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Post by Liou on May 11, 2020 5:19:01 GMT -5
Today's the official day of unlockdown here (idk if that's what it's called, I'm calling it that) which means you no longer need to sign your own Official Permission Form to go out, unless you're travelling 100 km away from home, which really puts a damper on my plans for a casual hike, then. Some schools are reopening, some are not, some kids are returning to school on a voluntary basis, some are not, some workplaces are reopening, some are not, some buses are running, some are not, noone has any idea what is happening, woo. This is the moment when maybe I'm going back to work at some point? Maybe? And if I do, there will be masks that will have to be worn at work. Mask talk below. So this is the point when I start to get real nervous about the masks, because they give me the BIG Heebie Jeebies, for reasons. (Even talking about the masks gives me the heebie jeebies. Scarves are more than fine, it's just the surgical-type masks. Which are currently mandatory on public transport.)
Last time I went out, I saw people in masks. It was not unexpected, it was not for a long time. But spending a whole day with people wearing them, and wearing one, is a whole nother story.
So this is why I'm coming in with a real weird suggestion for my friends.
If you've chatted to me with any sort of regularity or irregularity, if you've already posted your face around this here forum, and if you have one of the relevant masks at hand, could you please send me a picture of you wearing the mask, through a private message?
See, if I know there's a friendly face under the mask, maybe it can help my brain's facial recognition algorithm identify "safe human face" and stop ringing the "terrifying hospital zombiemonster" alarm. Maybe a pair of pictures with and without the mask would help, idk. At least if it's an image, I can fully control when and how long I look at it.
Just an idea. |
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Post by Celestial on May 11, 2020 8:08:39 GMT -5
LiouI've been thinking about getting a mask for you ever since you mentioned this. I felt bad before getting a mask for selfie reasons, but I was talking with my mum a few days ago about a related topic: touching one's face. I mentioned how I constantly touch my face as a way to stim and cannot stop doing it or do it consciously. And you know what she suggested?
A mask.
So I am going out to get one today, hopefully (if the local pharmacies stock them) and shall get back to you. <3
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Post by June Scarlet on May 11, 2020 19:56:09 GMT -5
Liou, concerning masks. I could draw a picture of myself wearing a mask, which is all you've seen of me anyway.
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Post by Allison on May 11, 2020 21:19:06 GMT -5
So.... it's now official. The annual Community Summer Children's Musical at my church is cancelled for this year. This is... basically my life outside of work in the summer. I knew it was going to happen, and I know it's ultimately for the best... but man. Removing it from my work calendar was HARD! (I put it on my work calendar because I take the days leading up to it and the Monday after off so I can focus solely on that and then have a "recovery" day.) My heart hurts more for the kids than me, though. Especially the ones who were looking forward to their first year, their first year where they could get a bigger part, or their last year. This was supposed to be a "transition" year, too... The director who's been doing it for 10 years and one of my fellow co-directors were going to step back this year, hand over leadership to a new director and co-director, and they would still be there to support us. I was going to be the only one of the "original four" who stayed on. (One of the "original four" had to bow out because she took a traveling nurse job, and then when she came back her health prevented her from returning.) This was NOT the transition we were looking for. *sigh*
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Post by Liou on May 12, 2020 10:49:37 GMT -5
Celestial aaww thanks for keeping it in mind, hope you can get one to serve your purposes! Liou , concerning masks. I could draw a picture of myself wearing a mask, which is all you've seen of me anyway. asdfhdfg that's so sweet! if you have time to do that, it'd be so helpful! ;A; Aaww sorry to hear about the musical Allison , you look forward to it and seem to enjoy it so much each year! :C Hope your community has different activities for the kids to look forward to in the meantime, like online readings and such.
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Post by June Scarlet on May 13, 2020 20:37:38 GMT -5
Liou It's no trouble. I've finished the drawing; it's in the spoiler.  One nice thing about masks, you can still tell when people are smiling. Their eyes still squint up, and I tried to show that in this image.
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Post by Celestial on May 14, 2020 12:55:53 GMT -5
Could not find masks in pharmacy, shall order them online. I do, however, have a rant incoming. Some bampots are planning an anti-lockdown protest. The words I would like to use concerning these people are not safe for NTWF, especially because it seems like it is a bunch of far-right morons who are behind this. I do, however, look forward to the schadenfreude on Saturday of the few idiots who attend this getting arrested by police and getting mocked to hell and back on social media. Because Scotland has shown time and time again that it has no time or patience for far right tubes threatening other people's lives |
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Post by Ian Wolf-Park on May 14, 2020 22:15:37 GMT -5
Some good news from my end. We've been in a state of emergency since the outbreak started, but it appears that the number of cases have been decreasing day by day (I'm not exactly sure if the curve is being flattened). Still, the government's being cautious as they are announcing reopening some services in stages. Not quite out of the woods just yet, but it's a start.
