I see some people wearing them, but most of my coworkers don't. Wifey wears one and nags me about it because the people on the morning show tell her to. I know I'll get razzed by my coworkers if I do wear one, but I can put on my big pants and do it anyway if there is a good reason. Why should I wear one?

I have a beard that's about an inch in length. Would I need to shave it?

Did you make a new account just to ask this?

Carnwellag2 said:

---

If you give information like an inch long beard and want to stay anonymous so the liberal nut jobs don't try to get you fired, then YES - you do create a new account just to ask.

---

anybody asking why mask wearing is prevalent, has been living without any contact whatsoever with the internet or news media The past 3 months? There must be literally thousands of articles and news stories out there at this point discussing mask wearing. It is hard not to be suspicious of threads like this being attempts at trolling.

3 months ago masks didn't work.

fightingfarmer09 said:

---

3 months ago masks didn't work.

---

In the face of not having enough masks, the choice was made to provide what PPE was there to front line workers. The message may have come across to many that masks don't work, but it was really we didn't need them while sitting at home.

Here is the latest research, summarized in pretty graphics, on why masks help:

https://policyviz.com/2020/04/27/a-dataviz-on-wearing-masks/?fbclid=IwAR2ubNXefud2mzcCGj1x-LH9aOiGaT-6TVjjfNzAlk7T4V0enoXSa5GF7Ps

Pumpkinhead said:

---

Carnwellag2 said:

---

If you give information like an inch long beard and want to stay anonymous so the liberal nut jobs don't try to get you fired, then YES - you do create a new account just to ask.

---

anybody asking why mask wearing is prevalent, has been living without any contact whatsoever with the internet or news media The past 3 months? There must be literally thousands of articles and news stories out there at this point discussing mask wearing. It is hard not to be suspicious of threads like this being attempts at trolling.

---

3 months????? The information has been all over the place from a mask doesn't help to it does help.

from it spreads by surfaces to it doesn't spread on surfaces

No one has said it doesnt spread on surfaces...they have said that is less likely to spread via surface contact than person to person contact.

Carnwellag2 said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

Carnwellag2 said:

---

If you give information like an inch long beard and want to stay anonymous so the liberal nut jobs don't try to get you fired, then YES - you do create a new account just to ask.

---

anybody asking why mask wearing is prevalent, has been living without any contact whatsoever with the internet or news media The past 3 months? There must be literally thousands of articles and news stories out there at this point discussing mask wearing. It is hard not to be suspicious of threads like this being attempts at trolling.

---

3 months????? The information has been all over the place from a mask doesn't help to it does help.

from it spreads by surfaces to it doesn't spread on surfaces

---

There are two use-cases for a mask:

a) wearing it to protect yourself from others
b) wearing it to protect others from yourself.

The confusion has primarily been with a). You need medical grade respirator masks to protect yourself. Anything you saw or heard regarding 'masks don't help' was almost certainly centered around the use case of trying to protect yourself getting infected by others.

But I'm not aware of there ever being much confusion with use-case b) for mask. The message for that use-case has been very consistent and logical and well defined. Even a simple cotton mask can significantly blunt the flow of stuff coming out of your mouth when talking or breathing, and thus helps the reduce the chance of you infecting others if you happen to be contagious (and maybe not evening knowing it).

Wearing a mask is not about you. It is about protecting others from you. That's it. That's the deal.

How many times have you been talking to someone and a small but noticeable piece of spittle lands on your face or lips but then you're both too uncomfortable to acknowledge it so the convo keeps moving? That's what these mask are good at preventing.

wxguy95 said:

---

fightingfarmer09 said:

---

3 months ago masks didn't work.

---

In the face of not having enough masks, the choice was made to provide what PPE was there to front line workers. The message may have come across to many that masks don't work, but it was really we didn't need them while sitting at home.

