APS mask policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs_evening_news/video/7VhiWYjKZAjXvhUJrfRfUHEAKesZ_tly/parents-discuss-kids-wearing-masks-in-school/

This clip was shared on AEM of various moms talking about masks in school. I’m curious why the promaskers aren’t wearing one in the interview.

I'm sure there was a thorough ventilation study done in advance...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s other things people are weighing as well, like are they willing to risk their pricey spring break vacations if their family get Covid leading up to spring break. So I’m hearing many plan to mask through then.

Yep! We are definitely considering this. We have an amazing trip planned and don't want to get derailed after very little travel for 2 years.

Wow - we've traveled normally since summer 2020. We know masks don't make a diference so we're living our lives mask free. Can't wait for mask mandate on planes to end on March 18th too.

Cool story, bro. We have to take a test for an international flight. It's really irrelevant how much someone else did or didn't travel. As long as the country we are visiting is requiring tests, we are playing it safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized at some point that if I instructed my young elementary daughter to wear a mask, it would only be because I feared the repercussions of the most devout mask devotees and their kids, and not because I believed the reduction in risk was worth wearing a mask.

That didn't sound like a great way to go about making decisions, so we asked the kid what she wanted to do, and she said she'll go maskless to try it out and put it back on if she feels uncomfortable at any point.

I don't think there's easy answers.

Yes, this is the exact conversation and thought process my family is having.

I am worried about the other kids and their reactions. As is clear from this forum, people have filled some kids heads with a lot of things and the kids believe it and will repeat it. I also believe some of these parents will tell their kids to avoid a maskless child. I am worried about the teacher's reaction. I am not terribly worried about my daughter not wearing a mask and in fact think it's what is best for her and it's what she wants too.

It sucks.

And of course there will be the other side of maskless kids making fun of masked kids for being wimps or not knowing covid is over or whatever. When it comes to bullying, I'm more worried about the folks who are against masks then the ones who are trying to help people by continuing to wear masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized at some point that if I instructed my young elementary daughter to wear a mask, it would only be because I feared the repercussions of the most devout mask devotees and their kids, and not because I believed the reduction in risk was worth wearing a mask.

That didn't sound like a great way to go about making decisions, so we asked the kid what she wanted to do, and she said she'll go maskless to try it out and put it back on if she feels uncomfortable at any point.

I don't think there's easy answers.

Yes, this is the exact conversation and thought process my family is having.

I am worried about the other kids and their reactions. As is clear from this forum, people have filled some kids heads with a lot of things and the kids believe it and will repeat it. I also believe some of these parents will tell their kids to avoid a maskless child. I am worried about the teacher's reaction. I am not terribly worried about my daughter not wearing a mask and in fact think it's what is best for her and it's what she wants too.

It sucks.

And of course there will be the other side of maskless kids making fun of masked kids for being wimps or not knowing covid is over or whatever. When it comes to bullying, I'm more worried about the folks who are against masks then the ones who are trying to help people by continuing to wear masks.

This. I am letting my teen decide, but I don't think it's the maskless kids who are likely to get bullied. That doesn't track with what we've seen from parents on AEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized at some point that if I instructed my young elementary daughter to wear a mask, it would only be because I feared the repercussions of the most devout mask devotees and their kids, and not because I believed the reduction in risk was worth wearing a mask.

That didn't sound like a great way to go about making decisions, so we asked the kid what she wanted to do, and she said she'll go maskless to try it out and put it back on if she feels uncomfortable at any point.

I don't think there's easy answers.

Yes, this is the exact conversation and thought process my family is having.

I am worried about the other kids and their reactions. As is clear from this forum, people have filled some kids heads with a lot of things and the kids believe it and will repeat it. I also believe some of these parents will tell their kids to avoid a maskless child. I am worried about the teacher's reaction. I am not terribly worried about my daughter not wearing a mask and in fact think it's what is best for her and it's what she wants too.

It sucks.

And of course there will be the other side of maskless kids making fun of masked kids for being wimps or not knowing covid is over or whatever. When it comes to bullying, I'm more worried about the folks who are against masks then the ones who are trying to help people by continuing to wear masks.

This is Arlington. I think it's a non-maskers who will be ostracized.

My kid came home really upset one day after a kid in her class teased her because she doesn't believe in God. It escalated quite a bit before the teacher had to intervene. That Christian bully's family is also very vocal about continued masking.

All that to say, we all have our personal situations that are guiding our decision making, and I continue to be worried about the reaction from people surrounding my kid if she doesn't mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized at some point that if I instructed my young elementary daughter to wear a mask, it would only be because I feared the repercussions of the most devout mask devotees and their kids, and not because I believed the reduction in risk was worth wearing a mask.

That didn't sound like a great way to go about making decisions, so we asked the kid what she wanted to do, and she said she'll go maskless to try it out and put it back on if she feels uncomfortable at any point.

I don't think there's easy answers.

Yes, this is the exact conversation and thought process my family is having.

I am worried about the other kids and their reactions. As is clear from this forum, people have filled some kids heads with a lot of things and the kids believe it and will repeat it. I also believe some of these parents will tell their kids to avoid a maskless child. I am worried about the teacher's reaction. I am not terribly worried about my daughter not wearing a mask and in fact think it's what is best for her and it's what she wants too.

It sucks.

And of course there will be the other side of maskless kids making fun of masked kids for being wimps or not knowing covid is over or whatever. When it comes to bullying, I'm more worried about the folks who are against masks then the ones who are trying to help people by continuing to wear masks.

This. I am letting my teen decide, but I don't think it's the maskless kids who are likely to get bullied. That doesn't track with what we've seen from parents on AEM.

