Masks. To wear or not to wear

[ripples101]

There are two premises:

1. Wearing a mask DOES help to reduce the spread of covid-19

2. Wearing a mask DOES NOT help to reduce the spread of covid-19

Obviously, only one of the statements above can be true.

First question: Which of the above statements do you agree with?

Next...

If you DO wear a mask, I think it's reasonable to assume that (for you), one or both of the following statements are true:

3. You do believe that wearing a mask does helps limit the spread

4. You do not have a physical or psychological reason that prevents
   you from doing so.

But if you DON'T wear a mask, then the reasons why could be any one (or any combination) of the following:

5. You have a physical or psychological reason that prevents you from doing so (but you still believe that wearing a mask does help reduce the spread)

6. You do have a physical or psychological reason that prevents you from doing so (but you don't believe that wearing a mask helps reduce the spread)

7. There is no point in wearing a mask because you believe that wearing a mask does not help to reduce the spread of Covid-19

8. You don't believe that you are at risk if you catch Covid-19

9. You won't be told what to do

10. You don't believe Covid-19 even exists

(11, 12, 13, etc. etc.) Insert any reason of your own here....

So the question to anyone/everyone.

Which number are you?

(You can choose more than one number!!!)

My secondary school daughter was demonstrating to me how thy wear masks at school in the corridor. Suffice to say nowhere near their noses or mouths!
Then someone in their school ought to be telling them to wear them properly.
At my school a good 97-99% of students are doing exactly what is required, don't need telling to follow the one way systems, don't need telling to wear a mask properly, don't need telling to sanitise their hands.
I couldn't be more impressed at how calm they are and how they are getting on with things.

I wear one where I’m meant to.

I think it might help somewhat but can’t say for sure.

I wear one because I'm told to. Otherwise I would not.

@loulouljh

For every article that you can find supporting masks you can find another against. I do not believe in them at all. Ihave one disposable one which I wear if I absolutely have to. I am certainly no buying another.

My secondary school daughter was demonstrating to me how thy wear masks at school in the corridor. Suffice to say nowhere near their noses or mouths! They are something to be played with...for that reason alone masks do not work!

You can find all the anti mask articles you want if you're scientifically illiterate

And loads of anti vax articles. People find what they want to find on google.

The problem is we have had too many mixed messages and no-one with any kind of authority to spell out why mask wearing, along with all the other measures, can help reduce the spread of the virus.

@Ginfordinner

And loads of anti vax articles. People find what they want to find on google.

The problem is we have had too many mixed messages and no-one with any kind of authority to spell out why mask wearing, along with all the other measures, can help reduce the spread of the virus.

I'd say the scientific and medical experts including those at the WHO have authority.

www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-and-masks

I wear a mask because we have been asked/told to and I don't have a reason not to. If it might help I think it is worth doing it.

And like I've said before, there are some absolutely brilliant masks out there.
I've posted this one before but doing it again because I just love it so much.
Gutted it's sold out. I doubt they'll make any more given they're Aussie based - and as Australia has taken effective containment measures life is largely normal there (including limited need for masks).

spaceaustralia.com.au/products/arse-face-mask

[quote SheepandCow]And like I've said before, there are some absolutely brilliant masks out there.
I've posted this one before but doing it again because I just love it so much.
Gutted it's sold out. I doubt they'll make any more given they're Aussie based - and as Australia has taken effective containment measures life is largely normal there (including limited need for masks).

spaceaustralia.com.au/products/arse-face-mask[/quote]
In Victoria it’s likely we will be wearing masks for a long time so there are great ones available. I beleive that mask absolutely help, and have been hugely helpful in reducing our numbers

Unless and until there are a clear, consistent public health message from our Government on the benefits of wearing masks, clear minimum quality standards for cloth masks, and clear instructions for safe use, care and disposal (ones nationally publicised, rather than having to be looked up by people who are interested), masks will not be taken seriously by the huge number of people who are still stuck on the message at the start of the pandemic that masks outside of hospital settings may not only be pointless, they may increase spread if used improperly. If you try to scare people into not wearing masks, then scare them into using them, you shouldn’t be surprised by the consequent mess and confusion.

Check out this video from the SLO mo guys talking to Dr Fauci
Sneezes/coughs/talking with mask/without in slow motion.

I think it’s very compelling as to the benefits of masks.

[quote TheCatsPjammas]Check out this video from the SLO mo guys talking to Dr Fauci
Sneezes/coughs/talking with mask/without in slow motion.

I think it’s very compelling as to the benefits of masks.

[/quote] You see, I don’t find that sort of simple visualisation helpful, because all it does is make me think how utterly revolting it is to press a piece of cloth over your face which is absorbing all the disgusting stuff you have just made us visualise and keeping it up close and personal for hours at a time, so that you cannot avoid rebreathing it, all while bacteria and fungi multiply on it, in that increasingly moist, increasingly dirty environment.

I find it bizarre how many people casually assert that they're a "rule follower", as if mindlessly doing whatever someone else tells you to were something to be proud of! These sorts of people form the bedrock of every totalitarian regime, real and fictional, throughout history, and they would presumably be among the 66% who would electrocute you to death in Stanley Milgram's experiment. They would quite willingly do Umbridge's bidding and enforce every one of her absurd decrees; they certainly wouldn't be part of Dumbledore's Army!

