With new COVID-19 variants looming and renewed attacks on vaccines, masks, and other basic preventative measures, I just want to mention that:
- I still routinely mask up in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. I mask on planes and trains. I teach with my mask on.
- I test any time I'm feeling under the weather.
- I plan to get the updated vaccine.
I'd *prefer* not to do any of this, but at worst, it's in the "mild inconvenience" category, and far preferable to long-term disability.
There are all sorts of inconveniences I put up with. I wait in lines. I take out the trash. I pay my taxes and bills. I wait at red lights. All that stuff “wastes” valuable time, money, and energy, yet most of us still do them.
Putting on a mask is a drop in the bucket by comparison.
Clear-faced N95 filter masks are a win both ways. Most of the nonverbal comes through fine
@huitema There are some things wearing a mask can impede. But so what? People deal with risks and benefits all the time. And we can weigh things differently. It’s fine.
But this underlying premise that any inconvenience is inherently unacceptable is complete bullshit. The only answer to that is “grow up already”.
My guess is that the prime offenders are the conservatives who decry that any change is an offense.
@huitema @mattblaze people who are concerned about that can buy transparent masks with everything from a window over just the lips to (reusable) transparent bubbles with filters at the sides.
But right now going out of my way to make maskless people comfortable doesn't seem worth while. They DGAF about my safety, let's focus on that.
Matt Blaze
Christian Huitema
Richard Johnson
Bob Collins
Moz
Norman Wilson