Face mask or no face mask?

claireychn074

Hot topic which seems to get everyone riled!

I have been wearing a mask for ages, before the UK made in mandatory in shops. I will also use one in the gym; I’m asthmatic and get dreadful hay fever so I’ve frequently used face coverings when exercising outdoors. Not the most comfortable thing but no biggie to me.

Theoldguy1

I wear one when there are local mandates for use and/or businesses that say you need one to enter.

Other than that it's going in my pocket.

lx1x

Theoldguy1 wrote: »

I wear one when there are local mandates for use and/or businesses that say you need one to enter.

Other than that it's going in my pocket.

This.

Owlie45

I wear one when ever I have to go inside somewhere or be near someone outside of my home. It's the right thing to do.

seska422

I put my mask on before I leave the house and take it off after I get back home.

I don't want to contaminate the mask with whatever gets on my hands.

cwolfman13

It's mandated to wear a mask in public if you are unable to socially distance or social distancing is more difficult...basically going into the store and whatnot. I do not wear a mask outdoors unless I am in a crowded area...I don't wear one when I ride or go on my walks or hikes. I will not be returning to my big box gym anytime soon so no mask issue there. Once I am off the injured list I will be returning to my one on one personal training gym and I will not be wearing a mask as it is just myself, my wife, and our trainer.

AngelOfMusic1028

I ALWAYS wear a mask around other people. I will not risk giving my mom any kind of sickness. She has lung, breast and bone cancer on top of COPD plus had radiation treatments. That reason is why I get so frustrated about people complaining they need to wear a mask. I don't care if I get sick. I care if she gets sick!

lemurcat2

I am mostly in areas where it's sufficiently hard to social distance (downtown, in my neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods), so I typically wear one outside. I also wear one in stores, of course, and in public areas of my office (outside my actual office).

If I were out in the middle of nowhere, or somewhere else where you aren't constantly going by people, I wouldn't wear one (would have it handy in case). Thinking of driving out somewhere over the weekend where there might be fewer people to hike.

panda4153

As others have said I wear a mask in the places it’s mandated or in crowds. The jury is still out for me on if they are truly effective, but regardless of that, I know that it scares a lot of people to see someone without. It it no way infringes on me to wear one of for nothing else then to be kind and respectful of other people in my community. I could also make the argument that it’s better to wear one and not need it, then need it and not have it on.

amusedmonkey

I always wear it when out despite being one of the 1% who do. It's mandated but not enforced. I'm not a difficult person, if something is mandated and it doesn't affect me negatively I do it even if others don't. Although in this case, I do believe masks to be beneficial.

ccrdragon

I wear one when I go to the store - it is mandated here but I would wear one anyway to protect my wife since she is in one of the high risk categories - but I don't wear one when I am doing my morning bike rides. I haven't been to the gym since the lock-downs started and have no plans to go back any time soon.

scarlett_k

I'm in the UK too and have been wearing one if I've had to go into a shop or other enclosed space with people outside of my household. Not that I've been doing that very much at all if I can help it! I was pretty disappointed hardly anyone else was doing it. Glad they're finally legislating it and, from a very brief trip to B&Q earlier, people are actually taking notice.

bmeadows380

panda4153 wrote: »

As others have said I wear a mask in the places it’s mandated or in crowds. The jury is still out for me on if they are truly effective, but regardless of that, I know that it scares a lot of people to see someone without. It it no way infringes on me to wear one of for nothing else then to be kind and respectful of other people in my community. I could also make the argument that it’s better to wear one and not need it, then need it and not have it on.

^^This Since it's mandated, I will wear one where the mandate dictates one should be worn - stores, crowded areas where people cannot properly social distance, etc. Otherwise, I don't wear one. I live in very rural area so I rarely if ever pass anyone while on a walk, and there is plenty of room to distance when I do. I am working from home at the moment, and when I do go back to the office, I will wear one where necessary but not in my office because its a fully enclosed room with a door that I can shut and not a cubicle. The company has integrated to mostly TEAMS conference meetings which eliminates the need for face to face meetings in small meeting rooms, but if I find myself in a situation where I need to be in such a meeting or a in person training class, I would wear one in that situation.

