@forfucksakenett
I choose to follow the opinions of scientists and medical professionals who I trust and respect. I couldn't give a shit what anyone else does. I don't judge non mask wearers because I don't waste my time wondering why they aren't wearing one.
I'm less tolerant of covid deniers because I think they are a bit stupid conspiracy theory types who watch Ivor Cummings videos abs what not. I appreciate that's not very nice but I can't help it. 🤷🏻♀️
My rationale for wearing the mask is the belief that if I have it I would like to minimise the chances of passing it on. Same with the LFTs which I know are also deeply flawed. I don't see why that is such a problem for people to be honest. It's not a moral crusade, it's a personal choice. It's the same principle when you wash your hands in a public toilet. Protect yourself and protect others by using your clean hands to touch doors and what not.
Yes - I don't think my opinions are that far from your's
forfucksake - but saying "I choose to follow the opinions of scientists and medical professionals who I trust and respect" implies that those who have a different view are not following the scientific/ medical advice or (worse
) are following views of people you don't trust or respect
and are therefore thick as mince. So going on to say you don't judge non-mask wearers then seems a bit shallow. You may not judge them morally, but you do judge them to be not "following the opinions of scientists who you trust and respect" - and people make their own (possibly wildly projecting/ inaccurate) interpretations of your view of them from that statement.
I appreciate I am probably reading too much into it, but it does seem to imply that you consider only one interpretation of "the science" to be valid (and it just so happens that all the scientists who you trust and respect have that view too). Obviously very few (probably none!) scientific studies say masks are worthless - but many say they are not 100% effective in a clinical situation and less so in the community, and that cloth face coverings are really not effective at preventing anything other than large droplets from infected people (albeit those are the ones with the most virus) and not effective at all at stopping people breathing them in.
So people may decide that the stress/ discomfort to them of wearing a mask, isn't outweighed by that marginal benefit to them or indeed other people. Other people, including you, weigh up that differently, possibly because you experience less stress to you, or because you put more weight on the benefit to others or yourself, or because you're feeling a bit under the weather on that day so the potential risk to others is increased.
Everyone's personal situations are different - but that doesn't imply that they are covid deniers, or don't care about passing it on, or "follow the wrong science/ scientists" or don't wash their hands after using the toilet. And if someone perfectly following the guidance on mask wearing/ LFTs etc still ends up "passing it on" - is that their failing? Should they have worn a mask more, or better, or taken just one more LFT that could have been positive that time...or just not gone out at all, just in case? Surely that way madness lies! (I confess I may be a bit triggered by this last assumption...I did everything "right" and still ended up waddling around a city on holiday, potentially "passing it on" to all and sundry, even wearing masks and following negative LFTs - because - shock horror - I didn't know I was brewing it. Presumably I should have stayed at home if i really gave a toss about not spreading it...)