Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
Face mask or no face mask?
Replies
-
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
That you're still comparing this to the flu tells me how much you're paying attention.18 -
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
That you're still comparing this to the flu tells me how much you're paying attention.
That you only mask up during coronavirus tells me you're just virtue signaling and not actually concerned with others' health.6 -
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
That you're still comparing this to the flu tells me how much you're paying attention.
That you only mask up during coronavirus tells me you're just virtue signaling and not actually concerned with others' health.
perhaps I slept though the other times when it was advocated that my wearing a mask could help slow and prevent some of the other communicable diseases that you seem to be so concerned over. The amount of death and the rate of spread of anything else that is known does not even come close to covid in comparison. The real danger is how much is still not known. Is there a chance that this is all overblown? Yes, there sure is. There's also a chance it isn't. The results of each scenario look very different though.On one hand you'd have a lot of people who wore masks that didn't need to. On the other you've got a lot of dead people. If that's virtue signaling, buy me a t-shirt please and I'll wear the *kitten* out of it.17 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Lots of people here seem convinced that face coverings will protect them from covid19 - why? I have no idea as it really won't. Where does this delusion come from????
CNN have an interesting piece on this today too.
I don't wear a mask to protect MYSELF. I wear one because I wouldn't want to be responsible for transmitting COVID-19 to someone else and there appears to be evidence that a mask will help in preventing people (especially asymptomatic people) from transmitting it to others. If others want to take a bare minimum step to prevent possibly transmitting it to me, hey, I'd appreciate that too!
Will you be wearing your mask for the rest of your life (hundreds of thousands of people die from the "regular flu" every year) or do you only feel obligated to protect people from the "special" diseases?
I get a flu vaccination every year specifically to reduce the risk of transmitting it to others. If someone around me requested that I also wear a mask, I would gladly do so. Why wouldn't I?
Honestly, this "it's just like flu!" stuff hasn't aged well. It didn't sound clever a few months ago and it sounds even worse now that we've got more than 150,000 dead people in the US alone.17 -
janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
So what if it is? It's harming NOBODY. If it's driven by his anxiety, it's a coping tool that allows him to get out of the house and get some exercise for his dog. I think it's terrible to try to make someone feel awkward for that (and let's be clear, that's exactly what people are doing when they're ostentatiously giving someone "weird looks" because even little kids can learn that it's rude to stare at unusual -looking people). And you have no idea what health conditions he may or may not have that make COVID-19 seem more intimidating. If someone wants to wear gloves and a mask outside, why do you even care?
If you read my comment above, you'll see that I don't care if anyone else wears a mask - as I said, more power to him if it makes him feel better. But your right to wear a mask does not mean you won't get weird looks for it when there is seemingly no logic behind your actions. As I said above, if he's that scared of spreading it to others or catching it himself, why spend all this time at the DOG PARK? Does he really think it's worth risking death just to exercise his dog?
You're ignoring that he's potentially wearing the PPE to manage or alleviate his anxiety specifically so he can spend time at the dog park and since it's an act that isn't harming anyone, I don't understand your response. Anxiety is real, this can be an especially challenging time for people who were already struggling with it, and it's okay if people want to take non-harmful actions to manage it.
You have the legal right to try to shame anyone acting unusually or atypically. Nobody is arguing that you don't. But we have the legal right to do all kinds of things that are morally inappropriate or just plain mean. This guy is just trying to get outside with his dog. You know nothing about what mental or physical issues might be behind his choice of PPE. I don't get the desired result here -- that people with anxiety must conform or avoid parks until the outbreak is over? That potentially immune-compromised people can't take protective steps that are beyond what non-immune-compromised people would consider reasonable? When you give people "weird looks" in public, you're sending a message to them. What do you want this guy to take away from the messages you're giving him?
As I said in my previous comments, my only response is "you do you." Yes, people give him weird looks because his actions are irrational, but he's obviously fine with it because he continues to come to the dog park in his mask and gloves. There was another guy who frequently came to the dog park in 90+ degree weather wearing a long sleeved hoodie. People also gave him weird looks.
