a supermarket (mask or no mask). Also, arguably a disposable tissue, binned after use, seems a far better option than a germ infested mask for anyone who may need to cough or sneeze.
Click to expand...
People spread this even before they show symptoms. Where has this notion come from that there is some kind of time threshold before you can catch it? Obviously the longer you are in a confined space, the greater the infection risk, but there is no lower limit on being safe from infection.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
People spread this even before they show symptoms. Where has this notion come from that there is some kind of time threshold before you can catch it? Obviously the longer you are in a confined space, the greater the infection risk, but there is no lower limit on being safe from infection.
Click to expand...
The notion has come from the science and more recently the scientifically recommended regulations as to what represents a close contact for the purpose of contact tracing.

Close contacts are:


  • people you spend 15 minutes or more with at a distance of less than 2m
  • people you have direct contact with - such as sexual partners, household members or people with whom you have had face-to-face conversations at a distance of less than 1m

The contact must have taken place between two days before and up to seven days after symptoms appeared.
 
I don't have any symptons but wear a mask to lower the risk of spreading or infecting by whatever small %. It's not unduly onerous.
Edit.
10% of 38,000+ deaths is 3,800 lives saved.
 
Last edited:
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
The notion has come from the science and more recently the scientifically recommended regulations as to what represents a close contact for the purpose of contact tracing.

Close contacts are:


  • people you spend 15 minutes or more with at a distance of less than 2m
  • people you have direct contact with - such as sexual partners, household members or people with whom you have had face-to-face conversations at a distance of less than 1m

The contact must have taken place between two days before and up to seven days after symptoms appeared.
Click to expand...
That is just for the purpose of contact tracing and isolating. It certainly should not be confused with being able to catch the virus. Research of very early cases in China had one person infected who entered a bus 20 minutes after another infected person had left that bus, with transmission presumed to be airborne droplets remaining in the air.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
That is just for the purpose of contact tracing and isolating. It certainly should not be confused with being able to catch the virus. Research of very early cases in China had one person infected who entered a bus 20 minutes after another infected person had left that bus, with transmission presumed to be airborne droplets remaining in the air.
Click to expand...
🤣

The scentists have consistently said that the risk of transmission for contact less than 15 minutes is signifcantly reduced. The contact tracing rules have been established with reference to the risk of infection (I mean why would they do anything else)

They have absolutely no idea how transmission occured on the Chinese bus, where people who were in close proximity to the infected person were not infected, despite not having masks in some cases. Transmission could have taken place from contaminated handrails and subsequent face touching.

There is no scientific consensus whatsoever on the use of masks, outside of certain settings....There's as much opinion to suggest they may increase transmission as reduce it, when used by the general public in the sorts of unecessary settings that you are suggesting.
 
My masks are made of leather with zips, straps and buckles on and quite reasonably priced but you'll have to hurry up my waiting list is full of card carrying middle aged Tories. Wait until you see the you tube vids I have of these sickos.
 
Goforgoal said:
I ordered 2 when I read this post. I have just looked again out of curiosity and the price has gone up to £5.95, that’s a £1 rise in about 6 hours!! Do I get a slight feeling someone is profiteering?
Click to expand...

That's awful! Obviously saw the demand, and thought they could make a bit more on them. I just checked to see if i could find any other sellers... Found one at £13 for what looks pretty much the same!

Just found these actually
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184303023305
Not sure if they look as good quality though!
 
Last edited:
Once again it's only brits and yanks who have a problem, functioning countries seem to not have an issue.

It's a physical barrier between the moisture you exhale and the people around you, it probably offers a very small advantage at a personal level, but at the national level it makes a difference. Just wear the mask when youre indoors around other members of the public.
 
Tango_SL said:
That's awful! Obviously saw the demand, and thought they could make a bit more on them. I just checked to see if i could find any other sellers... Found one at £13 for what looks pretty much the same!

Just found these actually
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184303023305
Not sure if they look as good quality though!
Click to expand...
Just glad I saw the post when I did,cheers Tango, me and Mrs Gofor are grateful. If you see two doddery old fools walking about in orange masks pretending they are tangerine,give us a wave.😷😷 UTMP
 
Johnno said:
Whether or not masks make any difference, it’s nice to see folks wearing them - at least you know the person is actually thinking about the virus and taking it seriously.
Unlike some of the ignorant pricks in Asda yesterday.
Click to expand...

When I read this Johnno, I can't help but feel that the division, suspicion and ill feeling that this virus causes between people is far more dangerous than the disease itself.

From what I have noticed, there seem to be two extreme kinds of people who are equally problematic....

There's those that have a complete disregard for others and will get uncomfortably close, which is really not right. Then there's those who are completely OTT and think they are at risk if they briefly pass closely by someone in a shopping aisle.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
When I read this Johnno, I can't help but feel that the division, suspicion and ill feeling that this virus causes between people is far more dangerous than the disease itself.

From what I have noticed, there seem to be two extreme kinds of people who are equally problematic....

There's those that have a complete disregard for others and will get uncomfortably close, which is really not right. Then there's those who are completely OTT and think they are at risk if they briefly pass closely by someone in a shopping aisle.
Click to expand...
It's not about individuals. The outcome of all this comes down to what we all do. If we all did our bit and tried our best to look after each other, we might stand a better chance of getting back to what we used to know as normal life. Sadly, it seems there's either an attitude or ignorance stopping the majority from making a positive contribution to the common cause. To me, it feels my duty before entering any building or vehicle where others are in a confined space, to try to protect others. We are in for a much harder ride over the next few months if we don't.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
It's not about individuals. The outcome of all this comes down to what we all do. If we all did our bit and tried our best to look after each other, we might stand a better chance of getting back to what we used to know as normal life. Sadly, it seems there's either an attitude or ignorance stopping the majority from making a positive contribution to the common cause. To me, it feels my duty before entering any building or vehicle where others are in a confined space, to try to protect others. We are in for a much harder ride over the next few months if we don't.
Click to expand...

Yes, but you have a fairly personal view of what 'protecting other people' actually means, if you don't mind me saying. So you need to perhaps make some allowances and realise that your level of 'safe' sits outside the guidelines and is not something is necessarily beneficial or required. So it's perfectly possible for people to protect themselves and others without going to some of the more extreme measures that some might opt for.

If I'm popping into the local coop or Asda for example, then I won't be wearing a facemask, because I'm not going to be in close contact with anyone for long enough for me to pose a risk to them or vice versa....If I was on a packed tube train, then I would most likely wear one.
 
It was my first experience of a big shop since pre-lockdown. I’d say the vast majority of people there were taking things seriously, just a few people that don’t seem to care about anyone else but themselves, we all know the type.
Simple things like following the one way system round the shop seems too inconvenient for some to bother with.
I found it a bit stressful if I’m honest. I’m not saying everyone should have to wear masks, each to their own, just that when i see people wearing them I feel a bit more relaxed.
For me, it goes beyond whether an individual believes the virus can be transmitted by brushing past someone or not, it’s about making those around you feel comfortable. Within reason, of course.
 
Johnno said:
It was my first experience of a big shop since pre-lockdown. I’d say the vast majority of people there were taking things seriously, just a few people that don’t seem to care about anyone else but themselves, we all know the type.
Simple things like following the one way system round the shop seems too inconvenient for some to bother with.
I found it a bit stressful if I’m honest. I’m not saying everyone should have to wear masks, each to their own, just that when i see people wearing them I feel a bit more relaxed.
For me, it goes beyond whether an individual believes the virus can be transmitted by brushing past someone or not, it’s about making those around you feel comfortable. Within reason, of course.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure staring at a blank face with a mask makes me feel comfortable... I'd rather see a reassuring smile.

There are people who don't care about anyone but themselves and they've always been there... Usually staring at the Cheese for three weeks, whilst chatting to their pal before making a selection, when all you want to do is grab your Cathedral City and be out of there.

I think the one way things are great in principle, but what do you do if you've passed the veg aisle and forgot your courgettes...Do you track back a few meters and grab them (risking a brief encounter with a fellow person) or do you go the full course and start at the beginning again.? I think we've got to be realistic and recognise we're human and not robots..

For me, the 'feeling comfortable' thing is not the responsibility of others, but of us... We need to recognise the dangers, but also put things into sensible perspective, based on science fact rather than fiction. What is reasonable is maybe giving someone a bit of distance to pass (it needn't be 2 meters, but just so you are not all over them), not to get uncomfortably close (though I wouldn't have done that anyway), not to walk round couging and spluttering etc... But do I need to wear a mask in Asda... Definitely not and it's perfectly safe for me and others.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
It's not about individuals. The outcome of all this comes down to what we all do. If we all did our bit and tried our best to look after each other, we might stand a better chance of getting back to what we used to know as normal life. Sadly, it seems there's either an attitude or ignorance stopping the majority from making a positive contribution to the common cause. To me, it feels my duty before entering any building or vehicle where others are in a confined space, to try to protect others. We are in for a much harder ride over the next few months if we don't.
Click to expand...
The outcome does not come down to what we all do.It doesnt care what we all do or dont do.It will just do what it does regardless.
 
Just had a message from the doctors surgery - "From today we ask everybody entering the surgery to bring and wear a face mask or other face covering - which can be homemade. This is to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19 to staff, to other patients, and to you. It's now essential to do everything we can to prevent a second peak of infection".

By the way, B&M's are selling face masks for anyone not knowing where to get them from.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top