Felipe (fcy) CyprianoMar 5, 2023
Ricky Mondello

If someone kindly asks you to wear a mask around them and you say No, that’s pretty profoundly fucked up.

Here’s why: Whenever someone clearly tells you how you can make them comfortable around you, that’s a gift. Whether it’s how to pronounce their name, what their pronouns are, or any other way to make someone feel safe, it’s the kind thing to do.

Be kind.

Mar 3, 2023 at 4:46amWeb
Show threadEshu MarneediMar 3, 2023
@rmondello My favorite is when people say “yeah I’ve been meaning to ask you why are you still wearing that?” in response to me asking them to wear a mask.
Show threadAndrew BriscoeMar 3, 2023
@rmondello Very good advice, thank you.
Show threadmmalcMar 3, 2023

@rmondello

Alternatively, wear protective glasses and a lot of sun screen, and carry a UV lamp around with you

If someone refuses to mask up, switch on the lamp

“Don’t worry, you only have a small chance of getting cancer or going blind”

#WishfulThinking
#ReallyFedUpWithPeopleWhoStillDontUnderstand
#CovidIsNotOver

Show threadAllen StenhausMar 3, 2023

@rmondello 1. Is what is being asked of me going to cause me any harm? 2. Is it going to use up precious spoons I needed for critical things? 3. Is there any logical reason I shouldn't comply out of respect & courtesy for the person asking?

If I can't answer yes to any of these questions, then I'm going to do to thing, in this case, wear the mask. Frankly, this applies to most social situations, IMO. It's key to coexistence.

Show threadaardvarkMar 3, 2023
@allenstenhaus I’d forgotten to consider the spoons
Show threadAllen StenhausMar 3, 2023

@aardvark Everyone is different, too. For example, being agoraphobic, expecting me to be in crowded places regularly is going to strain our friendship until it ultimately fails. But I can do it occasionally if it's important. For example, if my friend is being honored for some kind of achievement, I'll use up my spoons to attend. If it's going into Walmart multiple times a week? I don't care how much I love you, that's just not happening.

Most friends understand these things.

Show threadJohn BishopMar 3, 2023
@rmondello Equal amounts of agree and disappointment 😑
Show threadCesare ForelliMar 3, 2023
@rmondello I’d add: if you sit with someone who’s wearing a mask, don’t ask if you need to put one on, just do it
Show threadSam GrossMar 3, 2023
@rmondello even though I don’t wear one much these days, I still *carry* masks in all my bags. Y’know, because it costs nothing to be nice.
Show threadSoozcatMar 3, 2023
@rmondello I still wear a mask in public places. I don't demand that anyone else do it, but I try to keep my distance from others who don't mask and who try to get too close. Strangers can give me the hairy eyeball if they want; I won't be responsible for bringing a case of the plague home to the people I love. Full stop.
Show threadPBandJessiMar 3, 2023
@rmondello I dont understand why this is so hard for people... Its a pretty basic human decency kinda thing honestly...
Show threadaardvarkMar 3, 2023
@rmondello true
Show threadAntonio YonMar 3, 2023

@rmondello Unfortunately, the prevailing attitude lately is “I got mine, f you!”

And that is profoundly fucked up!

Show threadChloé RaccoonMar 3, 2023
@rmondello @VulpineAmethyst ...if someone kindly asks me to wear a mask on one of the sites I work on/go to, the answer is "fuck" because you are having to ask me, I didn't put it on first.
Show threadTib. Fulv.Mar 3, 2023
@rmondello
Bothering people in this way is profoundly unkind.
Show threaddimsumthinkingMar 3, 2023
@rmondello I interact with people every day who don't understand your “here's why”. And those are the nice ones. The not nice ones are those that understand your "here's why" and decide to ignore them
Show threadPatrickleeMar 3, 2023
@rmondello I’d put on my mask and offer one to at least five people because I certainly carry spares.
Show threadMarcusCSCMar 3, 2023
@rmondello agreed on their property and if they are immuno-compromised; that comes down to common courtesy and a general sense of manners and respect.
Show threadRicky MondelloMar 3, 2023
@mcole If you don’t unconditionally agree, then you’ve missed the point of what I’m saying.
Show threadMarcusCSCMar 3, 2023
@rmondello the last point is my statement, not the conditional part it is an issue of courtesey
Show threadGötz HoffartMar 3, 2023

@rmondello Not putting on a mask when asked to in a social contest is way worse than not taking shoes off when asked during entering a flat. Though the latter has less impact: dirty carpets max … and nonetheless people struggle to do the first, but not the last.

Why?

Is it because this shoe-thing was trained before they got 16 years old, and it’s “normal”?

Show threadKyle 🎙 🎶Mar 4, 2023
Well, I'm probably not going to ask you what your pronouns are, as it's unkind of me to address you in the third person while you're within earshot. The only pronoun that should matter is you or y'all if I'm speaking kindly to you.
Show threadDaniel BrotherstonMar 4, 2023

@rmondello This is on point.

It is a gift, because they could have chosen just to avoid you instead. How many people complain about ghosting, but ignore or get upset when someone tells them how to improve their relationship (and yes, ghosting and relationship both imply romantic but I mean human interactions generally).

Show threaddawnfryMar 5, 2023
And please don’t crowd the person or try to hug them. Don’t try to shake their hand. A mask should be an assumption that they are trying to follow the full protocol. Don’t make that hard for them. You don’t know and don’t have to know why they are doing it. Just help.