Covid, the "lockdowns" etc.

[Ratman_tf]

Masks off on the 12th here in WA. I'm looking forward to it.
It's less hassle to wear them when asked by an establishment. But I'm one who thinks their effectiveness was questionable from the start, and quickly turned into safety theater.

The long-term risks of inhaling mask fibres worry me a lot more than the minor social strife involved in refusing to wear a mask when requested.

That would be why I've never worn one.

Masks are mandatory here in western WA if you want to go go a store or whatnot. Only in the past few days have I seen a trickle of people without mask indoors in public.

[Kiero]

Masks are mandatory here in western WA if you want to go go a store or whatnot. Only in the past few days have I seen a trickle of people without mask indoors in public.

They were "mandatory" in the UK in shops and other indoor settings from July 2020 until last month. I went in shops every single day without one.

[Ratman_tf]

Masks are mandatory here in western WA if you want to go go a store or whatnot. Only in the past few days have I seen a trickle of people without mask indoors in public.

They were "mandatory" in the UK in shops and other indoor settings from July 2020 until last month. I went in shops every single day without one.

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

[Shasarak]

Masks are mandatory here in western WA if you want to go go a store or whatnot. Only in the past few days have I seen a trickle of people without mask indoors in public.

They were "mandatory" in the UK in shops and other indoor settings from July 2020 until last month. I went in shops every single day without one.

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

I believe it was the Cromwell act of 1649 which specifies that the King can fuck right off.

[rgalex]

Masks are mandatory here in western WA if you want to go go a store or whatnot. Only in the past few days have I seen a trickle of people without mask indoors in public.

They were "mandatory" in the UK in shops and other indoor settings from July 2020 until last month. I went in shops every single day without one.

I tried that many places here.  With only one exception, I was told I needed to put on a mask (or face shield) or leave.  This came from normal staff, managers and security who were stationed at the front doors or chased me down very quickly after entering.  One place threatened to call the police and report me for trespassing if I didn't.

Ohio's policy made the stores responsible for the policing under threat of being shut down if customers were found inside w/o masks on. None of them wanted to risk having their business closed because of a customer not following the rules.

[Ratman_tf]

So, working in a grocery store deli, I'd say about half of people, employees and customers, were masked or unmasked.

[Kiero]

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

It was a law left with an exemption loophole: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/regulation/4/made

One which required nothing more than self-declaration of an exemption.

Designed to ensure that in the event of a legal challenge, the entire Regulation wouldn't be thrown out by the courts.

I tried that many places here.  With only one exception, I was told I needed to put on a mask (or face shield) or leave.  This came from normal staff, managers and security who were stationed at the front doors or chased me down very quickly after entering.  One place threatened to call the police and report me for trespassing if I didn't.

Ohio's policy made the stores responsible for the policing under threat of being shut down if customers were found inside w/o masks on. None of them wanted to risk having their business closed because of a customer not following the rules.

I was challenged a few times by store security, but once I confidently uttered the magic words "I'm exempt", they quickly waved me on.

Though I did have a few arsehole, jumped-up members of the public who felt empowered by the law as they saw it to get in my face.

[Ratman_tf]

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

It was a law left with an exemption loophole: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/regulation/4/made

One which required nothing more than self-declaration of an exemption.

Designed to ensure that in the event of a legal challenge, the entire Regulation wouldn't be thrown out by the courts.

Ah. I don't know how such a loophole would be affected by "We reserve the right to refuse service." Not sure if that's strictly an American thing.

[Kiero]

Ah. I don't know how such a loophole would be affected by "We reserve the right to refuse service." Not sure if that's strictly an American thing.

The Health Protection Regulations which were used to mandate masks aren't targeted at businesses, but individuals. There is no power created to close businesses who have people not masked in them.

Furthermore, we have a very robust set of "anti-discriminiation" legislation which levies fines on individuals (not even the businesses they work for) if they act in a way that could be construed as discriminating against people with disabilities. The right to refuse service isn't absolute in the UK.

[oggsmash]

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

It was a law left with an exemption loophole: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/regulation/4/made

One which required nothing more than self-declaration of an exemption.

Designed to ensure that in the event of a legal challenge, the entire Regulation wouldn't be thrown out by the courts.

Ah. I don't know how such a loophole would be affected by "We reserve the right to refuse service." Not sure if that's strictly an American thing.

  I know a fellow who would say it was against his faith to wear the mask when asked in public places.  The business always took it at face value.  I have no idea if he was OK to do that or not, but it dropped the issue every time for him, and only one person ever pushed back and he shut them down pretty quick.    I have also seen a clerk EXTREMELY determined to make sure everyone wore a mask and did so properly at all times, and even kicked people out of a business for improper mask wearing.  So I guess it just depends on how big a deal the business wants to make it.  Though it could have  been interesting had the dont wear masks for religious reasons dude met the super clerk. 

[HappyDaze]

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

It was a law left with an exemption loophole: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/regulation/4/made

One which required nothing more than self-declaration of an exemption.

Designed to ensure that in the event of a legal challenge, the entire Regulation wouldn't be thrown out by the courts.

