Masks and male behavior

[Cornell]

Many local governments have put mask orders in place. Does anyone know what metrics will be used to determine when those orders will be lifted?

 

[Panina]

I don't know what to tell/say to you. I am in public every day. I have to go to my workplace, I care for an immunocompromised relative and spend time at the medical center, grocery, costco, home depot, routinely. I use my isopropol spray on EVERYTHING, and my hands everything I touch something. I wear a mask. I am not promoting that people not wear a mask.

Yes pre- C19 people freely sneezed their flu, norovirus, cold-coronvirus, and whatever else without a mask. No one cared and told them to wear a mask.

My point was since COVID19 I have not been in public and seen anyone cough or sneeze; which is good news as symtompatic people should never be out. That is all that a mask protects "others" against.

You never responded to "When is the last time that someone sneezed or coughed on/near you, with or without a mask? "

I can answer that and it is in another post when it happened....I was at the eye doctor and in the waiting room, a man had no mask on and kept coughing and touching everything. I moved away to a further waiting area and let the receptionist know where I went.

 

[WVBaker]

A suggestion to those who continue to insist that I should wear a mask.

I spent my adult life protecting others so please forgo all the, you must not care comments. They truly don't come into play. If your concern of germs or contamination from another is that great, perhaps you could locate and buy a N95 mask. That seems to be the best answer to those concerns. Let me direct you to some information that you may find interesting.

"Coming to the aid of those doctors and nurses is a team of scientists from West Virginia University and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which has developed two alternative face coverings that are as effective at blocking novel coronavirus as those highly-coveted N95 masks."

"You may even have some of the materials to make them: a home furnace filter and a 3D printer."

WVU Today | WVU team unmasks effective N95 alternatives

To reverse the mask shortage in the age of COVID-19, scientists from West Virginia University and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have developed two alternative face coverings that are as effective at blocking novel coronavirus as those highly-coveted N95 masks.

wvutoday.wvu.edu

*Let me add a disclaimer.
I'm not disparaging anyone who feels more at ease wearing the mask of their choice. If that makes you feel more comfortable and safe out in public or at home then please, by all means do so. I'm not trying offend anyone. Do whatever you need to do to be at ease.

 

[Brett]

Many local governments have put mask orders in place. Does anyone know what metrics will be used to determine when those orders will be lifted?

I don't but the "many" local governments require employees to wear masks, not customers

https://www.littler.com/publication...g-your-face-mask-duties-list-statewide-orders

In Virginia there is not a requirement to wear a mask but some businesses require it - e.g. Costco

 

[geekette]

Many local governments have put mask orders in place. Does anyone know what metrics will be used to determine when those orders will be lifted?

That will vary by the locale, and is a question for whomever issued the order.

 

[Makai Guy]

Can't we PLEASE put all this wear masks / don't wear masks discussion aside? Nobody is going to change anybody else's opinion, and I seriously doubt there is anything left to say that hasn't already been said 4.5 gazillion times.

 

[Gypsy65]

I think ultimately it will need to come down to the business to mandate a mask or not

As I mentioned earlier. Drs office, busses, or places where there’s really no escape for a mask wearer to go to get some distance from a non wearer would be fair and reasonable

But in public or places where there’s an entire store or outdoors area to move around in and keep your own distance? I don’t see the need

If you wear a mask and I don’t then I highly doubt that you would come near me and I would have no reason to approach you

I have been in several stores where I see a masked person. If they continued to walk my way I gave them space to pass. I didn’t talk or engage them
Their continued approach showed their comfort level and my non engagement showed my respect for their decision

 

[MrockStar]

Yesterday, I went my the frozen yogurt shop. We do have mandatory mask wearing in our county. There were a couple older males who were in line behind me, not wearing masks and talking (they didn't arrive together). I thought about this thread and how that was the first time I noticed only males not wearing masks. Usually, basically everyone, male and female, are not wearing masks in public. Anyhow, the part that grossed me out was that each one of them did a big spit on the ground. Why do so many men need to spit on the ground? I feel like I always see that. And, FWIW, it has grossed me out my entire life. I used to dry heave from seeing stuff like that when I was younger.

They,are descendants from frontiers Men from the wild west. Saloons, spitunes, guns,poker players and gunfights. Darwins natural selection of the fittest hasn't fully taken the all out yet.

 

[Panina]

Know no ones minds will be changed but this reason to me is logical and why I believe in mask wearing.

“Costco finance chief Richard Galanti said. “If it’s the right decision, we help reduce the spread of this terrible virus. If it’s the wrong decision, it’s a relatively small inconvenience.”

Stores Stress Over How to Handle a Customer Who Won’t Wear a Mask

Retail chains, from CVS to 7-Eleven, are being forced to decide whether and how to enforce rules on masks after a string of attacks on clerks and security guards by patrons who refused to cover their faces.

www.wsj.com

 

[dago]

Those threats weren't super contagious.

