The Urgency of Normal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
How many deaf or blind people have deficient emotional recognition or literacy or speech/sign language skills?
That is not a thing! There is no rational reason to believe that wearing masks will cause kids harm.

Bunch of studies disagree. Bunch of doctors and scientists, too.

I think we really WANT this to be true because we are so wedded to masking and can't perhaps believe that we are damaging children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DP. I noticed that gross and unnecessary bit of sexism re Mcbride's title as well. It makes him look bad.

And honestly, it suggests that Black may be totally motivated by sexism.

Yes, I have wondered that. It significantly undercuts his credibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The planet where the studies are from, on masking and schools.

Doesn't your critical thinking skills question why this "conclusion" is at odds with literally everything we know about indoor spread?

For a few reasons. First, children are not adults when it comes to COVID. Second, there are specific downsides to children wearing masks all day that most adults do not share, i.e., children are developing foundational skills in emotion recognition and speech and literacy; adults are not. These experts aren’t demanding all masks off now, they’re asserting that we need to think about under what conditions we could remove mask mandates in schools. That’s completely reasonable.

+1, especially to the bolded

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The planet where the studies are from, on masking and schools.

Doesn't your critical thinking skills question why this "conclusion" is at odds with literally everything we know about indoor spread?

For a few reasons. First, children are not adults when it comes to COVID. Second, there are specific downsides to children wearing masks all day that most adults do not share, i.e., children are developing foundational skills in emotion recognition and speech and literacy; adults are not. These experts aren’t demanding all masks off now, they’re asserting that we need to think about under what conditions we could remove mask mandates in schools. That’s completely reasonable.

+1, especially to the bolded

Definitely think that's reasonable. But so much of the noise comes from people who are going to howl about masks no matter how much the pandemic is raging. It's tough to have the discussions about the reasonable conditions for unmasking when you have those lunatics shouting at school boards and whatnot.

[Anonymous]

I'm tired of selfish people using kids as the excuse for wanting to ditch masks when over 600,000 people are contracting COVID each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The planet where the studies are from, on masking and schools.

Doesn't your critical thinking skills question why this "conclusion" is at odds with literally everything we know about indoor spread?

For a few reasons. First, children are not adults when it comes to COVID. Second, there are specific downsides to children wearing masks all day that most adults do not share, i.e., children are developing foundational skills in emotion recognition and speech and literacy; adults are not. These experts aren’t demanding all masks off now, they’re asserting that we need to think about under what conditions we could remove mask mandates in schools. That’s completely reasonable.

+1, especially to the bolded

Definitely think that's reasonable. But so much of the noise comes from people who are going to howl about masks no matter how much the pandemic is raging. It's tough to have the discussions about the reasonable conditions for unmasking when you have those lunatics shouting at school boards and whatnot.

Sure but that does not mean we should not have the discussion at all, which is the position taken by the anti toolkit posters here and on Twitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The planet where the studies are from, on masking and schools.

Doesn't your critical thinking skills question why this "conclusion" is at odds with literally everything we know about indoor spread?

For a few reasons. First, children are not adults when it comes to COVID. Second, there are specific downsides to children wearing masks all day that most adults do not share, i.e., children are developing foundational skills in emotion recognition and speech and literacy; adults are not. These experts aren’t demanding all masks off now, they’re asserting that we need to think about under what conditions we could remove mask mandates in schools. That’s completely reasonable.

+1, especially to the bolded

Definitely think that's reasonable. But so much of the noise comes from people who are going to howl about masks no matter how much the pandemic is raging. It's tough to have the discussions about the reasonable conditions for unmasking when you have those lunatics shouting at school boards and whatnot.

Sure but that does not mean we should not have the discussion at all, which is the position taken by the anti toolkit posters here and on Twitter.

Right. It's a dodge to say we can't have these conversations because a few people are unreasonable. More people are reasonable, and this thread has largely been reasonable, so let's have the conversation.

When might we think about making masks optional for kids in school settings? Under what conditions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The planet where the studies are from, on masking and schools.

Doesn't your critical thinking skills question why this "conclusion" is at odds with literally everything we know about indoor spread?

For a few reasons. First, children are not adults when it comes to COVID. Second, there are specific downsides to children wearing masks all day that most adults do not share, i.e., children are developing foundational skills in emotion recognition and speech and literacy; adults are not. These experts aren’t demanding all masks off now, they’re asserting that we need to think about under what conditions we could remove mask mandates in schools. That’s completely reasonable.

