Insight: Why some people don't wear masks

[Tambourine]

Back in February a whole bunch of western scientists told us that wearing masks is mostly useless. It became a major faux pas to suggest anything different.

We were told to 'Skip the masks'.

But all our hospital staff started to wear masks all tghe time.

The next thing I knew, our postmen here had to wear face masks, and when I mentioned this in a post it was considered by some to be a most amusing point...... I mean.... postmen!

Then our medical wizards told us that covering the face was beneficial, but that masks still are not necessary.

Then wearing masks became mandatory on all public transport, from coaches to buses to trains etc......

Yesterday I received a text message from our surgery to tell me that masks must be worn when visiting the surgery.

So we've changed our minds about masks.

Do you think it is a bad thing to change one's mind when confronted with convincing facts?

 

[Koldo]

Back in February a whole bunch of western scientists told us that wearing masks is mostly useless. It became a major faux pas to suggest anything different.

We were told to 'Skip the masks'.

But all our hospital staff started to wear masks all tghe time.

The next thing I knew, our postmen here had to wear face masks, and when I mentioned this in a post it was considered by some to be a most amusing point...... I mean.... postmen!

Then our medical wizards told us that covering the face was beneficial, but that masks still are not necessary.

Then wearing masks became mandatory on all public transport, from coaches to buses to trains etc......

Yesterday I received a text message from our surgery to tell me that masks must be worn when visiting the surgery.

So we've changed our minds about masks.

"If doctors have to wear it, why shouldn't us?"
I remember that being that being the thought that crossed my mind months ago. Look where we are today...

 

[Koldo]

Do you think it is a bad thing to change one's mind when confronted with convincing facts?

No. I think that is not the point.
The facts were the same. Only the attitude towards them changed.

 

[oldbadger]

Do you think it is a bad thing to change one's mind when confronted with convincing facts?

Absolutely not!
But a few experts in the West seem to have been just a bit embarrassed! And Presidents too!

 

[oldbadger]

"If doctors have to wear it, why shouldn't us?"
I remember that being that being the thought that crossed my mind months ago. Look where we are today...

Hi Koldo.
Fair enough. Exactly so.
Some folks now tell us that the anti mask line was to keep the few stocks for emergency workers, but that is hog wash because they later changed the story to 'make a face covering' ..... that's different.

 

[Thief]

Your words make people sick and kill them! SHAME ON YOU! This has been explained to you, you are ignoring facts and replacing it with dangerous nonsense. We can keep acting like bafoons who are totally out of touch with reality, or, instead, or we resort to facts, science, medicine, and compassion and not coldly and callously dismiss the deaths of millions (which will happen if we take your approach of destruction and suicide).

I didn't create the virus

shame on God?

or if you think the Chinese were playing with something and screwed up
shame on them

as for me?
I do believe the virus will run it's course
and these superficial efforts are just that
superficial

got vitamins?....take them
got junk food?.....stop that

be brave

 

[Tambourine]

Absolutely not!
But a few experts in the West seem to have been just a bit embarrassed! And Presidents too!

Why would it be embarassing for them to change their minds in the face of facts?

I don't know about you, but personally, I'd rather have experts and leaders doing that, than the opposite, i.e. stubbornly clinging to opinions that have been refuted by contrary evidence.

 

[Thief]

and 'decrease the surplus population.' You are in rather poor company.

well.....I am kinda out here on my own

I live like a monk

 

[Shaul]

I have thought wearing masks would be a good thing for quite a few people. Because they be uuuuugly.

 

[Polymath257]

Why would it be embarassing for them to change their minds in the face of facts?

I don't know about you, but personally, I'd rather have experts and leaders doing that, than the opposite, i.e. stubbornly clinging to opinions that have been refuted by contrary evidence.

Exactly. Since this is a *new disease*, we are learning as we go along. At *every* stage, we use the current 'best guess based on the available evidence'.

To do anything else is foolhardy.

 

[Polymath257]

well.....I am kinda out here on my own

I live like a monk

And if you never interact with other people, you don't have to wear a mask.

But if you go into town, I would recommend wearing one.

 

[Polymath257]

I didn't create the virus

shame on God?

or if you think the Chinese were playing with something and screwed up
shame on them

as for me?
I do believe the virus will run it's course
and these superficial efforts are just that
superficial

got vitamins?....take them
got junk food?.....stop that

be brave

The virus is killing people. Wearing masks decreases the rate of transmission *significantly*.

So,
interact with other people? ....Wear a mask.

Simple.

 

[Thief]

And if you never interact with other people, you don't have to wear a mask.

