Should Stores Require Masks?
 

I was in Barnes and Noble today, and they have a sign on the front door that says masks are "required". I think that is the first sign I has seen like that, which I thought was a good idea. But, there were several people in the store not wearing masks and I didn't see any of them being asked to leave. I don't understand the management's thinking on this. It would be very easy to have someone walk around and enforce their rule. Otherwise, why not just have a sign that says masks are "requested" like many other stores? They are just making people who follow the rule feel cheated.

They try to keep their patrons safe but you can't fix stupid and they have no desire to get into arguments or maybe a legal confrontation.......just avoid those that won't play nice.

Yes. Stores should require masks because it's polite. Believe or not beleive it's up to you but the social attitude is that masks are safer than not. So with all considered... yes. If someone isn't switched on enough to understand all of our present situation, our present reality, they should have the decency to not enter the store. This is a politeness issue. It's an awareness issue. It's a civilized social issue. It's not about your beliefs one way or another, it's about polite society, civilized society.

I like to drive fast and reckless but I don't because it's not polite, it stresses my fellow driver on the highway. It's uncivilized to harm my neighbor.

Considering the reports of physical violence, and even at least one death, to an employee trying to enforce the mask requirement for a store, I think the answer is not so easy as you think.

The politicizing of masks is a part of what is causing us to have more than 25% of the world’s cases and 25% of the world’s deaths, while being only 4.5 % of the world’s population.

But too many people choose to stay dysinformed. Anti-maskers have had their emotions heightened into some kind of bizarre fervor that, ironically, could result in the death knell to the economy they claim to care so much about.

I started a thread this morning with a science based article that says masks could protect the wearer and gives details on the protection value of various types of masks.

By the way, Meta Minton was interviewed on NPR earlier this week. In addition to being asked about the infamous parade in TV that was viewed by millions, she also was asked to comment on how Villagers are handling the virus. A Google of her name and NPR will take you to the interview.

I was really hoping the canaries who are out there in the coal mine would do fine, but it does not look promising.

What is the big deal about putting on a mask? Can’t hurt. Could help. But I think we are in a big, ugly mess with no end in sight.

Yes masks should be required.
The weak spined politicians need to step up and make the call....popular or not.
And just like some of the salons and most of the medical service providers signs say....no mask...no service.
And flat out deny entrance to those who try to enter.
If it works for them it will work for the others.

ENFORCEMENT!!!

Let us not be bullied by those who do not care whether they are spreading the virus or not.

It's really quite simple.....I agree with all you said.

If masks were required and enforced, I believe more people would be going out to stores. I know I would.

Yes, stores should require masks and social distancing. All the hard work our doctors, nurses, hospital workers and EMTs did to flatten the curve is being frittered away by those selfish individuals who do nothing to help. And polls show only about one third of people would get a covid19 vaccination despite all the efforts researcher are putting into its development. Unfortunately, there seems to be an anti science streak growing in this country.

Take a look when you are in a store that requires a mask. Either wearing below their nose, by their chin, and those who have them under their chin.

Private places can set their own requirements. Mask phobic people can go somewhere else, except people who actually have physical difficulty wearing one.

That is just too funny, like wearing your pants around your ankles... doesn’t count.

At Joann’s fabric everyone was wearing one. Maybe because they were all proud of their handiwork������. There were some really nice masks there.

Yes, masks should be required. Remember the sign no shoes, no shirt, no service?

Did you ask to speak with the manager? Then ask why people without masks were permitted to enter when signage said masks were required?

It’s called being “entitled” they are entitled to infect you. It’s there right. They want to economy open but don’t want to help keep it open. I’m back in my home ordering from amazon....,. So feel free to infect whom ever.....

Masks in Stores
 

If I am shopping with my mask on practicing safe distance and if crowded by people who don’t care about me to wear a mask I want to pull down my mask and start coughing. I am not there yet, but I am close....

In today's world, the last thing a business owner has time for is policing a mask policy. He's probably more concerned about paying this month's rent and providing for his family.

Coughing
 

I’m with you! The unmasked “crowders” just about undo me. Coughing on them is probably better than choking them to death.

Cal's requires masks and to wait outside for your appointment. there is a sign on the door stating that and has been up since early June

Until the Governor mandates people wearing masks in public, the word “requested” is used. Florida is well beyond requesting that masks be worn. They should be MANDATED. Anyone refusing to wear one should be denied entry.

My brother in law does that, he throws an absolute coughing fit, but he keeps mask on.
Reactions are hilarious. One person nearly fell over running away!

