I don’t want to wear a mask

So today is the first day that wearing masks are compulsory in shops having before been ‘advised but optional’.

The same month the UK introduced its eat out to help out scheme, aimed at getting more people to get out of the house and eat in a room full of people without masks. Now, I’m not going to pretend to know anything about viruses but I’m guessing if I’m sitting in a room full of people eating and drinking for an hour plus and breathing in the same air that I’m much more likely to catch something and pass it on than if I go into a shop for 5 minutes, pick what I need, pay at the self check out and leave.

@Trev33

I am ever convinced that people should do what their heart tells them.
Some people have no choice but to go to work to feed their family.
Others a re young and all set financially, and can take the risk, too.

So, whatever. If you feel uncomfortable, Trev, don't participate that way. Get
some goodies and take them home. No harm, no foul.

We hear different things from different sources. We should do our best to follow recommendations and our own common sense. We shouldn't be scared all the time, just show respect for the situation, and do what is best.

The thing that makes no sense to me was that the original concept was to prevent the surgeon exhaling germs into the open wound. Of course air is exhaled in a current but inhaled from all directions. Try sucking out a candle.

Seems to me that if this is about protecting the wearer then basically they inhale slightly more air from beside them than in front of them. Nobody is persuading me the inhaled air has actually passed through the mask rather than taken the low resistance route around it. Makes no sense.

The only persuasive argument I've heard is that it stops people coughing without covering their mouth.

It may be interesting to see how things turn out at Sturgis, South Dakota this year. They expect around 250,000 people to attend the motorcycle rally this year, and apparently the participants are not worrying about masks, distancing, etc. It is going on now until the end of the week.

@earl-of-trumps said
@Trev33

I am ever convinced that people should do what their heart tells them.
Some people have no choice but to go to work to feed their family.
Others a re young and all set financially, and can take the risk, too.

So, whatever. If you feel uncomfortable, Trev, don't participate that way. Get
some goodies and take them home. No harm, no foul.

@petewxyz said
The thing that makes no sense to me was that the original concept was to prevent the surgeon exhaling germs into the open wound. Of course air is exhaled in a current but inhaled from all directions. Try sucking out a candle.

Seems to me that if this is about protecting the wearer then basically they inhale slightly more air from beside them than in front of them. Nobody ...[text shortened]... e only persuasive argument I've heard is that it stops people coughing without covering their mouth.

@mwmiller said
It may be interesting to see how things turn out at Sturgis, South Dakota this year. They expect around 250,000 people to attend the motorcycle rally this year, and apparently the participants are not worrying about masks, distancing, etc. It is going on now until the end of the week.

@trev33 said
So today is the first day that wearing masks are compulsory in shops having before been ‘advised but optional’.

The same month the UK introduced its eat out to help out scheme, aimed at getting more people to get out of the house and eat in a room full of people without masks. Now, I’m not going to pretend to know anything about viruses but I’m guessing if I’m sitting in a ...[text shortened]... it on than if I go into a shop for 5 minutes, pick what I need, pay at the self check out and leave.

@vivify said
In the U.S. where I live, there a additional conditions. Social distancing is enforced with patrons sitting at least an entire booth apart, if not more. The amount of customers allowed in the building is at 50 percent capacity and masks must be put on any time there's movement to another place, such as to the bathroom or to leave.

I don't know if the UK has similar addi ...[text shortened]... ring masks at restaurants but they (in my mind) making wearing masks at restaurants make more sense.

@suzianne said
But of course white people who think they should be immune to "people telling them what to do" have to make this very simple concept political.

God forbid they should think of anyone but themselves, including the grandparents they bring the virus home to.

[disclaimer] I want to be clear here that this post describes Americans, and no one else. 95% of the people ...[text shortened]... this post, are American. I've never seen this behavior in anyone who is not American. [/disclaimer]

@very-rusty said
Let us pray you don't get the virus Suzie Q!!!

-VR

@vivify said
The point is to stop people from spreading the virus, not necessarily to keep from inhaling it. When you breath or cough you will do so into the mask.

@suzianne said
If I do, it's because I have these thread-monkies following me around, breathing down my neck, lately.

@petewxyz said
That's the curious thing though, the position seems to change on that one. Before any of this began I was always taught that surgical masks were good for 20-30 minutes at best. Then people started to say there was now evidence that they protect the wearer. It has all become so politicized it is hard to see the wood for the trees.

Distancing indoors and in still air makes ...[text shortened]... eresting to know what difference they made if anybody collects data that can be reasonably compared.