Masks - yes or no?

[QUOTE="
I had two friends drop by this morning and we didn't wear masks. We somehow just naturally bravitated to standing a good 5 feet apart.[/QUOTE]

I suspect this may be an argument, if not against masks, then in support of the idea that they can cause people to be less cautious. I must admit I was initially extremely sceptical about this, because my natural reaction on seeing folks in masks is to back off - it reinforces the seriousness of the issue, and there is even a bit of me that instinctively sees them as infected, so I find myself moving off. But I'm learning my reaction is atypical. Most people seem to feel seeing a mask makes others drop their guard, assume it makes the wearer safer, get closer physically. And your anecdote of the maskless visitors sort of works well within that context. It leaves me thinkig that there may be situations where fewer masks makes people more stand-offish.

 

[It protects others, why would you not ?[/QUOTE]

That, in a nutshell, is the essence of my whole enquiry and interest in this issue. I'm absolutely convinced that there are people who are a. unable to wear them for health reasons etc, b. don't realize or believe they can do good, or c. honestly believe they actively do bad. So while I agree with you in principle, someone who genuinely believes they are a force for bad would surely be bound to flip the question around, and ask, "They're a danger to others, why would you?"

 

This pretty much sums up my own position, too. I'm not 100% convinced, but I'm erring on the side of caution. As with most moral debates, I feel there is no ultimate "gotcha" moment, and as with all scientific matters it is a case of continually building on what we think we know, rather than absolute proof, but I'm finding it harder and harder to build any sort of ethical case against masks, provided they are appropriate for the wearer and their environment. I ought to confess that at the moment I am mask-less, my original one having become unwearable due to a snapped string, but have some disposable ones coming in the post - which raises whole new questions about ecology and safe disposal...

 

Hello all

I hope you are well.

I am probably going to regret this, but here goes.

People need to understand that not all those not wearing masks are doing so because they do not care, see the point of doing so etc.

I care, too much at times.

Personally, being Autistic I have various Sensory Sensitivities, Bright Light, Sound, Heat and Touch.

Because of my Sensitivity to Touch there is no way that I am able to tolerate wearing a Face Mask or any kind of covering over my face, a fact that my Doctor, Support etc. all agree with.

As a result, I have been provided with written proof that I can show that I am not able to wear a Face Mask and am therefore Exempt.

To be honest, I do not tend to go out of the house much anyway, however, if I do then at least I have the proof to show that I am Exempt from having to wear a Face Mask.

Thanks

Kevin

 

This is a very serious situation, and may genuine questions are being asked. I have just recieved a book written by a scientific researcher. Understanding. Conovervirus.

Setting aside what ever our individual status might be. We have to agree. We are all inthis together. Boris along with all the scientific experts and medical officers. Ooops and the reporters adding their bit.

Truth is. We don't know what has hit us. Not wishing to being flipant, but it's like a sci-fi. War of the worlds. People are dropping like flies. WHY? Medics are exhausted. Politicians are as always, trying to calm the masses.

As we have seen the reality. Areas of the mass have rebelled. Mass gatherings to beaches etc etc. Somehow this rings a bell with Biblical records. The Noachian flood. The populas was warned. They ignored the warning. They perished.

Today. We have these warnings. In the background. The experts are still very much in the dark. For what it might be worth. Protect yourself. Wear a mask. wear gloves and.....as much as you might like to kiss that babe, STAY SAFE.

 

I keep forgetting things are different over there than here in Ireland. Here there are govt instructions out to how to make a simple mask. Within a few days is will be mandatory in public. I think there are easy instructions online too . They really are very very easy to make. I make cabled knitted ones, lined and with a pocket for a disposable filter ; they go to Canada to be finished etc then sold.

I have one by the door here but have not been out except very early walks on this thinly populated island for nearly 2 years as my immune system is out and even a cold would be life threatening. And not face to face with anyone in all that time. Only those who need to know know that. As I am old services are understanding and now sadly as it means folk are in danger, I get all I need brought in and left outside the gate. Officially cocooned, and our volunteers over here are stellar.

