Everytime I leave the house to do anything, I either
- get shit from people because I am wearing a mask -either minimizing and simply gaslighting comments, or plain agression
- when they seemy mask they decide to share their grief with me. It is so hard to listen to all the stories of people dying and becoming disabled from covid, shared by maskless people. I tell them masks work, and they should vaccinate. But it is so tiring. I am just trying to survive. I wish others would help each other survive. I am already tired from my chronic illnesses. Seeing the COVID numbers rise and no one masking or doing anything and staying in denial is horrible for my mental health. I am trying my best to hang on to my sanity. I wish you all that you stay sane too.
I get asked about my mask a bunch on the street. Honestly I’ve default to pointing to the trees and saying “allergic” which is true (MCAS, so allergic to everything under the sun including the sun) but not the only reason I wear a mask
So if anyone wants an excuse, feel free to use that, even if you’re not allergic. People should keep their noses out of your mask, so I think giving a short answer is the best, even if its not true. They are not owed any reason just because they ask
[points at tree] “Allergic”
“What? It’s winter, that tree has not a single leaf left”
“Oh, sorry, I meant” [points at them] “allergic…”
BTW, it’s nice to live in a not-completely-insane country, just went today to the doctor, and half the people were wearing masks.
That sounds nice. The last time I saw more than half people in masks was when I was waiting in line to get the booster. I kind of contributed to that by pointing anyone who entered after me towards the box with masks. It was a quite refreshing and completely out of the norm experience here. In this country I get asked by maskless doctors, who are aware that a lot of new patients come to them with long covid, and agree with my opinion that i have long covid, ask me why I wear it.
in that case I just go “I am allergic to everything under the sun including the sun and wearing a mask helps me keep control on reactions” for a shorter answer, perhaps mention perfumes and not wanting to be exposed to smells and stuff idk
Allergies are year round for me sadly, so I honestly get away with not pointing at trees and just saying “allergic” as well. And if people were to get confused, I add “to everything” and then walk away
Yeah ultimately they are not owed a reason. I if people actually ask instead of being aggressive, I usually prefer to cite scientific studies the best I can at that moment and use this as an opportunity to educate, I want them to wear them too to help me stay safe after all. One way masking is much much worse than, well, all around masking. but it is tiring.
honestly I’d recommend against trying to do the emotional labor of convincing them
it just costs far too much energy, energy I’m guessing you already do not have a lot of and moreover its not your responsibility
Yeah what you are saying is true.