Really? Sorry but I just don't think so The kids don't even think twice about people and peers wearing masks. It's what they are surrounded by daily and have been. Up until now, I guess.

[Anonymous]

We are atheist pro-maskers, fwiw. I associate the anti-masking position with the "good christians" who just want their kids to be able to breathe as god intended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized at some point that if I instructed my young elementary daughter to wear a mask, it would only be because I feared the repercussions of the most devout mask devotees and their kids, and not because I believed the reduction in risk was worth wearing a mask.

That didn't sound like a great way to go about making decisions, so we asked the kid what she wanted to do, and she said she'll go maskless to try it out and put it back on if she feels uncomfortable at any point.

I don't think there's easy answers.

Yes, this is the exact conversation and thought process my family is having.

I am worried about the other kids and their reactions. As is clear from this forum, people have filled some kids heads with a lot of things and the kids believe it and will repeat it. I also believe some of these parents will tell their kids to avoid a maskless child. I am worried about the teacher's reaction. I am not terribly worried about my daughter not wearing a mask and in fact think it's what is best for her and it's what she wants too.

It sucks.

And of course there will be the other side of maskless kids making fun of masked kids for being wimps or not knowing covid is over or whatever. When it comes to bullying, I'm more worried about the folks who are against masks then the ones who are trying to help people by continuing to wear masks.

You see how hilarious this is right? Please tell me you do.

Shaming the non-masking kids in your post where you say the maskless kids will get bullied. Gee, I wonder where the kids get these thoughts from and why they would ever say these things. I can't even imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized at some point that if I instructed my young elementary daughter to wear a mask, it would only be because I feared the repercussions of the most devout mask devotees and their kids, and not because I believed the reduction in risk was worth wearing a mask.

That didn't sound like a great way to go about making decisions, so we asked the kid what she wanted to do, and she said she'll go maskless to try it out and put it back on if she feels uncomfortable at any point.

I don't think there's easy answers.

Yes, this is the exact conversation and thought process my family is having.

I am worried about the other kids and their reactions. As is clear from this forum, people have filled some kids heads with a lot of things and the kids believe it and will repeat it. I also believe some of these parents will tell their kids to avoid a maskless child. I am worried about the teacher's reaction. I am not terribly worried about my daughter not wearing a mask and in fact think it's what is best for her and it's what she wants too.

It sucks.

And of course there will be the other side of maskless kids making fun of masked kids for being wimps or not knowing covid is over or whatever. When it comes to bullying, I'm more worried about the folks who are against masks then the ones who are trying to help people by continuing to wear masks.

You see how hilarious this is right? Please tell me you do.

Shaming the non-masking kids in your post where you say the kids who continue to mask kids will get bullied. Gee, I wonder where the kids get these thoughts from and why they would ever say these things. I can't even imagine.

[Anonymous]

We are Christians and believe in God and wore masks diligently until now. Arlington so progressive and woke yet stereotypes nonstop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Christians and believe in God and wore masks diligently until now. Arlington so progressive and woke yet stereotypes nonstop.

+1

Except I'll clarify that we are left leaning politically, but, Christian, and had COVID in January, and are ok with going without masks now. We've told our child to be kind to everyone no matter if they wear a mask or not and that each family is deciding what is best for their family and that looks different for everyone--just like all families look different.

As always, this should be treated as a public health issue, and not a political signaler.

[Anonymous]

I'll bite. Except for stray cases of trying to help kids on the spectrum help recognize social cues, unmasking mostly helps yourself. Whereas staying masked helps others. Unmasking is mostly for one's own benefit, convenience, and personal comfort. I can't bear wearing a mask I have to feel normal again! Whereas staying masked protects yourself, but also helps stop the spread to others who may be immunocompromised.

How have I misrepresented this? In what way is staying masked actually more selfish than unmasking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll bite. Except for stray cases of trying to help kids on the spectrum help recognize social cues, unmasking mostly helps yourself. Whereas staying masked helps others. Unmasking is mostly for one's own benefit, convenience, and personal comfort. I can't bear wearing a mask I have to feel normal again! Whereas staying masked protects yourself, but also helps stop the spread to others who may be immunocompromised.

How have I misrepresented this? In what way is staying masked actually more selfish than unmasking?

You are framing it as selfish vs unselfish, meaning that wearing or not wearing a mask is a sign that someone is a good person or a bad person.

In my mind, the question is necessary vs unnecessary. Is this actually in intervention that is accomplishing what we want it to accomplish. The CDC says no, it's not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll bite. Except for stray cases of trying to help kids on the spectrum help recognize social cues, unmasking mostly helps yourself. Whereas staying masked helps others. Unmasking is mostly for one's own benefit, convenience, and personal comfort. I can't bear wearing a mask I have to feel normal again! Whereas staying masked protects yourself, but also helps stop the spread to others who may be immunocompromised.

How have I misrepresented this? In what way is staying masked actually more selfish than unmasking?

If the CDC says that it's not necessary to make, at what point will you take off the mask? Ever? To the point where it's no longer "helping others?" What metric will you use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll bite. Except for stray cases of trying to help kids on the spectrum help recognize social cues, unmasking mostly helps yourself. Whereas staying masked helps others. Unmasking is mostly for one's own benefit, convenience, and personal comfort. I can't bear wearing a mask I have to feel normal again! Whereas staying masked protects yourself, but also helps stop the spread to others who may be immunocompromised.

How have I misrepresented this? In what way is staying masked actually more selfish than unmasking?

If the CDC says that it's not necessary to make, at what point will you take off the mask? Ever? To the point where it's no longer "helping others?" What metric will you use?

+1

PP's argument makes sense in the middle of a surge, when masks actually do protect spread. But right now, there's not enough spread to stop.

Just try to imagine that both options are not selfish.