I've just come back from a trip to Forest Gate in East London and it is a tonic after East Sussex. Much more non-compliance, especially in small shops run by immigrants. Quite common to go into a store where none of the staff and only half the punters wear masks. Even though there are giant mask signs on the door. Polish shops are particularly encouraging: I'm guessing the majority of doughty Poles know masks are bovine waste. Also on public transport there are always a few people either with no muzzle or wearing it in a deliberately sloppy way, slipping the infernal thing under their chins as soon as they've boarded.
Down here I'm invariably the only person without a mask even in a large supermarket, which does feel uncomfortable to me even when nobody says anything. I am really disappointed so many people chicken out. I have thought the answer would be to coordinate with other sceptics for mask free shopping groups but haven't managed to do this in practice. There are a few local shops and cafés where I'm positively welcomed so I'm making a point of supporting them more. I'd recommend anyone dispirited to seek out a Polish shop to test out my theory!
Here's an idea for a support group. I haven't subjected it to much analysis, but I thought I'd run it up the flagpole.
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# "Smile for Assistance"
## Purpose
* To create an army of volunteers to help those who cannot wear a mask (hereafter "the unmasked").
## Activities
* Help the unmasked shop without fear.
* Protect the unmasked from persecution by other shoppers.
* Educate the masked as to the law.
* Advise (in a strictly I-am-not-a-lawyer fashion) on how to unmask oneself with full legal protection. This could be done simply by handing out links to and printouts from https://laworfiction.com/ .
## Rationale
The government's approach appears to have been:
* Divide and conquer.
* Suppress dissent, both in the media and between people.
* Constantly stoke the fear through exaggerated and misleading claims.
This proposal would be a countermeasure to this approach, allowing us to unite, educate, and encourage dissent, all within the bounds of the law.
## Goals
* To show the unmasked that there is support and love for them.
* To show the reluctantly-masked that there is an option, that they can use the sadness (low mood) that has been pushed upon them to cure the problem.
* To show the happily-masked that they can either choose to be isolated and masked, or loved and unmasked.
## Rules
* We cannot wear masks, not in any circumstances. The whole point of this is to show that rejecting the muzzle is possible; wearing one totally undermines our position.
* We must not argue with dissenters. The goal is to spread the love, not spread the hate. Much better that we invite them to change _our_ minds, and in doing so let them expose weaknesses in their own arguments. At the very least, we will learn how they think.
## Strengths
* It's a 100% positive message: helping others.
* It offers an alternative way for people "do their bit".
* Politically, it would be hard to argue against ensuring that the law (disability act) is upheld.
* Every unmasked face is another pebble on our side of the balance. Eventually, that balance will tip.
## Weaknesses
* It doesn't (visibly) serve the lockdown sceptic agenda.
* ...but this might also be a strength.
## Opportunities
* It will allow us to engage the wider public from a platform that is positive (helping the disadvantaged and upholding the law), rather than negative.
## Threats
* By going maskless ourselves, we are each vulnerable to an attack on the validity of our claims to mask exception.
* By using the exemption against them, the government might remove the exemption.
## Ideas for names
### Covid Companions
Pros:
* Sounds friendly.
* We co-opt their word ("covid") and cast it in a positive light. (Note: To make it look friendlier, it should always be "Covid" not "COVID".)
Cons:
* Using covid in the name legitimatizes the mislabeling of SARS-CoV-2 as COVID-19.
* Might be confused with a dating group. 🙂
### Lanyard Marshals
Pro:
* Sounds official, as though it might be a government initiative.
Cons:
* Sounds official, as though it might be a government initiative.
### Smile for Assistance
Pros:
* It helps identify the target market, because you can't smile unless you're unmasked.
Cons:
* It's a bit generic and weak.
I've had 2 instances were people have been aggressive towards me.
The first was in McDonald's a couple of months ago. The manager shouted at me when I was using the self service machine, because my mask wasn't covering my nose. I looked around the restaurant and noticed people that weren't wearing masks at all. I don't know why she picked on me. I felt humiliated.
The second time was in Aldi. I dropped my mask somewhere on the pavement on the way there, but I'd come all the way so I decided to go in anyway, as I knew what I wanted and would be quick.
When I was in there, a woman made a nasty and spiteful comment towards me for not wearing a mask and being a danger to others.
I wanted to wipe that smug look off her face, so I calmly said "I have a medical condition", and flounced off. I know i shouldn't have lied, but I just wanted to show her not to assume things and be horrible towards strangers! If she had been polite, I probably would've explained what happened.
There was another incident where I saw a grown man (40ish) being vile towards a young child for apparently standing too close to him in a queue. He swore at and was very aggressive towards the boy, who was only about 10 or 11. The boy didn't say anything back to him and looked a bit upset and anxious about it. He was just in there to buy a bag of sweets. Innocent and unassuming, not meaning harm to anyone. I really wished I had gave that man a piece of my mind, and told him to get over himself and stop bullying young kids.
Mabel cow that is a great link which I have forwarded to lots of friends and have kept for reference purposes. .
I like your mask free suggestions and will bear that in mind ..
Thanks
😄😄😄
I've not worn a mask yet. Sainsbury's are good: they keep repeating announcements which more or less instruct no challenging. I have been in other places (not necessarily shops) where they look as though they want to burn you at the stake. Keep the strong resolve: keep smiling and showing teeth.
