I’ve got a say in what you do……….
I almost got into an argument in a supermarket yesterday. Not really a big deal, it happens every minute all over the world. Usually it happens because someone wasn’t quick enough or the self-scan wasn’t working, or your card decided to decline. None of these were the cause. No, the cause of this was one which has probably overtaken all other reasons for supermarket squabbles, of course being Covid19. It wasn’t space encroachment, nor was it anything to do with my irritation at anyone else, which is usually the catalyst, possibly now that I fall into that ‘Grumpy Old Man’ category. I was asked my opinion, and I gave it, to someone who hadn’t reckoned with anyone disagreeing with his and another shoppers opinion. The opinion that there is no virus, and if we’re going to get it, we’re going to get it.
I’m in the queue, the usual 4 deep queue because of two cashiers at a Friday lunchtime, waiting to herd us onto the next till. Standard and expected for anyone who is used to the ‘more competitively priced’ retailers. I didn’t take note that the man in front was not wearing a mask, nor was the woman two checkouts down from me. They were engrossed in their own conversation, and I was obliviously scrolling through the football transfer page on BBC sport.
“What do you reckon mate?”
I looked up. No-Mask Man was clearly talking to me.
“Sorry mate, what?”
“All bollocks isn’t it. There’s no f*cking virus. It’s all about control.”
Now, I really didn’t want to go down this route. I really didn’t. The term “I don’t want to get into this with you man.”, from the 1985 film The Breakfast Club went through my head. No-Mask Woman then decided to join in. Before I continue this conversation, I will state that that whilst I may be generalising, I apologise for the swearing. If anyone has been to Canvey Island you will understand.
(NMW): “Yeah it is. I’m sick of it. I’ve fucking had enough of it. If you’re gonna get it, you’re gonna get it,”
(NMM): “Yep. It only goes for the old ones. They’re going to die anyway aren’t they? I’ll be fucked if I’m wearing a mask anymore.”
Now, I don’t and won’t judge. As stated previously, I didn’t notice they didn’t have masks. When I noticed it still wasn’t any of my business, and if I had given it a thought I would have assumed they were exempt. Good, I thought, they’re talking to each other again. I can go back to the thrill of the transfer window.
“What do you reckon mate? You’ve got your mask on. What do you reckon?”
The next line from The Breakfast Club is Emilio Estevez’s “Why?”, to which the response is “Because I’ll kill you.” Clearly I wasn’t going to actually murder them, but this is roughly how the conversation went:
(Me) “I’ve got a nine year old daughter mate, so if I have to wear a mask to give her a bigger percentage of staying alive I’ll wear a mask. I’ve got parents that I don’t want to die yet, so I’ll wear a mask. I’m not keen on getting sick either yet, so I’ll wear a mask for that reason too. I wear it out of courtesy so I can’t spread it. I don’t expect everyone else to have that level of respect for other people’s health, but that’s society now.”
(NMW): “So what you saying?”
(ME): “Exactly what I just said. I wear my mask for my reasons. I put seatbelts on in the back of a car because I don’t want to go through a windscreen. I put them on because I don’t want the person in front of me to be smashed through the windscreen with me or flattened into the dashboard. I know someone who died from Covid19 and he was under 60. For the sake of a little discomfort to have respect for other people’s health. It’s like smokers having courtesy around non-smokers. Do what you want on your own, just don’t involve anyone else.”
(NMM): “Nah, I’ll take my chances.”
(NMW): “Yeah, me too.” (Me) “That’s your right, completely your choice. I hope that if you do get the virus that you don’t pass it on to someone else. Like you said, if you get it, that’s on you. If your parents get it, then I hope that some guilt is as well.”
With that, the high-brow conversation ended, and as we both finished at the tills at the same kind of time, I almost followed NMW out of the store. Outside NMM tried to swap his trolley for the next customers £1 coin. The mask wearing female customer (I would guess in her 80’s) declined. She then proceeded to take her own coin or token from her bag and take the trolley. She took wet wipes out of her bag and wiped everything down, including the sanitizer on her hands. NMM simply muttered “Fucking sheep” and walked off. The lady responded with a response much better or eloquent than mine. “Fucking wanker. You’ll be the death of me.”
Unfortunately, she may be right.
