Mask Wars
City Journal,
by
Chris Von Csefalvay
Original Article
Posted By: Pluperfect,
7/1/2020 4:17:58 AM
As states begin to reopen and America tries to recreate normalcy, masks have replaced social distancing as the new moral statement. Just as adherence to lockdowns was framed by many as a sign of virtue—with some arguing that those who refused to abide by the lockdown orders should forfeit medical care for Covid-related indications—masks have become a face-borne signal of righteousness. As a virologist, I find this perplexing, considering the limited evidence in favor of masks.
More than anything, the scientific rationale behind masks appears to be that wearing them does little harm. Countervailing benefit need not be particularly significant to justify a public-health intervention.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
anniebc 7/1/2020 5:32:13 AM (No. 462633)
Masks are a false sense of security, but go head you virtue signaling mask wearers. Do your thing; just let me do mine. Try to shame me, will you? I'll give it right back to you.
13 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
chumley 7/1/2020 6:40:36 AM (No. 462677)
As I go out and about I try to gauge peoples feelings and attitudes. A few months ago it was terror. People were afraid of their own shadows and mask or no mask they would avoid passing someone in an aisle or even speaking.
Then, for a short time, people with their masks were normal. They would talk and joke and didnt seem afraid.
Now, they have mutated again to morally superior. They look down upon us troglodytes who do not buy the scam and wont wear a mask. I dont think they believe in the effectiveness of the mask anymore either. I think it is just a symbol that they are better than us, like the various colored ribbons or the fish.
15 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
WhamDBambam 7/1/2020 6:58:13 AM (No. 462687)
I always get a laugh when I see someone driving their car, no passengers and windows rolled up, proudly wearing their mask for all to see.
21 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Bur Oak 7/1/2020 7:30:33 AM (No. 462730)
Masks are like the old joke about keeping pink elephants away by snapping your fingers. This can be seen in the fact that there are no standards for the masks that are to be worn. They can be made out of anything, just as long as they mask your face. The country has been taken over by mass hysteria instituted and kept going by petty dictators and the media.
15 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
franq 7/1/2020 7:36:24 AM (No. 462742)
My wife was at Wally World last night. Said there were people without masks (including her). That's a hopeful sign. This is in NC, where Cooper passed his "public mask" edict.
9 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
walcb 7/1/2020 7:46:16 AM (No. 462751)
When you see one of those proud mask wearers ask them, when you sneeze do you take your mask off or sneeze into the mask?
8 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
cor-vet 7/1/2020 7:58:40 AM (No. 462772)
I was chastised by a Karen yesterday for entering the courthouse w/o a mask, a d I politely informed her that wearing a masked was a request, not a mandate. I was alone in a room of about 30, and I survived. They're issuing masks, gloves, gowns, sanitizing wipes land sanitizer for the polling commissioners, plus a tape measure to mark off 6' social distancing pylons. After each vote is cast, the voting machine has to be wiped down with a supplied sanitary wipe. I think the masks are a sign that you are an elite, and certainly more virtuous than the none masking barbarians.
10 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
franq 7/1/2020 8:08:32 AM (No. 462789)
No one is coughing or sneezing, #6. Dr. Faustus proclaims 100k new cases per day. Not the Big Lie. It's the Colossal Lie.
7 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
BeatleJeff 7/1/2020 8:10:29 AM (No. 462791)
So once again, the leading advocates of a position are people who have no expertise in the subject matter. Reminds me of "climate change," whose loudest advocates are those like Bill Nye the Junk Science Guy, a mechanical engineer with no expertise in climatology. And the article is correct that masks have replaced quarantine as the new virtue signal. I had had my fill of virtue signalers back in March. I'm totally done with them now.
10 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
udanja99 7/1/2020 8:18:35 AM (No. 462800)
Our mayor mandated that masks must be worn in public buildings and outside when associating with other people. It goes into effect today. On Monday, I spent the morning running about 8 errands including a trip to the supermarket to stock up on food so I don’t have to go anywhere for the foreseeable future.
If someone goes after you for not wearing a mask, ask them when was the last time that they sterilized theirs? It should be every four hours or after every use for cloth masks and paper masks should be discarded after a single use. Betcha that no one outside of a hospital staffer does that.
7 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
stablemoney 7/1/2020 9:04:15 AM (No. 462864)
Sean Hannity says he doesn't mind wearing a mask, and that you should wear one to protect other people. I don't mind if Sean doesn't mind, but I do mind that Sean clearly makes the choice for me to wear one as well, surrendering my rights for deciding my own health concerns, and joining in intimidating me to wear a mask. I despise people that surrender their rights because they don't mind, but also surrender other people's rights to make their own choices. Many on the right are surrendering, for themselves and everyone else. When they come for you, don't expect any help from me.
10 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
toddh 7/1/2020 9:28:36 AM (No. 462895)
"…the scientific rationale behind masks appears to be that wearing them does little harm."
Hydroxychloroquine also does little harm.
9 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
franq 7/1/2020 9:41:48 AM (No. 462913)
Masks reduce O2 levels and steam one's glasses. The virus will go right through them. Tell me again the benefits?
7 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
mc squared 7/1/2020 10:18:18 AM (No. 462982)
Masks have replaced ribbons as the sign that 'I care more than you do, so I'm a better person'.
5 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
HotRod 7/1/2020 10:27:07 AM (No. 463008)
The mask thing is getting hilarious! Yes, there are those that should wear a mask in public. We know who they are.
Look at the prices people are paying for boutique masks! Instead of an inexpensive N-95, or whatever, people are paying as much as 19.95 for a technical looking mask (resembles the old military gas masks, but are only cloth) that has fancy, colorful print. You can see some of them advertised among the articles we read. I guess we all waste money on something...
2 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
DVC 7/1/2020 10:36:49 AM (No. 463035)
Our idiot governor is ordering us to wear masks everywhere starting Friday. I need to replace the deck boards on my bridge over the creek, so I'll be buying the lumber, screws and paint today to avoid the hassle when I show up without a mask later on. Going to do a bit of extra grocery shopping, too, same reason.
I will not be wearing a mask. We'll see what happens. I doubt that it will be much, but perhaps stores will ask me to not enter....in which case, I will leave.
3 people like this.
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