There is no choice, and I am well used to this now and content.

Masks will make life much easier and safer for so many. As I think it was Mike who said we are all in this together. Life is too precious to take risks however remote they may seem.

And yes, we have suffered a covid fatality in my family. It sharpens issues.

 

Yes @Islander77 .....plentry of info here too about how to make masks, but having said that they are now pretty easy to buy here too.

We have great support over here, well in our area . My hubs is in his 70s and ,although not 'shielding ' officially ,he does have health issues that we we feel warrant us to do so as well as we can. Having said that he did come shopping with me yesterday before I met up with my friends and was greatly reassured by the stringent hygiene and crowd control measures. He is now talking about going back again in a week or two's time .

Both my sister and brother have been shielding officially, brother is still required to do so . Free weekly food boxes have been received and shopping delivery slots have been readily available to them . Community workers regularly contact my brother to see if he requires any shopping to be dropped off to him too.
Hubs, sister's and brother's medication is all dropped off so no need to go out to collect from the chemist.
In our part of the world we could not want for more ,but I am well aware this is not the same for everyone.

 

All sounds grand. I think there is regional variation here too ; when I asked our local volunteers were we getting free food via the Gardai there was hilarity! Some areas do and in one a local chef cooks and delivers a meal every day to old folk.

here the first warm weekend crowds flooded the beaches . That was the Saturday. On Sunday the local drs etc had a meeting and it was all set up. They use the Tourist Office and staff as of course tourism is dead this year. Closed everything off with the full support of the Gardai. On the Monday we got individual cocooning letters. I feel pampered! I was already getting fortnightly grocery orders by ferry and that has simply continued and I keep about 3 months supply of dry goods in anyway as a matter of course.

And I get some extras in from eg Holland and Barrett.

 

re masks. As folk who had to wear them all day were finding they were getting uncomfortable we now knit ear savers. Narrow strips with a button at each end so the loops go over the buttons and leave the ears free... Just sent nearly a hundred off..

 

Glad you're being supported so well out there @Islander77 . We have always kept a good 'dry' supply too. We tend to do a major shop about once a month and top up on fresh items as and when required. But it's peace of mind to know you have a stash of handy supplies to rustle up something if needs must.

 

So far, and this is reflected elsewhere as well, not just on this site, the predominant reasons for not wearing masks seem to be that a. they may become infected, especially if they soggify (my word), posing more of a risk than if we do not wear them, and, relatedly, b. If I wear a mask I might touch my face, meaning my hand/finger is contaminated which could then infect others if I touch them, hand them change, or whatever. I must say I'm really struggling with the second. Why would a mask make one likelier to touch the face? Surely it serves as a reminder not to? Even if we do that, surely its safer to touch a mask than rub our mouth or nose directly? I'm hoping someone can provide some concrete argument (based on hard, empirical, scientific data, not just personal preference or observation) as to why they personally think its unsafe to wear a mask - and currently the only public officials or figures from the science community saying masks are dangerous are those well known for controversial or conspiracy theories, most mainstream medical opinion seems supportive or conditionally supportive) or why they think their health concern (asthma, anxiety, etc) outweigh the risk of becoming a vector for a deadly virus, because I can't bear to think that the main reason people are against wearing masks is that they don't really care about posing a risk to their fellow citizens.

 

I work outdoors or in a large glasshouse (usually alone, but sometimes with the other half), we have signage in place to remind customers of social distancing, hand gel by the till (5 ltr) and hard surface wipes to clean handles of trollies/baskets, and the till area is under a shelter, so IMO, dont really need one, saying that, I am considering wearing one when I go to a local shop, with crowds of youths congregating outside the shop door, or when in town, whilst on my way back to my vehicle, I am surrounded by protesters on a march. I dont think it will be too long now before a second spike.