WESTLOCK — Reaction on social media to mandatory masks at a Westlock grocery store were categorically split between non-maskers who sometimes verged on conspiratorial, and the pro-mask people calling them ‘babies.’
That’s only the summary of more than 300 comments left on one of the three separate posts — one was the original message on Finney’s Independent Grocer’s own page, and the two others were screenshots posted in popular local Facebook pages.
Starting Sept. 23, franchise owner Trent Finney wrote on Tuesday, masks or face coverings will be required when shopping there. It’s since been deleted from the store’s page because of the conversations going on in the comments section.
In short, Finney explained that “we understand that there are some legitimate exemptions but if it is at all possible for you, we ask that you support and join with us in implementing these measures.”
A small contingent of the commenters stated their ‘good job Finney’s’ messages. Of the 86 reactions on this particular repost by Thursday afternoon, only 14 were angry; 67 either liked or loved the mask announcement. The anger was in the comments.
Some people threatened to switch to another grocery store, some provided examples of exemptions, and the more prolific responders were taking shots at ‘the government’ for what they called misleading policies or the fact that masks are littered.
“Well (sic) be taking our business elsewhere. If independent wants to fall in line with their political ideals that’s fine. Luckily it’s not the only place to shop,” wrote one commenter. It’s been relatively common since the pandemic started for Canadians to misinterpret health measures and conflate them with ideology or political leanings.
When someone responded with baby bottle emojis, the same person wrote back, “you grab your ridiculous mask and follow the other sheep to whatever store you like.”
First among the reasons not to wear a mask were medical conditions, mostly brought forth as hypotheticals preceded by ‘what if.’ But one person, who claimed to have 46 per cent lung capacity, COPD, asthma and “half a lung gone” clarified that he’s got a solution: “I just turn up the oxygen and walk slower,” he said in support of the masks.
Others questioned the timing of mask requirements. Some mistook correlation for causation and claimed masks don’t work because cases in Edmonton have been rising since the bylaws were implemented there. For some, not wearing a mask was about freedom of choice: one commenter got 27 reactions for claiming “our country is becoming communist.”
Few commented in support of the policy itself. Most were there to chastise the non-maskers. A self-identified student wrote that “Boycotting a business because they have chosen to implement a preventative health measure is so narrow minded. So what you have to wear a mask for the 25 minutes it takes to get your groceries. I wear a mask every day at school and work for 7-10 hours.” Others who were in support of the policy also brought up students’ willingness to wear masks.
Insults were also common: mask proponents called those opposed ‘babies’; non-maskers thought others were ‘sheep.’
But Finney pointed out that most people missed the point of that original post. First, franchise owners don’t get a say in corporate policy. For why Loblaws chose to impose the policy on all its franchises, he directed the Westlock News to their head office.
Secondly, as a second post on Wednesday makes clear, “if you are not willing and able to wear a mask, we understand that decision is not out of malice. We will not tackle you, interrogate you, or chase you away.”
They ask for “kindness and respect.”
“It was pretty clear that there was a lot of people misinterpreting and imagining that (the policy) was going to be applied in a different way than it really was, so that’s where (the second post) came about,” he said over the phone on Thursday.
“And then it’s the challenge for us of how much do we engage with that because we really don’t have time or energy to be dragged into a whole debate on things. We state our policy and we try to clarify on what that policy will actually look like, the reality of how it’ll be applied here in this area.
“Also we just kind of wanted to say ‘Let’s all be respectful to one another.’”
He knew before posting that mask-wearing is a “charged issue and there are people who have very strong beliefs on both sides of it,” but the Facebook response was still unexpected.
Still, “social media is kind of where that mostly lives,” he said. None of the anger in the Facebook comments section transpired in real life in the store.
“Most of the conversations that we’ve had in person, we can get to the heart of what the concern is and address it in an easier way.”