I personally don’t wear a mask unless there is a requirement to do so for me to enter a certain business but I do respect those in fear who do by staying more than the special number of 6’ away
Really? Who came up with that number? Crap moves further than 6’

We all have a right to do what we choose. Why should I wear a mask to make those who do feel better?
How about those who do wear one stop for those of us who don’t?
Why is it right for one belief system but not another?

I believe we have a real covid issue but I do not believe the deaths counted as covid are real numbers
I travel for work and have been from Long Island to Seattle and everywhere in between for the past year.
Long before covid, and with all the door knob lickers I come in contact with I would surely think I would be dead as well as all of NYC

[Profanity deleted by request.]

Ditto

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I haven't seen someone sneeze or cough in the last 2 months, and I'm out in public daily. If someone sneezed or coughed and didn't have a mask I'd be pissed, even if it might be allergies.

FWIW..."I will go out today and not sneeze or cough." Says no one.

1) The pharmacy cashier yesterday sneezed right in front of me at the counter. Fortunately, there was plexiglass between us, she had turned, had a mask on and instantly put hand sanitizer on her hands.

2) Asking someone with a non-contagious allergies to stay home is not practical. I have seasonal allergies and at times cough in public to clear my throat. I cannot predict when my cough will come. But I had to cough twice while waiting in the pharmacy. I had a mask on and was more than 20 feet away from others, so hopefully that made people around me not worry.

 

[dago]

Not everyone is hooked up by IV to "the media". That is a personal choice made by all sides, friends. Me, no TV news ever (no cable), I read one local paper. I subscribe to one national publication but only read articles that interest me. I am not uninformed. I can easily access source data - in the case of Covid I use this source: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/cont...mmunity_epidemiology/dc/2019-nCoV/status.html

I feel competent enough to read and digest information without anyone needing to interpret it for me. I am sure that the majority of citizens can do the same. The others who are glued to their TVs, youtube videos, Facebook "news" - well I can spot them a mile away because the talking points - again, all sides, friends - are all the same. All of the sudden people from all over my life are repeating the same information and talking points so I know that they heard it somewhere. I am hopeful that the common sense folks are the silent majority.

I admire those to try to supply factual information to folks who don't want to hear it, but I find it to be an absolute waste of time. I was raised in a family of arguers and dissenters. I have lived an entire lifetime of listening to people who think that medical doctors don't know anything and that everything can be treated by a chiropractor. That a raw food diet can cure my rheumatoid arthritis and that shade vegetables will cause my demise. That saccharine is a healthy alternative to sugar. My common sense told me that those beliefs are wrong, and experience has told me that I am right. You can see why I need to pass on these discussions. I broke my promise to myself to stay out of these discussions because I hate to perpetuate the arguments. So I will bow out now and leave it to the rest of you who find this interesting and invigorating.

 

[dago]

I grew up in Minot North Dakota until I was 13, then in Michigan until 16. Lots of time spent with cousins on dairy farm in Wisconsin. I am so done with the cold. Not many people enjoy hotter weather

A tad cold in Minot, ND - and quite HOT in the summer - I was there in Aug, 2018 and the temp was 96

 

[dago]

great thread

 

[dago]

I agree it would be nice if everyone wore masks and had the mindset that wearing a mask protects others and possibly themselves too. Regardless of whether people wear masks or not, shouldn’t the vulnerable people stay home as much as possible until there is a vaccine or herd immunity? I think vulnerable people should stay home because I care about them. Not as a punishment. Not because some people are not wearing masks. There are so many unknowns we do not know so going out for vulnerable people may not be safe (and if vulnerable people go out then they need to be aware of the trade offs). Maybe the mask wearer looks safe but has not washed their hands. OTOH, maybe the non-mask wearer has great hygiene and religiously stays more than 6’ away from everyone else. I do not want my elderly great-aunt or my older father with diabetes starting to go out a lot just because restrictions have been lifted. They are still vulnerable and should stay home as much as possible until it is safe to go out for them or they choose to take the risk (I am okay with people choosing to take risks if they are aware of the trade offs). On the other hand, I think younger people and older people with no underlying conditions should be allowed to go out more. In an ideal world, everyone would be following all safety guidelines but I am not going to get bent out of shape or worry too much about what other people are doing. Ultimately, I believe we can only control ourselves unless we pass laws to regulate. Even then, we know people break the laws and bring harm to others. The good news is that the vast majority of people are following all safety guidelines as much as possible. I am really amazed how society and social norms have changed in just 2 months. This seems like the most rapid adoption of public health guidelines in our history.

