[CarolSells]

Originally Posted by GoPacers

This whole discussion is like a scene from the movie Idiocracy. You just can't have a meaningful discussion with someone who is intellectually incapable of comprehending the facts.

This isn't rocket science (for most people unless you believe the movie's plot has already occurred). The ONLY way this goes away is if R0 is less than 1. The smaller we make R0 the sooner this happens. It is indisputable that social distancing and wearing masks materially impacts R0. It doesn't reduce R0 to zero; it simply reduces it, but materially so.

You can offer the argument that social distancing or wearing a mask is "your decision" but what you're really saying is that either you don't have a clue how this works or you simply don't give a rat's tail about your fellow human beings. Pick one and let us know which camp you fall in... I know when I see you I'll make my own assessment. You'll look at me and smugly say there goes a "flaming lib" but in fact, I'm just an educated flaming conservative.

So, don't social distance and don't wear a mask. Do your absolute best to pump up R0 as high as you can. More people might get sick and as a result more people might die. Let us know how if feels to look a good friend or family member in the eye and say sorry that you got COVID from me but it was my "right" to not wear that mask.

Ah, gee. Could you get any more dramatic? I have been almost totally isolated since March 1, 2020. If I, being a high risk old person, had come in contact with the “deadly virus” I would probably have succumbed by now. To be asymptomatic, I would have had to be in close personal, prolonged contact with someone who was sick and shedding microbes. No one I know here in The Villages either has this virus, had it, or has died from it. Get a grip.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Andyhope

Okay...if you want to wear a mask, do so. If you are wearing a mask , I don’t need one

WRONG! Where are you getting your information?

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Byte1

Doctors are having their appointments by video chat now. Guess we don't need a mask for that.......

Not all are telemed appointments. Would like to see a gynecological exam by telemed. LOL. Can a skin biopsy be done with a telemed appointment? Just wondering.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by kendi

I've noticed that this pandemic has isolated others not just from staying home, but even when out, the masks hide our expressions from one another. Add sunglasses like many do when outdoors and its like we're a bunch of zombies running around. We have lost the smiles of so many wonderful people in TV - a social connection that means a lot to many. There's usually not even a wave or nod of the head. Then, there's the attacks on others who have a different opinion. The worst part of this pandemic is how people have used it to attack rather than respect and support others. You don't have to agree with someone to respect and support - to help build a healthy community.

Well written and very true. Humans use not only voice to communicate, but also body language and facial expression and more. Communication while wearing a mask, even recognizing a friend across a room becomes more difficult. Our current situation has induced a lot of confusion, distrust and made it easier to focus on our differences rather than our commonality. My best friend in TV (before he passed) and I differed politically, philosophically and even in our choice of preferred adult beverage, but there were many more things that we shared in common. I wonder how, or if, this mask issue would or could divide us. Either of us would have done what they could to make things more comfortable for the other. That is what good friends, good people do.
I admit to being pro-mask for many reasons, some personal, some practical, some I feel ethical. I think, hope the time for mask wearing may be slowly coming to an end. For some, the masks will become part of life like in many other countries. There are some, I have seen, that have learned from this episode. Others have not. To those on both sides, let's try to make peace through cooperation, accommodation and consideration of others.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Not all are telemed appointments. Would like to see a gynecological exam by telemed. LOL. Can a skin biopsy be done with a telemed appointment? Just wondering.

Good point. My wife's Dr.'s office called and told her that she had to download an app to her phone so she could do her checkup via video conference. She told the doctor that she would wait until she could do it in person and postponed the appointment. Funny how she was later given an appointment IN the office and in person. Must be nice for a visit to be billed to the insurance and co-payment for a phone chat.

[gadaboutgal]

Originally Posted by CarolSells

So, after a gazillion posts pro and con to wearing a mask, I don’t believe that we have swayed anyone to our side, pro or con.

How about the compromise could be that people who are leery of mingling with non-maskers at rec centers , etc. could wear their masks AND face shields. They seem to be able to stop “stuff” going both in and out. Plus, the mask could be also worn to guard against anti-gravity droplets which might drift upwards under the face shield.

Your thoughts?

Wearing a mask does not protect the wearer and it is not going to stop "stuff" from going in nor a shield will stop it from going under.
People were taught by their mother to cover their mouth when they coughed or sneezed==why? To protect others from the body fluids coming out of you and spreading onto others along with any germs or viruses or whatever.
We do know that Covid is expirated through the mouth and the nose, and Even when you are talking.
Maybe when the self centered refuse to wear a mask, we should just consider they were not brought up properly and are just ignorant of polite civility.