I know that in Texas, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and probably more states, masks are REQUIRED when you are in a public place within breathing distance of people, and several states have just shut down indoor dining again. I spent three years in operating rooms wearing masks all day. Properly worn, they DO work to stop transmission of air-borne organisms. They work best if everyone wears them. There are all sorts of government “restrictions to your freedom” that you comply with, such as wearing seatbelts, using turn signals and headlights, having a license plate and a current registration and carrying insurance and wearing shirt and shoes if you want service. What’s the big deal about masks?
Republicans Urge Masks for Coronavirus Despite Trump'''s Resistance - The New York Times

I left the Villages for my summer home in New England the first of June. Up here especially in N.H. all stores require masks and people are complying with the exception of a few. After being in FL I couldn’t believe how tighter things are up here. Up till June 15 you still had to have an appointment to get into a Best Buy Store. After watching the number of cases and deaths going up the way they are in FL people need to start taking this virus seriously.

My guess is they don't want to lose the revenue. I personally will not go into any establishment that requires a mask be worn. If I want something that bad, I'll get it from Amazon.

A business cannot require you to wear a mask only their employees. That being said they can refuse to serve you and ask you to leave.

Just wear a mask! It’s so simple..

exactly

no need to place the folks working for minimum wage at risk by forcing them to confront someone that just doesn't get it and will certainly create a scene

reality is, the stores shouldn't have to post any sign regarding masks

I used to think that if you lived in a higher end neighborhood everyone would get a long and play nicely in the sandbox....but I've learned that accumulated wealth doesn't seem to have much of an impact on being respectful of others...that's a value that should have learned from one's parents growing up...of course if the parent didn't have that value that answers the question

Not correct for the Cal's at Colony Plaza. The barbers are required to wear them, but masks are optional for customers while getting their haircut. I have been there 3 times since May. I don't know about the other Cal's shops.

If the governor of Texas is requiring people to wear masks , that tells you how bad things are getting . I just don’t understand why people are wearing them . I would like to tin k that many of the deniers of the virus danger and the wearing of mask are just try to get people going , at least I hope so ,or has the constant drumbeat of everything is fake news taken hold in many

So much talk about masks but nothing said about social distancing which is the first step along with washing of hands. Masks? Yes of course. But keep in mind that many who wear them are just as nasty as those who don’t. Sad people turn on each other over a piece of cloth. As far as people in Barnes and Noble not wearing one, I would also look at how crowded it is. It’s very easy to social distance much farther than 6 feet even when not many are in the store.

Correct, and they learned their attitude because their parents probably kept the lights on during air raids NOBODY GONNA TELL THEM WHAT TO DO!

I used to think as one gets older they learn how to be kinder. The day I realized this wasn’t true shocked and saddened me. Takes a healthy dose of self awareness and courage to choose respectful dialogue as opposed to the nastiness we see from our seniors in TV everyday on social media. Very poor role models for our youth.

Not sure I see a difference.

required and mandatory is 2 different issues .. just go about your business

Wouldn’t it make sense to simply treat it as if someone walked into the store without shirt or shoes? Not sure what stores do when that happens but it should be treated the same. Simple solution - politely remind customers that to come in they need to wear a mask and then offer them one.

I agree. I don't see any problem having and enforcing a rule to wear a mask. And, it seems very easy to avoid confrontation.

Even if they do not care about others — or themselves — why can’t the Anti-Maskers figure out that they are culpable in the impending total destruction of the bricks-and-mortar economy.

Even though I wear a mask, I am limiting going into stores because I do not want to deal with the Anti-Maskers.

When we have nothing left but a gaping maw of empty retail space, we will know what finally did it.

Bricks-and-mortar retail has been teetering on the brink for years, but the Anti-Maskers are nailing the coffin shut.

Btw, if you are an Anti-Masker and you have an investment portfolio that includes REITs, it is quite possible that you own a piece of that commercial retail property that could soon be empty — and could stay that way. Geez. Look around. Get a clue.

Cassandra Boomer

If a store requires a mask for entering, then they should provide one for those who don't have one. They do that at the doctor's office for me. I needed to go to the lab, and they handed me a mask and told me to wear it before entering. So I did. When I was leaving, I took it off and asked the attendant who gave it to me if she wanted it for the next person. You should have seen the look in her eyes (as that was all that was visible behind her mask).

If you go to the pro shops of the villages, there is a sign on the door stating face masks are required. When you go in, the clerks behind the counter and management are not wearing masks. " Do as ask, not as I do " seems to be theme of our community.

Nobody wants the job of following people around the store to enforce mask wearing. If you watch any of the social media videos of people who start pushing workers or throwing all of the food out of their baskets onto the floor while screaming FU and spitting at the employees who are just trying to do their jobs, it's like putting your life at risk. No one should be told to wear a mask, they should just wear the darn thing! Stupid not to.