When are you going to stop wearing masks indoors (stores, etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand the argument that the information about cloth mask efficacy is a reason to stop wearing masks all together. Um, doesn't that just mean you should wear a mask that does work? I don't get that argument.

That said, I'm also so done with masks. I just want to stop wearing them, like so many other places in the country and the world (for Pete's sake). I need those people in Costco or whatever who aren't crazy to be maskless so I can feel OK being maskless, too.

The argument is that if cloth masks are very ineffective, but we've gotten by all this time with cloth masks, there's at least no need to mandate them. People should not feel safer because I am wearing a cloth mask, nor because they are wearing a cloth mask. If they are vaccinated + boosted (esp important to have the booster if vulnerable), and want extra protection they need to feel safer only if they are wearing a tightly sealed respirator consistently and correctly.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The immunocompromised get left behind. They don’t matter.

The immunocompromised have options to protect themselves- KN95s, KF94s, N95s are prevalent and very effective at protecting the user. Why you guys still think you need others to wear cloth/surgical masks to protect you is unbelievable at this point. This is not March 2020 anymore.

Most immunocompromised people are smarter than that. Truly immunocompromised people have always had to protect themselves and know how.

Except now the anti maskers will harass them. Back in the day, if you saw someone in a mask, you figured that was why. Now wearing a mask is all FRAUGHT WITH POLITICAL SYMBOLISM.

I frickin hate the political nonsense in this country.

In Arlington, I see it the other way. I'll let my kids unmask at their choice, but they would not harass someone wearing a mask.

But I assume some of the liberal minion's kids will harass and report on kids not wearing masks.

[Anonymous]

I don’t wear a mask anywhere anymore. Only to places it is required, which is pretty much limited to medical facilities now. I’m vaccinated and have moved on. So are my children. They still have to wear one in school, but I don’t tell them to put on outside of school

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why does it bother you so much if I wear a mask in the Safeway? I will continue to do so until community spread is super low, as someone stated above. Honestly, you people who are pushing others to drop the mask are so weird.

I haven’t read all the many pages of responses but would like to answer this question sincerely. My kids do not ever get a break from masking at school and it’s clear to me it’s affecting them. My 6 yo was convinced for months his teacher hated him and he had no friends. Teachers were so surprised by this because my kids is a “good kid.” But he just can’t get a feel for emotions under a mask. My 3rd grader now wants to wear a mask all the time like it’s some sort anonymity shield. This shit is not okay. They are both fully vaxxed and deserve a normal life. I unmask whenever I can so this community can start to normalize unmasked faces in hope that my kids can have some semblance of a normal childhood.

Don't listen to the dismissive, passive-aggressive apologists, PP. I'm totally with you, and so is a growing number of parents. I've been masking diligently throughout the pandemic, and I frankly wouldn't care if I had to keep doing it at stores indefinitely, but it needs to end now for kids in schools. I think unlike the last time, I will join the minority of people I observed at Wholefoods this week who dropped their masks after the end of the mandate (including some of the employees), just to help people get used to it.

Nothing you choose to do will "help" me "get used to it." You are mistaken if you think that I am not intentionally and thoughtfully making an informed decision to continue masking. And before you go there, I am a well-educated professional and parent of three who reads and researches the sources I trust. So your behavior at Whole Foods has zero impact on my choice. I suspect it is the same for most people who continue to mask while the transmission rates are high.

This is funny to me…I see some of these “diligent maskers” around and 99% of them are in a crappy cloth mask. Makes me laugh. If you are in a crappy cloth mask you either 1) think masking is stupid and are just wearing it bc some rule requires it; 2) making a political statement; or 3) completely ignorant.

Yes, can somebody who does this explain?

Where masks are optional, why are some people still walking around in cloth masks? Have people become self-conscious about showing their faces or teeth? They just like the way it looks? I guess I could ask them because I know a few who do it (and their cloth masks are undeniably cute, but I prefer their faces), but if I'm honest with myself I probably am not asking in a non-judgmental enough way that I could pull it off.

