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

[Ari]

Once more, the mask mandate has been dropped in England. I thought it might be interesting to run the exact same poll as last time and see whether people's attitudes have changed (either way, for or against).

If the mods wish to close the other mask thread currently running rather than have two on the same subject that is, of course, fine by me.

[Ari]

I think it will be interesting to see what the ratio is in supermarkets today, and how that changes over the next few weeks. I seem to remember that last time the mandate was dropped, a good 85% kept their face coverings on anyway for quite a few weeks, and I don't think it ever dropped below about 50% before the next mandate was brought in.

Talking of which, I also think it will be interesting to see how long it is this time before we get another The Science following mask mandate...

[Ari]

bad company said:

I went to my dentist yesterday. The sign on the door said masks required but on entering I noticed that neither the receptionists nor the manager were masked so I removed mine while sat in the waiting room. My dentist wore a mask though.

I think a lot of businesses will be putting 'request' signs up to that they can't be accused of 'dangerous practices' by those who believe in the masks.

As per your experience, I'm not sure that means that they're really bothered whether you do or not.

[Ari]

Ntv said:

Mask compliance has definitely been falling quite a bit here in SW London over the past month. Omicron being caught by everyone has helped with the "let's just get on with our lives" feeling.

I think that's very true. Especially when caught by those who've always worn a mask...

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[Ari]

Early days admittedly, but over 100 polled so far and it's just 10% for carrying on wearing them.

Last time a poll was run on here when the mask mandate was dropped, it was a pretty consistent 35% that were planning to carry on strapping in.

[Ari]

MYOB said:

The question is "will you continue to wear..." and as I havent been wearing one since the first time the mandate was dropped, I don't feel this poll isn't aimed at the likes of me!

But essentially, no and never!

Maybe I didn't word it very well, but it's this. Are you going to wear a mask now you don't have to? Yes/no.

[Ari]

Brave Fart said:

BBC 5 Live this morning featured a union leader called Paddy Lillis (the union is USDAW for shop workers). He was vehemently against ending the mask mandate, and feared that "this will cost lives". He seemed 100% convinced that masks work, and of course being the BBC he was not challenged on this. Nor was he challenged about the fact that many shop workers don't wear masks anyway - in my local Tesco none of the shelf stackers do, although most on the checkouts do.

What really struck me was this ingrained belief that community based face coverings work. I think many, many people share this view; they don't even question it. They're quite mistaken, of course, but I imagine it'll only be when cases drop to very low levels, and/or they stop bothering to announce numbers every day during the news, that we'll see mask wearing really fall away.

It gets stated over and over in the mainstream media with no facts or statistics and it is never challenged, so I guess you can understand why people would think it must be true.

What's interesting is when you move away from the ultra compliant MSM and you get someone like Julia Hartley Brewer repeatedly asking the Education Secretary for any evidence at all that masks work, and him squirming and unable to provide it! Even more interesting that he said 'but the evidence exists and the study will be published', but when it was published, it was clear there was no evidence.



Surprise surprise, no sign of him on the show since the report was published...

A week later, another politician, again unable to provide any evidence that masks work so he called her an antivaxxer for asking for it!



Strange times we do live in.

[Ari]

Harry H said:

Nah, let's stand outside our houses and bang saucepan lids together. That'll keep the nasty rona away.

I wonder if any of the pot bangers look back on that and wonder what it was all about? They were mad for it in my street! Oddly, I can't hear any of them banging any pots in solidarity for al the NHS staff about to be sacked for not wanting the jab...

[Ari]

Biker 1 said:

I'm astonished that HMG/psyops department actually managed to scare the fk out of the majority of the population!

They did do an incredible (if not entirely honest) job!

I wonder what it all cost?

And how they'll unravel the fear (or even if they'll bother)?

[Ari]

jumpingloci said:

The compliance/fear/apathy is frightening really.

... and yet I bet they'll go to the pub and sit down without one on. Bizarre.

I suspect this whole situation has been a real eyeopener for those in charge! Throw a bit of a scare into people and many of them will do anything, no questions asked.

[Ari]

Popped into Sainsburys for a sandwich at lunchtime, easily 95% still masked up.

They do seem to love their masks.

[Ari]

ChevronB19 said:

Ari said:

Popped into Sainsburys for a sandwich at lunchtime, easily 95% still masked up.

They do seem to love their masks.

What’s the problem? If they want to, fine, it’s not harming you, surely?

Where did I say that it was a problem?

This is a discussion about people continuing to wear a mask after the mandate was dropped, so shouldn't be too much of a surprise that that's what's being discussed surely?

[Ari]

Ivo Shandor said:

Just in a mid-size Tesco, mostly older people, vast majority with no masks, maybe 70/30, 80/20, still plenty masks, but in the minority.

Isn't it strange how it varies so very much? Perhaps people really are looking around and basing their decisions on what other people are doing. How odd.

[Ari]

This surgeons wear face masks in operating theatres is just another red herring that makes sense provided you don't actually think about it for more than 2 seconds.

You might as well argue that racing drivers wear crash helmets when in competition on the track so surely Mrs. Miggins should be wearing one driving to Tescos? I mean, racing drivers are driving experts, so if they deem it necessary then it must be, right? And if it saves one life. No biggie, etc etc.

Entirely the same logic involved.

[Ari]

Nickgnome said:

Really

It seems you are content to allow infectious teachers and children all be in school.

If this is correct what happens to the teachers and children at those schools that are not 100% fit and may live with underlying conditions?

What has any of this got to do with masks? We know they make no difference, indeed even an actual study by the government specifically targeted at schools and intended to justify forcing masks onto kids showed that they made no difference.

People like you need to drop this nonsense now and get on with (and allow others to get on with) life.

[Ari]

Back to the subject of masks, I see the poll is settling at 86% no longer going to bother, which is a huge improvement on the poll run last time that mandate was dropped.

It does appear that people are getting bored with the theatrics.