Face coverings on viewings

Snuggles

Skiddaw1 said:

@Davesnave has a point I must admit. Going off on a bit of a tangent I know, but does anyone else find they frequently can't understand what people are saying when we're masked up? As far as I know, I don't have any hearing issues but ever since face coverings were introduced I've found myself saying 'pardon?' 'What?' 'Sorry?' on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for continuing with face coverings, but I just hadn't realised how much we (presumably) all lip read/rely on visual clues when communicating.

I'm also continuing to wear face coverings, but yes, I've experienced exactly the same. I'm also not aware that I have any hearing issues, and also hadn't realised how much I was relying on lip reading / expression during conversations.

diggingdude

Not much you can do. In sick of under 21s and over 60s not wearing masks in shops but nothing I can do about it but grumble and get on with life 

Skiddaw1

Snuggles said:

Skiddaw1 said:

@Davesnave has a point I must admit. Going off on a bit of a tangent I know, but does anyone else find they frequently can't understand what people are saying when we're masked up? As far as I know, I don't have any hearing issues but ever since face coverings were introduced I've found myself saying 'pardon?' 'What?' 'Sorry?' on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for continuing with face coverings, but I just hadn't realised how much we (presumably) all lip read/rely on visual clues when communicating.

I'm also continuing to wear face coverings, but yes, I've experienced exactly the same. I'm also not aware that I have any hearing issues, and also hadn't realised how much I was relying on lip reading / expression during conversations.

Glad it isn't just me @Snuggles!

diggingdude said:

Not much you can do. In sick of under 21s and over 60s not wearing masks in shops but nothing I can do about it but grumble and get on with life 

I will say that round here (rural Cumbria) the majority of people right across the age spectrum continue to wear face coverings. I can imagine it is different in more urban settings. Mind you, we're close to the border and it's still mandatory in Scotland which is probably part of it (there's a lot of regular cross-border traffic).

GDB2222

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

Davesnave

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

There seem to be minor benefits. OTOH, there are also down-sides to wearing them, especially over longer periods or through repeated usage. In shops I wear one out of politeness, but that's only a tiny fraction of my week, so no big deal. I wouldn't do it all the working week.

It would be far more sensible for people to focus on boosting their immune systems, but that requires effort and information not readily available from government-backed sources in this country.  One wonders why, if their aim is to lower infection rates. There's this weird idea that if a certain germ gets inside your body, that's it, you're stuffed. It ignores the fact that our bodies are covered inside and out with millions of micro-organisms and natural processes normally prevent the dangerous ones getting out of hand. Knowing this, I don't tend to notice or get offended if someone is/isn't wearing a face covering, though I appreciate others still set great store by it

GDB2222

Davesnave said:

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

There seem to be minor benefits. OTOH, there are also down-sides to wearing them, especially over longer periods or through repeated usage. In shops I wear one out of politeness, but that's only a tiny fraction of my week, so no big deal. I wouldn't do it all the working week.

It would be far more sensible for people to focus on boosting their immune systems, but that requires effort and information not readily available from government-backed sources in this country.  One wonders why, if their aim is to lower infection rates. There's this weird idea that if a certain germ gets inside your body, that's it, you're stuffed. It ignores the fact that our bodies are covered inside and out with millions of micro-organisms and natural processes normally prevent the dangerous ones getting out of hand. Knowing this, I don't tend to notice or get offended if someone is/isn't wearing a face covering, though I appreciate others still set great store by it

Great idea to boost immunity. Apart from taking exercise, and having a good diet, is there anything you recommend for that?

nicknameless

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

A little confused as to why you are explaining that to me lol.  I know, hence starting the thread and wanting agents to wear them.

Re people not wearing coverings - I can only assume they don't understand that, don't value it, or don't care, especially for a short amount of time in a shop or on a house viewing.  Or people find them truly inhibiting / uncomfortable.

We were in Scotland the other week.  Everyone asked to wear masks and everyone doing so.  Very simple as mandated by the Scottish government.  It's also a lot less divisive amongst those who want to continue to take the precaution in public spaces and those that don't, as the choice is not left to the individual.  The problem with choice about risk in this scenario is that the risk is not to oneself, it is to others.  Nobody seems to have pointed that out to those citing personal choice regarding behaviour in this context.  In my mind you can choose to put yourself at risk, but don't choose to put me at risk please.

davilown

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think that the original post was talking about a metaphorical barrier, hence my comment 😉 

nicknameless

Davesnave said:

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

There seem to be minor benefits. OTOH, there are also down-sides to wearing them, especially over longer periods or through repeated usage. In shops I wear one out of politeness, but that's only a tiny fraction of my week, so no big deal. I wouldn't do it all the working week.

It would be far more sensible for people to focus on boosting their immune systems, but that requires effort and information not readily available from government-backed sources in this country.  One wonders why, if their aim is to lower infection rates. There's this weird idea that if a certain germ gets inside your body, that's it, you're stuffed. It ignores the fact that our bodies are covered inside and out with millions of micro-organisms and natural processes normally prevent the dangerous ones getting out of hand. Knowing this, I don't tend to notice or get offended if someone is/isn't wearing a face covering, though I appreciate others still set great store by it

Sorry but that's just false.  All of the evidence points to the wearing of face coverings reducing transmission in crowded situations or indoors substantially.  Especially important with the increased transmissibility of the delta variant.  I suppose it depends on your meaning of minor benefits but we are still in the midst of a pandemic and reducing transmission is paramount to maintaining some level of normality.  There is no evidence to suggest that letting the virus run free and individuals focusing on boosting their immune systems (whatever that actually means) would be more effective in reducing cases, long COVID, hospitalisations, and allowing us to reach some equilibrium with SARS-COV2.

And there was I not wanting to start a debate lol.

Back to viewings.

Davesnave

nicknameless said:

Davesnave said:

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

There seem to be minor benefits. OTOH, there are also down-sides to wearing them, especially over longer periods or through repeated usage. In shops I wear one out of politeness, but that's only a tiny fraction of my week, so no big deal. I wouldn't do it all the working week.

It would be far more sensible for people to focus on boosting their immune systems, but that requires effort and information not readily available from government-backed sources in this country.  One wonders why, if their aim is to lower infection rates. There's this weird idea that if a certain germ gets inside your body, that's it, you're stuffed. It ignores the fact that our bodies are covered inside and out with millions of micro-organisms and natural processes normally prevent the dangerous ones getting out of hand. Knowing this, I don't tend to notice or get offended if someone is/isn't wearing a face covering, though I appreciate others still set great store by it

And there was I not wanting to start a debate lol.

Back to viewings.

I'm not getting into a debate with you. You are fully entitled to your opinions and I don't expect to change them. I was simply explaining why some people, including agents, may not take the wearing of face coverings on viewings so seriously now. I'm finding that in people's behaviour in other commercial settings. It's happening. Personally, I'd wear one for that short time out of politeness, as already explained.

But please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't advocate  'letting a virus run free.' Focusing strongly  on the human immune response doesn't mean that. If you had read research into the subject, you'd know how shortcomings in people's immune responses are being addressed, both prophylactically and post-infection. That's at least as valid in the fight against disease as a piece of cloth.