Where masks are required, I assume people in cloth are just wearing them to fulfill the requirement, but where they're not required-- I don't understand.

Presumably because (1) they don't know any better or (2) they don't want to be judged. The latter doesn't seem an issue in Western Fairfax where I am...but from the sound of this board, some of the posters in Arlington/Bethesda/etc. are basing their identities on Covid purity tests, so maybe it's happening there.

I fall into the second category but live in MoCo so our periods of no indoor mask mandate have been comparatively brief. Part of it was simply not wanting to draw attention to myself, part was that some businesses were still requiring them and frankly it was just easier to put one on than look for a sign or worse get called out for it by store management (again, not wanting to draw attention to myself).

But I drew the line in the sand for outdoor situations and barring places where it has been required, like a farmers market or school drop off, I haven’t worn one outside since the outdoor mandate expired last summer. Which, if you live anywhere in the SS/Takoma park area, was certainly outside the norm this winter.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why does it bother you so much if I wear a mask in the Safeway? I will continue to do so until community spread is super low, as someone stated above. Honestly, you people who are pushing others to drop the mask are so weird.

I haven’t read all the many pages of responses but would like to answer this question sincerely. My kids do not ever get a break from masking at school and it’s clear to me it’s affecting them. My 6 yo was convinced for months his teacher hated him and he had no friends. Teachers were so surprised by this because my kids is a “good kid.” But he just can’t get a feel for emotions under a mask. My 3rd grader now wants to wear a mask all the time like it’s some sort anonymity shield. This shit is not okay. They are both fully vaxxed and deserve a normal life. I unmask whenever I can so this community can start to normalize unmasked faces in hope that my kids can have some semblance of a normal childhood.

Your kid would probably feel this way regardless of a mask if they didn't connect well with the teachers. You are being dramatic. You can tell with eyes and the facial expressions. Your kids have 100% normal childhood. How are they not? Just by masking. Its the kids who have had to remain in virtual due to covid and limit their activities due to health or other concerns aren't having a "normal" childhood by your standards and there is no such thing as normal and masking is yoru new normal.

I don’t understand the desire to normalize masking. It’s not normal. My prediction? Over time no one will do it anymore

It can and should be part of the new normal. It’s clear masks are effective for more than just Covid prevention-colds and other viruses have been lower too. If your kids have issues maybe take a look at your home life. Mine are fine.

NP. Wow. You are crazy.

I doubt her children are fine with that kind of mother.

And both of you are any better with your insults?

Than the PP who said masks should be part of the new normal? Yes, these two posters are unquestionably better. PP has an insane POV.

You are not nice, either. She is not insane. That is a nasty, hyperbolic response.

I didn't take it to mean that everyone should wear masks all the time for ever and ever amen. But I do think we will see more people wearing masks at certain times and normalizing that is okay. Normalizing it for the immuno-compromised. I may opt to wear one in the future if I have a cold and am not too sick to go to work but don't want to spread my germs. I liked wearing one on my walks in the spring, because it really, really made a difference for my pollen allergies.

But there are jerks like the PPs who will make fun of anyone wearing a mask ever again even when they don't know the why.

Did you really miss what was so nasty about the PP's post, why she deserved the responses she got? Really? She suggested the previous posters' kids had a problem with masks because there was something wrong with their "home life". HER kids were ok with masks because SHE was a better mother, or her kids were better, or whatever.

And yes, saying that masking is "the new normal" doesn't just mean that some people should get the choice to wear them without judgment, it suggests that everybody should wear masks in public from here on out because it prevents the spread of all viruses. Including kids in schools, because you know, kids with intact "home lives" will be completely fine with that.

Her whole post was judgmental, delusional, and dystopian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The immunocompromised get left behind. They don’t matter.

