[Pommom91]

In my opinion, they don’t care if they spread their germs.

[aallbrand]

Not wearing a mask is worst then driving drunk. When you hurt or kill some one driving drunk you are held accountable by society and your own guilt. No one argues that driving drunk is a constitutional privilege because science has proven that driving drunk kills people. When you don't wear a mask you will eventually injury and kill many, science has proven this fact.

[ffresh]

Originally Posted by Heyitsrick

For all the banter here about masks, are there really significant numbers of people in TV who are not masking?

...

I read an anecdotal report from someone here in this thread who stated that in their observation - as a grocery store worker - teenagers and 20ish people are more vigilant about wearing masks, and if there are those who are not wearing them, they are most likely to be seniors.

I found this quite curious - given that seniors make up the overwhelming percentage of the population around TV, why wouldn't it follow that one might see more seniors without masks than young people? That's a given, based on numbers alone.

I wear masks, period. But as to "why" some might push back - notwithstanding whether it's smart or responsible - you might want to look at political decisions that mandated all manner of restrictions due to COVID-19, but somehow gave a pass to thousands upon thousands of protest marchers around the country. That civil right, as we were told, was too important to ignore. It was more important than people's actual lives.

I believe part of the answer also lies with the fact that the current generation of millennials, generation Z, and generation alpha, have had "critical thinking" bred out of them by the indoctrination mills, i.e. public schools and, thus, follow blindly any edicts issued (for better or for worse). Our generation still maintains some semblance of that ability, able to view events with a critical eye, make an informed decision and act accordingly, despite how others think he or she should be acting

Fred

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Heyitsrick

I read an anecdotal report from someone here in this thread who stated that in their observation - as a grocery store worker - teenagers and 20ish people are more vigilant about wearing masks, and if there are those who are not wearing them, they are most likely to be seniors.

I found this quite curious - given that seniors make up the overwhelming percentage of the population around TV, why wouldn't it follow that one might see more seniors without masks than young people? That's a given, based on numbers alone.

Once again - read what I write, and not what you think I meant. I'm very careful with my words most of the time.

I am referring SPECIFICALLY to my observations about customers in grocery stores. I'm not referring to anything else. My post was in direct response to someone who was ALSO specifically referring to HIS observations about customers in grocery stores.

Grocery stores, as many people may have forgotten in their old age, are open to the public. They are, as many seem to have eliminated from their diminished memories, in areas that have people OTHER than seniors living in them. The Villages are merely the three corners of three fairly sizeable counties, with major state roads slicing through it. People living near the villages also go grocery shopping. Many of those people have kids. Many of those people ARE kids. And those kids sometimes pop into the grocery store. MOST of those kids wear masks. There might be only 10 kids who show up on their own, without their parents, during my shift. But on MOST days - all 10 will be wearing a mask.

Compare to families who come in with adult parents and youths as their kids - there are maybe 30 of those who come in on a daily basis. And of those 30 families - with a minimum of 3 people shopping (so 90 people) only around 70 of them will be wearing masks.

Compare to the hundreds of Seniors I see every day - out of - let's call it 500 individual senior customers who aren't coming in with their spouse or kids or caretakers - only maybe 400 of them are wearing masks.

You can do the math. But it won't be accurate because these are estimates based on one person's observations.

But I'd venture to say, with an EDUCATED guess from someone who actually works there and is able to see the trends at least 2 days a week, on average 3 days every week, both weekends and weekdays, any time between 8am and 6pm...

That the majority of "teenagers and young 20-somethings who come into the store without their families, and are customers", on most days, I will notice nearly 100% of the time they are wearing masks.

And that while the majority of seniors also wear masks, the percentage of them is significantly lower. Maybe only 85-90%.

Of the entire population, the majority people who come in that include parents with their young kids - they are the most disturbing of the bunch. Because the ones who don't wear the masks, are teaching their kids that they don't need to care about anyone else. And those kids will grow up believing it.

