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London: the unlockening/relockening

crojoe said:
Yep definitely dropping. Not that surprising, i feel it myself. You can do so much now without a mask, i.e. Big indoor events, it then seems slightly weird to then put on a mask just because you're on a train
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I agree theres little difference in the scenarios and you seem to be implying you are comfortable to not wear a mask in either, this isnt about what the rules are we all know they are bollox
My view is the opposite of yours and that we should wear them in both situations.
 
crojoe said:
Not sure that's a particularly good comparison but I get where you're coming from.
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Fair! :D But it was the best I could do at midnight on a Saturday night. Some wine might have been drunk.

The point is there are a lot of things that we do for societal benefit that are not actually mandated by law.

In this case (masks) it’s even official government advice that you wear them in crowded indoor situations (there is no equivalent advice regarding the cleanliness of your trousers that I’m aware of).

Why people are not doing it I am not entirely sure. I try not to attribute it to stupidity and selfishness. It is I hope more born of ignorance (of the true nature of the state of the pandemic and the effectiveness of mass mask wearing) and fear (of admitting the seriousness of the situation and of social awkwardness).

I blame the government in large part. They have not been communicating any of this (their own advice, the seriousness of the situation or the effectiveness of masks) - in fact in the most part talking heads on the tv etc convey the opposite message.

They are execrable. I only hope that we’re not in for the horrendous winter the current numbers are hinting at.
 
I think most people, or lots of people, think we're past the worst of it so are relaxing. It's only natural as the tone of govt and news has changed, talking about the pandemic in the past tense and about this return to normal, work, school etc. Right or wrong, that's my experience of what's happening. And as people do socialise and do more and more normal things, where masks aren't mandated/enforced, that will have a knock on effect on general mask wearing.
 
I went to the Hogarth at the Tate today. I wonder if editor agrees. The Tate was generally very empty and very unwelcoming and I wonder if it's down to it's ticket only policy. Is was great to wander round such an empty gallery, including the exhibition but most of the staff must have been there. They must be losing money hand over fist.
 
hash tag said:
I went to the Hogarth at the Tate today. I wonder if editor agrees. The Tate was generally very empty and very unwelcoming and I wonder if it's down to it's ticket only policy. Is was great to wander round such an empty gallery, including the exhibition but most of the staff must have been there. They must be losing money hand over fist.
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I've been to a couple of things at the Tate that were booking only, and they were both pretty busy. It might be more to do with it being a Monday?
 
I was at Rodin at Tate Modern on a Friday and it was pretty busy. Weekend sessions were almost all sold out. I didn't find it unwelcoming but I guess quite a lot of weekday clientèle will be older people, many of whom are still being cautious about going out

I'm wondering how tube occupancy is doing now - I know it hopped up a lot in first week of September and I went into the office and to work events a couple of times in Sept/Oct but am essentially expecting not to do so again until spring. Wondering how many people are expecting to do same and if commuting has dropped, or if its just me.
 
On the tube today a (masked) guy got on and carefully moved the newspaper on the seat next to me to the next seat and then sat down on the seat next to me. Strange behaviour I thought. Then I realised that the young bloke the other side of the 2 seats was unmasked. He obviously preferred sitting next to me being masked. I totally understand. This did make me think about behaviour and how fascinating it would be to observe and document this sort of stuff. People are so polarised by the mask issue now - I look at the unmasked and judge and they probably do the same to me.
 
This Wednesday I went into the office and it was the busiest it had ever been. A few people who I spoke to who did different routes said the same.

I'm lucky I don't have to do the tube, but I do kind of take a bit of a fatalistic attitude to these things and I'm sure I'd get used to it again pretty quick.
 
ash said:
On the tube today a (masked) guy got on and carefully moved the newspaper on the seat next to me to the next seat and then sat down on the seat next to me. Strange behaviour I thought. Then I realised that the young bloke the other side of the 2 seats was unmasked. He obviously preferred sitting next to me being masked. I totally understand. This did make me think about behaviour and how fascinating it would be to observe and document this sort of stuff. People are so polarised by the mask issue now - I look at the unmasked and judge and they probably do the same to me.
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I reckon there are some people who take a mask with them make a call depending on what other people in the carriage are doing, similarly in theatres etc, because they'd rather not wear them and can 'morally' justify it by others indicating their level of comfort with non-masking. For example, a woman the other day got on the tube without a mask (which she should have been wearing on the enclosed platform) and sat opposite us, both wearing masks, and then put one on. And I suspect she wouldn't have if we hadn't had them on. So I think some people are going 'Wellll, if everyone near me isn't wearing a mask they're obviously not bothered, so I don't have to worry about wearing one on their behalf, so I won't'.
 
I find I'm forgetting. If people around me aren't wearing masks I don't have that visual reminder that it's a thing.
 
wtfftw said:
I find I'm forgetting. If people around me aren't wearing masks I don't have that visual reminder that it's a thing.
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Interesting, yes, I'm sure there's a degree of that as well - the cues need to be there. Which is why having a 'Oh well we recommend you wear a mask' policy just isn't much good.
 
Thinking of coming into town, don't. Avoid it like the plague. The tourist spots are heaving again and the tube, at 15.00 is horrendous ( there is a strike on). You will be lucky to get on it. IMG_20211126_144448.jpg
 
hash tag said:
Thinking of coming into town, don't. Avoid it like the plague. The tourist spots are heaving again and the tube, at 15.00 is horrendous ( there is a strike on). You will be lucky to get on it. View attachment 298261
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I'm getting the Overground back to Hackney , not very crowded at all. I just wouldn't get on a tube like that, even in normal times.
 
London is indeed heaving, I've just been up to Covent Garden and it seemed even busier than usual :hmm: Lots of mask wearing though.
 
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