But if you go into town, I would recommend wearing one.

oh I do so.....

but only to avoid some crazy in my face who doesn't understand the futility of the covering

as you type your next post.....breathe deep
and you have inhaled a number of items that could kill you

why are you not dying?
your immune system is still working

any weakness.....and you die

 

[Polymath257]

oh I do so.....

but only to avoid some crazy in my face who doesn't understand the futility of the covering

as you type your next post.....breathe deep
and you have inhaled a number of items that could kill you

why are you not dying?
your immune system is still working

any weakness.....and you die

And if you have an over-reactive immune system, that can kill you as well. And one of the things this virus can initiate is a cytokine storm, which is essentially when the immune system goes overboard and ends up killing the person.

You don't *want* too weak of an immune system, that is true. But you also don't want an overly reactive one: that leads to auto-immune diseases, which are also nasty.

And, guess what? For a new infection, it takes *time* for your immune system to work: it needs to produce the antibodies that fight the new infection.

Most of the things you inhale on a daily basis are things the immune system has already learned about, and can react quickly. But it is NOT the case for this virus because it is *new*.

 

[Thief]

And if you have an over-reactive immune system, that can kill you as well. And one of the things this virus can initiate is a cytokine storm, which is essentially when the immune system goes overboard and ends up killing the person.

You don't *want* too weak of an immune system, that is true. But you also don't want an overly reactive one: that leads to auto-immune diseases, which are also nasty.

And, guess what? For a new infection, it takes *time* for your immune system to work: it needs to produce the antibodies that fight the new infection.

Most of the things you inhale on a daily basis are things the immune system has already learned about, and can react quickly. But it is NOT the case for this virus because it is *new*.

somewhere I heard.....
there are 300 known causes for the common cold
thousands more....unknown

so.....if you take one item and suffer two weeks
times 300
you are going to be quite sick for a long time

reality check
you are sick right now

you just don't know it

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I see non mask wearers in groups everywhere, not only locally. A few days ago the UK reopened non essential shops. The the resultant crowds of desperate shoppers hit the news, many of whom were maskless and huddled shoulder to shoulder trying to cram through shop entrances. Those with masks sensibly hung back. The images were very telling on who cares about others and who doesn't.

Although wearing a mask is not 100% effective. Non masked infected people coughing and sneezing made the virus airborne, i cannot find the article now but early on i saw that coughing or sneezing can project the virus up to 6 metres and can stay suspended in the air for hours.

Oh, wow. Don't know about that. I can count the amount of people not wearing masks on one hand here. While smoking, while jogging, in their cars, crossing the street. We don't need to at out fitness club fr health reasons but one or two do.

I mean people may think I'm ignorant. Generalizations aren't always a good way to ascertain the truth.

 

[Thief]

here's a kick in the head.....

most of your body is water
the rest of it is living material

most of THAT......is not YOU!

that's right....
for the MOST part you are a complex taxi service for cell life that does NOT share your dna

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Hi..... The 'Masks don't work' message was regular news in the UK until about May, when the boffins decided to tell us that 'Masks still can't protect you, but face-coverings can protect others from you, and any face covering will do.'
They were definitely trying to U-Turn and still not wanting to just tell us to put a mask on in close spaces etc.

You have only met one person opposed to mask wearing? Everybody where my wife works hates wearing them! This is what I hear:-
You can get very hot.
Your glasses steam up.
It's more difficult to speak clearly.
Your nose and face feels 'funny' after a time.
....and more.

But apart from that, they're brilliant!

Oh. Wow. I live with the elderly and the office doesn't seem to enforce masks for residents but for visitors. It's a tough call but no one hugs anymore and they Dodge and weave so I carry it with me for stores.

But those are silly reasons not to wear them.

 

[Quagmire]

California just made masks in public mandatory, basically for what you said. I strongly agree with that decision, and feel its such a small thing to do for such a large payoff.

Glad to hear that. I'm in SoCal and where I am almost nobody wears one unless they have to.

Will have to wait and see how strictly they enforce this though.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The problem with this virus is that people shed it *before* they show symptoms. Someone may look and feel completely healthy and still have the virus and spread it to others. Many new infections happen in exactly this way (truly asymptomatic people--who never show symptoms, are also a danger).



Those who are NOT wearing masks are the ones that are putting the rest in danger. Wearing masks is the responsible thing to do. It isn't simply out of fear, per se, but a reasonable way to prevent spread of this disease.

I'm quite sure that most people who are not wearing masks in public are either stupid or jerks. At home, no issue. But if you are in the presence of other people, wear a mask.

It's a generalization. People who don't live in public areas wouldn't need to. Judgement call. Six feet and washing hands are better imo