People judge no matter what you do, so you do you and don't let anyone's reaction bother you.
It's not your only response. Your comments have made it very clear that when people decide to wear masks, it gets under your skin. Good luck.11 -
deputy_randolph wrote: »I wear a mask at the gym (that's the only pubic space I've been in since March 13th); and only take off for short periods to drink water.
The risk of contracting COVID and spreading it to my kids and elderly father with emphysema outweighs the "discomfort" of the mask. I read that mask use can reduce the wearer's risk of contracting COVID by 30% (can't provide source, but I'm sure that can be googled searched). 30% is better than 0%...and wearing a mask is a super easy behavior.
Plus, I order a KISS mask, so I have a cool mask.
Will you continue to wear your mask every year during flu season (which also kills hundreds of thousands of people each year), or do you only feel obligated to protect them from the "special" diseases?
I did a bunch of special things while in cancer treatment, to protect myself, because I was immunocompromised. Had I had a dog at the time, I might well have worn protective gear to go to the dog park, if my dog really enjoyed going there, in order for both the dog & me to feel a little bit of welcome happiness and normality - I might take the risk. (And that protective gear would be as much about concern about higher concentrations of dog feces, among other things that are dangerous to immunocompromised people - not just people with contagious diseases.)
You are making inferences about why this guy is doing what he's doing, and judging him based on your inferences (not based on knowledge of his motivations). That's common human behavior, to form theories about others and judge the others based on our own unproven theories, but it's long seemed odd to me, when the behavior is not harming anyone else.
Since finishing cancer treatment, I do take special precautions when I attend events (support groups, for example) where I know that there is a higher likelihood of encountering people who are immunocompromised.
Right now, we are in special circumstances. We do special things. This is not the flu. There is no vaccine, there are few helpful/reliable treatments, there are unknown long-term consequences of even mild infection, there is a significant rate of spread in the population (in some areas). In normal times, people with high risk take special precautions (as I did during chemotherapy). In non-normal times, behaviors and expectations are different, and extend beyond at-risk people.
Behaviors - good, polite behaviors - depend to some extent on probabilities and circumstances. Once there's a sound Covid vaccine, effective treatments, low infection rates in the population, it will be reasonable to stop wearing masks in places where there's no reason to expect a concentration of high-risk people, such as gyms.
And yes, it's rude to stare at or give weird looks to people who aren't doing anything harmful, but "look funny".
14 -
If I were to walk to the dog park here, I wouldn't assume no one would come near me, and especially on the walk over there would be times it would be hard to social distance and if I ran into someone I knew much easier to stop and talk for a minute if we both had masks on.
Many people would probably pull the mask down when somewhere where social distancing was not a problem, even in that situation, but many remember all the warnings about not touching it/your face.2 -
deputy_randolph wrote: »I wear a mask at the gym (that's the only pubic space I've been in since March 13th); and only take off for short periods to drink water.
The risk of contracting COVID and spreading it to my kids and elderly father with emphysema outweighs the "discomfort" of the mask. I read that mask use can reduce the wearer's risk of contracting COVID by 30% (can't provide source, but I'm sure that can be googled searched). 30% is better than 0%...and wearing a mask is a super easy behavior.
Plus, I order a KISS mask, so I have a cool mask.
Will you continue to wear your mask every year during flu season (which also kills hundreds of thousands of people each year), or do you only feel obligated to protect them from the "special" diseases?
let's pretend you're arguing in good faith for a second. the point of wearing a mask is to protect others from catching your sickness. it's a basic common courtesy in other parts of the world already to wear a mask if you have to go out in public while sick. why not wear one if you find yourself feeling under the weather during flu season? would it really be such an inconvenience to your delicate sensibilities? i hope we come away with masks normalized to some extent. might bring down that flu death count you goofies only seem to care about now for some reason.14 -
It's simple:
Wear a mask: You're doing your small but important part.
Don't wear a mask: You care only about yourself while using the pathetic "but my freedoms!" excuse to justify it.
