- This topic has 618 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 8 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
“Their behaviour is irrational and a disproportionate reaction to the level of threat.”
It’s also their choice. And isn’t that what this entire debate is all about?
Yes, it is their choice. I did not suggest they should be banned. However, it does not mean their choice is rational.
I could decide to go out everywhere with a crash helmet because I was worried about the possibility of an overflying osprey dropping a fish onto my head. But it would not make my actions rational or proportionate to the level of risk.
If we are supposed to be “trusting the experts”, their advice never included the use of masks outside. The risk of outside transmission is minuscule. If you were drawing up a risk assessment, you would barely consider it.
Yet the same people appear to be far less concerned about things which are far more likely to kill them. It always amuses me when I see a severely overweight person with a mask on, for example. I can think of a more serious danger to their health.
Depends where ‘outside’ is. If you’re in town visiting multiple shops it’s probably better to keep it on rather than stuffing it in your pocket every five minutes.
Anywhere else though and I certainly wouldn’t bother. If it was that transmissible we’d be really in the ****.
“However, it does not mean their choice is rational.”
But it’s their decision and it has no impact on you. So why are you getting your knickers in a twist about it?
And people make irrational decisions all the time. Drinking. Drugs. Fatty food. Sugar. Driving. Flying. All bad for us as individuals and/or as a species but people do them anyway.
If people take decisions which can harm others, that’s a totally different matter. Now, in this matter I agree with you that those flimsy cloth masks are next to pointless. But they’re still better than nothing.
It is possible people have noticed other benefits as they must go some way to stop you breathing in pollution. Whilst even London is nothing like some Asian cities (believe me you can practically taste the engine fumes in some places), maybe it helps some people in our biggest cities. Elsewhere probably not so much.
I will add that I haven’t been to London for ages, no idea what the air is like. Just a thought that’s all.
“But it’s their decision and it has no impact on you. So why are you getting your knickers in a twist about it?”
Because it is not natural for the human face to be covered. It is a fundamental change to the way we interact with each other.
So many people talk about how we must follow “The Science” (as if there is such a thing with the definite article before it). But do not seem bothered about people behaving in an irrational manner not even sanctioned by The Science which they say we should follow.
I personally do not like to see people out and about who I believe have been terrified into a state of irrational fear after a sustained campaign of gas lighting and scaremongering, openly admitted to by Sage and the Behavioural Insight Team. But I suppose I am funny like that.
“Depends where ‘outside’ is.”
As an example, I saw a young woman masked up in my almost deserted local railway station this morning. I wonder who she thought she was protecting? The ticket clerk was behind a perspex screen, something which even the most fervent mask advocate must concede offers a fair amount of protection.
If she thought she was protecting herself, someone her age has almost absolute zero chance of dying from Covid and very little chance of becoming seriously unwell. Her behaviour – and the behaviour of many other people – is irrational.
The best are those driving alone with masks on
Usually in Volvos with eu number plates.
I do agree that it’s rather sad to see so many mentally disintegrated by fear.
“If she thought she was protecting herself, someone her age has almost absolute zero chance of dying from Covid and very little chance of becoming seriously unwell. Her behaviour – and the behaviour of many other people – is irrational.”
How do you know what health issues she has? She may have been going to visit her 90 year old frail Gran?
“The best are those driving alone with masks on
Usually in Volvos with eu number plates.
I do agree that it’s rather sad to see so many mentally disintegrated by fear.”
Unlike BMW and Audi drivers who will just kill you with their car. It’s a shame these are not disintegrated by fear when driving along at excess speeds.
Why would she need to have a mask on outside on a deserted railway platform? Even jn the unlikely event she was visiting her 90 year old frail grandmother, how on earth was that protecting her?
Was she waiting for a train? I guess so if on a railway platform. I think we have an answer why she was wearing a mask
It is not natural for the human body to be covered, either. Are you proposing that we all walk around naked? 🤔
I answered that silly point once before.
If you want to walk about stark naked in winter Glad, that is your business.
Masks largely aren’t mandated any more and nobody is harming anyone by choosing to wear one so I’ll no more criticise someone for wearing one than I would their choice of trainers. It’s their business and I won’t second guess their reasons which could be anything from ‘fear’ to ‘forgot to take it off’.
I’m not remotely worried about open air transmission and never have been but if someone else is then that’s up to them.
It’s easier to keep your mask on if you’re driving to different places. It would be nice if some people had a bit of empathy for people that are high risk. Tim Spector has caught Omicron and has no idea how he caught it as he’s been working from home. Says it’s not the walk in the park that people say: he’s a pretty fit healthy person but said he felt very rough for a few days. And half a million people are suffering from long covid. I just hope they get more support than ME sufferers have had over the years. And age and general health doesn’t seem to protect from long covid: it could happen to any of us.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.