Hand over your freedom - do it NOW!

[TheOstrich]

I'm getting concerned about all this clapping for the NHS and the social media response if you're not taking part. Next, it will be face mask wearing - will the social police shame you if you don't comply? Then there's the move to arrange street tea parties (staying in your front garden) on VE Day.

I think there is a danger that we could emerge a much more censorious society, or even a socially-controlled society like China.

[Suff]

There is a lot more to refusing to wear a face mask than not clapping.

What is not heavily broadcast is that by wearing a face mask you are protecting everyone else, not yourself.

Refusing to protect everyone else is a bit hard nosed but, still, it is your right. Today anyway.

[Workingman]

Hmmm. If you don't have the virus, and the stats show that the vast majority of us don't, then you are not protecting anyone by wearing a mask. If you are asymptomatic, and a low number of us are, then you might be infective and therefore potentially protecting some of us, but you also might not be infective.... However, if you have the virus or virus symptoms or even virus-like symptoms then the law says that you should be self-isolating, and if you are doing that you should not be out and about so you still do not need a mask.

[Suff]

True but the largest danger comes from those who have a sneeze or a cough and no symptoms. The mask kills most of that airborne infection.

Of course, because the majority of the social media shamers think the mask is there to protect them, there is no concerted campaign to shame people into wearing masks for the general good.

Stupid is as stupid does..