What do you think about calling attention to people who don't wear masks in stores?

[Cousin Dupree]

Should we be calling them out, or asking them kindly if they could put a mask on, or ignoring them? What do you do?

[Sherman A1]

1. I don't engage, I simply go the other way as fast as possible

The world is tense enough and I am not getting into a physical altercation with them.

[NightWatcher]

7. Same here.

[Trumpocalypse]

14. FYI

[SheltieLover]

55. Me too

Does no good to attempt to educate the uneducable.

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. I do it this way

[Faux pas]

3. Lol

my thoughts exactly

[Cousin Dupree]

5. That's the spirit! LOL

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

4. Old prank of wetting fingers, 'pretend sneezing behind someone', and flipping the water onto them...

"Oh Sorry, I had to remove my mask for just a moment! SORRY about that!!!

[Cousin Dupree]

6. Love it!

[Vivienne235729]

8. I say loudly to my daughter, "HONEY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR MASK ON APPROPRIATELY"

Even though her mask is on appropriately. She knows. 😀

[hlthe2b]

9. If they get close, I engage and tell them to back up and put on a mask. Otherwise, I

tell a store employee. But, my county has been under a mandatory mask mandate for many months and the statewide mandate has likewise been in place for at least 2 1/2 months. Early on there were problems. A lot less right now.

But, I might mention, my keychain holds a small inconspicuous, but effective spray canister of pepper spray, that I would not hesitate to use if someone became overtly threatening to me.

[Squinch]

10. I call them out. But I do it by saying very sincerely and loudly, "Thank you for wearing a mask."

Even though their ignorant asses aren't.

[flamin lib]

11. I go to the checkout counter and tell the clerk, nicely, that as long as you sell these people stuff

they'll keep infecting other people. Then I leave without buying anything.

[Sherman A1]

15. The person behind the checkout counter

can do absolutely zero about it. Ask to speak to a manager or contact the corporate office, don't pick on the clerk who is trying to do the best they can in a very unsafe (particularly for them) world.

[flamin lib]

16. I left out the part about telling management about my comments . . . I was nice. nt

[llmart]

43. I've done both of those things and got no results.

I contacted corporate offices several times already and what I get back is your typical "corporate speak" nonsense such as "we are very cautious about not allowing anyone to enter our stores" blah, blah, blah. I also had an episode where it was the store manager who was standing at the endcap of a very busy aisle flirting/talking with a guy who took his mask off to talk with her and she never once told him to pull his mask up. A store employee who was in the same aisle as I was was grumbling under her breath about the manager.

We have had a statewide mask mandate (Michigan) since the beginning.

[Sherman A1]

44. Then perhaps file with the appropriate authorities

the clerk behind the counter as mentioned above is powerless to do anything.

[llmart]

47. I've never once told a store employee to enforce the mask bit.

I know they have been told not to get involved. That is why I went straight to the corporate offices.

[Sherman A1]

50. No one said you did

my response to which you are responding is fairly obvious above.

[JI7]

12. No, do NOT directly confront them. Let an employee know

If store does nothing write to management about what happened and how you don't feel safe shopping there and would have to stop going there unless they enforce certain rules.

For bigger stores they should hire professional security instead of relying on regular employees for emforcement.

[friendly_iconoclast]

49. No. Employees have been assaulted for confronting these socipaths

[SergeStorms]

13. Depends where you live, I guess.

I live in New York State, and we have a State mandate for wearing a mask whenever in a store, restaurant, etc. I ask people that aren't wearing a mask,"Where's your mask? It's a state mandate to wear a mask". I usually don't ask in a nice tome of voice, either. Every store provides them for people to wear if they've forgotten them, or whatever. There's absolutely no reason to be anywhere in an enclosed area without one.

I you live in a state without a mandate.....let your conscience be your guide. I'd still warn them.

[liberalmuse]

17. I just stay the hell away from them.

Don't engage with assholes because nothing good comes out of them.

[RKP5637]

18. I ignore them. If they made that decision I doubt I'm going to change their mind and

so many seem so on the edge it might trigger an unpleasant confrontation. If the store has a policy, I let them enforce their policy.