This a black and white issue. There is no gray area. Period.17 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Lots of people here seem convinced that face coverings will protect them from covid19 - why? I have no idea as it really won't. Where does this delusion come from????
CNN have an interesting piece on this today too.
I don't wear a mask to protect MYSELF. I wear one because I wouldn't want to be responsible for transmitting COVID-19 to someone else and there appears to be evidence that a mask will help in preventing people (especially asymptomatic people) from transmitting it to others. If others want to take a bare minimum step to prevent possibly transmitting it to me, hey, I'd appreciate that too!
Will you be wearing your mask for the rest of your life (hundreds of thousands of people die from the "regular flu" every year) or do you only feel obligated to protect people from the "special" diseases?
The CDC estimates that there were somewhere between 24,000-62,000 deaths in the U.S. from influenza in the 2019-2020 flu season. Since March, over 150,000 people in the U.S. have died from Covid-19.
We have a vaccine for influenza, it is not a new virus. We have treatments for influenza.
This coronavirus is completely new. There is no vaccine, no reliable treatment. It's highly contagious, and asymptomatic in many people who still can pass it along.
I really, really, can't believe that there's still people comparing the two.21 -
Reading through this thread... I have a confession to make. The last time I had any brush with biology of any kind was nearly half my life ago as part of a general education class. And I didn't do too well because memorization isn't my thing.
In short, I don't have the right to an opinion on the effectiveness of preventive medical measures. I'm boring like that
1 -
There's a good reason why hospitals have been long requesting we wear a mask if we have a cough, even before this "flu like Covid" came into the picture. I related this incident on MFP before; I had to bring my dad to the ER a long time ago and he was in his late 80's by then. We were walking by this woman who happened to cough at exactly the wrong time and I remember thinking at that very moment 'I hope she didn't just pass something onto my dad'. A few days later he was in the VA hospital for a week with pneumonia.
That told me what I needed to know about masks. If there's a chance, even a 25% less risk of passing this nasty life-changing virus to someone else, then I'll do it. ESPECIALLY something as simple as wearing a mask. We shouldn't even have to be having this conversation.
If, way back in Feb/March, we would've all dug our heels in and made a national united effort to curb this, life would be so much better now. Not a little of this or a tiny bit of that, just do it, and get over it.
People go through life being told what to do every single day, by parents, employers, doctors, judges, lawmakers, police, doctors, etc., etc. Not a one of us gets through life without obeying rules somewhere. If you need a mask modified so it doesn't affect your breathing, buy a shield. Have groceries delivered. There are countless ways to avoid having to wear a conventional mask if you can't. My guess is most(not all I'm sure) of the people you see not wearing one simply don't want to be bothered and don't believe this is real. Don't be one of those people we read about, wishing they'd listened as they're dying.
I'll get off my soapbox now but wow, this is a huge pet peeve of mine. If a person is wearing a mask, gloves, etc., s/he is to be commended, not given 'weird looks'. 12 -
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
That you're still comparing this to the flu tells me how much you're paying attention.
That you only mask up during coronavirus tells me you're just virtue signaling and not actually concerned with others' health.
1. I fail to ever see the point of calling something virtue signalling. Thinking virtue signalling is an argument itself is also virtue signalling. It is its own little shibboleth amongst people of a certain persuasion who have the inability to actually argue on facts.
2. One can be concerned with other people's health in one instance without being so in another. This is just a way to raise the burden of conviction. Will you next say someone can't be concerned for other's health if they've ever smoked (second hand is a carcinogen), had a bonfire (again, there's carcinogens just to burning wood), ever failed cover their mouth during a cough or sneeze? Someone can have different standards of reasonable precautions in scope to a problem without you needing to question their motive.18 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Thanks, I was ready to post the same thing. People don't get it!! Not wonder we are in such a big mess.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/07/29/coronavirus-barr-get-tested-after-louie-gohmert-found-positive/5535187002/
How stupid is that? You wear a mask so if you are infected you don't pass the virus around. Now, everyone that he was in contact with has to be tested and probably quarantine.
"Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, had tested positive for the virus. Gohmert told CNN in June he would only wear a mask if he contracted the virus."
And he went back to his office after testing positive to tell his staff about the test results, still without wearing a mask. Unlike many other members of Congress, he required all his staff, including interns, to work in the office, "to set an example about how to reopen safely," and staff who chose to wear masks were berated.
Oh, and I forgot: Rep. Gohmert sleeps in his office when he's in Washington. So he was asking staff to come work in the 24-hour living space of someone who won't wear a mask, and giving them a hard time if they chose to wear a mask.2 -
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
No one knows who has it, including the people who have it. People are at their most contagious before they start showing symptoms. If everybody wears a mask when they're around other people, or around surfaces that are touched by other people, then everyone can more safely do normal, necessary things, like affording their dogs adequate exercise.7 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Lots of people here seem convinced that face coverings will protect them from covid19 - why? I have no idea as it really won't. Where does this delusion come from????
CNN have an interesting piece on this today too.
I don't wear a mask to protect MYSELF. I wear one because I wouldn't want to be responsible for transmitting COVID-19 to someone else and there appears to be evidence that a mask will help in preventing people (especially asymptomatic people) from transmitting it to others. If others want to take a bare minimum step to prevent possibly transmitting it to me, hey, I'd appreciate that too!
Will you be wearing your mask for the rest of your life (hundreds of thousands of people die from the "regular flu" every year) or do you only feel obligated to protect people from the "special" diseases?
The flu is most contagious after symptoms appear. COVID-19 is most contagious before symptoms appear. The benefit of wearing a mask to prevent yourself from spreading the flu when you're asymptomatic is far less. And personally, if I have flu-like symptoms, I just stay home, which is far more effective in not spreading the flu than going out wearing a mask. If I have to go to the doctor's (or the pharmacy, etc.) with flu-like symptoms, I wear a mask.
8 -
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
I doubt it, since there's obviously a large contingent who won't wear a mask for two minutes to protect other people.
7 -
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
That you're still comparing this to the flu tells me how much you're paying attention.
That you only mask up during coronavirus tells me you're just virtue signaling and not actually concerned with others' health.
perhaps I slept though the other times when it was advocated that my wearing a mask could help slow and prevent some of the other communicable diseases that you seem to be so concerned over. The amount of death and the rate of spread of anything else that is known does not even come close to covid in comparison. The real danger is how much is still not known. Is there a chance that this is all overblown? Yes, there sure is. There's also a chance it isn't. The results of each scenario look very different though.On one hand you'd have a lot of people who wore masks that didn't need to. On the other you've got a lot of dead people. If that's virtue signaling, buy me a t-shirt please and I'll wear the *kitten* out of it.
Sadly, I think
'Virtue Signalling' So Your Grandma Doesn't Die
is too much text for a mask in a legible font size, because I would so like to have one.
7 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
So what if it is? It's harming NOBODY. If it's driven by his anxiety, it's a coping tool that allows him to get out of the house and get some exercise for his dog. I think it's terrible to try to make someone feel awkward for that (and let's be clear, that's exactly what people are doing when they're ostentatiously giving someone "weird looks" because even little kids can learn that it's rude to stare at unusual -looking people). And you have no idea what health conditions he may or may not have that make COVID-19 seem more intimidating. If someone wants to wear gloves and a mask outside, why do you even care?
If you read my comment above, you'll see that I don't care if anyone else wears a mask - as I said, more power to him if it makes him feel better. But your right to wear a mask does not mean you won't get weird looks for it when there is seemingly no logic behind your actions. As I said above, if he's that scared of spreading it to others or catching it himself, why spend all this time at the DOG PARK? Does he really think it's worth risking death just to exercise his dog?
You're ignoring that he's potentially wearing the PPE to manage or alleviate his anxiety specifically so he can spend time at the dog park and since it's an act that isn't harming anyone, I don't understand your response. Anxiety is real, this can be an especially challenging time for people who were already struggling with it, and it's okay if people want to take non-harmful actions to manage it.