The immunocompromised have options to protect themselves- KN95s, KF94s, N95s are prevalent and very effective at protecting the user. Why you guys still think you need others to wear cloth/surgical masks to protect you is unbelievable at this point. This is not March 2020 anymore.

Most immunocompromised people are smarter than that. Truly immunocompromised people have always had to protect themselves and know how.

Except now the anti maskers will harass them. Back in the day, if you saw someone in a mask, you figured that was why. Now wearing a mask is all FRAUGHT WITH POLITICAL SYMBOLISM.

I frickin hate the political nonsense in this country.

In Arlington, I see it the other way. I'll let my kids unmask at their choice, but they would not harass someone wearing a mask.

But I assume some of the liberal minion's kids will harass and report on kids not wearing masks.

+1. Anyone who is harassing anyone on this, in either direction, is a jerk and a bully. Period. But we shouldn’t base public policy on whether some people are going to be jerks.

My DC in ES has had comments made to them by other kids about the mask they were wearing (basically, that cloth masks were “bad” and “don’t work”). I assume they picked this up from their parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The immunocompromised get left behind. They don’t matter.

The immunocompromised have options to protect themselves- KN95s, KF94s, N95s are prevalent and very effective at protecting the user. Why you guys still think you need others to wear cloth/surgical masks to protect you is unbelievable at this point. This is not March 2020 anymore.

Most immunocompromised people are smarter than that. Truly immunocompromised people have always had to protect themselves and know how.

Except now the anti maskers will harass them. Back in the day, if you saw someone in a mask, you figured that was why. Now wearing a mask is all FRAUGHT WITH POLITICAL SYMBOLISM.

I frickin hate the political nonsense in this country.

In Arlington, I see it the other way. I'll let my kids unmask at their choice, but they would not harass someone wearing a mask.

But I assume some of the liberal minion's kids will harass and report on kids not wearing masks.

Yes, let's be clear where the harassment is coming from. It's from the mask-at-all-times crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The immunocompromised get left behind. They don’t matter.

The immunocompromised have options to protect themselves- KN95s, KF94s, N95s are prevalent and very effective at protecting the user. Why you guys still think you need others to wear cloth/surgical masks to protect you is unbelievable at this point. This is not March 2020 anymore.

Most immunocompromised people are smarter than that. Truly immunocompromised people have always had to protect themselves and know how.

Except now the anti maskers will harass them. Back in the day, if you saw someone in a mask, you figured that was why. Now wearing a mask is all FRAUGHT WITH POLITICAL SYMBOLISM.

I frickin hate the political nonsense in this country.

In Arlington, I see it the other way. I'll let my kids unmask at their choice, but they would not harass someone wearing a mask.

But I assume some of the liberal minion's kids will harass and report on kids not wearing masks.

+1. Anyone who is harassing anyone on this, in either direction, is a jerk and a bully. Period. But we shouldn’t base public policy on whether some people are going to be jerks.

My DC in ES has had comments made to them by other kids about the mask they were wearing (basically, that cloth masks were “bad” and “don’t work”). I assume they picked this up from their parents.

Agree completely. This happened to my kids as well, because we didn't switch to disposables as the PTA requested. Fortunately, even my kid's teacher is still wearing a cloth mask so clearly doesn't care. I'm fine with anybody who wants to putting their own kid into a tightly fitted N95 (of course the reality is that all of the kids are wearing more or less poorly fitted KN95s or KF94s or surgical masks, if they don't still wear cloth), but will teach my kids to withstand the peer pressure to satisfy a particular subset of parents' specific ideas about how to comply with a mandate that should have ended with the availability of the vaccines for all kids 5 and up.