Here is the latest research, summarized in pretty graphics, on why masks help:

https://policyviz.com/2020/04/27/a-dataviz-on-wearing-masks/?fbclid=IwAR2ubNXefud2mzcCGj1x-LH9aOiGaT-6TVjjfNzAlk7T4V0enoXSa5GF7Ps

---

Thank you for that link. Great graphic in there.

And quote

Quote:

---

"If everyone single person wore a mask, even an imperfect one, then this virus will be destroyed. See the contour graph in the article. Why is this not in publicized is beyond comprehension."

---

That is why I keep saying wearing a mask is the most Christ like thing you can during this pandemic.

It is amazing to me how selfish/short sighted people are by refusing to wear a mask.

When you are wearing a mask you are simply saying "hey person I dont know, I respect you and your high risk loved ones enough to to put up with the inconvenience of wearing this mask on the off chance I MIGHT be sick and not know it. Because that is what heros do"

wxguy95 said:

---

fightingfarmer09 said:

---

3 months ago masks didn't work.

---

In the face of not having enough masks, the choice was made to provide what PPE was there to front line workers. The message may have come across to many that masks don't work, but it was really we didn't need them while sitting at home.

Here is the latest research, summarized in pretty graphics, on why masks help:

https://policyviz.com/2020/04/27/a-dataviz-on-wearing-masks/?fbclid=IwAR2ubNXefud2mzcCGj1x-LH9aOiGaT-6TVjjfNzAlk7T4V0enoXSa5GF7Ps

---

The actual message was literally that they do not work for everyday life and are not needed. It wasn't "yes they work but save them for the front lines". It was that they won't work to keep you "safe". Now, it's the only way "not to spread the virus or get it yourself". And one wonders why many can be skeptical about these sorts of things. Sure, stopping the mass public from hoarding was probably the reason but say so. Don't change the narrative.

Duncan Idaho said:

---

That is why I keep saying wearing a mask is the most Christ like thing you can during this pandemic.

---

That's going to help keep this thread from going off the rails.

Duncan Idaho said:

---

No one has said it doesnt spread on surfaces...they have said that is less likely to spread via surface contact than person to person contact.

---

They also said it is not as easy to spread person to person as previously thought, mainly through the air. The virus does not last as long in the air as they thought. The CDC stated it's not easily spread by surface contact as previously thought. I give them the benefit of the doubt here as they hadn't had enough time to do enough studies. A lot more will be found out over the next couple of months and year. Hopefully they find that masks are not as necessary once they have enough studies, as it's just not realistic to expect most to wear them, whether they should or not.

Well if you know of a better way to say "suffering so that others dont have to" let me know.

Duncan Idaho said:

---

That is why I keep saying wearing a mask is the most Christ like thing you can during this pandemic.

It is amazing to me how selfish/short sighted people are by refusing to wear a mask.

When you are wearing a mask you are simply saying "hey person I dont know, I respect you and your high risk loved ones enough to to put up with the inconvenience of wearing this mask on the off chance I MIGHT be sick and not know it. Because that is what heros do"

---

It's the fact that the CDC says 99.97% of us are fine even if we contract the virus. For many, that's not that much risk to the public and a lot feel that if one is vulnerable, they can mask, and take precautions or stay sheltered in place. Not really arguing either side. Just stating what they feel.

CDC lied about masks to preserve PPE for healthcare workers.

when government lies to the public, no matter the reason, dynamics of resentment and distrust and conspiracy take hold.

this whole issue is a result of that cynical decision to treat American citizens like children instead of adults.

personally I find it deeply disturbing that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is defended for lying by so many, because Americans are idiots who cannot be trusted to do the right thing.

in fact of all the things that disturb me about this dismal time, this one is pretty close to the top.

Capitol Ag said:

---

wxguy95 said:

---

fightingfarmer09 said:

---

3 months ago masks didn't work.

---

In the face of not having enough masks, the choice was made to provide what PPE was there to front line workers. The message may have come across to many that masks don't work, but it was really we didn't need them while sitting at home.