...Courage and conscience seem to be alien notions to most people... Truly grim. :(

@McSilkson

I find it bizarre how many people casually assert that they're a "rule follower", as if mindlessly doing whatever someone else tells you to were something to be proud of! These sorts of people form the bedrock of every totalitarian regime, real and fictional, throughout history, and they would presumably be among the 66% who would electrocute you to death in Stanley Milgram's experiment. They would quite willingly do Umbridge's bidding and enforce every one of her absurd decrees; they certainly wouldn't be part of Dumbledore's Army!

...Courage and conscience seem to be alien notions to most people... Truly grim. :(

Bit of a reach there, equating following mask rules - which make as much sense as seatbelt laws - with totalitarian enablers. And Milgram's experiment was flawed. Maybe you should do yourself a favour and dwell instead on the experiments showing universal altruism - just as, if not more valid, but so much less likely to get headlines.

I don't believe it makes any difference to the spread.

I make a vague attempt to put a scarf somewhere near my face when in shops, but only because I can't be bothered with being told off (which is embarrassing for me, but also for the assistant who is presumably just doing his/her job and enforcing company policy).

It's also only a very vague attempt.

The other reasons for not wearing one properly are:

There is no evidence to show they work.

They are disgusting, germ-riddled items. People wear them on their chins, heads, wrists - and re-use them all the time. If you wanted to put a little petri dish of germs around your nose and mouth, a mask is ideal.

They are yet another diktat from a totalitarian government, and I refuse to be part of it.

I can't see in them because my glasses steam up so much when I wear them that it's barely worth leaving the house.

I'm also baffled by people who say "because I'm told to".

What else would you unquestioningly do, if you were "told to"?

@celan

I'm also baffled by people who say "because I'm told to".

What else would you unquestioningly do, if you were "told to"?

Just about anything my manager asks me to at work?

I pointed out yesterday that some training he'd asked me to do was irrelevant to me. He told me i had to do it anyway. I'm doing it.

it's pretty normal for people to do what "people in authority say". Our whole society is based on people following rules.

What else would you unquestioningly do, if you were "told to"?

Well as a start I drive on the left, I obey speed limits, I don't drive through red lights is that OK for a start?

I also strap GC into car seats, various types depending on their age/size.

I fill out a self assessment tax form and pay my taxes.

Hope that helps.

They are disgusting, germ-riddled items. People wear them on their chins, heads, wrists - and re-use them all the time. If you wanted to put a little petri dish of germs around your nose and mouth, a mask is ideal.

I wear mine to cover my nose and mouth and don't reuse them. You are making sweeping generalisations.

@ancientgran

What else would you unquestioningly do, if you were "told to"?

Well as a start I drive on the left, I obey speed limits, I don't drive through red lights is that OK for a start?

I also strap GC into car seats, various types depending on their age/size.

I fill out a self assessment tax form and pay my taxes.

Hope that helps.

Yes, obviously there are some things we have to do because it's illegal not to. It's right for those things to be illegal, too. I do all of the things you mention.

However, I don't unquestioningly do things that are 'advisory', or are based on no concrete and undeniable evidence.

If I drive the wrong way down a motorway, I am pretty much guaranteed to kill several people.

If I hit someone when I'm driving at 40mph in a 30mph area, it is pretty much guaranteed that I will kill them or cause life-changing injuries.

If I had crashed my car when my DC were small enough to be in car seats, they would have been demonstrably less likely to die or be seriously injured than if they'd not been strapped in.

And so on.

There is no clear or conclusive evidence that face-masks have any effect on the transmission of Covid 19. Hence they are very different from the other situations you outline.

@RedskyAtnight I have come across bosses like that, too. I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to leave a job at the moment, but the situation you describe would not be satisfactory in the long term. I'm surprised that anyone would think it might be.

@celan

I'm also baffled by people who say "because I'm told to".

What else would you unquestioningly do, if you were "told to"?

Adhere to laws Try to be a responsible citizen Pay my taxes And defer to and do the bidding of my all powerful controlling overlords.

...oh god, you're right...the veil has been lifted from mine eyes...I am but a mere pawn...yada yada yada.

@ancientgran (sorry - I'm not trying to pick on you, honestly!)

I have seen every type of revolting behaviour with masks. I'm sure you wear yours sensibly. I was very put off when I saw someone with a beard whose Big Mac was dripping into said beard and the mask which he had lowered around his chin. He then put the wretched thing back on.

🤮

@celan

I'm also baffled by people who say "because I'm told to".

What else would you unquestioningly do, if you were "told to"?

I'm also baffled b y people who question everything they are asked to do or not to do when common sense means that it would be the sensible thing to do. For example I don't drink and drive, I meet deadlines at work, I look both ways before crossing the road.

Celan if you sneeze on someone vulnerable you might kill them. The point is you are unquestioningly following rules, some speed limits are very arbitrary, I can think of roads near me that are 60 mph and dangerous and others where a 40 mph changes to 30 mph for no apparent reason. I still go down to 30 mph though. Would you do an assessment and decide if you are going to follow that rule?

I’m not sure it makes much difference, certainly not as much as hand washing and social distancing. When I go anywhere I keep my distance from other people.

But I don’t know for certain that it doesn’t help, and it’s the rules so I do it.