It is almost like being in a Twilight Zone, when the vast majority of immunology scientists and health professionals (many under oath) tout and explain the benefits of wearing masks, are ignored by some people - and prefer to believe those who don't really even believe in science and facts. A very sad, but telling, commentary on the current intelligence and common sense of many of our citizens.

Dr. Redfield, head of CDC, made a very bold statement that masks are the one tool we have against this virus to protect ourselves. Problem is, it must be very high compliance for universal masking to work to rid us of this virus. I tend to believe the experts not the politicians when it comes to science.

There are too many people in the US that do not believe in the science and therefore it will be impossible to mitigate the virus by universal masking. That is really a shame. Something so simple and TEMPORARY can be so impossible for some folks out there.

Ah, the hazards, disappointments and work required to maintain a FREE nation. If only we could mandate specific masks, eye protection and certified gloves. If only we could mandate a universal uniform for all citizens. If only we could mandate a universal community standards for all residential homes.........hmmm, ah wait a minute.

Ah... if only we could mandate IQ and intelligence .... hmmmm.

Very true. BUT..........It has been said many times that the virus is minute and extremely smaller than the fibers of cloth. BUT.......the virus does not travel on it's own. The virus travels in droplets (larger) or aerosols (smaller). The cloth masks do catch the droplets and aerosols.

A segment on NBC'sThe Today Show demonstrated that the neck gators DO NOT trap the droplets like cloth masks or the disposable masks do. In fact the neck gators are worse than not wearing a mask at all. The neck gators, even a double thickness, actually splits the large droplets into small aerosols and aerosols are not trapped as easily as droplets. Hence.....neck gators are NOT to be used at mitigation for this virus. Having said that....cloth masks and disposable masks ARE very useful to trap the virus and slow the spread of the virus. Have you seen the latest statement from Dr. Redfield, head of the CDC, about how masks are the only tool we have to mitigate this virus? Yes, he said this under oath when testifying.

Thanks for replying. Most simply ignore when asked because they actually know nothing.

I take Hydroxychloqine (Plaquenil) daily for a few years (rheumatoid arthritis) and keeping waiting for that headline that says I am invincible. 😁

Actually, it is not about the raw intelligence of the pseudo-patriotic anti-maskers. It’s about neuroscience.

When the thinking part of the brain is completely run over by the emotional part of the brain (the amygdala), what we see that looks like a lack of intelligence is not that at all. It’s the result of having emotions — fear, paranoia, hate, urgency, a need to belong to something bigger, a sense of superiority — all being pounded to a frenzied pitch until logic is washed out completely.

That’s how scammers work. That’s how cult leaders work. They understand how to get to the emotional part of the brain. That’s how those con men and con women work their marks, their victims. Remember, con man is short for “confidence man.” Not only does a confidence man appear confident, the confidence man makes his victim feel confident, too, and then takes power over the victim’s decisions.

And if you have ever tried to convince someone they are being conned, it is impossible because their brains are awash in emotion — no matter how high their IQ. Logic is gone and they will excuse and cling tight to the con. They just cannot see what is happening.

There is no IQ range in it at all. In fact, sometimes the more intelligent are the easiest to con because they think they cannot be.

Fascinating and oh so creepy — and so damned easy to do.

Boomer

The actual component of the "cocktail" that prevents the virus from replicating in the naso pharynx and respiratory system is the zinc. The Hydrochloroquine is actually the "catalyst" (that is not the actual word I have read but that is what it means) that makes the zinc effective. It must be taken as the "cocktail" I mentioned in my above post about it. Also....very importantly, the cocktail must begin within 48 hours of symptoms. The testing that was done on Hydoxychloroquine long after the 48 hours had dismal results for Hydroxychloroquine because the drugs were not started within the 48 hours. The CDC does not qualify that when they claim Hydroxychloroquine does not work for Covid-19.

Personally I am very suspicious of this. Of course we have and always have had "wack jobs", we've read it all before, in fast food restaurants, in banks, at super market check outs way before any virus pandemic. But this article about the Mc D's "incident" just does not ring true. First of all, I am a compliant person. When someone asks me to put on a mask to enter their business or home, I either do it, or I just skip that particular place, it's my choice of course. I most certainly do NOT find a mask to put on when I go through a Villages drive through Mac Donalds' to pick up an order in my own vehicle. Thankfully this has not been an issue, but, although I think most who know me would agree I am a mild mannered person, pulling up to a drive in order station (rather McD's or S&S, Burg er King, etc.), moving ahead to the "pay" window, and then moving on and waiting patiently only to be told the food would not be handed to me until I put on a mask ? ? No, no that would not be happening to me, even tempered and reasonable as I always try to be. I have often ordered on line too, paid with my C.C., and then to drive to one of these places and told if I did not return home and find a "mask" I could not have the food but they keep the money... no no no.... I think this story is a "plant", it makes no sense IMO ! Most mornings I drive thru Dunkin' for a large hot coffee. I do not look around for a mask to take with me as I am not going on to do inside errands. Thankfully, after I pay and move to the pick up window, I have never been refused my morning "fuel"; if this begins like in the article cited, I'll revert to just making the coffee at home ! Oh Well !

