The New York Times explains to their sad, socially isolated readership why it’s time to mask up again, however stupid they feel being the absolutely last people to bother
The New York Times explains to their sad, socially isolated readership why it’s time to mask up again, however stupid they feel being the absolutely last people to bother
Long-time readers may remember that I can’t write as often in December, because it’s a month of important deadlines in my other life as a journal editor, but I hate letting two days go by without a post, and also I can’t stop laughing at this hilarious New York Times article on
In the UK there have reportedly been many more cases of Streptococcus A infections, including a number of fatal infections in school children.
I know that the parlous state of our healthcare system is probably the main contributing factor to the cases where bad infections have led to deaths (one 5 year old girl died in my city after being sent home twice from A&E with her father being told she was just dehydrated).
However, I do wonder to what extent wearing masks in schools is contributing to bacterial infections in the mouth and throat. It seems very unhygienic to wear a mask all day.
Hate to break it to the mask fanatics but I have personally chosen not to work with different attorneys and physicians when I see them in a non-clinical non-business settings wearing a mask. Highly revelatory and tells me much more about the person than they could possibly imagine. They think it shows 'science', I think it shows a lack of cost/benefit analysis skills, a predisposition to fear, and weakness towards social signaling that makes me question their ability to synthesize knowledge across disparate fields... And screams 'next!!!!' in my mind as I interact with them.
> “I may feel that everyone’s staring at me because I’m wearing a mask, but chances are that’s like the 11th thing on their list to worry about,” she said.
Maybe it's different elsewhere, but I would like to state definitively and fo the record:
If you're the only person in a room wearing a mask where I live, we ARE all staring at you, and we ARE all judging you, and we DO all hate you, and you SHOULD feel bad
Early in the pandemic when everyone was still masking (and I had been for a few weeks) I came to the realization (or finally came out of my fear funk) that the masks were theater only and a form of control. I decided to not wear a mask at the grocery store. I entered ("masks required") fully expecting someone to call me out and ready to leave my cart and walk out, but they didn't. One guy I saw gave me a funny kind of look though. Later while I was shopping I saw him again and he had removed his mask. That was my proudest moment in the entire pandemic and it occurred to me how change and resistance is possible. I had hope that day
I live in a red state where very few wear masks. Contrary to what that psychologist says: If you're wearing a mask, I notice you. It's not the 11th thing on my list. You've marked yourself as an idiot. But, you may be achieving your purpose. I'm likely to avoid you. I don't suffer fools lightly.
And, regarding this: "The poor pandemic faithful started out masking to save the lives of the elderly and vulnerable, but now they find themselves in an unending hygiene prison from which the only escape, is admitting that they’ve behaved like fools for the past three years."
That is the heart of the problem. These people have staked their reputations on this -- online in comments, on their social media accounts, and with their friend group. They cannot admit they were wrong, and it's the same with the politicians. The most anyone could hope for is they shuffle on to the next "latest thing," and hope we forget about past transgressions. But, for many, this will be impossible. And the punishment will fit the crime: If you can't admit you were wrong, then go ahead and mask up the rest of your life.
These people epitomize Mark Twain's pithy insight: "“It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt” The mask is a visible sign of their stupidity.
I actually don't despair for humanity, because these masker are a tiny minority of the population. I have commented before about the rarity of mask wearing where I live (Georgia, USA) and the low numbers in spaces like airports (<5%). I was just in the UK last month and the mask wearing was almost non-existent and even the "we advise you to wear a mask" signs were very rare. This is a social pathology - some kind of virtue signally combined with the semi-religious "we are doomed" mentality of some of the wealthy credentialed class. I don't think this pathology will spread. The NYT gives this away by comforting their readers "don't be afraid if you are scorned".
Here in Manhattan, the epicenter of delusional virtue signalling mask idiots, whenever anyone mentions masks I tell them that because I refuse to ever wear one again they should probably keep theirs on until they die. Not really making many new friends...
I have a neighbor who wears a mask all the time, even outside alone. I don't know why she does it, but I try to ignore it. It's hard to ignore something half-covering someone's face, but she is doing her best to ignore that no one else around her wears one, so I will return the favor. But what bothers me is my doctor's office. If a retired woman who lives alone is afraid not to wear a mask because of what she saw on TV, that's one thing -- but these doctors and nurses have to know it's nonsense.
For the record, I am 100% looking at you and judging you if you're wearing a mask in public.