[wilkinson]

As an engineer I supported the sanitizing processes at the world's largest biotech company for 10 years. So I claim some first hand understanding of the science. There should be a national mandatory order to wear masks in public. Failure to comply should be punished. Regardless of what some uninformed people say in the news feeds, wearing masks will improve your chances and the risk the risk of those you. Not to wear a mask is lazy and socially irresponsible.

[Ss6247]

That woman you shamed in the grocery store, because she wasn't wearing a mask? She already feels enough shame because she was raped. Having something over her nose & mouth triggers her PTSD, and causes her to relive that trauma.
That man at the Quickee Mart who you called selfish? He's a volunteer firefighter, and just came from the ER, after being treated for smoke inhalation. He removed his air mask, in order to help a child breathe fresh air, instead of thick smoke.
That elderly lady who you screamed at to put a mask on, or shop when it's her turn? Her husband of 60 years just passed away. She's doing her best to learn to live alone. Every breath is physically painful, due to her grief.
That little boy you lectured about removing his mask? He's autistic. He doesn't understand. He simply wants it off of his face.
That little girl who screams when somebody tries to mask her? She's claustrophobic. She came from an abusive home, where she was confined to a closet.
There are all sorts of reasons for not wearing a mask. Not all are lung, or immune system related.
How many of you are among those shaming, name calling, and berating complete strangers, or worse, family members? How many of you are against bullying?
If you are among the first group, and align with the second, you may want to pump the brakes, and check yourself... you have become the bully you claim to be against.
Wearing a mask does not make you a kind person. You are either a kind person, or you aren't. A piece of cloth does not determine that trait.
On the flipside, not wearing a mask does not make a person selfish, or inconsiderate. It simply means that, there may be an unseen reason why they cannot wear one. You don't know their story, and, to be quite honest, it's none of your business.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Ss6247

[all those people who are special exceptions, some of whom should be home recovering from smoke inhalation and not out at a supermarket]

The person sneezed on by one of the people in your example passing the wrong way down a one-way aisle because of his PTSD that kept him from paying attention or wearing a mask? That person is now dead.

The person coughed on by that smoke-inhalation fireman who should be home recovering and not at a supermarket? He passed the virus he caught only two days ago, the day after he was tested, to an older woman who is now dead.

It is ABSOLUTELY everyone else's business to know why someone isn't wearing a mask in a public place during a pandemic. It is our business, because it is our lives that your breath is threatening.

If you can't wear a mask, don't. And send someone to do your shopping for you. Or order it online.

[Curtisbwp]

The reason may be reasonable. The wearing of masks may be detrimental to their health. If you read the ADA (American Disability Act) you will find a list of disabilities that are exempt from wearing masks because it is harmful to their health. Wallmart has implemented a policy about mask wearing. I will bet that NONE of the enforcing employees have not been fully trained. Walmart has severly restricted the entrance and exit doors including blocking them with carrages. I would like to have the NEW evacuation routs in case of emergency. Fire, hostile forces in the store etc.

[Heyitsrick]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Once again - read what I write, and not what you think I meant. I'm very careful with my words most of the time.

This is what you wrote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The ones who make sure we all know they're refusing to wear them - are mostly seniors. The ones who seem to be oblivious are mostly the grown up adults. Strangely enough, the young adults - the teenagers and young 20-somethings - tend to be more vigilant than any other demographic. They are almost always covering their mouths and noses with a mask in the stores.

You mentioned no percentages or raw numbers. You simply said that in the sub-set of people who are making it clear they are refusing to wear masks, it's "mostly seniors". You're saying that out of the total undefined number of those who fit this description of intentionally not wearing masks and wanting everyone to know, seniors make up the bigger slice of the pie.

I'm merely saying - and quite accurately - that seniors as a demographic are by far the largest group in the area, and it stands to reason that you're going to see more of them engaged in this behavior than smaller groups based on pure demographic percentages.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I am referring SPECIFICALLY to my observations about customers in grocery stores. I'm not referring to anything else. My post was in direct response to someone who was ALSO specifically referring to HIS observations about customers in grocery stores.

