AIBU to wonder why men are such shmucks

[DownToTheSeaAgain]

Just been on a longish bus/ tube/ overground journey and couldn't help noticing that the vast majority of those either not wearing masks or wearing them under their chin/ over their mouth only are men.

Obviously there are exceptions to this but my non scientific poll indicates that being a mask shmuck is largely a man thing. I just don't believe that all of them have exemptions unless being a man is an automatic pass to ignore the rules.

All I got from my teenage sons was 'it is because they are shmucks' but is it just this or is there some biological imperative that makes them behave this way.

Answers welcome ....

[quote Thingstodotoday]A report on some studies on this topic www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/face-masks-men-masculinity-coronavirus-lockdown-boris-johnson-b1077119.html%3famp[/quote]
Wow thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for.

'mask-wearing can be interpreted as showing weakness among some men. It suggests they fear the virus in a very public manner, which, in turn, punctures the bravado'

It is because they are schmucks.

Case closed. Nothing to see now. Thank you.

@vimtosogood

Grown adults using public transport are generally shmucks, especially in a near 30 degree heatwave.

This is one of the stupidest comments I've read in over ten years on this website. Well done.

[quote hamstersarse]@sillysmiles

One word. Testosterone.

If you are one of those blank slaters, I’m sure that’ll trigger you....but science n all that...testosterone levels and risk taking go hand in hand[/quote]
I'm not sure what you mean by blank slaters....but I don't think you can separate out generational societal impact.

Men historically are more risk takers - but I don't think you can separate the impact of testosterone and the impact of societal approval for male risk takers.
Female risk takers would probably been less inclined to take risks a) accepting your biology argument and b) because of the societal impacts

I think there are some strange posts on this thread. Anyone who is not wearing a mask on public transport isn't doing it because they are risk takers, but because they think the rules don't apply to them.

It's arrogance at the very least and sociopathy at the extreme.

(and I exclude people who are excluded from having to wear masks from that category before you all pile on me).

@HelenHywater just to be clear, I don't think men on public transport aren't wearing mask because they are risk takers, but I disagree with @hamstersarse point that men have historically always been risk takers, it's in their nature and that it has been a good thing for society.

That's fine @sillysmiles = I don't have a view on risk taking and testosterone and am not suggesting you're wrong!

I think it would be a really interesting experiment/research to determine the historical impact of male risk takers - was it actually beneficial to society or simply their own personal gains and the impact of the societal impedance of female risk taking where society could be now, if women had been more supported historically.

Though, without a crystal ball and some time travel I'm not sure how you'd achieve the second part of the question!