Here is the latest research, summarized in pretty graphics, on why masks help:

https://policyviz.com/2020/04/27/a-dataviz-on-wearing-masks/?fbclid=IwAR2ubNXefud2mzcCGj1x-LH9aOiGaT-6TVjjfNzAlk7T4V0enoXSa5GF7Ps

---

The actual message was literally that they do not work for everyday life and are not needed. It wasn't "yes they work but save them for the front lines". It was that they won't work to keep you "safe". Now, it's the only way "not to spread the virus or get it yourself". And one wonders why many can be skeptical about these sorts of things. Sure, stopping the mass public from hoarding was probably the reason but say so. Don't change the narrative.

---

Exactly. It appears you have a good memory as well. Lots of revisionist history going on with the Covid.

California Ag 90 said:

---

CDC lied about masks to preserve PPE for healthcare workers.

when government lies to the public, no matter the reason, dynamics of resentment and distrust and conspiracy take hold.

this whole issue is a result of that cynical decision to treat American citizens like children instead of adults.

personally I find it deeply disturbing that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is defended for lying by so many, because Americans are idiots who cannot be trusted to do the right thing.

in fact of all the things that disturb me about this dismal time, this one is pretty close to the top.

---

This is a good point overall, but there is no way I'd trust the general public on a lot of things. There absolutely would have been massive hoarding of masks had CDC stated at the start what most knew was true. Look at what happened to toilet paper.

And the bolded statement is most definitely true for a large percentage of the population. Maybe I'm just a cynic.

California Ag 90 said:

---

CDC lied about masks to preserve PPE for healthcare workers.

when government lies to the public, no matter the reason, dynamics of resentment and distrust and conspiracy take hold.

this whole issue is a result of that cynical decision to treat American citizens like children instead of adults.

personally I find it deeply disturbing that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is defended for lying by so many, because Americans are idiots who cannot be trusted to do the right thing.

in fact of all the things that disturb me about this dismal time, this one is pretty close to the top.

---

California Ag is spot on. Troubling that the ones that lied are not ridiculed but the ones the remember the lies are. Good to know we have at least one sane person with California ties.

terradactylexpress said:

---

The only time the anti-mask people are Christ like is when they are protesting abortion

---

Ah judgement and condemnation not very Christ like. He who has not sinned throw the first stone or something like that. Honestly anyone from that time period would laugh at the thought of what we are doing. They had real problems.

This is a pretty simple demonstration on the effectiveness of masks in being able to contain respiratory droplets from coughing and other acts such as singing or certain speech.

Growth of microbes (bacteria) on blood agar plates after coughing with and without a mask.



Wearing a mask is one of the simplest things we can do to reduce transmission of the virus. Back in early April, the idea was championed as a way to go about our lives quicker. Now that we are opening up and want to reduce the transmission as much as possible to have an effective society and economy, many don't want to do it. I don't understand. Its the least intrusive way to our lives to get "back to normal". Everyone should be wearing masks in confined spaces with close contact with others. Not needed when you are alone or outside in open space (close contact may change that however). I keep one in my pocket and put it on whenever I go to a building and take it off when I get back outside. Take it off when I'm alone at my desk. Simple stuff.

Ranger222 said:

---

This is a pretty simple demonstration on the effectiveness of masks in being able to contain respiratory droplets from coughing and other acts such as singing or certain speech.

Growth of microbes (bacteria) on blood agar plates after coughing with and without a mask.



Wearing a mask is one of the simplest things we can do to reduce transmission of the virus. Back in early April, the idea was championed as a way to go about our lives quicker. Now that we are opening up and want to reduce the transmission as much as possible to have an effective society and economy, many don't want to do it. I don't understand. Its the least intrusive way to our lives to get "back to normal". Everyone should be wearing masks in confined spaces with close contact with others. Not needed when you are alone or outside in open space (close contact may change that however). I keep one in my pocket and put it on whenever I go to a building and take it off when I get back outside. Take it off when I'm alone at my desk. Simple stuff.

