Universal masking really has nothing to do with "staying safe" as you put it. Of course, universal masking will keep everyone safe but that is the side effect, if you will, of mitigating the virus. The best way we have to get our economy and our lives back to normal is to mitigate the virus. How do we do that? Our best tool, according to Dr. Redfield of the CDC, is wearing a mask. Along with social distancing and proper hand washing, we can get this virus under control. What will be the benefit of getting this virus under control, other than saving lives? Well, for one thing, we can all get our lives back to the normal we knew in 2019 and before.

Don't you want to see fans back in packed stadiums and ball fields for all sports? Don't you want to have all restaurants back in business with 100% occupancy? Don't you want to see schools open with no worries of children becoming sick with this virus and bringing it home to their families? Don't you want to be able to socialize in large crowds such as the town squares right here in The Villages? Don't you want to see music in the squares once again? How about getting our country's unemployment back on track and getting everyone back to work? Personally, I can't wait until the cruising industry can resume safely. I could go on and on. These things will not happen unless we, as a population, get this virus under control for good.

Universal masking can be done now as we all wait for an effective and safe vaccine. Science has proven universal masking WORKS. We should all do our part to get our country back to normal.

Our government today very strongly advised that even the shutting down to protect our country was the worst action in history, thus what I think you suggest about masking just ain't gonna happen. It doesn't matter what experts say about any of this, we will not mandate, and will mock any states that do.

Why not? People would like a finger to separate bills when counting their money to pay me all the time. I never gave it a moment's thought the entire 40+ years I've been a cashier.

As for opening the bags - licking fingers is convenient, but not necessary. And that potato trick only works if you're in the produce aisle.

The way to open a bag if you can't find the friction with dry fingers: heat. Pinch the top of the bag between thumb and forefinger. Hold it there for around 6 seconds. The bag will then separate just fine.

I truly believe and have said this very early on in the pandemic......Shutting down the country was not necessary. We could have achieved the same result by mandating universal masking when in public. That would have needed to last a month or two and we would be done with this virus. Of course, the world would have had to participate too. Too much to ask? Maybe so but look what shutting down has done to our economy.

Of course, you see this all the time, or at least I sure do, just watch people (waiters for instance, and many others, don't mean to pick on anyone). I am personally still examining (by looking up their credentials, research, etc.) the many very highly recognized doctors who do not believe masks, or lock downs, have any discernible effect on this type of virus, and also reading everything I can dig up on those who do and why (what research studies lead them to believe this actually has an effect on a virus), so I am open to both sides of the debate. I wear a mask when asked of me. I see so MANY instances (like the one described here), so many, and it leads me to believe we may just have too much faith that masks are the key to this. The finger licking, the pulling down of masks when speaking and then serving the food as they tug the masks back "up" but usually leaving nose out, for me, I am not convinced it's the masks that are important. I have this nagging feeling that one day, just like in the middle ages when people feared the plague was being carried in the night air, so plugged the doors and windows as best they could at NIGHT ! Someday I think my great grand children, or great great grand children will laugh about the "fetishes & charms" their grand parents believed would protect them from the 2020 plague. Not a "no mask, no way" person, but it does make me wonder if I am putting my confidence in something my formal education tells me, no way, there is no "scientific" evidence this type of homemade "mask" works and certainly not when you see how both adults and children deal with them. But, I don't resist, I just laugh at myself, not others :confused::confused::confused:

I try to find a piece of product that might be wet or touch something in my cart that has condensation on it to moisten my fingers.

Stu, to get those pesky produce bags open go over to where they have the produce that gets misted (parsley, green onions etc) and find a wet spot to dampen your fingers (not on the produce itself). Works every time.

Nope, as long as "sports" is political I will NEVER watch one again. No skin off my back and I am sure they don't care either. If a millionaire, athlete elitist wishes to tell us that we enjoy white privilege, that COPs are bad or even to protest bullying in grade school, I have no use for them. They can make a dam* commercial about it. I will stand for the American flag only and I will stand for the National Anthem only. Not some contrived biased black anthem or any other nation's anthem.



Regarding masking, I wear one solely for my family's ease. I care about others but not enough to change my way of live, just because they feel stupid enough to take chances with their own lives and expect me to conform to their standards. Like I said, if you are worried about someone not wearing a mask, stay home. It's your right. It is NOT your right to demand someone else conform to your fears, regardless of how you "scientifically" justify it. No law, no requirement, period.

Qquire
 

There are many businesses, retail stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, big box stores, medical facilities, etc. etc, that REQUIRE you to wear a mask when entering their establishment. Their establishment, their rules. Follow the rules of the establishment or don't go into said establishment. There are rules.....no shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service.

You may want to live your life like there is no pandemic going on but you are the one who just may not be able to enter establishments that REQUIRE masks. I surely hope you will not be one of those people I have seen on the internet throwing tantrums when requested by employees to don a mask.

Good luck with your pre-covid life. Problem is we are all still in the middle of a pandemic.

I think if we had to use our real names on sites like this - people wouldn't be so rude and condescending to each other.

You, sir, remind me of my husband and that is the highest compliment I can give.

Thank you again for your calm wisdom and kind heart.

Half of them in Village Roundabouts