The great lockdown debate - P Hitchens Vs D Hodges

It's sort of difficult to take Peter Hitchen's seriously when he thinks wearing face masks is equivalent to being muzzled.

Would you go to someone with cancer and tell them their tumour doesn't exist, and they are being selfish?

Doctors and nurses will wear surgical masks for extended periods of time while operating on said tumour without the slightest complaint. Yet they aren't superhumans.

So you'll have a hard time convincing people that you have so little emotional resilience that you are unable to wear a mask for five minutes while you pop into Tesco.

I know, a lot of people don't believe it. And in fairness to them I can sort of see why. From their perpsective there is no visible reason why I can't wear a mask, they think it's just a case of don't want to/being selfish/being difficult. A physical injury would be more visible and clear, but this is all in the mind. You can't really "show" people that, it's difficult trying to explain that anxiety to people who haven't experienced it themselves.

In these difficult times I think we need to accept that many are struggling to cope with all these changes, and it's inevitable that some won't manage as well as others. Some people can manage to wear a mask just fine, others manage it with a bit of discomfort, some just can't manage. Just because you are able to wear one doesn't mean everyone can, and it's wrong to shun people or make them feel bad for something they can't help.

I know, a lot of people don't believe it. And in fairness to them I can sort of see why. From their perpsective there is no visible reason why I can't wear a mask, they think it's just a case of don't want to/being selfish/being difficult. A physical injury would be more visible and clear, but this is all in the mind. You can't really "show" people that, it's difficult trying to explain that anxiety to people who haven't experienced it themselves.

In these difficult times I think we need to accept that many are struggling to cope with all these changes, and it's inevitable that some won't manage as well as others. Some people can manage to wear a mask just fine, others manage it with a bit of discomfort, some just can't manage. Just because you are able to wear one doesn't mean everyone can, and it's wrong to shun people or make them feel bad for something they can't help.

Some of us do struggle mentally with the idea of wearing a mask that covers the face, and the abuse we get sometimes is shocking. I've had people tell me that anxiety doesn't exist, or that I'm just being selfish. Would you go to someone with cancer and tell them their tumour doesn't exist, and they are being selfish? Apparently when it's an mental issue instead of a physical one, nobody cares.

I'm sure there are at least some people out there who struggle to wear a mask. Almost all people, however, can. Peter Hitchens does not come across as someone who struggles with it; their comments about face masks being "muzzled" are just stupid remarks against something that is meant to benefit everyone.

How do you tell the difference though? Someone who can't wear a mask because of anxiety can't exactly "show" you that in the same way they could show you a physical injury.

I'm not sure what this has to do with face masks being called "muzzles"?