I had to travel to central London last week. I haven't worn a mask since the start of this rubbish, but I was a little worried about the reaction from others. I'd seen, as I'm sure others have, a video on youtube a couple of months ago where an ugly fat thug waiting on the underground, mouthed off at a woman who was not wearing a mask. He was intimidating to put it mildly. From what I could see, he appeared to be about eighteen inches from the platform edge, with his back to the tracks, as he mouthed off at her. I remember thinking when I saw that, just how satisfying it would be, to propel that globule of lard backwards and end his rant once and for all. And how tempting...
For that reason, and that reason alone, I wore a paper mask under my nose, on the 30 minute journey. I needn't have worried in the event - the entire tube network seemed devoid of human life.
Returning home, I called in at Brent Cross shopping centre and I'd actually forgotten I had the stupid thing on. Ascending the escalator, I noticed a thirtyish guy standing on the floor that I was leaving, not wearing a mask. I looked at him briefly, studying him and those around him - basically admiring his stance. He saw me looking. And he shot back such a glare that I felt ashamed. He'd assumed I was staring because I disapproved. And he made it clear - he disapproved of my apparent disapproval.
And I realised for the first time at that moment, all those times I've shot back glares at people who have stared at me, because I go maskless, the reason why they look away so quickly. It's not hatred of me because I'm not obeying 'orders.' They're ashamed they don't have the guts to do the same.
So - don't be afraid of going maskless: the stares you get are mainly from admirers.