Why face masks became political in the US

[FrankFletcher]

It sounds like the problems you’re experiencing are caused by anxiety unless you’re medically fragile which makes wearing a mask difficult. There’s no valid reason why you can’t breathe in a mask otherwise, and people everyday manage to wear them with glasses. You don’t like masks — fine. But your unwillingness go properly wear them is about the risk you’re posing to others, not yourself.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

I find it interesting that you cite studies that you don’t understand. For you it is simply because experts said so.

This is an appeal to arrogance and pride. Arrogance because it is based on the assumption that the readers (all of us) are equally capable of understanding a medical study as actual experts. The fact is, most of us do not understand the science behind virology and epidemiology. They are graduate level courses in med school. It is arrogant to believe that anyone can master these subjects without any formal study. But because we like to have our pride stroked, arguments like this are appealing. It takes a little humility to admit that I am not an expert in everything. But there are those who are.

 

[Feanor2]

RC67:

What science book have you been reading-- “101 Ways Clorox Can Cure The Common Cold!” But you’re right, I probably don’t have any authority to come to a conclusion over this since I am not a graduate of Trump University.

Realize. Your response is to cite fake news. I guess you did not hear that the man who “died” was actually likely murdered by his wife, a democrat who hated Trump? She then devised that whole “he did it because Trump told him to” story. Really she just poisoned her husband.

Unplug my friend. You are brainwashed.

Well we can shine light into our bodies, as Trump theorized, to cure Covid.

 

[Zzyzx_Road]

There is a simple test for how a mask should fit to prevent transmission: a properly fitted N95 mask should not allow the wearer to smell anything at all. That’s a mask that will do far better at preventing transmission than anything else.

A nurse recently told me of the aerosol test: an aerosol is sprayed in the air in front of one’s face and the N95 mask wearer should not be able to smell it. That’s how nurses know they got their N95 mask fitted correctly. It’s only their livelihood at stake so they have to get it right.

All other masks, bandannas, neck gaiters, surgical masks, etc., still allow for transmission. In fact, no one can find any trace of a medical certification on a single one of these masks sold commercially. If you don’t believe me, walk into a well used public restroom with only a surgical mask, the kind of restroom where cleanliness isn’t a priority.

The big deal is to wash your hands and don’t touch your face in public. Think about this: how many people are constantly adjusting their masks as they go about their day? Kind of rendering it useless.

 

[Frank92]

Well we can shine light into our bodies, as Trump theorized, to cure Covid.

That was proposed as a theory, and people were studying it and devleoping it, and then Trump touted it and they had to stop the study. Because. You know. You cant let the president be right. UV light has been shown to kill other respiratory pathogrens.

 

[Frank92]

All foolishness.

Coronavirus: Asymptomatic spread 'appears to be rare,' WHO official says | Fox News

 

[LeafByNiggle]

A nurse recently told me of the aerosol test: an aerosol is sprayed in the air in front of one’s face and the N95 mask wearer should not be able to smell it.

They were probably talking about a mask with a charcoal filter, which painters use to filter volatile toxins, like solvents. An N95 mask does not filter smells that are totally dissolved in the air as gasses - only non-gaseous particles or droplets. Read about it here.

The masks being worn by the general public during this pandemic are primarily to prevent the wearer from infecting anyone else. They are not meant to protect the wearer. Medical grade N95 mask do that.

 

[Pattylt]

They were probably talking about a mask with a charcoal filter, which painters use to filter volatile toxins, like solvents. An N95 mask does not filter smells that are totally dissolved in the air as gasses - only non-gaseous particles or droplets. Read about it here.

We had yearly mask fittings in our hospital because they were mandatory on TB patients. We did a smell test with them but these were much more complicated than an N95 mask. And you’re right, smells will even penetrate an N95 mask though only slightly. The 95 stand for 95% filtration. TB masks were 100%. KN95 masks are non medical masks that are supposed to be as efficient as N95 masks are.

I’ll post my chart again showing the efficiencies of various materials used in homemade masks. Using the right material, double layered and even better if you can place a coffee filter in between the layers are very effective. Just because they don’t reach 95% does not mean they are worthless…quite the opposite especially if viral load determines severity of illness.
Charts:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Peeps]

It sounds like the problems you’re experiencing are caused by anxiety

I’m not disagreeing with you about anxiety. Since childhood, I’ve had problems with certain clothing–my mother always got upset with me because I was pulling at my collars (and I still never wear tight collars–a good way to torture me would be to force me to wear a turtleneck!), or pulling at any elastic around my waist (I still wear slacks that are at least two sizes too large for me–I just hate tight clothing of any kind!).

So what do you think of people who experience other anxiety-related issues; e.g., fear of heights, fear of confinement in tight places, fear of spiders? Do you think they should just suck it up like you’re telling me to suck it up?

Or since I am placing others in danger, do I take a long leave of absence from my job, hire a service to shop and deliver anything I need (groceries, etc.), and just stay home from now until the COVID crisis is over? I don’t think medication is an option, since I work in a hospital in a fast-paced laboratory, and I have to be uber alert.

I personally think that if the government is going to shame us (or even forbid us from doing certain activities) if we don’t wear masks, they ought to also pay for the aversion therapy that might help people like me to stop being anxious about wearing confining articles of clothing.

