Yes, I know, “Handmaiden” sounds sexist. However I know of no better or more poetic way of explaining myself and just for once hope you have enough respect for free speech to just bear with it....why am I wasting time making this point? Perhaps I’d better get on with it.
A few days ago my wife went out for a walk along a country lane and on returning told me how she had come across a lady walking a dog who made a big production out of standing to one side, as far into the bushes as possible and glowering at my better-half until she, smilingly, had gone on her way. This sort of thing doesn’t happen to us too often, thank goodness, but it does so occasionally and makes for a distressing or in the case of my wife’s walk, disappointing experience. Some time before that, we went into a cafe-bar in which my good lady was asked to wear a mask. “I’m exempt.” she cheerfully replied. At that point she was asked to produce a lanyard evidencing a disability. We both pointed out that this isn’t required in law and that refusal of service could constitute discrimination under the Equalities Act, electing, since we now felt uncomfortable, to leave the premises. We were both told quite aggressively to leave a pub after we declined the then voluntary “track and trace” system and once when returning from overseas, I self isolated for 14 days which at that time was not required at all, but this didn’t stop an ill- informed publican from asking whether I was supposed to be in quarantine and when I objected to being asked this pretty rude question, telling me to “F**k off out of my pub!”
There are of course, too many stories like this, of bus drivers throwing kids off the bus, shoppers glaring at people who are not wearing a mask, or shopkeepers demanding proof of facemask exemption. It goes further than this with internet trolls on all sorts of platforms, even those resisting this madness, using bullying tactics to shout down “anti-vaxxers” (What the hell is an Anti-vaxxer and why is it spelt with two X’s?) and “conspiracy theorists.” Fortunately, the common decency of humanity generally prevails and these sorts of incidents are relatively uncommon, but for them to have happened to me and mine on the four occasions I’ve listed above is four times too many.
And this brings me to my point. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website offers this insight:
“Essential to the intimidating effects of the terror was the willingness of many German citizens (whether out of conviction, greed, envy, or vengeance) to denounce their fellow citizens, Jewish and non-Jewish, to the police. The Gestapo could not have exercised such control over German society without the benefit of this steady stream of denunciations, many of which were entirely unfounded.”
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/nazi-terror-begins
The sad truth is, that, far from even believing they are doing any good, the sort of people who feel obliged to react in this way are quite simply, life-frustrated, insecure, insignificant, often unpleasant bullies lacking the courage to do anything about their own unhappy lives, filled with resentment toward others, who suddenly find themselves in a position to legitimately, as they see it, denounce their fellow citizens. Imagine the long-term unemployed man, desperate for a job, who applies to become a “Covid-Marshal.” I don’t know what the qualifications are for this but suppose that having two arms, two legs and a head and being able to breathe and walk pretty much does it. Utterly without a place in the world yesterday, today he is empowered to yell at some poor sap, probably suitably wimpy or pathetic-looking, “HOY! YOU! SOCIAL DISTANCING!” grinning inwardly as the target slinks meekly off, or to ask someone where they think they are going, revelling in the obvious intimidation he is causing. We are now surrounded by people who feel themselves entitled, whether at work or leisure, to treat other people with disrespect, suspicion, derision or outright hatred. Make no mistake, these sorts of people are, quite frankly, dangerous and despicable. They will take every opportunity to snitch on you, engineer a confrontation they think they can win, and the only way to take the wind out of their sails is to stand up to them. Explain, calmly and politely, that you do not have to provide evidence of face-mask exemption, remember that Covid-Marshals are not police officers and do not have the power to detain you, and above all that you are entitled to respect. People like this have no ability in normal life except to behave unpleasantly but in these circumstances, they actually have the ability to deny service to you, harass or intimidate you, ask impertinent questions of you or attempt to shower you with disapproval. We all know people like this. The only difference is that the “pandemic” now legitimises their disgusting behaviour.
I would never try to encourage anyone to behave in an antisocial manner. But quite honestly, if you’re out walking and someone looks at you in a funny way, I wonder what would happen if you smiled at them and said, “Are you all right?”
Absolutely excellent post Darwinmarcus, you are correct in every word you have written.
I had a sad and similar experience yesterday, I took my 3 year old granddaughter to the local nature reserve to feed the ducks and swans.
Another child who appeared younger even than my own granddaughter started walking over to her in a perfectly normal child/child inquisitive interaction, when the woman who I presumed was her mother, grabbed her by the arm and started lecturing her about SOCIAL DISTANCING.
