Someone just called me a "victim and a slave" because my profile pic had me wearing a mask. On #Mastodon , sadly.

Trolls do exist here too, sadly.

Didn't bother engaging, just blocked & reported. Sayonara, dweeb.

Anyway, as bizarrely as this sounds, I used the photo cos I simply thought I looked nice. πŸ˜† I wasn't making some weird political statement. In #Malaysia most folks are still wearing masks indoors and even outdoors.

#COVID #Trolls

@liztai We knew the trolls were going to come hunting us here, I thought.

I'm still masking. Kindness, while I can still choose at all.

@DEWLine #Masking is helping the immunocompromised too. My parents are both at that age where they have to be careful. I'm just surprised it's such an issue in the West. Something that puzzles me till this day.

@liztai Toxic individualism is as real as toxic collectivism. There seems to be a tradition of thinking that those of our forebears who came from European nations took over Turtle Island AKA North America in order to escape practicing more responsible forms of conduct.

This is a theory I have. I admit to a lack of evidence to support it.

@DEWLine I did read somewhere that Americans descended from people who were breaking social conventions and wanted to live life their way. So, perhaps this is deeply ingrained in your culture and DNA.
@liztai There are some differences - some subtle, others not - between Canadians, Americans, Mexicans, etc. on such matters. By and large, though, it seems clear that you may be correct.
@liztai a shame that individuals even have to stoop so low. Nice that you ignored them...
@circatee I mean why waste money I could use on a Netflix show, really
@liztai
PS: just started using and learning Mastodon. Didn't realize that the 'favourite' was a 'like' πŸ˜‚
@liztai What an idiot. Whatever happened to personal freedom.
@HiFi_ingAuntie You're talking like he operates from logic haha. These people are like, don't knowlah, big blobs of floating hate and should be treated like bathroom fungus
@liztai I'm so sorry this happened. That there are people who actively go out of their way to be awful boggles my mind, even though it shouldn't. It's not so hard to live by #WheatonsLaw.
@dbsalk These folks have some kind of pain inside they want to spread to the world. But I have no time to be sympathetic πŸ˜†
@liztai it’s sad that in some countries (not calling any out…) wearing a mask is seen as a political statement instead of concern about your own and other people’s health.
Here in Thailand, although not mandated anymore since a few months, it’s also still close to 100%.
@liztai probably same trolls who think Trump actually had Covid. Publicity stunt.
@liztai You do look nice! Love your hair AND mask.
@liztai It’s a good picture. Love the hair.
@liztai A hearty FU to that that colossal loser. Also, your hair is perfection!
@liztai
I still wear mine when I leave the house, too. Sometimes I move it when I’m outdoors, but it’s back on when I go indoor anywhere. I’m in Canada.
@liztai Hugs... sorry you had to deal with that!
@liztai It shows intelligence and compassion.
@liztai it’s sad to hear, but also really stupid. I literally wear a mask so I’m not a COVID victim. Or RSV. Or whatever. I just hate being sick. πŸ˜‚
@liztai it’s a great photo! And thank you, from an immunocompromised parent of a small child in the United States. I’m also in a mask in lublic. I already get all the germs my kid brings home by virtue of being a kid (RSV twice this year!). I don’t need everyone else’s germs too.
@liztai We're just coming to the end of a trip to #malaysia and #singapore and were pretty impressed by the level of masking. We were also excited by the range of masks on offer and may have over-bought!
@liztai I actually like masking because I’m introverted and like not having to show my face lol. And also i don’t have to be caught unaware by weird smells in urban streets and public toilets.
@liztai i use a mask and get a kick out of explaining to people that i'm allergic to perfume and it keep me from getting a migraine. and as a plus: i don't have to shave my old lady mustach. ;)
@liztai I wish more people masked. As for me, I'll be masking until Covid is no longer a serious threat to health and life. In other words, most likely until the end of time.
@liztai So sad to hear this happened to you. It’s just a good picture! Wearing a mask meant that I didn’t get sick for 3 years and 3 months. That was fantastic! I wear a mask to protect myself from the coughing & sneezing on public transport, to not bring germs home to immuno-compromised family members, & to not spread germs I might have. I also like how masks have long been used in your part of the world for common sense reasons. I feel it’s a habit worth cultivating, so thank you.
@liztai I wonder what the infection rates are between Malaysia and USA.
@LibertyForward1 Hmm, I'm pretty sure data exists somewhere. There's https://ourworldindata.org/covid-cases
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases

This page has a large number of charts on the pandemic. In the box below you can select any country you are interested in – or several, if you want to compare countries.

Our World in Data
@liztai Gross, I hate this. Their filth will get in anywhere, it seems.
@liztai You’re beautiful. And you’re right.

@liztai
Good for you!

Our country also dropped the general masking mandate, with some exceptions (hospitals, publicly transit settings) but most people still mask.

From one what I've observed 3/5 people mask-up properly in public, and the rest are either mask-free or mask improperly (i.e. masking their chins, or exposing their noses).

@gowin There are some in Malaysia who are openly flouting the rules - most are required to mask in public transportation but fortunately they are a minority.
@gowin I had to lol at the mask improperly thing. I always had this mad desire to pull those masks up for them.
@liztai My profile pic is masked too. Mask helps me from getting allergies, flu and during winter bronchitis, chest colds etc. Since I started to wear masks I have not gotten sick with cold or allergies. So it is not just for Covid virus.
@Mallulady It has helped with my allergies too. Nothing worked before and I spent a fortune on antihistamines
@liztai Good for you. I got Covid for the first time in November and it was the first public event I'd been to in 3 years. It's out there.
@liztai thanks for sharing. I haven’t encountered any trolls yet in my early months here. More people are wearing masks here, even in my area known for radical right wing big mouths.
@liztai In the winter here when it’s cold I usually mask in stores. I found during the pandemic they keep your face warm on the walk from car to store. Bonus. Hell, I may do this forever just to trigger the magats.
@scooterdawg I really don't understand their objections to mask. Probably better not try lol
@liztai Theres always a few, everywhere. A nice thing about Mastodon is that, unlike on Twitter, blocked or muted accounts completely disappear. You need never think about them again, which is probably the best course.
@juneussell It's strange that eventhough we block accounts on Twitter they just don't completely go away. I find Mastodon is truly "block & forget"
@liztai Yea, I used to hate those β€˜This tweet is from an account you blocked’ interferences over there. Why would I want to see that?
@juneussell They're like tempting you to unblock them! It feels that way to me anyway lol
@liztai I don't mind differences of opinion, and want to see that here. But I appreciate real conversations -- not insults, threats or the pushing of misinformation that seem to be the hallmark of so many trolls..
@liztai If a mask works for you, then go for it. I still wear masks too.