‘I asked ‘shouldn’t we be social distancing?’ and the foul abuse began’

• AS an insulin-dependent diabetic for 60 years, I wear a mask whenever I’m out.

Recently on a bus journey, I noticed other passengers who were BAME, both men and women, were all wearing masks; also white women were equipped with the correct protective gear.

An older white man came and sat down at my side. “Shouldn’t we be social distancing?” I asked politely. His response was a mouthful of loud and foul sexist abuse.

Of course, as I asked about social distancing, I got up and moved away – though he appeared to be a little younger than me and without any obvious sign of being at risk, as I am. This is not the first time I’ve noticed older white men with the same behaviour.

I have a placard on my bag which announces “Diabetic 60 Years on Insulin. Please Keep Your Distance”. Have other women had similar experiences?

I wonder if the sign on my bag annoys such chaps. There seems to be an angry and emotional response from certain people, male and female, against vaccinations, distancing themselves from any scientific attempts at explanation for Covid-19.

I suspect Tory cuts in any form of public education concerning health have led to this wider anti-scientific outburst.

JAN POLLOCK
Hornsey Lane, N6