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On my way home from teaching key worker kids yesterday, I stopped for petrol. In the shop for 5 minutes, during which time 3 men without masks were served. Standing in line to pay, mask-free man behind me shuffled forward when I moved away. At this point I decided to speak. 1/12
I stepped out of the line & said âPlease keep your distance, I moved away for a reason.â
The man had gone red, he may have been red before this. He had a barbed wire tattoo on his neck. I hadn't noticed this before I spoke... 2/12
The man had gone red, he may have been red before this. He had a barbed wire tattoo on his neck. I hadn't noticed this before I spoke... 2/12
He responded with a growl, literally a growl: âWhatâs your problem?â
At this point, I was more worried about getting stabbed than getting infected with Covid-19. 3/12
At this point, I was more worried about getting stabbed than getting infected with Covid-19. 3/12
There were 2 other people in the line, looking at their feet or peeping up at us sideways. Everyone was tense.
âYouâre not wearing a mask. That endangers all of us, thatâs my problem.â I was angry & afraid. Just what I needed⌠4/12
âYouâre not wearing a mask. That endangers all of us, thatâs my problem.â I was angry & afraid. Just what I needed⌠4/12
The person in front of me finished at the cashier. Relieved I could disengage, though a bit worried about turning my back, I went to pay. The man muttered behind me, but I wasnât sure what he was saying. 5/12
I had a bit of a go at the cashier, poor chap. âWhy donât you refuse to serve people without masks?â The young cashier explained that people fill up with petrol before they enter the shop, so they have to let them pay. 6/12
He said they asked people to wear masks at first, but too many aggressive angry customers meant they didnât do it anymore.
As I left, the man without a mask went to pay. He eye-balled me. The older man behind him said: âWell done, I totally agree with what you said.â 7/12
As I left, the man without a mask went to pay. He eye-balled me. The older man behind him said: âWell done, I totally agree with what you said.â 7/12
I was still angry. I said: âMaybe you could have said that at the time then?â
He looked embarrassed and I realised that he was too scared to say anything, just like I am 99% of the time. I apologised, after all, he had just supported me. 8/12
He looked embarrassed and I realised that he was too scared to say anything, just like I am 99% of the time. I apologised, after all, he had just supported me. 8/12
Fear is a tool. Itâs how the mask-free brigade, public menaces in general, get away with it. What kind of society do we live in where people are so afraid of being assaulted or killed in a violent attack that they canât interact without fear? 9/12
The mask-free man left the shop and got into a scaffolding lorry with the company name and number on the side. I wasnât quick enough to get the number, but I googled the name. I gave them a call. 10/12
The man I spoke to said it was a different company with a similar name - assured me they didnât have anyone in the area, and the lorry was the wrong colour. Iâm giving him the benefit of the doubt, which is why I wonât say the name here. 11/12
Despite being afraid, despite a palpable risk in calling this behaviour out, I think we have to. The NHS is over-run, we have to support them. They are being brave every day. They need us to be brave too. Speaking out is better than clapping. 12/12 https://www.dumptheguardian.com/world/2021/jan/21/nhs-workers-second-wave-covid-uk
