northernchris
Established Member
- Joined
- 24 Jul 2011
- Messages
- 1,509
Fair enough, and I know a lot of people who take their view. My concern is that it won’t have any meaningful impact on infection rates (or any possible future lockdowns, God forbid) but it might suppress passenger numbers.
As far as the WHO is concerned I know there is some concern that their change of mind is in response to political pressure (this was discussed in detail on a thread in this section a few days ago).
Agreed that it's treading a fine line with passenger numbers and it's a no win situation for all as opinions are so divided a consensus would be impossible!
It's important to bear in mind that facemasks are deeply personal and by design interfere with an absolutely essential human function. Some people find that they can accommodate that with only minor inconvenience, other people find it constantly unpleasant and impossible to get used to, and in others it provokes a genuine and lasting sense of terror.
In spite of not really seeing any decent evidence in support of them, and frankly finding the world in general more difficult to confidently navigate when everybody is masked, I'm not at all unhappy if other people feel empowered by wearing them. I wish I could do the same, if only because I absolutely hate not fitting in in public. I can't though. Right now I feel like I'm being forced to admit to a quite shameful and debilitating phobia, and far from being supported through it, I'm hearing constant suggestions that I'm somehow trying to look hard or indulge in toxic masulinity.
Wear your mask with pride, but please, it's not your job to police it. Always assume best intent, and bear in mind that it's a numbers game - if masks are useful then 80% mask-wearing is 80% useful. Let people do what they can to help, and don't demand that everybody does what you can.
Appreciate your comments, and rest assured I wouldn't police it. I did move away from someone quite recently on a TPE service who not only sat in a seat marked out of use despite plenty of 'green seats' being available, but began shouting in to her phone which made me feel slightly uncomfortable especially with her being so close in an enclosed space
As I said, those who are genuinely exempt should get the support required so they can travel with confidence. But there is a huge difference between those and the groups who turn the trains in to a mobile Spoons