I agree that while there is still a lot of questions on whether they truly are effective, it certainly doesn't hurt to wear them, and agree that I'd rather wear one and find that it isn't effective after all than refuse to wear one only to find out later that they are effective and I've exposed myself or someone I care about because of my foolish stubbornness.

janejellyroll

It's currently the law in my area to wear them in public spaces, but I'd do it anyway because I hate the thought of someone getting sick because I didn't. I agree with the others that point out that we can't know for sure how effective it is at preventing the spread, but it doesn't hurt me. I'd much rather find out I was doing something relatively useless than find out I hadn't done something that was kind and considerate.

gallicinvasion

I always wear one when I’m inside any place that’s not my own home. Ditto in crowded outdoor places. When outside and able to stay away from people, I don’t wear one.

AnnPT77

Personally, I . . .

* always wear one when near other people (even when doing something outdoors with another person where we may intermittently get close to each other),
* keep a bandana style one around my neck to put on if I'm outdoors on a walk or something where I may unexpectedly encounter someone (I know this is sub-optimal for self-contamination, but it will still help the other person if I'm infected, and I've practiced putting on/taking off without touching the front), and
* wear one in my car when I'm out doing multi-place indoor errands, so I don't fuss with it as much when/after navigating that higher-risk indoor environment.

Even as a 64-year-old with early-stage COPD, I've had no trouble wearing two layers of tight-weave cotton plus an inner filter layer, tightly fitted to cheeks (up to just below eyes) and jawline, while doing normal-intensity activities (walking through stores, brief jog across a street or parking lot) for 3+ hours, during hot weather. I don't see why I couldn't do it longer, I just haven't had reason to do so.

I did experiment with a brisk outdoor walk (between 3.5-4mph) for around 4 continuous miles, back before it got hot, while wearing a tight two-layer cotton mask. I wouldn't call it preferable, but it was completely tolerable. (I don't run, so didn't try that.) Haven't been riding my bike (logistical reasons), but if i did I'd mask up the whole time, it being hard to put one on in the midst of riding, plus getting less warning of approaching others when moving faster.

It's easy IMO, so why not do it. I believe it helps me/others, but even if it's of minor help, it's trivially inconvenient.

Oneka5

Anytime I go out where other people are around, I put a mask out, it's such a simple thing to do. Easier to put on than pants. If it helps in anyway then I have no problem wearing it.

glassyo

I wear one when going into stores or public places, I'll have it on my face (but not over my mouth and nose) when out walking in case I come near other people but most are good about social distancing. If I see someone coming towards me that's not moving over (I try not to veer unless someone's walking a dog), I'll whip that mask up over the rest of my face.

I don't in my car or at work but we don't work with the public.

ReenieHJ

AngelOfMusic1028 wrote: »

I ALWAYS wear a mask around other people. I will not risk giving my mom any kind of sickness. She has lung, breast and bone cancer on top of COPD plus had radiation treatments. That reason is why I get so frustrated about people complaining they need to wear a mask. I don't care if I get sick. I care if she gets sick!

Hugs to you and your family for everything you're going through.

ReenieHJ

I wish our state would mandate them. I wear one in every public place and visiting others. If I'm driving or by myself, then no.

As someone else said, it's such a simple thing, why not??? Better to be safe than sorry.

freda666

Most masks are ineffective, especially homemade face coverings, and they encourage the touching of the face - so I will only be wearing one where the law says I must. In my view the decision to mandate their use in the UK is a political one in any case.

But if people want to wear one I certainly have no objection, just don't expect other people to share your enthusiasm.

ZenDream

Yes mask up.

will_it_go_round_in_circles

I don't expect anyone to be enthusiastic about it, I'm certainly not. I still wear it though. I think it's sad that it has to be mandated. It's true, most don't protect the person wearing it. Also true, it does protect the other people around you. Even the homemade cloth ones.