You have the legal right to try to shame anyone acting unusually or atypically. Nobody is arguing that you don't. But we have the legal right to do all kinds of things that are morally inappropriate or just plain mean. This guy is just trying to get outside with his dog. You know nothing about what mental or physical issues might be behind his choice of PPE. I don't get the desired result here -- that people with anxiety must conform or avoid parks until the outbreak is over? That potentially immune-compromised people can't take protective steps that are beyond what non-immune-compromised people would consider reasonable? When you give people "weird looks" in public, you're sending a message to them. What do you want this guy to take away from the messages you're giving him?
As I said in my previous comments, my only response is "you do you." Yes, people give him weird looks because his actions are irrational, but he's obviously fine with it because he continues to come to the dog park in his mask and gloves. There was another guy who frequently came to the dog park in 90+ degree weather wearing a long sleeved hoodie. People also gave him weird looks.
People judge no matter what you do, so you do you and don't let anyone's reaction bother you.
So basically your argument is that it's OK to be rude, inconsiderate, and unkind because that's what people do?
Imagine what the future is going to be like if people think this is fine? It's bullying really. No one has to be like anyone else, they can be their own good selves as long as doing the right things. Being out with his dog is probably making that guy better mentally than those being rude are ever going to be mentally in their life time.10 -
Good Morning (well, my time anyways)
Please remember to keep your posts a discussion of the topic, and not a commentary on another poster in order to avoid breaking guidelines 1 or 2. (guidelines can be found here if you need to refresh: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10701884/play-nice#latest)
Thanks for your cooperation,
4legs
MFP volunteer moderator1 -
will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
I actually think it will be interesting to see if there is a long term effect on the American (and I guess other western cultures?) attitude on mask wearing. I know in Asian cultures it is already pretty normalized, and prior to COVID people would wear masks if they thought they felt unwell and were around others.
Saying it could eliminate all disease is a huge stretch, but it's not such a bad practice to continue and probably help minimize cold and flu transmission each year.12 -
4legsRbetterthan2 wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
I actually think it will be interesting to see if there is a long term effect on the American (and I guess other western cultures?) attitude on mask wearing. I know in Asian cultures it is already pretty normalized, and prior to COVID people would wear masks if they thought they felt unwell and were around others.
Saying it could eliminate all disease is a huge stretch, but it's not such a bad practice to continue and probably help minimize cold and flu transmission each year.
And reduce natural immunity to illnesses? No problem personally wearing a mask when mandated (where I live that includes any indoor public place and outdoors where can't social distance) but feel constant mask wearing long term will reduce immunity.
4 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »4legsRbetterthan2 wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
I actually think it will be interesting to see if there is a long term effect on the American (and I guess other western cultures?) attitude on mask wearing. I know in Asian cultures it is already pretty normalized, and prior to COVID people would wear masks if they thought they felt unwell and were around others.
Saying it could eliminate all disease is a huge stretch, but it's not such a bad practice to continue and probably help minimize cold and flu transmission each year.
And reduce natural immunity to illnesses? No problem personally wearing a mask when mandated (where I live that includes any indoor public place and outdoors where can't social distance) but feel constant mask wearing long term will reduce immunity.
Sorry if I was unclear, I don't mean constant. But if you know you have a cold or what not.3 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »4legsRbetterthan2 wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »will_it_go_round_in_circles wrote: »For the past few months I've only been going to parks or nature areas, the dog park, and around my own property so there hasn't been a reason to wear a mask. I get my groceries via curbside pickup. There is one guy who shows up to the dog park in mask and gloves and gets some pretty weird looks, but hey, if it makes him feel safer then more power to him.
He isn't wearing it to make himself feel safe. I can not believe there still are people who just don't get the concept. He's gearing up to keep YOU safe.
Outdoors? At a place where no one comes within 20 feet of him? Nahhhh it's for himself and his own fear. And if he honestly believes there's a chance he has the virus and could spread it to others... maybe don't spend every evening hanging out at the dog park?
You know I never met the guy and it is wrong of me to assume his intent. He could very well be under that false sense of security that the mask is keeping himself safe. Either way, what he is doing is making it a safer place for you and others.