Grocery stores, as many people may have forgotten in their old age, are open to the public. They are, as many seem to have eliminated from their diminished memories, in areas that have people OTHER than seniors living in them.
The Villages are merely the three corners of three fairly sizeable counties, with major state roads slicing through it.

Area demographics, as some people may have forgotten in their old age, are what they are. And honestly - most people will do grocery shopping fairly close to where they live.

This is from the USDA: "The average household traveled 3.79 miles to their primary grocery, even though the closest store was 2.14 miles way. This was true, with little variation, across all income groups. USDA says this indicates shoppers are sensitive to price, quality, and selection in addition to proximity."

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

People living near the villages also go grocery shopping. Many of those people have kids. Many of those people ARE kids. And those kids sometimes pop into the grocery store. MOST of those kids wear masks. There might be only 10 kids who show up on their own, without their parents, during my shift. But on MOST days - all 10 will be wearing a mask.

Compare to families who come in with adult parents and youths as their kids - there are maybe 30 of those who come in on a daily basis. And of those 30 families - with a minimum of 3 people shopping (so 90 people) only around 70 of them will be wearing masks.

Compare to the hundreds of Seniors I see every day - out of - let's call it 500 individual senior customers who aren't coming in with their spouse or kids or caretakers - only maybe 400 of them are wearing masks. You can do the math.

Yes, I can do the math. Your own observations are making my point about demographics. Anecdotally, you're saying senior shoppers are by far the predominant demographic in the store. And that goes back to my point about numbers - since seniors do make up the greatest share of the area population, it makes sense that you are going to see more of them engaging in this behavior.

I'm not saying that the younger patrons you're observing aren't indicative of that demographic's behavior in other local stores, but it's really a very small number you're citing. One wonders what you would see if 500 of this age group shopped in your store on a given day.

[ffresh]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It'll be interesting to see how many people will lie about "medical reasons" to all the stores that have recently implemented a REQUIREMENT that all customers wear masks in their stores. Medical reasons and "very young children" are the only exceptions to the rule, and as far as I know, there doesn't exist any way for a store to tell if a person is telling the truth or not when they say "I don't have to wear a mask, my doctor says so."

My guess would be about the same number who bring their "service animals" into public places that don't really require a service animal and the same number who fraudulently obtain handicapped medallions and can walk better than I.

Fred

[ffresh]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Anyone who claims they have a medical reason for not wearing a mask, can just stay home. OR.........To gain entry, a person should have to produce a letter from a physician on the physician's letter head that they have a medical condition and are not able to wear a mask.

May I have your papers please?

Is that the sort of society you want to be a part of because others make choices that aren't in accord with your own

As William Wallace so eloquently put it on his death bed: Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedoooooommmmmmmmmmmmm!

Others may obediently put your masks on, OR stay home if you're immunologically challenged, or merely AFRAID.


Fred

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by Ss6247

That woman you shamed in the grocery store, because she wasn't wearing a mask? She already feels enough shame because she was raped. Having something over her nose & mouth triggers her PTSD, and causes her to relive that trauma.
That man at the Quickee Mart who you called selfish? He's a volunteer firefighter, and just came from the ER, after being treated for smoke inhalation. He removed his air mask, in order to help a child breathe fresh air, instead of thick smoke.
That elderly lady who you screamed at to put a mask on, or shop when it's her turn? Her husband of 60 years just passed away. She's doing her best to learn to live alone. Every breath is physically painful, due to her grief.
That little boy you lectured about removing his mask? He's autistic. He doesn't understand. He simply wants it off of his face.
That little girl who screams when somebody tries to mask her? She's claustrophobic. She came from an abusive home, where she was confined to a closet.
There are all sorts of reasons for not wearing a mask. Not all are lung, or immune system related.
How many of you are among those shaming, name calling, and berating complete strangers, or worse, family members? How many of you are against bullying?
If you are among the first group, and align with the second, you may want to pump the brakes, and check yourself... you have become the bully you claim to be against.
Wearing a mask does not make you a kind person. You are either a kind person, or you aren't. A piece of cloth does not determine that trait.
On the flipside, not wearing a mask does not make a person selfish, or inconsiderate. It simply means that, there may be an unseen reason why they cannot wear one. You don't know their story, and, to be quite honest, it's none of your business.