It's only been politicized because of the refusal by some to wear it. Everybody wears one, there's nothing to fight over. The mask conversations are gone from the political stage. You take that away and all of the time and resources spent fighting over masks can be put to much better purpose. Where I'm at, the senior state official and the senior city official are going to court over it. 3 state superior judges have been tied up in the case. Pretty sure there should be more important stuff going on in those offices.

4legsRbetterthan2

In public and at work yes. I am also rural so I don't wear one when I run, I have never passed by anyone running the roads near my house. Not sure I would go to the busy, local park I like and run right now though.

freda666

will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »

Also true, it does protect the other people around you. Even the homemade cloth ones.

There is no evidence face coverings prevent the spreading of covid-19 and even the evidence for "proper" 3 layer non-surgical masks is mixed. And if you fiddle with them you are putting yourself at greater risk.

Gisel2015

I am mostly at home since due to my age I am under the high risk category- even without underlying health conditions. I very, very seldom go inside a store, and when I do, I wear my mask and the same at doctor's appointments or outdoors even if the area is not crowded.

I don't wear a mask inside my car or in the house, unless I have somebody doing repairs or an installation. I stopped going to the gym in February, even when it was briefly open last month. I am not planing to go again until this virus disappears from the face of the earth or everybody gets an effective vaccine.

Wearing a mask is the proper thing to do to protect our families and fellow citizens and ourselves. Medical professionals and first responders need a break. The only statement that we make wearing a mask is: "I care for your health and for mine, please do the same."

seska422

freda78 wrote: »

Most masks are ineffective, especially homemade face coverings, and they encourage the touching of the face - so I will only be wearing one where the law says I must. In my view the decision to mandate their use in the UK is a political one in any case.

But if people want to wear one I certainly have no objection, just don't expect other people to share your enthusiasm.

Masks used by the general public are mostly for the protection of everyone around you. That's why it's important for everyone to wear a mask. A mask is like always holding a tissue over your mouth and nose to be ready for a sneeze.

GummiMundi

I wear a mask whenever I leave the house, and take it out when I'm back home. Easy peasy.
I even wear it during my walks and runs. I never felt deprived of oxygen, and any slight discomfort I may feel is much better than the possibility of ending up on a respirator. Also, I'd never forgive myself if I'd infect someone else.

RockingWithLJ

It doesn't matter how any of us feels about it honestly. I wear one to respect the people around me. Not wearing one means you're a disrespectful POS

AngelOfMusic1028

ReenieHJ wrote: »

AngelOfMusic1028 wrote: »

I ALWAYS wear a mask around other people. I will not risk giving my mom any kind of sickness. She has lung, breast and bone cancer on top of COPD plus had radiation treatments. That reason is why I get so frustrated about people complaining they need to wear a mask. I don't care if I get sick. I care if she gets sick!

Hugs to you and your family for everything you're going through.

Thank you for the concern. We're taking it one day at a time. She just had surgery the other day to remove a tumor that was protruding from her arm. It's been tough. I haven't even hugged her in months out of fear of possibly giving her something that could kill her (especially now that I'm back to work)

will_it_go_round_in_circles

freda78 wrote: »

will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »

Also true, it does protect the other people around you. Even the homemade cloth ones.

There is no evidence face coverings prevent the spreading of covid-19 and even the evidence for "proper" 3 layer non-surgical masks is mixed. And if you fiddle with them you are putting yourself at greater risk.

Prevent, no. Reduce, yes. All to varying degrees of course. If something so simple even gave a 1% better chance of containing this thing, why wouldn't you do it? Do you just give that little of a *kitten* for humanity? Fiddling with them shouldn't be an adult issue. Dollars to donuts you've got a piercing or tattoo or have had something of your choosing done that you weren't supposed to fiddle with, and managed not to. It also serves as another reminder to..

🎶wash your hands do do do do do
wash yours hands 🎶