Cultures, Crafts, and Corona Virus

[DisorientingSneeze]

I’ve been considering sewing some masks for myself and my family. I suppose I just need a place to talk it out and gather reactions and beliefs.

I was discussing the global mask shortage with my dental hygienist who is a serious wealth of information. I learn so many random and interesting things from him. He said that in very populous places where masks have become part of the culture, it isn’t seen as something to protect the wearer but a polite gesture of the wearer toward everyone else. It is to protect others not the person in the mask.

I am in a somewhat (but not densely) populous place (Houston, Texas), but masks aren’t really part of our culture.

I’m trying to figure out if the wearing of washable fabric masks (like surgical masks in shape but not disposable) could be alarming or irresponsible.

It could:
Make others think they need the same sort of protection and generally raise alarm.
Make others think we have an infectious disease and should be avoided

It could also:
Just by the feeling of having it on remind you not to touch your face so much when you’re out and about. Many of us do without realizing and my kids do sooooooo much.

You all come from all sorts of places. How would this go over where you live? What are your thoughts.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

I suppose it could also make the wearer feel safer than they really are.

 

[sudy]

The advice in my country is to not wear a mask unless you have coronavirus. The reasons for this are that we would take them off to eat and talk, and so touching the mask, and then putting it back on again, making it less sterile than it was upon first placing it.

Next, is that it’s mainly being spread by touching something contaminated and then taking it to one’s own face, rather than somebody coughing on you.

So… in my opinion, you should do whatever would make you most comfortable. My own plan is to wear gloves while out and be vigilant about not touching my face… that’s going to be difficult for me as I am a frequent face toucher, as well as carrying hand sanitizer while out and about, and washing my hands when I get somewhere safe. Also changing gloves on each journey.

Edit: another plan that I have is to think about everything that comes into my home… such as everything I buy at the supermarket that others have touched… I plan to wipe those down.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

The reasons for this are that we would take them off to eat and talk, and so touching the mask, and then putting it back on again, making it less sterile than it was upon first placing it.

So it becomes strapping a contaminated object to your face because you’ll inevitably touch it with your hands.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

You’ve convinced me they’re for sick people. If my crafting itch persists, I’ll make them and shove them in the medicine cabinet for if we get sick with something.

Last time the kids had the flu, our few remaining masks helped. We put one on whoever had the flu because small children on Tamiflu just will not abide by any of my household quarentine attempts.

 

[sudy]

If your crafting itch is strong, you could maybe make them for other people, bag them up for when they’re needed. I’m not much of a crafter so if I had it, I’d be very glad to receive some masks from somebody… it would make trying to self isolate less burdensome.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Made some. It’s pretty fun. I’ll probably make some more. Getting the sizes right is tricky, hence the knots in the ear straps.
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