[DaveZ]

Originally Posted by Andyb

First, I think masks have become a false security, besides becoming extremely political. One CDC study shows more cases with people wearing masks than not. My opinion is if you fear COVID that much, your best option is to stay home and try not to impose unjustified regulations on others.

Which is the worse assault on freedom, requiring a mask or forcing people to stay home because you won’t wear one? We may find out. Here’s to hoping that your passion for freedom is consistent when lockdowns are used to keep you at home as well.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Scott O

If your so called mask protects you and your social distancing, pray tell, where is all the paranoia coming from? No need to fixate on others. Just stay home and the rest of us will go on with our lives...many of us work and are out there every day and if we harbored the constant fear and paranoia like so many, everything would be shut down...and how would that be working out for you? No stores, no gas stations, no restaurants, no MD offices, no financial institutions, no pharmacy, no nothing...be thankful that we are not of the same mindset as so many here...

Do you look both ways before you cross the street? If so, why? Are you giving into the fear that the driver of the car is going to hit you? How paranoid of you.

Do you turn the light on when you go to the bathroom in the evening? Why? Are you afraid the spiders will crawl on your legs if you try to sit down in the dark? Or are you afraid you won't remember where the toilet paper is, and has been, for the past 20 years you've been living there?

We do a lot of things simply because it's a good idea to be cautious. Not fearful. Just cautious. Mask-wearing is one of those things. You don't have to be afraid of getting sick, to respect caution in the face of a pandemic.

[LYNNCHICK]

The laws of the land say ALL divers must wear seat belts or risk getting a ticket. Why then,are so many people saying that mandatory mask wearing is a violation of rights? I really do not get this mentality at all. People, get a grip and get smart! Wear the darn mask already and keep everyone safer! Just sayin........

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by bnrlewis@infionline.net

To bad you felt it necessary to include this sentence, it probably turns others off too: These people are endangering not only themselves (which, frankly, doesn't particularly bother me), but they are endangering everybody else as well (which does bother me).

That statement did not bother me in the least. It is very true. I don't care if anyone does not value their own life, but I do most certainly care when they endanger others' lives. It also bothers me to see anyone willfully walking around without a mask because that shows me they do not care at all about our economy. Already, there are cities that are enforcing lock downs again with the current surge of cases and deaths. Anyone who can not see ahead that when they do not do their part to contain this virus, we all suffer, the economy suffers, schools suffer, our lives as we once knew it suffers. Think like a chess player and realize where this is going if we do not all do our part. Wear a mask and keep your distance from others.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by mrf6969

Remember that some folks have COPD or are claustrophobic. Have some compassion.

Sorry they have those issues but, they should just stay home as it will much safer for them and others too.

[Ruggiero56]

Couldn’t agree more with Advogado. Rather than repeat his thoughts, let me just say to those who think mask wearing doesn’t do anything ... simply Google: WHO (or CDC) recommendations on mask wearing. People are certainly entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.

[Chitown]

“These people are endangering not only themselves (which, frankly, doesn't particularly bother me), but they are endangering everybody else as well (which does bother me)”. ————————————————� �———


WOW! Just as you feel so strongly about wearing your mask in public, I and all the neighbors and friends I associate with feel no need or fear to wearing a mask when visiting each other or walking outside. I had COVID in April when it was at its peak. Minor symptoms and I fully recovered without complications. I know of several relatives and friends who have had it all fully recovered with most with minor symptoms. All feel fine today. If you feel that you are that immune or medically compromised then wear your mask when out or stay home. Let’s get something straight. There will never be a time that any official will order me to wear a mask in Public. When will you realize that vaccine or no vaccine this virus will be with us for some time. 98% of people who get it will recover. I and my friends are seniors and lived through it chances are you or your family will as well. Again if your that sickly wear your mask outside or stay home otherwise stop the criticism of people that don’t think like you.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by G.R.I.T.S.

I asked the "Google Assistant" for a comparison of 2019 total deaths vs 2020 total deaths and the current total is behind 2019. While it may exceed 2019, it appears we are on pace. Why were there no mask mandates last year? ������

It's great that you were curious enough to check, but I am not sure what you mean by "it appears we are on pace".

The CDC reports on its website: "From late January 2020 to early October 2020, the U.S. had 299,000 more deaths than during the same period in previous years." These "excess deaths" prove that there is absolutely no question that COVID-19 is killing people who would not have died anyway, but your statement could be read to imply that it is not.