Ah. I don't know how such a loophole would be affected by "We reserve the right to refuse service." Not sure if that's strictly an American thing.

  I know a fellow who would say it was against his faith to wear the mask when asked in public places.  The business always took it at face value.  I have no idea if he was OK to do that or not, but it dropped the issue every time for him, and only one person ever pushed back and he shut them down pretty quick.    I have also seen a clerk EXTREMELY determined to make sure everyone wore a mask and did so properly at all times, and even kicked people out of a business for improper mask wearing.  So I guess it just depends on how big a deal the business wants to make it.  Though it could have  been interesting had the dont wear masks for religious reasons dude met the super clerk.

Disney was pretty hard edged. They didn't accept any excuses and were more than happy to suggest that those that wouldn't comply reschedule their visit for after the pandemic ended...and have a magical day!

[oggsmash]

  I can not imagine spending a full day at the tragic kingdom in an orlando summer wearing a mask.  No thanks.  Honestly, I would not spend a day in the tragic kingdom without a mask.  I am Ok with a business saying no mask no entry. 

[dkabq]

Why Has Public Health Lost Trust | A Brief Recap of Things We Got Wrong | A Prof reflects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36qm65kG9Xw

[3catcircus]

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

It was a law left with an exemption loophole: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/regulation/4/made

One which required nothing more than self-declaration of an exemption.

Designed to ensure that in the event of a legal challenge, the entire Regulation wouldn't be thrown out by the courts.

Ah. I don't know how such a loophole would be affected by "We reserve the right to refuse service." Not sure if that's strictly an American thing.

  I know a fellow who would say it was against his faith to wear the mask when asked in public places.  The business always took it at face value.  I have no idea if he was OK to do that or not, but it dropped the issue every time for him, and only one person ever pushed back and he shut them down pretty quick.    I have also seen a clerk EXTREMELY determined to make sure everyone wore a mask and did so properly at all times, and even kicked people out of a business for improper mask wearing.  So I guess it just depends on how big a deal the business wants to make it.  Though it could have  been interesting had the dont wear masks for religious reasons dude met the super clerk.

Disney was pretty hard edged. They didn't accept any excuses and were more than happy to suggest that those that wouldn't comply reschedule their visit for after the pandemic ended...and have a magical day!

At this point, Disney doesn't deserve my vacation dollars.  Woke culture, deference to communist regimes, substandard maintenance and upkeep on the property, and overpriced admissions.

There was a time when:
1. Gay and trans employees didn't try to be in the face of the vacationing public about their personal beliefs.
2. Properties were kept up - they used to chip and paint areas of the parks that needed it *every night* and there was never trash laying on the ground.
3. An annual pass was less expensive than a 10-day Park hopper ticket. Now, it's $1,299 per annual pass for the general public ($899 for those of us with DVC memberships). The pricing reads like car-buying (0% APR, $99/month with $205 down)...
4. Disney *used* to be patriotic, but it is infested with leftist employees now (which goes hand-in-hand with #1, above) who want communism like they have in China.

Fuck Disney.

[HappyDaze]

Don't quite know what to make of that. Is there some weird UK thing where you can ignore policies if you feel like it?

It was a law left with an exemption loophole: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/regulation/4/made

One which required nothing more than self-declaration of an exemption.

Designed to ensure that in the event of a legal challenge, the entire Regulation wouldn't be thrown out by the courts.

Ah. I don't know how such a loophole would be affected by "We reserve the right to refuse service." Not sure if that's strictly an American thing.

  I know a fellow who would say it was against his faith to wear the mask when asked in public places.  The business always took it at face value.  I have no idea if he was OK to do that or not, but it dropped the issue every time for him, and only one person ever pushed back and he shut them down pretty quick.    I have also seen a clerk EXTREMELY determined to make sure everyone wore a mask and did so properly at all times, and even kicked people out of a business for improper mask wearing.  So I guess it just depends on how big a deal the business wants to make it.  Though it could have  been interesting had the dont wear masks for religious reasons dude met the super clerk.

Disney was pretty hard edged. They didn't accept any excuses and were more than happy to suggest that those that wouldn't comply reschedule their visit for after the pandemic ended...and have a magical day!

At this point, Disney doesn't deserve my vacation dollars.  Woke culture, deference to communist regimes, substandard maintenance and upkeep on the property, and overpriced admissions.

There was a time when:
1. Gay and trans employees didn't try to be in the face of the vacationing public about their personal beliefs.
2. Properties were kept up - they used to chip and paint areas of the parks that needed it *every night* and there was never trash laying on the ground.
3. An annual pass was less expensive than a 10-day Park hopper ticket. Now, it's $1,299 per annual pass for the general public ($899 for those of us with DVC memberships). The pricing reads like car-buying (0% APR, $99/month with $205 down)...
4. Disney *used* to be patriotic, but it is infested with leftist employees now (which goes hand-in-hand with #1, above) who want communism like they have in China.

Fuck Disney.

It's a major employer in central Florida. Even the most right wing folks should appreciate the jobs.