I wore a mask the other day to go to Costco for the first time in months. I really wanted to go and brought one of my old masks they handed me at the Doctors office months ago. Wearing a mask was dehumanizing and I felt very ashamed for doing it. I saw a group of 3 people not wearing a mask and I felt more ashamed of myself. Why wasn't I brave enough to not wear the mask?
Today I redeemed myself and regained some of my humanity. My state of Michigan requires a mask under penalty of a misdemeanor and $500 fine. I had to build up my courage but I went grocery shopping and did not wear a mask. I saw only one other person not wearing a mask and 1 person with the mask pulled down completely.
It isn't much but I told myself that if I can't stand up for a small infringement on my rights that I will never stand up for a large infringement.
Same here, I'm not a tough guy at all really, but my size and the "don't fuck with me look" I can project is working well so far.
I just make sure I walk with purpose and like I am completely confident and know where I am going and what I need to get there, Don't make eye contact with anyone who might question you and keep on moving. I find that if you force people to choose to have to come after you they think twice if they feel like bothering, as most retail workers just don't give a fuck.
If you make eye contact, they they seem to want to engage you, if you just keep moving, they stand still and just kind of freeze.
I am sure I will encounter a stalwart Karen at some point who is willing to chase me and have to yell to get my attention, but I am ready for her too,
I have a plan for that I haven't yet deployed. I almost always have my kids with me and even if I don't, I'm going to shout them down by calling them pedophiles and kid snatchers.
Edit: fuck gloves, they were never on.