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Post by PFA on May 16, 2020 10:45:09 GMT -5
Lots of love and support for everyone. <3
I guess this is an appropriate place to put this? I saw a prompt on another forum asking what your characters would be doing if they were quarantined like this, and I keep thinking about it. XD Joffery cooped up in Jade Manor driving everyone crazy with quarantine songs
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Post by Thorn on May 21, 2020 16:31:12 GMT -5
After being inside for a Longlong Time, every smile or small act of kindness now I'm back out in the world is getting to me!
Bus driver just smiled at me and said "I'll get the door for you", and I'm like "HERGHMERGH ARE YOU AN ACTUAL ANGEL? THANK???"
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Post by Ebil on May 25, 2020 1:30:47 GMT -5
Hi guys! I saw a couple posts about not finding masks for sale, and though this is a weird way to start one of my periodic NTWF homecomings, thought I'd throw in that if any of you are still looking for fabric masks I can send you one, or two or three if you don't have any others. And given that they're rather light to ship and I still have my job (so far), I'm happy to cover contiguous US shipping too (if you're uncomfortable with that and want to refund the cost of shipping, we can work it out, but it's not a big deal. If it gets exorbitant for me I'll edit or take down this post.)
They're just plain white fabric masks. My parents have extra, basically because of a group order wherein a bunch of us asian people collectively got a bunch shipped wholesale from overseas, so I'm just tryina spread the safety.
*I'm happy to ship internationally but would need to be advised on customs and exactly which shipping service to use so it may not be worth the hassle for you at that point.
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Post by Celestial on Jun 8, 2020 13:25:30 GMT -5
South Georgia internship cancelled for this year due to COVID. But they'll keep my application on file until next year. So keep your fingers crossed for me.
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Post by Celestial on Jul 13, 2020 9:35:11 GMT -5
Sorry for the double post, but I really need to get something off my chest.
Scotland has compulsory face coverings right now, in shops and on public transport. I wholeheartedly support this. I am so happy that the government is taking this seriously and that people are complying. I myself have a buff that I can use to pull over my mouth and nose if I must.
My issue is that I do not wear it all the time due to discomfort. It fogs up my glasses and creates sensory issues because I have a thing about feeling my hot breath over my face. If I can avoid it, I do not wear it. I have considered switching out for a face mask, but the ties around my ears do not sit comfortably with my glasses and create further sensory issues. I also cannot find a good tie-around face mask that is reusable (because I do not want to contribute more to single-use plastics) and comfortable. It also won't solve the sensory issue of hot breath on face.
However, all this means that I am constantly going around with massive anxiety over being seen as That Person who is anti-mask. I live in fear of being confronted over it. And part of me thinks I should put up with that discomfort for the greater public good. It freaks me out and I do not know what to do about all this.
I still keep 6 feet away from everyone as much as I possibly can (because that is actually good for my sensory issues and general anti-people thing.)
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Post by Pixie on Jul 13, 2020 11:51:08 GMT -5
Celestial Before pandemic, I actually bought two packages of dust masks because I was having multiple asthma attacks a day on campus from smokers. (At the time, reusable ones were nowhere to be found). They have metal strip on the nose that conforms to stop them from fogging glasses, and they attach with one cord behind the head, not over the ears. I've been mostly stuck at home, but I've worn them while donating blood twice, on long walks, and getting my matted hair chopped off. I'm prone to sensory issues as well, but I find them alright (YMMV). Would you be up for a care package?
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Post by Celestial on Jul 13, 2020 12:05:52 GMT -5
Celestial Before pandemic, I actually bought two packages of dust masks because I was having multiple asthma attacks a day on campus from smokers. (At the time, reusable ones were nowhere to be found). They have metal strip on the nose that conforms to stop them from fogging glasses, and they attach with one cord behind the head, not over the ears. I've been mostly stuck at home, but I've worn them while donating blood twice, on long walks, and getting my matted hair chopped off. I'm prone to sensory issues as well, but I find them alright (YMMV). Would you be up for a care package? Thank you for the tip! I do appreciate the care package offer a lot, but I feel like with shipping costs from the US to the UK, it may be a bit too much money, and you probably need them more than me. But I looked around and I found similar stuff to what you are describing which I can get easily. So I think I'll order that! |
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