"There's a lot to unpick here.
Firstly, people who make different value judgements to you about risks and benefits are not being dicks, just as people who feel more comfortable not socialising indoors and want to wear masks in public spaces aren't either."
Ok. To rephrase, In my opinion, people who tell someone they shouldn't go out because they have an asthmatic cough are dicks. I accept that they may believe I'm a dick for thinking that. People who have an issue with someone wearing a mask - in my opinion - are also dicks. Again, I accept that they may think the reverse is true.
It still makes them dicks in my eyes because I haven't yet heard an argument for why that isn't dickish behaviour.
"Any public health messaging or policies starting from that perspective will be at best a waste of time."
My issue with public health messaging is that it is not informative - telling people to exercise personal responsibility and assess risk without adequate information is poor form.
"Additionally, if you want to talk about risk management, you can't only pick the ones you like."
Any measure (including do nothing) has impacts, yes.
"So if you want people to be told they should stay in when they have minor symptoms, that means acknowledging that this will be used as a tool of coercive control by some abusers."
Yes, good point. Obviously, increased illness will also put someone in a more vulnerable position (current policy).
"and that some people will be told they shouldn't be in public spaces by others, as a consequence of the messaging"
yes, my 'dick' response
"These will disproprortionately be people who are already vulnerable in some way"
like those who wear masks and are berated by dicks because of it.
"because for all the comments on here about tutting at people who weren't wearing masks, got too close etc, people don't do that if they think it's going to get them slapped. They go for the easy targets."
Yes, as with anything
"Ultimately, you can if you like just tell people they should be doing X and Y. Sure. It's an option. But three and a half years into a pandemic, and having observed the failure in real world conditions of some of the provisions you mention"
which ones
"it's going to fall on a lot of deaf ears. You don't have to like that for it to be true. Meanwhile, those resources could be used for something we know would actually help like better sick pay"
The deaf ears if people are given appropriate information is one thing, deaf ears because they're not is another. I mentioned sick pay in an earlier post.