Editor:
I try to respect other people’s views on the COVID pandemic, but sometimes even just silently avoiding someone who is violating public health orders isn’t enough to stop a confrontation.
I was in Lougheed Town Centre doing some shopping on Saturday when I went into Walmart. They have arrows on the floor but few people actually follow them. Some of the areas get pretty tight when looking for items, such as the bedding aisle.
I was checking out some sheets when a maskless woman – the only one in the entire store – came aggressively walking towards me. She was coming so fast that I looked at her and immediately turned around and scooted away.
I just don’t want to get close to someone who is clearly ignoring the mask rules, which likely means they haven’t been vaccinated either. I don’t know, I don’t want to ask and so I just assume and get out of their way.
I thought this would be enough, but no. This woman yelled, “where are you going?”
I ignored this and simply went into a different aisle. I thought that would be the end of it, but no – again! - she followed to the same aisle and came up right behind me.
“That’s not nice to treat me like I’m a leper,” she said, loudly. She then berated me about how she’s tired of people looking at her “weird” because she’s not wearing a mask.
I didn’t respond and she sort of tired herself out and stormed out.
This is what retail staff apparently deal with every single day. It was sad and frightening at the same time. I literally had said nothing and this maskless maniac just blew up.
It’s not enough that B.C. is now lifting most restrictions. All that’s being asked for now is to wear a mask for a few minutes in a store and get vaccinated with a safe, effective vaccine.
I guess even that is too much to ask of some people.
T. Williams, Burnaby