---

I will say this. I work at a gym. It's a very bad idea to lift, run or do any training with a mask on. Already have had people taken to the hospital at other gyms b/c of it. Yet many gyms are in confined spaces. Not sure how to handle that one. Probably just best to have the vulnerable just not workout inside until more is understood on that level.

I don't think its unreasonable to make special allowances for certain situations, like at a gym. I haven't gone back to my gym yet, but I wouldn't be happy working out with a mask there either. I think in those cases there has to be other, creative alternatives implemented such as working out in defined spaces (such as every other squat rack open or every other treadmill) to help reduce spread.

Its all about reducing transmission the best and most logical way possible...masks work for a majority of cases but won't for all and we will need to come up with other alternatives that make sense. We will also have to accept that there will be scenarios where there is no effective answer and have to live with it, but if we are reducing transmission is most cases, it should be fine. The net effect should be what counts.

Ranger222 said:

---

This is a pretty simple demonstration on the effectiveness of masks in being able to contain respiratory droplets from coughing and other acts such as singing or certain speech.

Growth of microbes (bacteria) on blood agar plates after coughing with and without a mask.



Wearing a mask is one of the simplest things we can do to reduce transmission of the virus. Back in early April, the idea was championed as a way to go about our lives quicker. Now that we are opening up and want to reduce the transmission as much as possible to have an effective society and economy, many don't want to do it. I don't understand. Its the least intrusive way to our lives to get "back to normal". Everyone should be wearing masks in confined spaces with close contact with others. Not needed when you are alone or outside in open space (close contact may change that however). I keep one in my pocket and put it on whenever I go to a building and take it off when I get back outside. Take it off when I'm alone at my desk. Simple stuff.

---

Where did you get this? If it is from legit source I want to share that far and wide

The oddest feature of the mask debate is
2 months ago everyone was admiring of SK early success Containing it

now that containment means mask and continued to social distancing everybody be like
" ain't got time for that "
Insert gif here

The amount of false bravado around wearing masks is both the most amusing and most troubling thing about how our nation is reacting.

Like, I get it if you don't think the virus is that big a deal and the numbers are fudged. I get if you want to open things back up because the economy needs it. People may or may not agree with that, but at least there's a logical reason to believe it or not to believe it.

But the unwillingness to put a mask on for a few months when you go out in case the half of the population that doesn't believe what you do turns out being right? It's simple false bravado. People think it makes them look weak when in reality it does the opposite. Hell, the OP had to make a new account because he was afraid his message board buddies would give him a hard time about putting on a mask.

You can sit in a lawn chair outside of church on Sunday and yell "God is dead!"... It's your right as an American. You can puff your chest out and yell it and say you aren't a sheep.

It doesn't prove that you are brave or smart though -- it proves you're an *******.

I think one thing people have is information fatigue. At first we were told two weeks and mask don't help, here we are 10 weeks later of information where "experts" have been claiming mask are good or mask or bad. Then politics become involved instead of science. Last week the CDC comes out with substantially lower death rates.

I am not sure what could have been done but I know a lot of people said the CDC said mask didn't help at first so they don't need to wear them. At this point it is less science and more of fatigue on some people's part.

It is all very unfortunate. When a true pandemic such as Ebola finally is coming onshore, we will have spent all our bullets on a coronavirus. It is like a boy who cried wolf. The credibility of the "authorities" is plummeting across the board.

Maybe I missed it, but has any MD responded to this thread? If not, do you find it curious why?

The guy making my burrito the other day was wearing one. He also had on gloves even. It made me proud.

So proud that, as he proceeded to touch his mask with said gloves on and began to make my burrito with them, I couldn't help but feel all of the anti-mask people needed to wake up. I mean it's not like they can actually believe you can be a clean or decent person without one on can they?! I mean masks are the responsible choice. Always. There is simply no room for discussion on topics such as this one, not ever.

The burrito was good, by the way.

No. The choice was made to LIE to the people.9

If someone pisses their pants after a night of drinking it means nobody really needs to wear pants.