Jason says "wearing a mask is a no-brainer". Excuse me for my poor English, but does it mean the same as no-brain?
In the UK there have reportedly been many more cases of Streptococcus A infections, including a number of fatal infections in school children.
I know that the parlous state of our healthcare system is probably the main contributing factor to the cases where bad infections have led to deaths (one 5 year old girl died in my city after being sent home twice from A&E with her father being told she was just dehydrated).
However, I do wonder to what extent wearing masks in schools is contributing to bacterial infections in the mouth and throat. It seems very unhygienic to wear a mask all day.
If everyone would just do more of what isn't working, it would work!
Hate to break it to the mask fanatics but I have personally chosen not to work with different attorneys and physicians when I see them in a non-clinical non-business settings wearing a mask. Highly revelatory and tells me much more about the person than they could possibly imagine. They think it shows 'science', I think it shows a lack of cost/benefit analysis skills, a predisposition to fear, and weakness towards social signaling that makes me question their ability to synthesize knowledge across disparate fields... And screams 'next!!!!' in my mind as I interact with them.
> “I may feel that everyone’s staring at me because I’m wearing a mask, but chances are that’s like the 11th thing on their list to worry about,” she said.
Maybe it's different elsewhere, but I would like to state definitively and fo the record:
If you're the only person in a room wearing a mask where I live, we ARE all staring at you, and we ARE all judging you, and we DO all hate you, and you SHOULD feel bad
Early in the pandemic when everyone was still masking (and I had been for a few weeks) I came to the realization (or finally came out of my fear funk) that the masks were theater only and a form of control. I decided to not wear a mask at the grocery store. I entered ("masks required") fully expecting someone to call me out and ready to leave my cart and walk out, but they didn't. One guy I saw gave me a funny kind of look though. Later while I was shopping I saw him again and he had removed his mask. That was my proudest moment in the entire pandemic and it occurred to me how change and resistance is possible. I had hope that day
Is masking like communism? "It has never been properly tried".
The people who read the NYT and believe it are not going to read this Substack. Do not despair for those midwits.
I live in a red state where very few wear masks. Contrary to what that psychologist says: If you're wearing a mask, I notice you. It's not the 11th thing on my list. You've marked yourself as an idiot. But, you may be achieving your purpose. I'm likely to avoid you. I don't suffer fools lightly.
And, regarding this: "The poor pandemic faithful started out masking to save the lives of the elderly and vulnerable, but now they find themselves in an unending hygiene prison from which the only escape, is admitting that they’ve behaved like fools for the past three years."
That is the heart of the problem. These people have staked their reputations on this -- online in comments, on their social media accounts, and with their friend group. They cannot admit they were wrong, and it's the same with the politicians. The most anyone could hope for is they shuffle on to the next "latest thing," and hope we forget about past transgressions. But, for many, this will be impossible. And the punishment will fit the crime: If you can't admit you were wrong, then go ahead and mask up the rest of your life.
These people epitomize Mark Twain's pithy insight: "“It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt” The mask is a visible sign of their stupidity.
these last years have turned my opinion of so many people upside down. had no idea what was lurking inside them. sad days.
I actually don't despair for humanity, because these masker are a tiny minority of the population. I have commented before about the rarity of mask wearing where I live (Georgia, USA) and the low numbers in spaces like airports (<5%). I was just in the UK last month and the mask wearing was almost non-existent and even the "we advise you to wear a mask" signs were very rare. This is a social pathology - some kind of virtue signally combined with the semi-religious "we are doomed" mentality of some of the wealthy credentialed class. I don't think this pathology will spread. The NYT gives this away by comforting their readers "don't be afraid if you are scorned".
The last comment "Wearing a mask is a no-brainer." pretty much sums it up. SO glad I left NY and CA.
Here in Manhattan, the epicenter of delusional virtue signalling mask idiots, whenever anyone mentions masks I tell them that because I refuse to ever wear one again they should probably keep theirs on until they die. Not really making many new friends...
You have reason to despair. Those still wearing face diapers at this point, are probably beyond hope.
I have a neighbor who wears a mask all the time, even outside alone. I don't know why she does it, but I try to ignore it. It's hard to ignore something half-covering someone's face, but she is doing her best to ignore that no one else around her wears one, so I will return the favor. But what bothers me is my doctor's office. If a retired woman who lives alone is afraid not to wear a mask because of what she saw on TV, that's one thing -- but these doctors and nurses have to know it's nonsense.