This is a long one. This my response to a local elected official asking if I will wear a mask for him and the community:
Will I wear a mask for you or others in this community? That depends upon very many different factors. Have you/others invited me into your home where for some reason you have requested that visitors wear masks; a costume party, to deliver goods, etc? If so, I would wear a mask if I took you up on that offer. Am I visiting you/others in a health facility such as a hospital or a long term care residence where there is likely to be a concentration of individuals with compromised immune systems at risk of developing severe symptoms to most all disease? Yes, if I choose to visit you/others in that location and I have concerns about my own health. Would I wear a mask if I was going to go onto a crowded subway, tram car, or gondola? Possibly so, or I may be independently prudent and simply choose not to put myself in those situations if I had very real concerns about an outbreak of any virus.
But, will I wear a mask in general in response to the blanket "statement" of moral urging and persuasion of current popular propaganda? No, I will not. I have very many different reasons for this answer.
First, I do not believe (and science and data are continuing to bear out) that in the general population this virus is anywhere near as deadly as first thought. In fact, it is fairly benign when contracted by over 95% of individuals. This is not the same story for the elderly and immunocompromised, hence my willingness to consider a mask when in the company of these specific populations in density.
Second, I do not believe it is prudent to continue to "flatten the curve" in the general healthy population by encouraging and shaming individuals into wearing masks. I am all in favor of the general and healthy population to independently manage their risks by living their lives as they see fit and risking exposure to and developing immunity to a virus that is not going to go away by us simply covering our eyes and pretending we are invisible. I am, quite frankly, confused as to why local officials would want to continue to keep the virus on a leash during the warm summer months when people are at their most active, most often outdoors, and generally at their healthiest. Why would any individual consider delaying the spread of this virus into the fall and winter when we will not only still have COVID-19 but seasonal and potentially new strains of Influenza as well. CDC, WHO, NDH all list historical data that makes it quite obvious that the bulk of deaths from respiratory illness all over this country are during the cold months of the year. So, why wouldn't we encourage the managed spread of this virus NOW during the summer months. A News and Guide article from yesterday made a note that most of the new infections are in the 20-30 year old population. In my opinion, that is GREAT news! I am not a doctor or epidemiologist, but I do have a fairly good grasp and understanding of how the human body has historically adapted and protected itself from viruses in the past; exposure. Take the Spanish Flu, researchers and doctors were baffled as to why the elderly population was not hit the hardest as was typical with other flu viruses. Instead during the Spanish Flu, it was the younger to middle aged population that suffered the greatest losses. From the various documentaries I watched about studies done on tissues from Spanish Flu victims recovered from the permafrost, the main assumption/hypothesis as to why the elderly were protected was because they had been exposed to a strain of the virus when they were children. So, will I or my children wear masks now to hypothetically protect others but at the same time risk that they/I do not develop a natural immune response to something that could kill them/me later? Respectfully, no.
Third, you ask if I will wear a mask for others in the community providing goods or services to me. In my experience in and around town's stores and restaurants, most individuals I have encountered don't seem to care if I have one on or not. Most don't seem to want to be wearing the mask they are being forced to wear. It is clear they are not frightened for themselves by the way they wear their masks. They constantly are removing it and replacing it to talk to coworkers in close proximity or friends who are customers. They don't seem concerned about touching, high fiving, hugging even, throughout their shift without any obvious hand washing. They are obviously uncomfortable with these "symbols of compliance" that inhibit their respiration, speech, and ability to naturally emote. This is why they are continually taking them off of their faces and thereby more often spreading their germs through touch on surfaces (most specifically, my beer glass!). So, no, I do not feel a pressing desire or insistence from most individuals I engage with while dealing in commerce in town. So, if the pressure is not coming from the general public that you suggest I should "protect", who is it coming from?
Okay, consider a pie. This pie represents all of the individuals wearing masks. We are going to divide this pie up into pieces. This is going to be a very "loose" pie graph based only upon my personal speculation, not true data, but let's do it regardless.
There is a tiny slice of that pie that represents individuals who are truly afraid for themselves and others. They are diligent about wearing their masks, cleaning their masks, and avoiding social spaces. Their mask etiquette is the same in the public eye as well as when they are not "seen".
There is another slice of the pie, bigger than the last, that represents those who are not afraid for themselves but do believe the narrative to some degree that their mask protects others. They are mostly diligent about wearing their masks, make a general (not heroic) attempt to wear it properly and not touch it, but probably have varying levels of compromise in how/when to wear the mask based upon their location, visibility, and current social situation.
Now we get to the two biggest slices of the pie.
First is the slice representing those who are forced to wear masks because of their profession. A good chunk of those individuals may prefer not to wear masks, don't wear them when not at work, and don't really care if others wear them. This is evident in the mask behavior I described above.
Then the last slice, the other big slice, are those who are voluntarily wearing masks because it is what they are being pressured to do. Maybe they do it because they believe it shows they "care". Maybe it is because it makes a statement about their political beliefs or a statement against something/someone else. Maybe it is because they are afraid if they don't wear one they will be socially ostracized and disparaged by silent glares or refusal of service. This is the crowd that are mostly wearing buffs and bandanas rather than medical grade masks. Because when you are wearing an item of clothing as a moral, cultural, or political statement rather than for a medical purpose, it needs to look good first and be effective last. They may hardly ever wash these symbolic objects because it really isn't about health and safety. It is about "fitting in" and not being "cast aside" by the current "moral majority". They may discard them quickly when they are not around people that they feel the need to social signal to.
So, will I wear a mask you ask? Generally speaking, no. I am an adult that is well versed in how to wash my hands, avoid touching my face, and stay home when sick. I also believe that the psychological damage being done to all, especially children, in this mask-wearing abnormalcy is not quite understood and won't be for some time. I have spoken to individuals who feel more depressed than they ever have, are drinking more alcohol than normal, and have a general feeling of malaise. I have heard children talking to each other about being afraid to go to the park because they might die.
I believe that smiles, hugs, and handshakes heal. I believe that it is my obligation to myself, my family, and others to acknowledge, manage, and accept a certain level of risk that comes with everyday living. And in my opinion, more damage is being done by this pandemic of fear than even the virus itself. I will weigh the risk of sharing my smiles and hugs vs. the benefits they provide. And I believe the benefits outweigh the risks!
If you see me out and about I will be giving everyone the six feet they may desire! But, feel free to step into my circle if you want a hug or a handshake!
Sincerely,
Gloria Courser
Write a comment