Exempt or not?

[Ben@Forest]

I know somebody who has a legitimate health-related reason not to wear a mask and received an exemption card from and for his place of work. He has travelled cross country on different regional railways unmasked and displaying the card on a lanyard and not had an issue as yet despite the fact that it is not a universally recognised certificate.

Well l don't know all the circumstances but yesterday someone got chucked off a train for being unmasked. It doesn't seem he should have to prove he doesn't have to wear one and in any case it's easy to fraudulently say (or wear a card) to say you don't.

Maybe he was a bolshie git who wanted an argument; though from what l saw of him he was over 60, well dressed with good quality luggage (though I guess many bolshie gits on here could match that description!). On the other hand it could have been a guard who thrives on petty officialdom - and that does exist.

[millimole]

Among my extended family there exists, within the same household both extremes. - the over 65 bolshie git who has acquired a sunflower lanyard to go along with their very recently acquired 'asthma'. There's also the younger - soon to go to university - family member with severe, long standing (and very genuine) anxiety, who cannot wear a mask without collapsing.
Which one gets the grief when out & about?

[Mick F]

Sad, but very true I'm sure.



Just reading this whole thread has put my heart-rate up. Just even THINKING about wearing a mask does it.
I can cope, so I'm not going to get a certificate or anything, but if I had to go on the train for hours, I would do.

Shopping, visiting the pub etc, I'm happy to wear a mask because it isn't long.

[mjr]

There are guards who will deny travel with unusual valid tickets, or bikes on trains where they're allowed, so it's not a surprise if there are ones doing making up mask rules.

[pete75]

If someone can't wear a mask for whatever reason what's to stop them wearing one of these? Not that I'm particularly in favour of compulsory mask wearing.

[PDQ Mobile]

The salient point here is that the OP simply does not know what happened.
Does not even know if the person in question was mask-less!

Overheard parts of conversations almost inevitably lead to false or inaccurate conclusions.
Maybe the person had no valid ticket!!

As far as mask wearing goes; I have worn masks a great deal in my working life to protect my lungs from dust. They are a necessary PITA in many manual jobs.
Cyclists wear them sometimes in polluted cities.

I shopped in quiet shops without a mask before the introduction of a mask requirement.
As soon as it became law I wore one always.
Just that.

The idea is to try to help stop the spread of serious disease in the wider population.
Can't see a problem with it.

Valid exemption reasons, politely given, will be fine I think.

[Oldjohnw]

I have an exemption certificate from the Asthma Society but I never use it. But then, I rarely go anywhere I need to use it.

[Mick F]

Asthma Society.
Can you join it?
From what I see of their website, it would appear not, but they do want donations.
https://www.asthma.org.uk

[Oldjohnw]

Asthma Society.
Can you join it?
From what I see of their website, it would appear not, but they do want donations.
https://www.asthma.org.uk

I just get info by email. I have sent them donations because they have been extremely helpful. I was directed there by my GP.

[mercalia]

If someone can't wear a mask for whatever reason what's to stop them wearing one of these? Not that I'm particularly in favour of compulsory mask wearing.

I think there was a report that they are not effective as any drops can escape below , maybe an astronuts helmet?

[Ben@Forest]

The salient point here is that the OP simply does not know what happened.
Does not even know if the person in question was mask-less!

Overheard parts of conversations almost inevitably lead to false or inaccurate conclusions.
Maybe the person had no valid ticket!!

Not quite. I know that over the PA there were a series of mask warnings of increasing intensity - which eventually included phrases like 'it's not hard to wear a mask'. The train stopped for an unusually long time at a scheduled stop, passengers got on or off and there were raised voices about getting off the train which eventually led to a single person getting off. After that the guard stopped issuing mask warnings over the PA. I think that's reasonable cause and effect.

[PDQ Mobile]

Maybe, yet one could construe the repeated announcements as super polite?
And not singling anyone out, but a memory jog to the forgetful. It does happen to lesser mortals once in a while.

Nevertheless it remains uncertain as the person concerned was not seen full face as stated in initial post.

It's a tough job being a train guard.
I personally have seen one (lightly) assaulted by fare refusers on a Saturday night.
Sad.