[mobeau69]

19. I do lot all the time and I get sort of loud about it.

If there’s anyone in line with me without one I say something to the cashier like “Thanks and take care. This Covid thing is out of control and too many people aren’t wearing masks.” I have developed several techniques. I also make it real obvious that I’m avoiding them in stores. If I’m going down an isle and someone without a mask turns the corner and starts heading my direction I’ll turn the cart around and head for a safe isle!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

20. I don't think it is a good idea. I wouldn't do it.

Two possibilities:

1. The person actually has one of the medical conditions that exempts them from wearing a face mask and you are giving them a hard time about it.

2. The person is an asshole and they are just waiting for someone to pick a fight with them. Worse case scenario would be they are crazy, gun toting type and people actually get hurt as a result of the confrontation.

[Laelth]

21. I don't call them out.

I worry that, perhaps, I should.

Then I worry about my personal safety and just move away from them.



-Laelth

[Bobstandard]

22. Confront them loudly

They’re threatening your life, after all. At a Home Depot recently a guy took off his mask right after he got past the door. I called him out, he started to give me shit and in seconds there was a ring of pissed off contractor types calling him on it too. We ushered him to the door cause he just couldn’t stand us “snowflake sheeple” abridging his freedoms.

[cwydro]

26. Uh huh.

[mahina]

23. I just nonverbally make the gesture of lifting a mask over my nose

Either it fell and they weren’t aware of it which is the best case, and the lift it, or they’re being assholes on purpose and nothing I say or do other than physically touching them will change where their mask use.

It just irks the hell out of me that they are so smug about it like they are getting away with something -and you know what, they are! They should not have the privilege of shopping in a store without a mask on properly when it’s the rules of the store that they do have it on.

[Olafjoy]

24. I start coughing very loudly

Obnoxious, but satisfying.

[doc03]

25. I have noticed this weekend that many more people are not wearing a mask. I think

it has to do with Trump saying 85% of people that get COVID wore a mask. I just make a point in keeping my distance.

[Blue_true]

27. I had a couple walk right into a grocery store without masks. They were brazen about it.

The likely poorly paid store employee that was monitoring mask compliance looked right at them and said nothing. I almost called out to them and ask what the hell they were thinking, but that would have broken my policy of ignoring such twits.

[42bambi]

28. Every storefront should show a picture of a person wearing a mask, and next to that,

show a picture of a person in the hospital wearing a ventilator; asking - which one would you prefer?

[Arazi]

29. I tell an employee, preferably the manager

[rockfordfile]

33. I agree

[FirstLight]

30. Depends on how much energy I have at the moment

Tahoe had masses of tourists this summer and it is bleeding into the fall.
I find myself fluctuating between rage and angst
Sometimes I will say something like..."over the nose...! You know that right?" If they get snarky I get loud and find a clerk... recently at cvs the clerk and a couple other let cals heckled the guy out of the store!

But I am trying not to get so triggered, so I really just dart past them or make it obvious that I am going the other way because of them.

[Rice4VP]

31. Nothing, just stay away from them

People have gotten killed for confronting maskholes

[Hekate]

32. I have the luxury of choosing to shop in 2 stores that enforce mask wearing

Trader Joe’s and Costco

[DFW]

34. Well, if you want to really make them feel they are outsiders, you can try this

[Ferryboat]

35. As someone who has to confront maskholes at work,

I have developed a few techniques. Since they are trapped onboard a vessel underway there is no way to remove them.

Politely reminding them of the mandatory policy, sometimes using humor and with other passengers always watching there is an element of peer pressure.

Usual excuse is eating or drinking. Or other health excuse. Fair enough. But unless you are actively chewing or drinking please mask up.

Only have had one get in my face, and he backed down.

The motorcycle commuters I always let them off first as a courtesy...but once they decided not to comply with masking up, well they got on the road much later then usual. Only took that group once to figure it out.

[Silver Gaia]

36. I can't make myself NOT say something to them, so

I just avoid going into stores because it ends up as a major confrontation every time. The last time I was in a store, which has a mandatory mask policy, I politely asked three women coming toward me with bandanas down around their necks instead of covering their faces, to please pull them up.

One of them said "Oh shut up, you fucking bitch!," while the one closest to me strode over to me, said "Fuck you, bitch!," and proceeded to cough in my face. Fortunately, I was wearing a shield as well as a mask. It made me so angry I rammed my cart into the nearest end cap, and headed for the doors, yelling loudly about what had happened and saying that if this store couldn't protect its shoppers any better than to allow people to go unmasked once they were inside, I could no longer shop there.