[EdFNJ]

This is probably the 15th thread on or that ended up on this subject. Just more trolling because the "obvious answer" (whatever anyone claims it is) will never be determined by anyone including the OP so it's simply one more time to rehash what has been rehashed ad nauseam here for weeks. Really beginning to miss all the Costco, dog poop and the "mysterious 2 ladies in a golf cart with a clipboard" threads. But in any case there is no "OBVIOUS ANSWER, there is only lots of opinions and you know what "they" say about opinions.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by gadaboutgal

Wearing a mask does not protect the wearer and it is not going to stop "stuff" from going in nor a shield will stop it from going under.
People were taught by their mother to cover their mouth when they coughed or sneezed==why? To protect others from the body fluids coming out of you and spreading onto others along with any germs or viruses or whatever.
We do know that Covid is expirated through the mouth and the nose, and Even when you are talking.
Maybe when the self centered refuse to wear a mask, we should just consider they were not brought up properly and are just ignorant of polite civility.

I'll make a deal with you. Once they develop a vaccine or remedy for this illness, I will stop wearing a mask when I think it is prudent. Then, I will cover my sneeze to prove to you that I had proper upbringing. Considering that there is only about one in a thousand chances of catching the virus in The Villages, if that....I am not going to stress over it. It does make for good conversation.
It is kind of fun to watch folks that get too close to you, when you fake a few coughs.

Originally Posted by CarolSells

So, after a gazillion posts pro and con to wearing a mask, I don’t believe that we have swayed anyone to our side, pro or con.

How about the compromise could be that people who are leery of mingling with non-maskers at rec centers , etc. could wear their masks AND face shields. They seem to be able to stop “stuff” going both in and out. Plus, the mask could be also worn to guard against anti-gravity droplets which might drift upwards under the face shield.

Your thoughts?

At some point that will be a reasonable suggestion. Not sure if we are there yet and have to rely on advice of epidemiologists. Remember that before we wore masks and social distanced infections surged and hospitals were overrun with Covid19 patients and shortage of ventilators. Other patients with non Covid19 illnesses could not get admitted. That never happened with the flu we experience every winter. I understand the discomfort of wearing a mask because my glasses fog up. So maybe you will see a guy and his wife with face shields on in Publix.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by gadaboutgal

Wearing a mask does not protect the wearer and it is not going to stop "stuff" from going in nor a shield will stop it from going under.
People were taught by their mother to cover their mouth when they coughed or sneezed==why? To protect others from the body fluids coming out of you and spreading onto others along with any germs or viruses or whatever.
We do know that Covid is expirated through the mouth and the nose, and Even when you are talking.
Maybe when the self centered refuse to wear a mask, we should just consider they were not brought up properly and are just ignorant of polite civility.

Excellent point...

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by toeser

Did you see where the W.H.O. just threw a log on the fire by coming out with guidelines that only people who are sick or treating the sick would benefit from wearing a mask?

I would do the opposite of what the WHO recommends.

[graciegirl]

[QUOTE=CarolSells;1774481]

Originally Posted by CFrance

The selfish people back then were the ones that wouldn't get a flu shot.”

Do you have data and/or a website that backs that claim up or is it merely an opinion? I’ll wait...

You don't get flu shots for the seasonal flu? How about for two kinds of pneumonia? How about Shingles?

If you have children, were they vaccinated against catching measles, mumps, chicken pox and polio? Perhaps I misunderstood your comment.

I was responding to Carol Sells, not CFrance

[CarolSells]

[QUOTE=graciegirl;1774555]

Originally Posted by CarolSells

You don't get flu shots for the seasonal flu? How about for two kinds of pneumonia? How about Shingles?

If you have children, were they vaccinated against catching measles, mumps, chicken pox and polio? Perhaps I misunderstood your comment.

I was responding to Carol Sells, not CFrance

Hi Gracie,
I was asking how CFrance knew how many “selfish” people didn’t get flu shots during the 2017 - 2018 flu epidemic.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by gadaboutgal

Wearing a mask does not protect the wearer and it is not going to stop "stuff" from going in nor a shield will stop it from going under.
People were taught by their mother to cover their mouth when they coughed or sneezed==why? To protect others from the body fluids coming out of you and spreading onto others along with any germs or viruses or whatever.
We do know that Covid is expirated through the mouth and the nose, and Even when you are talking.
Maybe when the self centered refuse to wear a mask, we should just consider they were not brought up properly and are just ignorant of polite civility.

Even when a person is breathing.....droplets are expelled from the nose and mouth.There is science behind the effectiveness of slowing the spread of viruses when wearing masks. Folks are denying the science.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by GPGuar

It’s not unreasonable, but don’t force me to wear a mask if I don’t want to. That’s my choice!

And it's the store's choice to not allow you into their building. It's the rec center's choice not to let you participate in events. It's your neighbor's choice to not help you with - anything at all. It's your best friend's choice to find a new best friend.

But you go ahead being right. I'm sure it'll help you get through your busy day.