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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow! I saw the topic and was planning to give a well-thought out response. Then I read the original post and saw that OP doesn't seem to want that. So, the short version is I'll continue to monitor the situations I'm in, the overall risks of things like COVID, and adjust my behavior accordingly.

I would love a well thought out, sensible response. Can you share it?

Sure. There are three things that I'm concerned about: covid, other medical issues, and the possibility of inadvertently infecting someone else.

-- With COVID, there really is a LOT that we don't know yet. I also have some risk factors. The longer I can go without getting COVID the better -- since treatments will improve, and I'd rather get it when hospitals are emptier and medical professionals are less burnt out, and when we know more about treatments for long covid. So, if wearing a mask is one of many factors that will help me achieve this goal, then it's a small thing for me to do to protect myself. At this point, I don't wear a mask outside, or inside with people who I know are being at least as careful as I am -- unless I'm around someone who is at high risk. If infection rates improve again this spring and summer, I'll enjoy the opportunity to do more things without wearing a mask.

-- In the last two years my allergies have been better and I haven't had any colds or the flu. Wearing a mask is at least one factor that probably contributed to this. So I'll be wearing a mask on the METRO, and doing other things where I'm in close quarters in poorly ventilated spaces, particularly with people that I don't know.

-- It's possible to be sick with any number of things that could infect someone else. If I'm around someone at risk, or someone who asks me to wear a mask, I'm happy to do so.

As risk factors change, I'll change too. As we learn more about COVID and as I learn more about my particular risks, I'll change my behavior accordingly. For now, though, things are improving, Summer's coming, and I'm looking forward to swimming outside, eating outside, and hugging more people.

-- I have no idea whether someone else would view this as sensible and well thought out. I'm doing what works best for me, with my particular set of risk factors, at this particular time. I'm also open to changing things as I learn more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because I sincerely don't understand why people continue to wear masks indoors in these circumstances. I'll just ask - why then?

I'm immunocompromised so my doctor encourages continued masking. I guess I'm used to it at this point; it doesn't bother me.

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of people who’ve been really sick from omicron. Vaccinated, boosted people’s, middle-aged like me, no risk factors. Not hospital sick but bad shape for weeks. I would prefer to avoid this and get to the point where paxlovid is authorized and widely available for someone like me.

[Anonymous]

Completely honest response?

Two years in I still really struggle with wearing a mask. It makes me feel dizzy and like I’m suffocating. This isn’t to say I don’t. I’ve worn them door to door for 8 hour flights and things like that. But I don’t have it on me to be wearing an N95 masks daily for years and years - it has a meaningful quality of life impact for me. And N95s are the only masks I think really make a difference.

So I will wear an N95 if we have another major peak like Omicron in DC this past winter. But I’m planning to unmask 3/1 (DC) and enjoy a much-needed reprieve. This is a long game and I plan to ride the waves up (with N95) and down (no mask).

Flame away “small sacrifice” people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of people who’ve been really sick from omicron. Vaccinated, boosted people’s, middle-aged like me, no risk factors. Not hospital sick but bad shape for weeks. I would prefer to avoid this and get to the point where paxlovid is authorized and widely available for someone like me.

+10000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely honest response?

Two years in I still really struggle with wearing a mask. It makes me feel dizzy and like I’m suffocating. This isn’t to say I don’t. I’ve worn them door to door for 8 hour flights and things like that. But I don’t have it on me to be wearing an N95 masks daily for years and years - it has a meaningful quality of life impact for me. And N95s are the only masks I think really make a difference.

So I will wear an N95 if we have another major peak like Omicron in DC this past winter. But I’m planning to unmask 3/1 (DC) and enjoy a much-needed reprieve. This is a long game and I plan to ride the waves up (with N95) and down (no mask).

Flame away “small sacrifice” people.

That's one reason why health entities are dropping mask mandates. They want to maintain credibility the next time there's a surge. You can't keep masked up forever or they're just going to tune you out (which has largely happened already).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because I sincerely don't understand why people continue to wear masks indoors in these circumstances. I'll just ask - why then?

