Man Got Online Shamed for Not Wearing Mask But Internet Forgives Once He Apologises Sincerely

As the ongoing epidemic ravages the Earth as we know it, one single accessory has become part of the daily norms:

A face mask.

Image: getprettyface.com

No, not that one. This one.

Image: maskent.blogspot.com

Yeah that’s better- no, no, no!

Image: Mashable SEA

Ah, that’s better… right?

Anyway, you get the gist: a face mask has, throughout the course of the epidemic, more or less become part and parcel of every citizen’s daily routine. And considering how it has seemingly aided results worldwide, one can assume that the “forced” adoption of the accessory has been well-validated.

covid-19 doctor mask
Image: Facebook (Lianhe Zaobao Live Video)

Yet, here’s the thing;

What then, I wonder, would happen if someone does not wear a mask? Or to be more exact…

Would it become a social stigma, the sort you always see on sites like Stomp?

Image: MemesHappen

Well, without further ado…

Let’s find out.

Man Got Online Shamed for Not Wearing Mask But Internet Forgives Once He Apologises Sincerely

According to a previous post (which has since been deleted; you’d understand why soon) by Facebook page SG Dirty Fella, a man was spotted without his mask while waiting for the train, and subsequently when sitting down.

Image: Facebook (SG Dirty Fella)

Glued to his phone, he seemed to be unaware of the phone directed towards him.

Image: Facebook (SG Dirty Fella)

And suffice to say; response was not positive. After the images were uploaded to the web, the man began facing criticism from the page, as well as Netizens of the web.

Well, it is compulsory for everyone to wear a mask in the country. And not wearing one can qualify as an offence. So small wonder why everyone was aggravated.

But something happened, something that changed things. Following the online documentation of the incident, one man turned up to make an apology.

Yes, ladies and gentleman. Steve has arrived.

Image: Facebook (SG Dirty Fella)

Now, as anyone would surely attest to, it’s relatively easy to make a mistake…

But infuriatingly hard to admit, and fix it.

So when Steve admitted his wrong and apologised to everyone, any pre-existing hate was soon crushed into fine dust.

Image: Facebook (SG Dirty Fella)

Well, it’s heartening to see how big-hearted Netizens can be.

Incidentally, some have also shared their own experiences of inadvertently going “barefaced”.

Image: Facebook (SG Dirty Fella)

Which means that in a sense, Steve was real unlucky to be caught on his off day, considering how so many of his ‘peers’ have managed to ‘dodge’ the hook.

Guess someone will always have to bite the short end of the stick.

Lest you’re unaware, SG Dirty Fella seems to be a page that’s dedicated to calling out outlandish/wrong behaviour exhibited on the streets of Singapore.

Apart from Steve, the page has also exposed the identities of numerous citizens, who went about in Singapore without their masks.

And though the page has somewhat served as an alternative version of journalist site Stomp, it has attracted controversy on multiple occasions. Steve’s incident, for instance, prompted the furore of several Netizens, including one who accused the admin of “stirring the pot.”

“I don’t understand what’s wrong with all you keyboard warriors and this shit stirring admin – the man has already apologised for his mistake and clarified that he sincerely forgot about it,” the commenter wrote.

“And that he put it back on when he remembered. It’s human nature to forget to wear the mask sometimes, many of us have been through it. Instead of approaching him, knn why you so gutless and post him?”

But then again, I don’t think you can please everyone, controversial or not.

With that said, remember to wear your face mask whenever you’re out in public because experts have mentioned that one of the ways to prevent a second COVID-19 wave in Singapore is through masks.

The other is contact tracing, which you can help out by downloading the TraceTogether app. If you’re worried about privacy, you might want to watch this video: