What’s up with parents not wearing masks at the playground?

[Anonymous]

Took DD to the playground today. It was fairly crowded since it was nice weather. There were several moms who just weren’t wearing masks. There were at least 30 kids and 20 parents around.

[Anonymous]

Oh shut up. I wear a mask at the playground personally to avoid conflict but of ALL the things to get worked up over. It’s fine. It’s outside.

[Anonymous]

There is no telling. You have to figure this out for yourself. I don't feel comfortable asking strangers to put on masks, so I view it as a choice between deciding I'm okay with it or leaving. It's outdoors, so often I just accept it as a pretty low risk and try to keep my distance. That's usually not hard because parents around here are rarely friendly at the playground (lol). Sometimes if it's very crowded or I just get a feeling like I can't deal with it, I'll suggest to my kid that we walk to another nearby playground.

But you can't control other people. What they are doing isn't great, but it's something that is happening and we all just have to find a way to deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Because people are selfish.

[Anonymous]

Maybe because SCIENCE.

They are staying 6' (think fingertip to fingertip) from others? They are already vaccinated? They are at vanishingly low risk of serious illness based on their age and health history?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh shut up. I wear a mask at the playground personally to avoid conflict but of ALL the things to get worked up over. It’s fine. It’s outside.

This is the caliber of person you'd be dealing with, so really no point in talking to them.

[Anonymous]

It’s outside.

[Anonymous]

I don't feel you need it outdoors if you can be 6 feet apart. I think I can stand 6 ft from other adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s outside.

It’s a public place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't feel you need it outdoors if you can be 6 feet apart. I think I can stand 6 ft from other adults.

Op here. I have been to playgrounds when we are the only ones there or another family or 2. If one family is alone on the equipment very far away, it is fine.

This was a packed playground. Now that I think about it, it was probably more like 50 kids and 30+ adults. These unmasked people were right next to people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't feel you need it outdoors if you can be 6 feet apart. I think I can stand 6 ft from other adults.

Op here. I have been to playgrounds when we are the only ones there or another family or 2. If one family is alone on the equipment very far away, it is fine.

This was a packed playground. Now that I think about it, it was probably more like 50 kids and 30+ adults. These unmasked people were right next to people.

I don't go to packed playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't feel you need it outdoors if you can be 6 feet apart. I think I can stand 6 ft from other adults.

Op here. I have been to playgrounds when we are the only ones there or another family or 2. If one family is alone on the equipment very far away, it is fine.

This was a packed playground. Now that I think about it, it was probably more like 50 kids and 30+ adults. These unmasked people were right next to people.

Then leave.

Look, I get it. It would be better if we could all agree on the exact same masking protocol. I have been places where I have been frustrated that people were not masking to the degree I think is appropriate. But honestly, I've also been places where I was not wearing a mask and even though I felt 100% sure I was not posing a Covid risk (outdoor area with only a few people, all very far apart), I could tell some of the other people were annoyed that I wasn't wearing a mask.

You just have to set your own boundaries and stick with them. If an unmasked person stood right next to me, I'd move away from them. If there were lots of unmasked people and I couldn't get away, I'd leave. The end.

My response would be different if this were a workplace or indoors, but in this situation, I don't know what you want me to say. Those people are jerks? The things is that they might be... or they might just have a different understanding of the risks of Covid than you or I do and truly not feel that they were putting anyone at risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't feel you need it outdoors if you can be 6 feet apart. I think I can stand 6 ft from other adults.

Op here. I have been to playgrounds when we are the only ones there or another family or 2. If one family is alone on the equipment very far away, it is fine.

This was a packed playground. Now that I think about it, it was probably more like 50 kids and 30+ adults. These unmasked people were right next to people.

Hmmm it sounds like even with masks it wouldn’t feel safe for someone with your risk tolerance. You are going to need to start making some tough choices. Change is coming. People are done. More and more everyday and I’m here for it! We have literally destroyed our society and our happiness and our kids happiness and 500,000 died anyway. Now we have vaccines to protect them and I’m done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s outside.

It’s a public place.

And? Wearing masks outside isn’t mandated in my area unless you can’t keep 6 ft of distance from non household members. If it were mandated we would wear them, but it’s not. We have no trouble keeping 6 ft of distance.

[Anonymous]

I believe those moms not masking are part of the “mean girls” clique and this is their passive aggressive way to stake their claim to the playground and keep others out of what they consider their space. They know exactly what they are doing and it is incredibly frustrating bringing DS there and having to turn right around.