When I got to my car, I carefully stripped off the face shield and mask, my sweater, and the gloves I was wearing and placed them in the trunk. When I got home, I left my shoes at the door, stripped off my clothes into the washer, and washed my hands and face. Before stepping into the shower to cleanse the rest of me, I called the store and spoke to the manager. He sent security out to find them. We have a $10,000 fine in our county for businesses who do not enforce mandatory mask wearing inside their places of business, so he took it seriously. I hope they were found and tossed out.

That was the last in a long string of confrontations, everything from laughing at the request to yelling at me to this, and it was the last time I set foot in a store. I miss going into stores.

I worked in retail for many years as a young woman, and always enjoyed the colors and textures and scents of merchandise. An outstanding display still catches my eye and I can admire the thought that went into designing it. But until I can safely walk the aisles, I won't be going into any places of business, including stores. I'm done. Everything is delivered to my door now.

So, I just want to say, if you do confront the maskless, or like me, can't help but say something to them, expect a response or confrontation, and BE CAREFUL!

[Cartaphelius]

37. Just say, "Hello there. Are you

a maskhole or just stupid?

Maybe ducking will help!

[no_hypocrisy]

38. I'm a cashier at a grocery emporium.

No problem calling them out on not wearing a mask or it's under their chin, their nose, etc.

I personalize my entreaty by telling them I have a heart condition and can't afford to get sick.

[Dem2]

39. I keep my distance

Observe them acting all defensively, ready for a confrontation - it's somewhat humorous.

[Straw Man]

40. I've been toying with the idea of getting a T-shirt ...

... that says "Where's your mask, asshole?" and wearing it shopping. Still mulling it over.

[tavernier]

41. I carry an extra mask. If I see a maskless person

I quickly double mask.

[marybourg]

42. I've only been in a store once since March.

I only went in, instead of using the drive through, because there was only one car in the parking lot. The apparent owner of the car was a middle aged obese male trumpanzee chatting up the very young woman (masked) clerk. I chased him out with my verbal insults and have not stepped into a store since. I know I would not be able to contain myself. You know what the say about taking the girl out of N.Y., but not being able to take the N.Y. out of the girl? That’s me at approaching 80.

[llmart]

45. I give them a dirty look and move as far away from them as quickly as possible.

I treat them as if they have cooties and are trash.

[Midnight Writer]

46. One time I got into it with a guy not wearing a mask in a store.

What set me off was that he was giving me the stink eye.

Then his lady companion came up (she was wearing a mask) and I could see the panic in her eyes.

I reckon that she knew she was going to take the brunt of this asshole's rage.

So I left off, walked away.

[PTWB]

48. Like a few others here I'll belt out a couple obnoxious loud coughs

I usually stop in the aisle a close enough that they’ll take notice but not so close that they think I’m targeting them. I’ll cough and grab something from the shelf and then turn to walk past them, still while coughing.

Most just give a dirty look but I’ve had a few retrieve a mask from their pocket and put it on.

[Shermann]

51. Mask shaming of Average Joe's is a bust

It's OK to shame politicians though.

Strictly speaking from a pragmatic scientific perspective, you are unlikely to shame somebody and have them remain quiet. That means they will be spreading more droplets. Being unmasked and remaining silent isn't actually that bad according to Fauci (not as good as wearing a mask though).

[zackymilly]

52. I 'accidentally' bump my cart into people going the wrong way down aisles.

I asked one man if he drives the wrong way down the highway.

[spinbaby]

53. I've changed my shopping habits

I live in rural western Pennsylvania where defiantly not wearing masks is a common occurrence. I’m driving into the Pittsburgh area to shop because people are wearing their masks more when you get closer to the city. There really is a very noticeable geographic difference.

[Kaleva]

54. There are so few that don't wear masks now. I just ignore them.

They either have a legit reason not to or are just bullheaded.

[LuckyCharms]

56. I GRAB 'EM BY THE FUCKING HAIR AND SMASH IN THEIR STUPID...

Not really. I've never had a violent confrontation with a maskless person (that I can remember, anyway). However, many many maskless people have approached me. I usually just stick my hand out like a traffic cop and shake my head, and they stay away from me.

This is the first thing my shrink said to me on our virtual visit after the pandemic started: "Do NOT confront someone without a mask. They'll shoot you"!