What the hell is going on! What on the earth are we teaching these children! It strikes me we are teaching them not to be human, this fellow sceptics, will not end well.
These 'Zero Covid Fanatics' are destroying humanity and with it every single child's future in the country, all enthusiastically encouraged by Johnson, Hancock, SAGE, BBC, MSM et al, this is utter madness and us sceptics, in reality the only sane people left, are mocked for being the wrong and dangerous ones.
I shake my head in disbelief at what is currently going on!
Sadly I agree with everything you have said, it is awful contemplating the breakdown of civil (in the relationship sense of the word) society. I and my partner don’t wear masks, myself for asthma, him through claustrophobia, we wear exemption badges reluctantly to avoid just such confrontations as you have listed. That didn’t stop a busybody youngster from accosting us in a shop and demanding why we couldn’t wear face shields, as if it was any of her business which my partner pointed out to her. We followed up by pointing out her discrimination and that she could be fined for it which took the wind out of her sails, but she replied we shouldn’t be out if we were that ill! I rejoined that neither should she if she was that frightened!
One isolated incident so far but I don’t make eye contact with people deliberately unless they are not wearing a mask and have a smile on my face at all times. That’s not to say that I find shopping or going to the pub easy, there is always a sense of dread which is horrible and unacceptable. Non mask wearers are very rare in these parts of the West Midlands.
Incidentally some weeks ago we were denied entry to a Welsh pub because we weren’t locals!!! Getting my own back now by sneaking over the border via the back roads to eat out and play golf!! Stay strong!💪💪💪
I don't wear a mask. I am exempt on medical grounds and I have the Government app thing on my mobile. I have a lanyard thingy somewhere but I don't know where it is. When I go out for a walk I make a point of saying "hello" to everyone I cross. I do not move out of the way for anyone. If others feel the need to move that is their business but I AM HAVING NONE OF IT.
I take lying and dishonesty as the most egregious of insults and so the daily BS from this Govt just enrages me. Actually the crap issued by Bojo and the other puppets simply confirms my position and I consider everything issued by him and his "platoon" to be LIES.
C19 has not yet been scientifically isolated. This is the greatest con / hoax in the history of humanity and I don't believe anything spouted by the Govt.
I reject all of it.
I agree with all your posts. I have never brought into this rubbish and wont start now.
I have had very little confrontation walking around unmasked just ty he odd few and 98% from the general public. A bus driver has never once challenged me. At the hospital I have compromised with a face shield ( crash helmet). The first time a nurse begged me to wear a mask so I did for a few minutes more for her than me. Another time I had a crash helmet on and had to sit in the waiting room for 4 hours. We were allowed to help ourselves to drinks so I sat with a cup ( more often than not empty) and settled down with my book. Not once did anyone challenge me. I got the impression they were all fed up with it.
Work has gone anal over covid. I think much of it are the threats of heavy fines. I claimed exemption and had a risk assessment ( not sure they have to) so we reached a compromise. The tide of scepticism at work is much more noticeable now. Funny enough I dont think with the face nappies it's because of questions about them not working but more that most of the team have developed rashes, acne , headaches and sore swollen ears and are fed up with them but that's better than nothing and leaves an opening for me to discuss wider issues.
Perhaps the nastiness to your wife on the dog walk was has been down to newspaper headlines yesterday something about dog walkers 70% risk of catching the rona so more scare tactics used.
I think the fine for businesses not doing track n trace ect is 10.000.
I dont know if this it true or not but chatting with a nurse friend we were discussing covid wards and she told me that if a family member dies of the rona the government have to pay £66.000 to the family so there is a reluctance from doctors to now put covid down as a cause of death. Money talks then pops up then. I will be interested to investigate this furthur.
I have no problem walking around unmasked. Ok smile and carry on and say exempt and walk on. I think I have a few glares but I tske no notice apart from once when I but back when aggressively challenged. I get the distinct impression that others in the queue with face nappies would really like to remove them but dare not. Out today the face nappies people were wearing and looked ridiculous to me. They hardly covered their faces and were torn and crumpled. Lots of them looked dirty and were touched over one over by the wearer. I saw 3 people today alone in the car with a face nappy on which i think is dangerous for many reasons including struggling with steamed up glasses.
I hope it continues that we at least have choices.
🙂