The person who wrote that is not anyone I know, BUT..... I do not think they in any way meant what you have interpreted it to mean at all. Read it again without any personal emotions and you may interpret it very differently in a less "personal" manner. Of course 1.8% seems very insignificant unless someone's loved one is part of the 1.8%. That's life after all. I lost a good friend to an air crash, I lost a friend to a drunk driver, I even lost a close college friend to a horrifying "statistic". She got in her automobile, and started to drive to pick up her grand child from school. A UPS (yes, you heard me, a UPS driver) went right through a red light (behind schedule) and killed her. The statistical risk of this happening to any of us is much higher than contracting the virus and dying from it. Could it happen ? Sure could. Could your plan crash ? Sure could ! Could you get hit and killed right here in the Villages, in your own car, driving perfectly sane and legally ? You sure could. Again, have no idea who wrote the post, but, I do not believe that quoting a stat in any way demeans the lives and contributions of anyone who died with (or even FROM) this virus, any more than the stats for the yearly toll that pneumonia takes on our population in any way indicts the "worth" or lack of "worth" of those individuals. I do think many in our country have just refused all reason. Of course it is serious, of course none of us what it any more than we want cancer or heart disease. But, many continue to smoke, many continue poor eating habits, etc. the world is filled with risk, being alive is VERY risky. We must be prudent but also have to begin to use logic, not emotion, when assessing the general risk, and then our OWN PERSONAL risk, but what you out lined in your response to the person would never pass the basic tenants of a college, or even a high school level, logic class. You'd need a much sounder foundation. But, thankfully, we can STILL have our own opinions in our democratic republic. In your #4 substantiation, concerning the bills, and what "might" be, etc. do you realize ALL you left out ? In reality, no matter what you "feel", our country does a decent (not perfect) job of giving health care to all and asking details later. Notice there is NOT a large pile of bodies behind hospitals of people who were refused ventilators because their Medicare, Medicaid, supplements, whatever they have were not sufficient. There are many mediation steps but won't go into that topic here because the whole point is that your reply completely missed the point being made, and also is based on emotions rather than facts. I too could have emotionalized the deaths of my close friends to the point where I would never get into my automobile again, never take a trip, never get in a plane, or ever swim again (we had a relative that drowned also).

OMG, I can't express how relieved I am to find that there actually ARE others in our community who understand the difference in emotional (auto) responses and logical foundations of rational thought. Even someone else who understands there is no "IQ" involved at all. The paranoia, fear (logical and a lot of very illogical), bias, suspicion, prejudices, etc. are running wild in the friendliest hometown, probably a community with a higher than average level of education too, but like the whole country, that doesn't seem to help people at all when it comes to their personal fears. Just imagine if our parents had acted like this when WWII gave us no choice, rich, poor, privileged, black, white, yellow, or any "color" in between, THEY HAD to come together, had to support their country and each other, it came natural to them. Certainly not any more.

Let's see, I think someone already wrote that book didn't they ? I think it was in the science fiction section back in the day. I think we laughed at the time, all the references to people like robots, "big brother" (the government) watching people even as they slept (Apple watch, Alexia ? Who knows ?). Soylent Green, that 70's dystopian "Si-Fi", 1984, all of those..... makes a person wonder..... what about Animal Farm ? Can you imagine a democracy where some are MORE equal than others.... Maybe the answer is not others at all, maybe the answer is every person work on them self ? Who knows ? So easy to topple a government when you first get the masses to a paranoid frenzy and fighting and arguing so much they have no time to get on the internet and do the considerable work of digging for the case resolutions of local judges BEFORE they go to the poles to vote ? Does any one care who is on a school board ? Do most people really care about changes to the curriculum of a local school ? Of a public university ? Do people care how reading lists in public schools have been changed to reflect bias in one direction or another ? Just a lot to think about.... and most of all investigate.

Find this passage in your post interesting....

"So easy to topple a government when you first get the masses to a paranoid frenzy and fighting and arguing so much ....."

I would just add that you need to give the masses someone to hate and feel superior to.

But what do I know..we have posters who speak for "most" "the majority" "people like us".... I get confused because I am criticized for "investigating" and searching truth, and the criticism comes from those who want to claim the moral high ground.

Agree completely that it is sad that individuals and groups of individuals can threaten judges, politicians (like these two women, rather elected or appointed to the post), police, etc. but..... IF threats, just like appeasements, did not work so well (BOTH women resigned, and make no mistake, I am NOT saying that was not the right move for these women at all) then threats would not be a tactic that would be in use very long ! Of course people are going to choose successful tactics; just look at the numbers of police chiefs, officers, mayors, councilmen (and a councilwoman where one of my cousins resides in a retirement area just resigned last week), and others who have resigned as a result of successful threats ! UNFORTUNATELY, threats work ! Prayer does work, maybe we of various religions and denominations should get together, those who feel protected by masks, WEAR them, those who doubt their value, don't wear one, but sure wouldn't hurt to get together in all these outdoor spaces we have around here and PRAY. Even some devout believers may just be surprised at the results !

just posing these questions: how long is this to go on? are masks indefinite? how much are we willing to listen to & obey? & my fave, how long is too long?
it's my choice to wear or not wear the mask. if i choose not to, i will avoid all businesses who REQUIRE customers to wear one. i will do tele-health appointments & shop online. it's my right not to wear it, as it is your right to keep as far away from me as possible. i'm beyond sick & tired, & yes, i've heard all the vitriol from those who consider themselves superior to me for my choices. it's gone on far too long for a sensible person to simply roll over & wait for the 2020Election Flu to be put to rest. thank you for allowing the early am. rant :icon_wink: