Will you continue to wear a mask in public after Jan 27th?

[Gary C]

I won't wear one unless its mandatory.

So work still has it as mandatory in corridors and I have no choice if I want to keep working.

If a shop won't let me in without one, then I will go somewhere else unless that is more of a pain in the arse than just destressing and wearing one.

Time to live and let live.

[Donbot]

Voted no as there is no option for 'never bothered with the daft, pointless things'.

[anonymous-user]

swanny71 said:

As before, I’ll wear one if the place I’m using/visiting asks me to.
Their supermarket/post office/dentist/office/pub or whatever, their rules.

Don’t really care what others choose to do or not do - no reason to get your knickers in a twist either way.

This.

I will wear a mask where the premises or services requires me to. Their gaff their rules.

I won't wear a mask when it is not required.

I will no doubt be asked to wear one this Saturday when I'm at the opticians, Monday when at the dentist, and Wednesday while on the train. That is fine. No one is forcing me to use those services/places and they can choose their own rules.

[Ari]

Lord Marylebone said:

This.

I will wear a mask where the premises or services requires me to. Their gaff their rules.

I won't wear a mask when it is not required.

I will no doubt be asked to wear one this Saturday when I'm at the opticians, Monday when at the dentist, and Wednesday while on the train. That is fine. No one is forcing me to use those services/places and they can choose their own rules.

My guess is that most businesses probably couldn't care less whether you do or you don't, but will leave signs up to appease the 'Won't someone think of the children!!!' types.

If they see that most people aren't bothered, I suspect you'll see those signs quietly disappearing pretty quickly.

[BUG4LIFE]

Nope, I certainly won't be wearing one...it should of always been a choice, certainly after the first go at mandating them in 2020.

Surprised quite a few of you guys are saying your place of work still requires them. What kind of jobs do you do [if not working in a hospital, dentist, GP etc]?

[Harry H]

Bloke in the warehouse this morning with a mask.

I mentioned to him that it was no longer a requirement and was personal choice. He informed me that he would like to continue wearing one.

"fine by me" I said and left him to continue wearing it under his chin

Folk are bloody weird.

[anonymous-user]

Ari said:

Lord Marylebone said:

This.

I will wear a mask where the premises or services requires me to. Their gaff their rules.

I won't wear a mask when it is not required.

I will no doubt be asked to wear one this Saturday when I'm at the opticians, Monday when at the dentist, and Wednesday while on the train. That is fine. No one is forcing me to use those services/places and they can choose their own rules.

My guess is that most businesses probably couldn't care less whether you do or you don't, but will leave signs up to appease the 'Won't someone think of the children!!!' types.

If they see that most people aren't bothered, I suspect you'll see those signs quietly disappearing pretty quickly.

I imagine so. Businesses do what is best for them commercially and from a public relations point of view.

If those businesses, such as shops and trains, change their rules from you 'must' wear a mask to 'you can' wear a mask, then I won't be wearing a mask.

I can confidently state that my opticians and dentist will likely be two places that insist on a mask or you don't get past the reception desk, which is totally fine. They can set their own rules.

[devnull]

I will wear one in the minimum required manner, but apart from that it's staying firmly in my pocket. Local market early this morning was full of the usual OAPs, all masked up outdoors and wobbling about. As I said in the other thread, it needs to given 3 weeks to a month before we start seeing mass dropping of them.

Putting aside the usual face nappy, right-infringing arguments, I just want to get back to a society where we actually communicate through expressions and not muffled interactions for basic everyday tasks such as buying a pint of milk.

Edited by devnull on Thursday 27th January 10:44

[Biker 1]

I have never actually purchased a mask during any of this nonsense for the last 2 years. I have used my motorcycle snood when there was absolutely no choice in a couple of shops, but that's about it.
Pointless theatrics.

[blueg33]

Lord Marylebone said:

This.

I will wear a mask where the premises or services requires me to. Their gaff their rules.

I won't wear a mask when it is not required.

I will no doubt be asked to wear one this Saturday when I'm at the opticians, Monday when at the dentist, and Wednesday while on the train. That is fine. No one is forcing me to use those services/places and they can choose their own rules.

Pretty much my view.

Unlike many I dont get all anxious if I have to wear a mask, its a minor inconvenience, I can still communicate, I can still breath etc. My glasses may get a little steamed up - thats all. So its no hardship where I am asked to wear one.

Edited by blueg33 on Thursday 27th January 13:15

[gruffalo]

If I am asked to do so and I have one with me then yes I will.

[Ari]

Lord Marylebone said:

I imagine so. Businesses do what is best for them commercially and from a public relations point of view.

If those businesses, such as shops and trains, change their rules from you 'must' wear a mask to 'you can' wear a mask, then I won't be wearing a mask.

I can confidently state that my opticians and dentist will likely be two places that insist on a mask or you don't get past the reception desk, which is totally fine. They can set their own rules.

I can't imagine they'd ever change the signs to 'you can', because that's pretty obvious - bit like saying 'you can wear a hat'. They're either going to want to appease the worried with 'we request...' or 'you must...', or they're not going to bother at all.

[anonymous-user]

Ari said:

I can't imagine they'd ever change the signs to 'you can', because that's pretty obvious - bit like saying 'you can wear a hat'. They're either going to want to appease the worried with 'we request...' or 'you must...', or they're not going to bother at all.

I've been in a few places where they have had signs that say things like "You can still wear a mask if you wish" or "Masks are optional" etc during the times when it wasn't mandatory to wear one in a shop.

Bit nonsensical as you say, but I suppose it is to try appease customers who want to wear one, whilst also appealing to those who don't.

[longblackcoat]

devnull said:

I will wear one in the minimum required manner, but apart from that it's staying firmly in my pocket. Local market early this morning was full of the usual OAPs, all masked up outdoors and wobbling about. As I said in the other thread, it needs to given 3 weeks to a month before we start seeing mass dropping of them.

Putting aside the usual face nappy, right-infringing arguments, I just want to get back to a society where we actually communicate through expressions and not muffled interactions for basic everyday tasks such as buying a pint of milk.

Pretty much my take, though I'll not wear one when asked to by Sainsbury and the like - I'll put one on only where legally required to or when I think it sensible (and I can't think of those occasions, to be honest).

I want to see people's faces. I want the population as a whole not to be fearful, which is what I think they're demonstrating by continuing to wear masks when there's no longer a legal requirement. We all know that the average mask makes little/no difference as they've usually been stuck in someone's pocket for a while and/or are being badly worn and are in any event of questionable benefit even when brand new and worn in the approved manner.

If it makes someone feel better, if they believe that somehow they will be safer, then I consider it odd but their decision. In my mind there's a clear parallel to people wearing a crucifix, going to church or saying a prayer; I think it's absolutely nuts but it's their right to choose.

[Timothy Bucktu]

Donbot said:

Voted no as there is no option for 'never bothered with the daft, pointless things'.

+1

[Ari]

longblackcoat said:

I want to see people's faces. I want the population as a whole not to be fearful, which is what I think they're demonstrating by continuing to wear masks when there's no longer a legal requirement. We all know that the average mask makes little/no difference as they've usually been stuck in someone's pocket for a while and/or are being badly worn and are in any event of questionable benefit even when brand new and worn in the approved manner.

If it makes someone feel better, if they believe that somehow they will be safer, then I consider it odd but their decision. In my mind there's a clear parallel to people wearing a crucifix, going to church or saying a prayer; I think it's absolutely nuts but it's their right to choose.

Absolutely 100% agree with this!

[Ntv]

Ari said:

longblackcoat said:

I want to see people's faces. I want the population as a whole not to be fearful, which is what I think they're demonstrating by continuing to wear masks when there's no longer a legal requirement. We all know that the average mask makes little/no difference as they've usually been stuck in someone's pocket for a while and/or are being badly worn and are in any event of questionable benefit even when brand new and worn in the approved manner.

If it makes someone feel better, if they believe that somehow they will be safer, then I consider it odd but their decision. In my mind there's a clear parallel to people wearing a crucifix, going to church or saying a prayer; I think it's absolutely nuts but it's their right to choose.

Absolutely 100% agree with this!

Well put yes.

Having scared the population excessively, HMG should be more honest about what the risks are now, and help people understand those risks. The risks of dying primarily because of COVID, for a vaccinated person of any age, are actually pretty small. The fear for many remains totally disproportionate - more so than ever in fact.

[Countdown]

longblackcoat said:

Pretty much my take, though I'll not wear one when asked to by Sainsbury and the like - I'll put one on only where legally required to or when I think it sensible (and I can't think of those occasions, to be honest).

I want to see people's faces. I want the population as a whole not to be fearful, which is what I think they're demonstrating by continuing to wear masks when there's no longer a legal requirement. We all know that the average mask makes little/no difference as they've usually been stuck in someone's pocket for a while and/or are being badly worn and are in any event of questionable benefit even when brand new and worn in the approved manner.

If it makes someone feel better, if they believe that somehow they will be safer, then I consider it odd but their decision. In my mind there's a clear parallel to people wearing a crucifix, going to church or saying a prayer; I think it's absolutely nuts but it's their right to choose.

I don't think showing good manners is the same as being "fearful". I don't know how effective a mask is or isn't (I don't have the scientific qualifications that many other PHers appear to have). As I said above if somebody asks me to wear one whilst going into their premises I'll wear one. To me personally it seems arrogant and self-entitled to do otherwise.

[anonymous-user]

Just been to the village shop, and much to my surprise they have removed all traces of covid/facemask signs. Quite surprised because they do get a lot of older/retired customers in there, and I was assuming they may wish to appease those customers.

Everyone in there was still wearing a mask though, except the staff.

[Ari]

Countdown said:

I don't think showing good manners is the same as being "fearful". I don't know how effective a mask is or isn't (I don't have the scientific qualifications that many other PHers appear to have). As I said above if somebody asks me to wear one whilst going into their premises I'll wear one. To me personally it seems arrogant and self-entitled to do otherwise.

While I understand the logic, there is a risk that, if businesses keep the signs up to appease the fearful, and in fact everyone carries on wearing them to be 'polite', the businesses are going to think 'most people prefer masks, ergo we'll keep on the side of most people and keep asking for masks to be worn' and the whole nonsense continues to perpetuate.

By the way, you don't need to be a scientist to see the difference changes make (or don't make). Primary school level maths should do it.