By Mary Fahnestock-Thomas, Hamilton
Do you stop at stop signs and stop lights? What are they for? Yes, to protect you and the people around you.
How is that any different from wearing a mask to do the same thing?
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Roger Mitchell says
If it was evident that wearing a mask actually made any difference in either contracting or spreading the corona monster then you might have a point. But it is not and there is no data showing that it ever will be.
If your assertion that wearing a mask protects you and others, then why are the number of “cases” spiking everywhere? (Cases being those who have tested positive for the virus, not those who show symptoms of illness. Positive testing has its own problems and cannot be trusted).
With near-universal mask wearing, it would seem logical that this “deadly pestilence” should be getting choked out instead of spreading. If it was true that mask wearing had any effect at all. But, then, logic, rationality, and common sense don’t either in the era of mass hysteria, paranoia, and panic over what has been proven to be nothing more than a typical cold/flu season.
At least, the masks offer some sense of psychological safety for those who want to force everyone to wear them. Let’s be honest about it. Mask wearing is a crutch. A placebo. An emotional assurance that the wearer will be kept safe–somehow–against all the odds and manage to live through the danger.
Mike Miller says
Well, “Dude”, first off, seat belts and stop sign are “law”, not “mandate”.
Secondly, said “law” requires seat belts to be made of certain materials, sizes, strengths, attachment methods, and worn the correct way (because duct taping yourself in, Dude, won’t help at all). Stop signs are similar: must be made of certain materials and size with certain qualities; can’t just tack up a crayoned piece of cardboard, Dude.
So, Dude, if you just blindly and obediently ‘wear the mask; anything helps!’, you’re not doing anyone any good. If your mask isn’t designed to protect against .1 micron sized particles, isn’t sealed properly, is old, dirty, worn out, wet, etc., it does NO GOOD.
But, gosh, Dude, I bet you feel better being a Social Justice Warrior, regardless of those pesky facts!
Sharon Gee says
I am 100% convinced that stopping at a stop sign or stop light and wearing seatbelts protects not only me but also protects others in my car and on the road.
Many people don’t have such conviction when it comes to masks. They believe that they’re germy, dirty, ineffective and harmful to the health and we’ll-being of themselves and others.