How about subject matter? As you probably have already figured out, I am extremely passionate about certain subject matters. No one has ever pointed out to me that I contradict myself or have made statements that were false. Much of what I say I have looked up and researched. Google is my friend. I am straight forward with my thinking and I make no bones about my thoughts on the subjects I am passionate about. I honestly don't think I contradict myself on anything. I would really like to know where you feel I do. When I give my opinion on things, I say it is my opinion. IMHO means "in my humble opinion". I've been using that acronym quite frequently lately. I have also used SMDH some lately. That means "shaking my damn head".

If anyone else who has read my posts feel that I am contracting myself, please feel free to let me know when I have done that. I'm all ears.

You have stated that if we had all worn masks the virus would have been over by now.
You have also stated that you know that wearing masks was only to help slow the spread of the virus not to irradiate it.
Sounds pretty contradictory to me...

I'll be honest with you. I have had a ball sparring with you this evening. You are new to me as I've never seen your posts before. It's been fun. I always enjoy a meeting of the minds. I will be happy to agree to disagree with you. Take care.

Yeah, my space; I can control the space around me. If you can't, then that's YOUR problem.

I'm around the public for about 10+ hours a day; I've worn a mask everyday since this started a year ago and haven't been infected yet. Maybe it's luck; maybe it's keeping people out of my space.

My words and thoughts are not being correctly relayed here. What I actually commented on was that if EVERYONE wore masks and distanced from the very beginning, we would not be in such mess of a pandemic here in the US. We did not do very well managing the pandemic and we as a population should be embarrassed on the word stage. I still feel this way and have not changed my view.

I never said masking would "eradicate" the virus, but it certainly would have put all of us in a better place. I would not think that eradication was possible actually. The virologists and immunologists told us that masking and distancing would slow the spread of the virus and I believed them. That is the word I was trying to impress to the folks who were resisting the guidelines by the CDC.

If I ever gave you the impression that I thought masking would eradicate this virus, I apologize for that. I must have used the term "slow the spread of the virus" at least a hundred times in all my postings.

I thank you for your input.

Really? No better than Florida? The numbers don't lie? To be honest, I don't pay attention to the numbers because they are pretty much skewed. There are so many differences between the states the way cases and deaths are reported, I gave up on all those stats LONG ago. They don't hold any water for me and that is my opinion.

True story...........Very early on in this pandemic, there was a news story about two hair stylists who were Covid positive. They continued to work with their customers while they were Covid positive and contagious. The two stylists wore masks and they made their patrons wear masks. Funny thing is, of the customers who were tested for Covid, none of them tested positive. That situation really resonated with me. That is when Universal masking hit home for me and I realized that masks really do work to slow the spread of the virus.

This is the CDC report of these two stylists and their customers........

Absence of Apparent Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Two Stylists After Exposure at a Hair Salon with a Universal Face Covering Policy — Springfield, Missouri, May 2020 | MMWR

This is your exact quote: “Masks haven't been as effective as they should be simply because there are too many people who are resistant to wear them properly or wear them at all. We never had a chance here in America to get to the point that this virus would be over.”

Over and eradicated both mean ended. Maybe that’s not what you meant, but then you should choose your words more carefully...

Yup. That is exactly what I said. How in the world did you find that posting? I could not have found that post if my life depended on it. You are good!!!!!! You just made a huge smile come across my face and I thank you for that.

As for my words, you are right about that. I should not have used the term "virus would be over". I do agree with you that the word "over" does mean eradicate. I honestly don't know why I said that because I don't think that is what I actually meant. That posting must be from months ago!

Why let a silly thing like facts or statistics interfere with your “feelings” about mask use?!?
Here’s my true story. Over the last 5 months, three times I have played water volleyball on the same team as someone who tested positive later that same day. The first two times, both myself and all the other players on that court were tested and all tested negative. The third time most of us didn’t even bother to get tested. At that point we realized that even though we were playing within three feet of someone for two hours, the fact we were not wearing masks really didn’t have an impact - especially outdoors.

Actually 2/25/21 😉

Absolutely agree that the virus doesn't really have an impact OUTDOORS. I have never advocated masking outdoors when distancing is possible. in fact, I have never worn a mask outdoors and I've been to a few driveway parties early on in the pandemic. But distancing is key to avoiding the virus.

That fact that you were not distanced from these people when they were contagious is very encouraging. "They" have said all along, not only is the closeness of the exposure relevant, but the length of time of the exposure is what leads to transmission. It has been documented that being outdoors and in the sun is very much a death knell for the virus. Glad you and no one on your team ever contracted the virus.

People who try to keep from getting the Covid-19 virus, which their body cannot build immunity to unless they contract the disease or get the vaccine...........Those people who try not to get the Covid-19 are not PARANOID.

Paranoia is an unbased fear.

95 Percent of Americans Killed by COVID Were 50+

so here's my quandry: the vax are out & being dispersed, so why are 'elected officials' saying we need more masking up until 2022? (yes-i heard an 'official' say this. am trying to keep posts non-political so as not to close the thread) we have been told we need the vax, then all will be well. it feels like they move the goalpost a lot. we get the vax but STILL need to mask up. meanwhile we see same folks out & about with their own families & their own restaurants, after scaring the beejeezus out of everybody with the gloom & doom talk.. they lie on the facts, the NUMBERS, yet still feel they can preach as experts on a subject only recently known to man.

I don't know where to start. Some of your conjecture is true. There are facts we have known for a long time about all viruses and that and scientist knowledge of the Corona Virus and it's ability to change each time it inhabits an organism is vague but true. Knowing what you don't know is part of overall knowledge and there are no pat and proven answers. It is a germ. It doesn't have morals. Our bodies have never met it and it kills older people. At MY age, one in ten will die if the catch it. We know that 95% of people who have died in the United States were over fifty. Apparently something about aging makes us all more vulnerable. I personally knew FIVE people who died from this virus and two of them were frequent posters on this forum. It is wise to be very careful.

95 Percent of Americans Killed by COVID Were 50+

That is an awesome meme. I think the only thing that would've made it better is if there was another "talk bubble" with someone shouting "I don't have to go on that lifeboat because mah freedums!"