I did say that I have tried literally hundreds of times to pull the mask up, take deep slow breaths, imagine myself in my “happy place,” say prayers, repeat a phrase over and over again, etc. So far, no luck controlling my anxiety by myself.

So what’s your advice besides “withdraw from society?”

 

[FrankFletcher]

I don’t know you and I’m not diagnosing you.

But offhand I’d guess therapy is a good option for anyone who experiences this kind of anxiety when wearing a mask. It’s working for our daughter thus far.

 

[umamibella]

It is such a debilitating virus and very effective at transfer and infection due to its site of replication, and that is where masks are crucial in fighting its eradication.

The 96% figure you have quoted depends on the strain and location geographically of this virus. It is also way too early to put a figure on it.
We have people with no risk factors, younger then 60, getting this virus and being ill for quite some time.
There is no one size fits all with this virus.
Our stats in Vic just for today are 116 new cases, we are only testing those with symptoms who come forward, and 17 deaths.
We are experience similar death tolls daily.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Vox is an online “magazine” that prides itself on being Uber-woke.

I am a conservative leaning mask-wearer, and here is my take on the polarization of mask wearing.

The government, news media and the university types are not seen as trustworthy anymore.

My mask-refusing friends think these groups are crying “wolf” about the need for masks.
They believe these groups have repeatedly lied and/or distorted the news too many times to trust them now.

This is a serious problem.

So…what are the government, news media and university types going to do to regain their credibility?

 

[F_Marturana]

If this was an instance of “crying wolf“ don’t they acknowledge that a dentist should wear a mask, a surgeon should wear a mask, a tattoo artist should wear one?

It’s like the science behind masks isn’t understood.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

It’s like the science behind masks isn’t understood.

It isn’t understood.
But that’s besides the the point.
But there is a real crisis of credibility from the organizations we’re supposed to be able to trust.

If an organization or a person lies too many times, then they won’t be believed when they’re telling the truth.
My mommy taught me that.
And now we’re seeing it.

 

[tomarin]

I agree that some people put their faith in things they read in social media, their like-minded friends, President Trump, etc. (look at the poster up thread who thinks that shining light inside our bodies is a legitimate virus fighting method that merits investigation) that goes against what the medical authorities are saying, but I am baffled as to why they trust those sources and distrust the doctors and public health authorities who have spent their careers studying these things and precisely don’t have a political axe to grind (unlike online cranks, etc.). I think it may be what has become a reflexive conservative distrust of intellectuals or something.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

public health authorities who have spent their careers studying these things and precisely don’t have a political axe to grind

Because the experts have, in the past, used their authority to grind their “political axe”.
We have an entire history of medical experts hiding behind white coats to push this or that agenda.

It happened for too long, and now a lot of people don’t trust them anymore.

It’s the same with the anti vaxxers.
I give and receive vaccines. I’ve even run flu vaccine clinics. But I totally understand how people lose faith in what the “experts” say.

So what we’re seeing now is the end result of too many years of propaganda and agendas.

 

[F_Marturana]

Anti Vaxers are very good at spreading their propaganda and reaching out to other moms.

They prey on guilty feelings.

I’m not sure it has to do with not trusting the media because the media was wrong. It’s more the “alternate facts” sound better.

I’m glad years ago my pediatrician listened and pointed me to actual studies.

 

[tomarin]

What agendas are you referring to?

 

[Wampa]

You dont understand the difference between asymptomatic and symptomatic do you?

The point I am making is that it is veyr rare that asymptomatic people can spread it. Hence, there should not be a mask mandate that forces well people to wear masks.

Coronavirus: Asymptomatic spread 'appears to be rare,' WHO official says | Fox News

You don’t seem to know what asymptomatic means.

By citing this article, you perpetuate misleading medical information. You’ve posted a June 8 article reporting on Dr. Van Kerkhove’s suggestion that asymptomatic spread is rare and you’re using that to conclude that masks needn’t be worn.

I know you’re suspended and won’t be responding, but here’s the rest of the story for others, and this is important, because there is a lot of confusion out there, in large part because of Dr. Van Kerkhove’s careless statement.

After public health experts strongly objected, she walked it back the next day and clarified that she was talking about truly asymptomatic cases (those who never show symptoms) and not presymptomatic cases.

Most of the confusion around this topic stems from people conflating both asymptomatic and presymptomatic into the word asymptomatic, as you have done. While it is correct that truly asymptomatic people are not very contagious, people are very contagious in the 2-3 days before showing symptoms. If you have the virus and aren’t showing symptoms, obviously you don’t yet know if you’re asymptomatic or presymptomatic.

Presymptomatic spread is precisely what masks are intended to limit.

 

[Zzyzx_Road]

The government, news media and the university types are not seen as trustworthy anymore.

My mask-refusing friends think these groups are crying “wolf” about the need for masks.
They believe these groups have repeatedly lied and/or distorted the news too many times to trust them now.

This is a serious problem.

So…what are the government, news media and university types going to do to regain their credibility?

Definitely not this:

Stars attending VMAs from out of state will not be subject to New York quarantine mandate

Stars will have the privilege of skipping out on New York's 14-day quarantine mandate when they visit for the MTV Video Music Awards next week.

www.foxnews.com

Rules are for us, not for them.

Do supporters of the rules have any concept at all of how their credibility is lost with fertilizer like this?