In the aftermath of the global pandemic we remain trapped by paranoia and a weird adherence to rules of negligible health value. If we want to reject the ‘new normal’, and revert to the perfectly acceptable ‘old normal’, we must end the paranoia and the rules.
I enjoy duelling with the gatekeepers while recognising the need for many more unmasked faces, people rejecting the ‘must wear a mask when shopping’ mantra. These unmasked warriors counter the majority of shoppers still wearing them while bleating about “keeping everyone safe”.
We need more physical demonstrations of mask freedom in retail arenas to dissolve the still pervasive fear.
Anyone can participate in a friendly tussle with gatekeepers appointed to ‘protect’ the retail sector. These encounters can be good fun. At the top of my game, I enjoy the experience, looking security in the eye with a smile and a friendly greeting.
Ardern claims Covid is a ‘tricky’ virus but she employed an even trickier tactic when she recruited members of the public to police mask-wearing. It was a strong strategic move to prolong the fear.
The gatekeepers are convinced masks keep us safe. Anyone with a decent grasp of English and a strong physical presence (no medical training is required) can be appointed a gatekeeper. Their sole requisite is the ability to follow rules without question.
The gatekeeper is the retailer’s representative and deserving of our respect, but not our compliance.
Don’t make the mistake of trying to enlighten them with the science showing masks don’t work. Although a legitimate argument, it is a red herring to divert from our real goal of shopping mask free.
By shopping mask free you are a walking advertisement to the fearful that you are not afraid of Covid.
Covid is not the death sentence embedded in the unfortunate skulls of mask wearers – these people are your target audience, not the gatekeeper.
We are the unmasked faces of freedom, and frequently the only mask free shoppers, too often a solitary beacon of hope in a sea of fear.
I stopped wearing a face mask months ago after discovering they don’t work and have adverse health effects to boot. It helped that I was provoked by the number of masked children, including toddlers, forced to wear them for no good reason.
When I stopped wearing a mask my relationship with the gatekeepers changed, I became their target. Those I meet regularly are not surprised to see me sans-mask. I greet them warmly, often stopping for a chat. They respond positively but a new body on the door is a different story. Newbies simply assume I forgot to mask. After all, everyone knows they keep people safe.
They might politely say, “Ma’am, where is your mask?”
My response is, “I don’t wear a mask for health reasons.”. The irony of the statement makes me smile, a very desirable tactic in the interchange. An important point to note: masked shoppers cannot smile at anyone but a mask free shopper should take full advantage of this freedom! Your smile may be the only one the gatekeeper gets that day.
The gatekeeper will either accept my explanation and wave me through or ask to see my mask exemption.
Given that anyone can apply online for a mask exemption for health reasons that are not disclosed, I never bothered and don’t directly answer the question. Instead, I divert with, “My health reasons for not wearing a mask are private.”
This usually gets me through the door but this week I got push back from a new PaknSave security guard (without any mask free shopping training from my good self or any other maskless shopper).
“Well, how are we going to resolve this?” he said enthusiastically, walking toward me.
Give the man credit for coming up with a new tactic when I was not at my best. The poor fellow could not have known my patience was in deficit after a few weeks of verbally wrangling with officialdom on a completely different front.
It hadn’t been a good day thus far (or an easy week for that matter) but instead of taking a moment to regroup, I allowed my ire to rise. Instead of a cheerful smile, I threw him a scowl and a raised eyebrow, a challenge to whatever authority he thought he had.
How were we to resolve this indeed? Well, he asked me for a solution so I gave him one. I was cross.
“How about I shop at Countdown, just up the road?” I threw at him, turning toward the door while speaking loudly enough that he and the half-dozen people nearby heard.
It had the desired effect. He retreated and mumbled, “Go on in,” looking away and leaving both of us feeling awkward. I felt slightly ashamed about my spontaneous aggression. This was not my best performance and was no fun for either of us. When I left PaknSave a little later he was no longer on the door.
Masks are not about stopping the spread of Covid-19. They signify compliance to a practice that doesn’t work, with an upside for the Ardern Government of continuing an unwarranted Covid fear.
Get vaccinated and boosted, social distance and wear a mask to keep the ‘deadly’ virus at bay. Keep grandma safe and do your bit to stop the spread.
Your mission, BFD reader, should you decide to accept it, is to join this protest in the fight against fear: to notch up retail conquests, hopefully with enough grace to show your mask-free face at the door without embarrassment at your next visit.