Why does it matter? Don’t you have anything better to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because I sincerely don't understand why people continue to wear masks indoors in these circumstances. I'll just ask - why then?

Because cases are not low, OP. People are still dying in large numbers. The USA has the highest Covid mortality of ALL wealthy nations, because its people are emotionally immature, refuse delayed gratification, are bad at math and are somewhat lacking in moral fiber.

You can choose to reject all these things, and never experience anyone in your circle dying from Covid. You may never catch Covid. You may have had a very mild case and believe that all cases are mild.

I don't care. I will do the right thing. You will do the wrong thing, persuaded you're not a bad person. We will agree to disagree.

You think that me not wearing a mask in Safeway, with NO indication or reason to believe that I'm sick with covid (or anything), makes me a bad person? Really? You actually believe this?

It’s 2022 and you’re still saying ignorant crap like this? Sorry you’re not very bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because I sincerely don't understand why people continue to wear masks indoors in these circumstances. I'll just ask - why then?

Because cases are not low, OP. People are still dying in large numbers. The USA has the highest Covid mortality of ALL wealthy nations, because its people are emotionally immature, refuse delayed gratification, are bad at math and are somewhat lacking in moral fiber.

You can choose to reject all these things, and never experience anyone in your circle dying from Covid. You may never catch Covid. You may have had a very mild case and believe that all cases are mild.

I don't care. I will do the right thing. You will do the wrong thing, persuaded you're not a bad person. We will agree to disagree.

Oh no, I'm crushed an anonymous person thinks I'm a bad person. How will I ever live with myself?? I'll tell you how-mask free

I hope you’re 12, because otherwise, how embarrassing for you.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t had a respiratory virus in two years. Usually I will get at least two a year which trigger my cough variant asthma and have me coughing for weeks. Sometimes I get secondary infection in my ears and sinuses. Ever since I started wearing masks indoors—nada. I’ll continue while shopping and in medical/dental appointments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of people who’ve been really sick from omicron. Vaccinated, boosted people’s, middle-aged like me, no risk factors. Not hospital sick but bad shape for weeks. I would prefer to avoid this and get to the point where paxlovid is authorized and widely available for someone like me.

Plus one. I also know vaxed kids who were very sick for weeks. And even if not very sick they all miss so much school and sports. Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 can think something odd or nonsensical without it “bothering” me.

+1. You do realize, pp, that you look like a bit of a fool when you are alone in your car or walking by yourself and are wearing a mask? It doesn’t bother me- I just think you’re announcing your neurosis to the world.

You do realize that no one gives a damn what you think of them, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely honest response?

Two years in I still really struggle with wearing a mask. It makes me feel dizzy and like I’m suffocating. This isn’t to say I don’t. I’ve worn them door to door for 8 hour flights and things like that. But I don’t have it on me to be wearing an N95 masks daily for years and years - it has a meaningful quality of life impact for me. And N95s are the only masks I think really make a difference.

So I will wear an N95 if we have another major peak like Omicron in DC this past winter. But I’m planning to unmask 3/1 (DC) and enjoy a much-needed reprieve. This is a long game and I plan to ride the waves up (with N95) and down (no mask).

Flame away “small sacrifice” people.

No flaming, but, if you’re serious, and and we hit another up wave, consider trying a KN95, a HappyMask, or another very highly rated mask. Since most of us aren’t wearing professionally fitted N95s, one of these will be at least as good, maybe better, and possibly a lot more comfortable.

[Anonymous]

I don’t wear one anywhere except where it is absolutely required - work, doctor, planes, in my kid’s school.

I don’t care if you wear one everywhere you go as long as I don’t have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 can think something odd or nonsensical without it “bothering” me.

+1. You do realize, pp, that you look like a bit of a fool when you are alone in your car or walking by yourself and are wearing a mask? It doesn’t bother me- I just think you’re announcing your neurosis to the world.

People who wear camo pattern clothes to Safeway look foolish too, but there aren't dozens of posts on DCUM asking when it's going to stop. This is a weird obsession for a lot of you. Maybe try to focus on something else.

So, a little touchy about this, are we?