[Anonymous]

There actually are "cloth" masks with multiple layers that are comfortable and at least as protective as KN 95s. All of these posters scoffing about cloth masks have no way of knowing just how protective these masks are just by glancing at them in a supermarket, unless they know the brands. It's funny how many people think that this is about peer pressure or being "performative". Until reading this thread I hadn't realized how many presumably educated adults rely on projection -- when healthy curiosity might be a preferable strategy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There actually are "cloth" masks with multiple layers that are comfortable and at least as protective as KN 95s. All of these posters scoffing about cloth masks have no way of knowing just how protective these masks are just by glancing at them in a supermarket, unless they know the brands. It's funny how many people think that this is about peer pressure or being "performative". Until reading this thread I hadn't realized how many presumably educated adults rely on projection -- when healthy curiosity might be a preferable strategy.

Yes, this has been surprising to me as well. I don't make decisions based on what everyone around me is doing, and I learned early on not to assume what others are doing by just a glance in their direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There actually are "cloth" masks with multiple layers that are comfortable and at least as protective as KN 95s. All of these posters scoffing about cloth masks have no way of knowing just how protective these masks are just by glancing at them in a supermarket, unless they know the brands. It's funny how many people think that this is about peer pressure or being "performative". Until reading this thread I hadn't realized how many presumably educated adults rely on projection -- when healthy curiosity might be a preferable strategy.

What are you talking about? Of course mask wearing in general is about peer pressure for a lot of people. Probably the majority of people in this area are still wearing them only because they don't want to be judged as "anti-maskers". And of course there is peer pressure in schools to wear the "right" masks by kids indoctrinated by their parents. I get you don't want to be judged for wearing your $25 Happy Mask either by people thinking all cloth masks are created equal, so you want them to have "healthy curiosity" about it, but what we really need is to get to a point where nobody judges anybody for the mask they wear or don't wear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There actually are "cloth" masks with multiple layers that are comfortable and at least as protective as KN 95s. All of these posters scoffing about cloth masks have no way of knowing just how protective these masks are just by glancing at them in a supermarket, unless they know the brands. It's funny how many people think that this is about peer pressure or being "performative". Until reading this thread I hadn't realized how many presumably educated adults rely on projection -- when healthy curiosity might be a preferable strategy.

It is not "projection" when kids actually get berated by their classmates for not wearing the kind of mask others think they should wear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There actually are "cloth" masks with multiple layers that are comfortable and at least as protective as KN 95s. All of these posters scoffing about cloth masks have no way of knowing just how protective these masks are just by glancing at them in a supermarket, unless they know the brands. It's funny how many people think that this is about peer pressure or being "performative". Until reading this thread I hadn't realized how many presumably educated adults rely on projection -- when healthy curiosity might be a preferable strategy.

For omicron specifically? Can you share which cloth ones are as good?

[Anonymous]

This article from Yale Med. might interest some of you who have genuine questions about masks.



https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/mask-mandates-ending-in-schools?utm_source=YaleToday&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=YT_Yale%20Today%20Alum%20no%20Parents_2-24-2022

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There actually are "cloth" masks with multiple layers that are comfortable and at least as protective as KN 95s. All of these posters scoffing about cloth masks have no way of knowing just how protective these masks are just by glancing at them in a supermarket, unless they know the brands. It's funny how many people think that this is about peer pressure or being "performative". Until reading this thread I hadn't realized how many presumably educated adults rely on projection -- when healthy curiosity might be a preferable strategy.

What are you talking about? Of course mask wearing in general is about peer pressure for a lot of people. Probably the majority of people in this area are still wearing them only because they don't want to be judged as "anti-maskers". And of course there is peer pressure in schools to wear the "right" masks by kids indoctrinated by their parents. I get you don't want to be judged for wearing your $25 Happy Mask either by people thinking all cloth masks are created equal, so you want them to have "healthy curiosity" about it, but what we really need is to get to a point where nobody judges anybody for the mask they wear or don't wear.

Nope. I make my own decisions as best as I can -- as do most of the people I know. I don't care if some anonymous person "judges" me or not. So: judge away!