As to why we didn't wear masks in 2019, the obvious answer is that, although COVID-19 started in 2019, we didn't have it here until 2020. However, wearing masks in 2019 would, indeed, have saved the lives of some people who died of respiratory illnesses. In Japan and some other Asian countries, people with a cold have traditionally worn a mask in public as a matter of courtesy to others.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by IUFAN

KEEP IN MIND 2009 H1N1 pandemic. There were 60.8 million cases. I don't remember having a mask mandate. But that was not an election year. I have a friend that works in Atlanta in the hospital. They were told early on that no matter what a person dies from it would be recorded as Covid. The hospital would get 17k for a covid death and 5k for all other. One more example ....Friends of our went to get the covid test and signed the papers to get it done. After waiting for a long time decided to come back the next day. They left and was going to return the next day, but before they left the next day they got a call and was informed the test they took the previous day was positive. (no test was taken the previous day) I believe that we should respect the current flu, but I also believe we are being lead down a path of wrong info.

I pay no attention at all to the numbers of reported cases or deaths that are spewed all over news sources. I do, however, pay very close attention to the news stories of hospitals being at or very near capacity. I pay attention to news stories, with video proof, of refrigerated trailers for dead bodies. I pay attention to news stories with video proof that cities are setting up temporary hospital beds in parking lots. I pay attention when ICU beds are either at capacity or near capacity. I pay attention to news stories that report that health care workers are extremely stressed and are exhausted. I don't pay attention to numbers of cases or deaths but what I can actually see is happening in communities. This is our America? That is frightening.

[nhtexasrn]

This is weird to me....Elan Musk had 4 Covid tests in one day. Same place, same nurse, same technique....2 came back positive and 2 came back negative. I have heard of this happening to other people. I read an article about a nurse who sent several tests in that had never been used on a patient.....all came back positive. My confidence in the testing is not at all high. I don't see a point in getting tested if not having symptoms. I truly believe our numbers are skewed. That being said, I am taking as many measures as possible to stay safe but still live my life, and I WILL be observing Thanksgiving!

[Ruggiero56]

Originally Posted by Scott O

If your so called mask protects you and your social distancing, pray tell, where is all the paranoia coming from? No need to fixate on others. Just stay home and the rest of us will go on with our lives...many of us work and are out there every day and if we harbored the constant fear and paranoia like so many, everything would be shut down...and how would that be working out for you? No stores, no gas stations, no restaurants, no MD offices, no financial institutions, no pharmacy, no nothing...be thankful that we are not of the same mindset as so many here...

I’m so tired of people saying “just stay home” and “the rest of us will go about our [selfish] lives”. Imagine if that attitude prevailed when the movement to stop smoking in public places due to the dangers of second hand smoke! Should people who didn’t want to get cancer from others’ smoke have simply stayed home so those who like to engage in dangerous behaviors can continue to live normally while everyone else stays home??? Geez ...

[coffeebean]

~~~

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Beyond The Wall

The ineffectiveness of mask, see NY,NJ, CN, makes a mask mandate suspect. If your afraid stay home. Don’t impose restrictions that have no science behind them

I guess you haven't see the many videos that have been posted on this forum demonstrating how effective masks are at blocking droplets and aerosols that carry this microscopic virus. Too bad for you that you are so uninformed.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by oneclickplus

Neither is abortion but godless people say that is a right in the constitution ("it's just not in that document"). There is no way that anyone is going to force me to wear a mask when I'm outdoors (not in a building). You can demand rules for doing business in buildings. No government in the USA has the authority to demand that people wear a mask in public any more than it can force me to buy health insurance. "My body, my choice" as abortion advocates would say.

And, that position does not make me selfish or ignorant. That makes me an American.

So wait - if it's about forcing you to wear a mask to protect the public, it's your right, your body, your choice?

And if it's about a woman's right to deal with her own body to protect her physical, mental, and emotional health and NOT the public, it's godless?

Which is it? Is it godless, or is it my body my choice? If you're going to pin your "right" on the same right a woman has to handle her own body her own way, then it has to be one or the other. Either women are not really godless afterall, or you are.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by jbrown132

What I have never understood about this is the pressure is always on the people to wear masks (which I believe we should). The pressure should be put on the businesses. Real simple, no mask no entry. In larger businesses such a Publix, Walmart etc. there should be an employee at the door telling people no mask no entry. They could even provide a paper mask to people who may have forgotten theirs. If stores, restaurants and businesses started requiring the use of masks and enforcing the rule I think more people would get the message and would have no other choice but to carry one with them. Remember the days of no shirt no shoes no service. Worked pretty well.

They did that. And a store employee was shot and killed by someone who refused to wear a mask, and refused to NOT go into the store.

The days of no shirt no service were the days when people were civilized. The current world is much different.