+1, especially to the bolded

Definitely think that's reasonable. But so much of the noise comes from people who are going to howl about masks no matter how much the pandemic is raging. It's tough to have the discussions about the reasonable conditions for unmasking when you have those lunatics shouting at school boards and whatnot.

Sure but that does not mean we should not have the discussion at all, which is the position taken by the anti toolkit posters here and on Twitter.

Right. It's a dodge to say we can't have these conversations because a few people are unreasonable. More people are reasonable, and this thread has largely been reasonable, so let's have the conversation.

When might we think about making masks optional for kids in school settings? Under what conditions?

The problem are elected leaders and school boards. They need to cling to one extreme side of the mask debate for fear of being labeled as a Trumper. The politiziation of masks has poisoned the debate and our ability to get a reasonable policy in place. I'm not sure how we overcome that other than with grassroots efforts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like how the efficacy of masks need double blind studies that shows conclusively that they stop the spread of COVID but the dangers of mask just need vague hand waving concerns about "development." The double standard reflects motivated thinking.

A study of masks cannot be double blinded. I think the point of the references in the toolkit was that the literature on masking in schools as a whole is either methodologically deficient or does not show benefits. The toolkit actually says more controlled studies are needed. But I think the message is that public policies should require evidence. Early in the pandemic we did anything and everything because we didn't know better and didn't have vaccines. I think evidence is now required--the burden of proof should be on those mandating the policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of selfish people using kids as the excuse for wanting to ditch masks when over 600,000 people are contracting COVID each day.

Contracting Covid is not the issue. The issue is dying from it or hospitalization. And those that are at risk can mitigate for themselves. We don’t need, at this stage, to drag down an entire generation of children for a population at risk that can be defined and encouraged to take remedial actions.

Sorry - but the mask forever people are selfish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of selfish people using kids as the excuse for wanting to ditch masks when over 600,000 people are contracting COVID each day.

Contracting Covid is not the issue. The issue is dying from it or hospitalization. And those that are at risk can mitigate for themselves. We don’t need, at this stage, to drag down an entire generation of children for a population at risk that can be defined and encouraged to take remedial actions.

Sorry - but the mask forever people are selfish.

+100. This sums up the situation perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of selfish people using kids as the excuse for wanting to ditch masks when over 600,000 people are contracting COVID each day.

Contracting Covid is not the issue. The issue is dying from it or hospitalization. And those that are at risk can mitigate for themselves. We don’t need, at this stage, to drag down an entire generation of children for a population at risk that can be defined and encouraged to take remedial actions.

Sorry - but the mask forever people are selfish.

Hyperbolic much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The planet where the studies are from, on masking and schools.

Doesn't your critical thinking skills question why this "conclusion" is at odds with literally everything we know about indoor spread?

For a few reasons. First, children are not adults when it comes to COVID. Second, there are specific downsides to children wearing masks all day that most adults do not share, i.e., children are developing foundational skills in emotion recognition and speech and literacy; adults are not. These experts aren’t demanding all masks off now, they’re asserting that we need to think about under what conditions we could remove mask mandates in schools. That’s completely reasonable.

+1, especially to the bolded

Definitely think that's reasonable. But so much of the noise comes from people who are going to howl about masks no matter how much the pandemic is raging. It's tough to have the discussions about the reasonable conditions for unmasking when you have those lunatics shouting at school boards and whatnot.

Sure but that does not mean we should not have the discussion at all, which is the position taken by the anti toolkit posters here and on Twitter.

Right. It's a dodge to say we can't have these conversations because a few people are unreasonable. More people are reasonable, and this thread has largely been reasonable, so let's have the conversation.

When might we think about making masks optional for kids in school settings? Under what conditions?

The problem are elected leaders and school boards. They need to cling to one extreme side of the mask debate for fear of being labeled as a Trumper. The politiziation of masks has poisoned the debate and our ability to get a reasonable policy in place. I'm not sure how we overcome that other than with grassroots efforts.

We overcome it by these people having some goddamn integrity and being clear that Democrats can follow science and do more than be anti-Trump. Grow a spine, people. I think they’d get a lot more support than they might fear losing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of selfish people using kids as the excuse for wanting to ditch masks when over 600,000 people are contracting COVID each day.

Contracting Covid is not the issue. The issue is dying from it or hospitalization. And those that are at risk can mitigate for themselves. We don’t need, at this stage, to drag down an entire generation of children for a population at risk that can be defined and encouraged to take remedial actions.

Sorry - but the mask forever people are selfish.

Hyperbolic much?

Add no value, much. Big word for you, I am sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of selfish people using kids as the excuse for wanting to ditch masks when over 600,000 people are contracting COVID each day.

+1