There are options for all of your examples.......they don't need to be where wearing a mask creates those reactions. If they know they are going to react to wearing a mask find an alternative like a friend, family member, store shopping etc. So knowing that not wearing a mask has some danger associated to it and you refuse to find alternatives to what gives you anxiety and puts others at risk is, to me, selfish.

[RJ Metzelaar]

It's the leas you can do to protectfellow Amdricans.!!

[ruralgoddess]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

I don't think there is one universal reason. Different strokes for different folks. Might have something to do with the mixed messages since this whole thing started. Don't wear a mask to masks will save your life. Which is it?

I defer to wearing a mask until it's proven that they're useless...I wear one to protect others from infection I might be carrying, not for myself. I depend on others wearing their masks to protect me from infection they could be carrying.

[Byte1]

Wow! Mass panic, mass hysteria!
For crying out loud, wear a mask if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. If you don't wear a mask, I don't care. No one wears one because someone might pass on TB to them or the Flu during flu season. The Japanese do, but hey that's another country. Mandate mask wearing? OK, so who is going to inspect your mask to make sure it is certified? How will they determine if you have kept it clean? I find it ironic that some folks think that holding a scarf up to their face or a hanky is doing the same job as a mask. Then again, one of my masks is so thin I have no problem at all breathing through it. I even chuckle sometimes when I think about all those "sky is falling" folks that think that wearing a mask is going to save their lives. I enjoy seeing folks out and about playing golf and pickleball, jogging or bike riding with no masks, just enjoying their lives without worrying about this thing. Hah, as long as I wear something over my face, no one will criticize one bit. Sure, even that probably stops 10% of the germs. I am supposed to care if you think that others are suppose to protect you? Take care of yourself. If you do not like it when someone does not wear a mask, then don't go out to places that might expose you to them. It is their right to not wear one just as it is your right to wear one if you wish. I hear hypocrites all the time say that they are wearing a mask to protect me. Right, sure, uh huh. They are worried about themselves and that is why they want everyone else to wear a mask too. Can't wait to see what will happen if the gov mandates masks. What kind of masks and how will they be policed? Motorcycle helmets have DOT stickers on certified ones so that police in regulated states can identify those that are wearing legal helmets. Does the police stop anyone that does not have a sticker on them? They have better things to do. Of course, maybe we can get social services to do traffic stops now. That's what some folks in Congress want.
Stop worrying about what others are doing when you can avoid them by just staying away from them. If you do not like it that folks are practicing their RIGHT not to wear a mask, then express your right of Freedom by walking away from them. They have the same right you have, to wear or not wear a mask. I wear one that is hardly any protection at all, but I don't have to hear hysterical people cry about their safety. I did wear a professional mask when this first started, as well as gloves and eye protection. That was before I realized that the chances of me being around anyone infected was so slim, and even more slim to die from it if I did catch it. I social distance and take other precautions to avoid bringing home any infection to my spouse. I figure that if others are worried about becoming infected, it is not my responsibility to protect them when it is their option to stay home.
Sorry if your "mask shaming" doesn't work on me. I promise that I won't insist that you carry a gun to protect me from being mugged (which is more likely than catching the virus) if you don't insist that I wear a mask to protect you. I promise that if I become infected, I will wear a mask (a better one than I am wearing now).
This is just a discussion, so don't take it personal. It's better to keep your blood pressure down so that you do not end up in a hospital where you have a greater chance of being exposed to the virus.
By the way, if social distancing is OK for restaurants so that folks do not have to wear a mask, then why are you concerned about those that do not wish to wear a mask in a grocery store? They social distance and you do not have to walk up to them, breaking that personal safety area. If you are that worried about others not wearing a mask, then tell folks to maintain their distance from you. See, easy peasie.