Because I try real hard to find silver linings, I'd like to believe maybe he just understands the concept of source control, being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and that the very least a person can do on this earth right now is to wear a mask to protect their neighbor. It don't get much simpler than that.
I hope your passion for protecting others extends to all diseases and won't go away once coronavirus is no longer the flavor of the month. If you wear your mask for the rest of your life, maybe we'll eventually have a society completely free from illness!
I actually think it will be interesting to see if there is a long term effect on the American (and I guess other western cultures?) attitude on mask wearing. I know in Asian cultures it is already pretty normalized, and prior to COVID people would wear masks if they thought they felt unwell and were around others.
Saying it could eliminate all disease is a huge stretch, but it's not such a bad practice to continue and probably help minimize cold and flu transmission each year.
And reduce natural immunity to illnesses? No problem personally wearing a mask when mandated (where I live that includes any indoor public place and outdoors where can't social distance) but feel constant mask wearing long term will reduce immunity.
Why? Masks are hardly the equivalent of living in sterilized bubble. I've yet to see any evidence cultures that already have a practice of wearing masks have an issue. Do you think covering up coughs and sneeze have had an impact on people's immunity?7 -
Will you continue to wear your mask every year during flu season (which also kills hundreds of thousands of people each year), or do you only feel obligated to protect them from the "special" diseases?
edited by a MFP moderator
It doesn't, actually. You might want to check your numbers.
I wear gloves outdoors to walk my dogs too
I'm under no illusion that they protect me from Covid, they're to protect my hands from UV exposure. After the bad press chemical sunscreens got last year, I started using UPF clothing instead. But they also do a dandy job of protecting my hands from leash burn if one of the little darlings decides to go off-piste. 4 -
This isn’t aimed at anyone that has posted here. In any way.
This whole mask thing ticks me off. I’m American. Conservative. Male. Highly believe in my rights as being given to me by god and not any government
PUT ON THE DAMN MASK.
Yes we wish we didn’t need them. Yes it sucks.
I just wish people would respect their fellow humans and do this tiny thing to help protect each other.
If you have a medical problem, or a bona fide reason not to wear one, I’m good with it.
To Everyone who walks around not wearing one that should be, you’re an idiot.
To those of you starting physical confrontations over wearing or not wearing them, you’re bigger idiots.
Yes I’m ranting. I’m just saddened by those with so little regard for their fellow man that they can’t wear a mask.
Carry on
I'm just going to give you a hug. I'm sorry you live around people that don't give a *kitten*. I do but I don't need to yet. I'm guessing the time will come here too when I need to so I've ordered masks online. Be very proud you are NOT an idiot ok? The idiots will get what they deserve I think in the end but killing many along the way too.1 -
This isn’t aimed at anyone that has posted here. In any way.
This whole mask thing ticks me off. I’m American. Conservative. Male. Highly believe in my rights as being given to me by god and not any government
PUT ON THE DAMN MASK.
Yes we wish we didn’t need them. Yes it sucks.
I just wish people would respect their fellow humans and do this tiny thing to help protect each other.
If you have a medical problem, or a bona fide reason not to wear one, I’m good with it.
To Everyone who walks around not wearing one that should be, you’re an idiot.
To those of you starting physical confrontations over wearing or not wearing them, you’re bigger idiots.
Yes I’m ranting. I’m just saddened by those with so little regard for their fellow man that they can’t wear a mask.
Carry on
I'm just going to give you a hug. I'm sorry you live around people that don't give a *kitten*. I do but I don't need to yet. I'm guessing the time will come here too when I need to so I've ordered masks online. Be very proud you are NOT an idiot ok? The idiots will get what they deserve I think in the end but killing many along the way too.
Thank you very much! I’m probably spending too much time reading the yahoo home page news and it gets me riled.
Ah yeah man you gotta go with fox in one tab, cnn in the other. Once you've read the same but very different story on both pages then check the daily onion. Now you've got the story.4 -
This isn’t aimed at anyone that has posted here. In any way.
