This was back on Good Friday (haven't had time until now to post my experience), to buy food for Easter Sunday. I sat in my car before I went in, determined not to wear a mask again, said a prayer to God asking for strength, and for St. Michael the Archangel to defend me against the "mask Nazis and any demons inside these people." I'm just a young woman so of course I was scared of getting harassed and even physically pushed around for not wearing a mask. I told myself "Hold your head high, don't look down, don't appear meek and timid, stay strong, hold your ground..."
I walked in and immediately was greeted by a worker. He wore a mask but he said "Hello" very cheerfully. I was a little taken aback that he said anything to me so I quickly said "Hi" and walked on. Came across A LOT of workers in there (more than usual, they were restocking), all wearing masks and NONE said anything to me about putting on a mask; rather, they were all VERY cheerful and VERY nice. Nicer than when I USED to wear a mask. I smiled at every opportunity, but my legs and shoulders were shaking in fear. I was terrified either a worker or some mask-Nazi-Karen would stop and accost me, but not even other customers seemed to care. I was the only one not wearing a mask.
I got to the checkout and was expecting the cashier to say something about me not wearing a mask, but she was EXTREMELY polite and VERY cheery. I smiled a lot! I think that helped! We happily talked about Easter and the nice weather, etc. And she was so nice to me without my mask that I knew right then that not wearing a mask, people being able to see your face, see your smile, makes them INSTANTLY connect with you and like you (except for mask-Nazis of course, but I'm speaking of generally normal people). I left and heaved a sigh of relief and thanked God that I got out of there without problems.
My next place to experiment this will be Walmart, but I've already seen people walk in and around the store without masks and nobody says anything to them, so I have high hopes for that. I'll post my experience the next time I go there.
TLDR: Didn't wear a mask into grocery store, the workers were SUPER nice to me and didn't say anything about wearing a mask! Have hope! If you try this at your grocery store, smile a lot, it really helps!
My experience is that other people who aren't wearing a mask are relieved to see me when I am not wearing one. Even those who are wearing masks seem to be relieved... like they can take theirs off now too.
I think everyone is looking for permission. They want something or someone to be the catalyst that makes not wearing a mask "OK". The more of us that do it... the more other people will join in.
Incidentally... I wear my mask on my wrist or elbow. That way, if anyone says anything, technically I'm "wearing a mask". :>)
Yes! I have to wear a mask while working but I love when customers don’t! I feel like they’re speaking for me when I can’t in the moment.
Haha i do IT upgrades on operational buildings, and I’ve gotten entire warehouses full of people to ditch their masks cause I won’t wear them ??♂️
They’ll see me riding about without a mask, realize no higher-up will say anything, then someone else will stop wearing it... boom domino effect. I’ve seen this happen 3 times, and it makes me so so happy
Here in Greece it's tricky. There's an on-the-spot 300 Euro fine for anyone caught not wearing a mask "properly". I don't wear a mask round the village but in town, where there's a chance of meeting a cop, I wear a homemade mask made from breathable open-cell black foam and mosquito mesh. It looks the biz but does nothing except to keep flies out.