New Scientist: Why is mask wearing so divisive?

[Bishybarnybee]

There is an interesting letter in this week's New Scientist suggesting the split over mask wearing might reflect different attitudes to being asked to trade personal freedom for the benefits of cooperation.

They suggest that if you value cooperation highly, you may be more willing to make small sacrifices for the good of others.

They also ask if those who are reluctant to wear masks may also recycle less, drive bigger cars and be reluctant to give up wealth to help the less fortunate or give up comforts and conveniences to help the environment etc.

So - if you are an anti masker, are you also sceptical about reducing flying etc? If you are pro mask, are you also pro recycling, pro tax etc? Or is something totally different going on?

Anecdotally I definitely see that people who are frightened of the virus (& death in general) are much more likely to wear them. Amongst friends, coworkers, family, the ones who are sure they’ll get it imminently (0.004% of the population where I am has tested positive) are the ones wearing masks where it’s not required.

No one actually likes wearing them. And I totally understand there is a small minority who can’t. An anti-masker to me means someone who isn’t exempt but just doesn’t wear one because they don’t want to. I do think there’s a demographic difference. Where I live (fairly deprived small northern town) I’d say it’s maybe 50% of people wear masks in shops. I’ve had two visits down south to ‘nicer’ towns and the increase in masks has definitely been noticeable.

Where I live (London) everyone wears them in shops. Hardly ever see exceptions to that. It’s probably a bit pointless with transmission currently low but perhaps keeps me in the habit for when/if transmission goes up. I think my Strongest inclination to wear them comes from seeing the anxiety on the faces of shop assistants, the ‚i am a sitting duck‘ look. If masks, loads of hand gel make them feel less anxious then happy to do it. I don‘t think I’m especially bad or good in the community stakes. I mean I volunteer and put the recycling out but bluntly I have a lot of room for improvement! So god knows about the New Scientist thing. Since it doesn‘t bother me much and my two Ds don’t care, I don’t need a high bar of evidence to convince me. Also, tbh it is prob partly peer pressure since everyone round here wears them. However, I have sympathy for the many reasons upthread why others dislike it deeply and have reasons to avoid masks. If I shared those reasons I might think differently

The government didn't introduce masks at the height of the pandemic because they were worried about people buying medical grade ones when they were needed for medical and care workers. However, I wore a face covering whenever I went into a supermarket right from the outset.

And the quarantine rules don't apply to countries with fewer cases than we do, although they may do regionally eg the Canary Islands.

I find smear tests considerably more unpleasant than wearing a mask!

Another British government U-turn

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/25/boris-johnson-drops-advice-against-face-mask-use-in-english-schools

I would find a smear test unpleasant WHILE wearing a mask But i find them very painful anyway so dont have them. And thats pre Covid.

I think the majority of reluctant mask wearers are against the physical and sensory side more than the principal of it. A lot of people also seem to think it’s just a box ticking thing than something that really keeps us safe.

I’m a reluctant wearer mainly because I still can’t find one that doesn’t mist up my glasses and it feels like all my senses are ‘muffled’. My job is one that means I can’t social distance so all feels a bit pointless to me on a personal level.

I’ll happily pay more tax if I can stop wearing a mask. I don’t refuse to wear one, although I do actively avoid anywhere where I’d be required to do so as much as is humanly possible.