Well said

 

[TravelTime]

Can't we PLEASE put all this wear masks / don't wear masks discussion aside? Nobody is going to change anybody else's opinion, and I seriously doubt there is anything left to say that hasn't already been said 4.5 gazillion times.

I generally agree that no one is going to change anyone else’s mind on TUG when people have extreme, locked in views. However, I must say that my views on the coronavirus and safety guidelines have evolved over the past two months. I have been listening to both sides of the mask wearing controversy and I can see both sides. My view initially was skeptical about the efficacy of masks since the health experts flipped on their recommendations mid stream and the science is not strong on masks. However, over time, I came to the conclusion that it is better to wear a mask and be wrong because no harm will be done. If masks actually do help, even a little bit, then I have helped myself and others from getting sick. If it turns out masks do not work, then it was a small sacrifice until more is known about what really works. I try to keep an open mind regarding the science and I change my mind as the evidence evolves.

 

[Gypsy65]

Can't we PLEASE put all this wear masks / don't wear masks discussion aside? Nobody is going to change anybody else's opinion, and I seriously doubt there is anything left to say that hasn't already been said 4.5 gazillion times.

I don’t think anyone is REALLY trying to make others change their mind. But rather it’s been more of a back and forth as to why one person feels one way and they’re arguments for doing so

Plus
Most people are locked down and this might just be something to do to pass time and maybe learn something
What harm is a 1000 page thread doing to anyone
If you like it. Read it. If not move on is how this or any other forum or thread should be viewed

 

[geist1223]

The mask issue will go away when we have an effective cheap vaccine. Never.

 

[brdweb]

I don’t think anyone is REALLY trying to make others change their mind. But rather it’s been more of a back and forth as to why one person feels one way and they’re arguments for doing so

Plus
Most people are locked down and this might just be something to do to pass time and maybe learn something

Probably half the country isn't actually aren't locked down anymore as of this weekend. There were some states that never even did really. And just to shed some light, just last either Wednesday or Thursday Dr. Fauci was being interviewed and shared some statistics. Care to hazard how what the death rate is (per 100,000) in NYC for those 0-17? 0. For those 18-44? 18.55. And that's out of 100,000 infected, which even in NYC which is the worst spot in the country, the infection rate city-wide is 2,267 per 100,000. Covid is nasty but really only is preying on those ederly or with conditions which make them susceptible. It's exactly why most of the country wants to open back up. With just a little bit of mitigation almost every business can and should open. Masks? Personally I'll wear them indoors just to make frady-cats feel safer. But last night I stood in line for soft-serve and didn't wear one. Line was 6 ft. apart, outside, and the workers were behind glass. Good enough.

 

[bluehende]

Probably half the country isn't actually aren't locked down anymore as of this weekend. There were some states that never even did really. And just to shed some light, just last either Wednesday or Thursday Dr. Fauci was being interviewed and shared some statistics. Care to hazard how what the death rate is (per 100,000) in NYC for those 0-17? 0. For those 18-44? 18.55. And that's out of 100,000 infected, which even in NYC which is the worst spot in the country, the infection rate city-wide is 2,267 per 100,000. Covid is nasty but really only is preying on those ederly or with conditions which make them susceptible. It's exactly why most of the country wants to open back up. With just a little bit of mitigation almost every business can and should open. Masks? Personally I'll wear them indoors just to make frady-cats feel safer. But last night I stood in line for soft-serve and didn't wear one. Line was 6 ft. apart, outside, and the workers were behind glass. Good enough.

You may want to look at this and change your post.

COVID-19 death rates by age group in New York City 2022 | Statista

The death rate in New York City for adults aged 75 years and older was around 4,135 per 100,000 people as of December 22, 2022.

www.statista.com

 

[Ken555]

frady-cats

smh


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[geekette]

I think if we lost a family member, we wouldn't be looking at it as 1 in 100,000.

People in their 30s are having strokes, a 12 year old has had heart attacks.

Me, I'm not interested in either of those things, and at the start didn't want pneumonia, which is apparently just the starting point.

All the tots with the rash+ that used to be rare, well, it's not rare now. Perhaps the death rate of children doesn't yet statistically register but that doesn't mean no kids have died.

Sure, just the old folks. Or, just look at it in terms of Rates. As if that helped the 80k+ that are part of the horrible stats. Maybe 1/3 of those are the elderly, but, that means the others aren't.

 

[bluehende]

smh


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

But I agree with him. With a death total of somewhere around 300 (hard to get a good number as NY puts out data from 40 to 49) we should not lock down those 80 million New Yorker's between the age of 18 and 45

 

[bnoble]

With a death total of somewhere around

How many dead people would be enough?

 

[bluehende]

How many dead people would be enough?

I was just quoting the number......no editorializing.....I will edit for the accepted sarcasm emoji. My bad that it was not obvious referring to a subset of new yorker's that was many times higher than the total of all new yorkers.