This whole mask thing ticks me off. I’m American. Conservative. Male. Highly believe in my rights as being given to me by god and not any government
PUT ON THE DAMN MASK.
Yes we wish we didn’t need them. Yes it sucks.
I just wish people would respect their fellow humans and do this tiny thing to help protect each other.
If you have a medical problem, or a bona fide reason not to wear one, I’m good with it.
To Everyone who walks around not wearing one that should be, you’re an idiot.
To those of you starting physical confrontations over wearing or not wearing them, you’re bigger idiots.
Yes I’m ranting. I’m just saddened by those with so little regard for their fellow man that they can’t wear a mask.
Carry on
I'm just going to give you a hug. I'm sorry you live around people that don't give a *kitten*. I do but I don't need to yet. I'm guessing the time will come here too when I need to so I've ordered masks online. Be very proud you are NOT an idiot ok? The idiots will get what they deserve I think in the end but killing many along the way too.
Thank you very much! I’m probably spending too much time reading the yahoo home page news and it gets me riled.
LOL and me on Twitter too much hahaa.1 -
This isn’t aimed at anyone that has posted here. In any way.
This whole mask thing ticks me off. I’m American. Conservative. Male. Highly believe in my rights as being given to me by god and not any government
PUT ON THE DAMN MASK.
Yes we wish we didn’t need them. Yes it sucks.
I just wish people would respect their fellow humans and do this tiny thing to help protect each other.
If you have a medical problem, or a bona fide reason not to wear one, I’m good with it.
To Everyone who walks around not wearing one that should be, you’re an idiot.
To those of you starting physical confrontations over wearing or not wearing them, you’re bigger idiots.
Yes I’m ranting. I’m just saddened by those with so little regard for their fellow man that they can’t wear a mask.
Carry on
I'm just going to give you a hug. I'm sorry you live around people that don't give a *kitten*. I do but I don't need to yet. I'm guessing the time will come here too when I need to so I've ordered masks online. Be very proud you are NOT an idiot ok? The idiots will get what they deserve I think in the end but killing many along the way too.
Thank you very much! I’m probably spending too much time reading the yahoo home page news and it gets me riled.
@JimDew I whole-heartedly agree with every thing you said. There aren't enough clicks allowed on the agree button.0 -
This isn’t aimed at anyone that has posted here. In any way.
This whole mask thing ticks me off. I’m American. Conservative. Male. Highly believe in my rights as being given to me by god and not any government
PUT ON THE DAMN MASK.
Yes we wish we didn’t need them. Yes it sucks.
I just wish people would respect their fellow humans and do this tiny thing to help protect each other.
If you have a medical problem, or a bona fide reason not to wear one, I’m good with it.
To Everyone who walks around not wearing one that should be, you’re an idiot.
To those of you starting physical confrontations over wearing or not wearing them, you’re bigger idiots.
Yes I’m ranting. I’m just saddened by those with so little regard for their fellow man that they can’t wear a mask.
Carry on
I'm just going to give you a hug. I'm sorry you live around people that don't give a *kitten*. I do but I don't need to yet. I'm guessing the time will come here too when I need to so I've ordered masks online. Be very proud you are NOT an idiot ok? The idiots will get what they deserve I think in the end but killing many along the way too.
Thank you very much! I’m probably spending too much time reading the yahoo home page news and it gets me riled.
I've had to disconnect from the news - I even hate going to the weather channel's website!
This disregard for their fellow man goes beyond humanity and masks, I'm afraid. I've been walking the main road through my town because there is no where else to walk, and I've noticed lately just how much litter is dumped alongside the roads. Even in front of my house in the road ditch line there is so much more garbage than I remember there being before. Bottles, wrappers, bags - what's even more infuriating for me is the number of beer bottles and beer cans that are laying along the road, indicating to me that apparently there's a big uptick in not only littering but drinking and driving. I'm just scratching my head and thinking "what happened to the big push that was going on all through the 90's and 00's about not driving drunk or keeping your environment clean?"
What is it with people these days having no respect for each other or their world around them?6
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions