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male
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes: I live in a country that is still very much affected by the covid. Our government has decided for POLITICAL reasons to remove all measures (the elections are around the corner), including wearing masks when inside at work. Nothing has changed, we still have 300 000 new cases per day and our hospitals are full. My problem is that people around me pressure me to take off my mask at work. I work in an office alone, I never see clients. Their pressure is purely social. They would like me to stop reminding them (by wearing a mask) that there's still a pandemic going on. I am writing this because I already suffer from social anxiety and this is making my life hell. I would never pressure anyone do anything, like wear a mask, so I don't understand why they feel they can do that to me. My wife is immuno-compromised both by two conditions she has and due to meds she has to take. So, I do have a valid reason for behaving the way I do. I hate to have to explain myself, which I sometimes do when asked in order to make things less awkward. Why do I have to have a reason somebody else finds valid? I just don't know how to handle this. My wife keeps telling me to let things be; to have confidence that I'm doing the right thing and that at some point people will just let me be. But I'm not so sure. In my company there's a lot of pressure that has nothing to do with work.Thank you!
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 March 2022): Be as bold about your beliefs as others are about theirs. You have your reasons, and you take personal responsibility for your own health; and the health of your spouse and family members. I wear my mask when I am closed-up in a public place, shopping, or in any situation where a group of strangers are too close for comfort.
There is no argument, I will wear if I want to!!! I don't care what others think. I have a medical background; and I heed the health warnings and precautions for my own sake, and because I have as much right to wear my mask as someone who doesn't care to wear one. I don't see why people make an issue of it? I'm a Christian, and I don't play "political" games. I put no-one and nothing ahead of Jesus Christ; and people can say and do whatever they please, as long as they don't step on my rights. I live by my own convictions, and I'm too old to bow to peer-pressure; or some tribal nonsense regarding political parties.
I really haven't run into any problems with anybody. I guess it depends on how sensitive you are. The majority of people I know wear masks at work, and when in public places where strangers are forced to be in close proximity. I have yet to see an argument or anyone upset about the wearing or not wearing of a mask, to be honest. I hear more about it on the news, or see it on the internet. Covid can be fatal for some people, and it can cause long-term residual medical issues. Let others take whatever risks they choose, and protect yourself. If you worry about evil glances and stupid comments, I guess you'll be miserable. I'm vaccinated and boosted, and so are my friends and family. It's only an issue if people go at each-other about it.
A
female
reader, Youcannotbeserious  + ♥, writes (19 March 2022):
 Call me cynical but I can't help but wonder why we have suddenly had TWO posts about covid when we have not had any for a while. The cynic wonders whether this is just another way of certain individuals trying to keep covid in people's minds instead of letting them live their lives. The compassionate side of me is willing to believe both posts are genuine (despite expressing similar sentiments) and it is just a coincidence they have landed on the page together.
Taking your post as being genuine, I would comment that everyone should have a right to make their own decisions about their own health, whether someone else agrees with the measures they choose to take or not. I have to admit to being puzzled why you would sit in an empty office wearing a mask, breathing in your own waste products, but, again, that is YOUR choice and you are right that you shouldn't have to explain it to anyone. After all, you are not hurting anyone by wearing your mask (apart from maybe yourself, but there are as many different opinions on this as on the whole covid circus and it is up to each of us to draw our own conclusions and hold our own beliefs).
I notice you haven't put where you are from so I have no idea which country is still having the alleged 300K "new cases" a day or where the hospitals are full (I assume you want us to believe this is purely of patients with covid). I would just like to ask, how many DEATHS are there daily FROM covid? "New cases" measures nothing. In the UK the latest strain is nothing more than a bad cold. That said, if your wife has other health issues, then you are, of course, sensible to take what precautions you feel will be affective to protect her.
Perhaps, if you feel victimised and pressurised at work because you choose to still wear a mask, you should be speaking with your line manager or the HR department?
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