They are arrogant, insensitive and uncaring jerks!

Hero?
 

Not feeling like a hero doesn't mean you aren't one. Certainly all those who willingly put themselves in harms way to serve and protect others, like the military, police, fire personnel and others. But there are the ones who take on the less obvious tasks, like the doctors and nurses who deal with life and death situations every day, putting themselves in harms way while they deal as best they can with things like Covid and exposing themselves day after day in the hope of saving lives.
No, you don't have to be Rambo to be a hero. Courage isn't the lack of fear. Courage is doing what needs to be done in spite of the fear. You and your colleagues just might be herons and not know it.
Stay safe. Stay well. Look in the mirror and you just might see a hero looking back. Peace!

How about wearing a mask is better than no mask.....

Everybody wearing a mask will have more effect on spreading than only half or less of us wearing a mask.

The argument always seems to go back to particle size and the nano bits that will get through.

Anti maskers want to measure to the 10th decimal place when all we need for improvement is to think in whole numbers.

It remains a mystery why so many want to ignore the facts that every little bit helps!!!

I may be wrong since I’m not an epidemiologist. However, it’s my understanding asymptomatic people can in fact spread the virus. Just because they don’t have symptoms doesn’t mean they can’t spread it. I would suggest you do some more research and I will do the same. 😊
Stay safe.

Interesting question. Another question or observation is:

I go shopping where I am distanced from others and constantly moving along, never near one person longer than passing them. I am wearing a mask. A mask that I really doubt does that good, but it gives one security like a kid's "blankie." On the other hand, we go to a restaurant and no one wears a mask and usually sits in one place for over an hour. I have no problem with either scenario, but it does bring up the question as to why some will cry if they see someone pass them in a store without a mask, and then leave the store and sit in a restaurant without a mask on. And please don't insult peoples intelligence by assuring everyone that you wear a mask in the restaurant.

Why do some wear them and some don't? Like others have suggested, some don't think it does any good. Some don't care and do not feel they will catch the virus, and some wear one thinking that they are wearing a biohazard suit and will be perfectly safe.
Wear one or don't wear one, I am not going to bother you either way.

Where did you get that information? From every actual expert I’ve listened to or read, state that masks will help.

My research claims asymptomatic and presymptomatic people most certainly do shed virus and can infect people. Here is just one article to support this.....
Can people spread the coronavirus if they don't have symptoms? 5 questions answered about asymptomatic COVID-19

As for your concerns about mask wearing being dangerous, I have read many articles stating there is no danger to anyone who is healthy. Health care workers wear masks for hours on end and have had no ill effects to their respiratory status. If you are so concerned that mask wearing is detrimental to your health, wear a face shield.

Well, here’s a conversation opener:
We closed for 2 months. Then we reopened in phases. Some states never really reopened. Over @ 40 days of protesting. Now, slowly closing phases or some states closing down again. Now, it’s 4-8 weeks of ... to “slow the spread”......
What happens if, CHINA , exposes people in their country and sends it out again and again?.... Are we just going to let our country be totally destroyed?

Lockdown and masks vs no lockdown and masks...actual results

Attachment 85307

Would a face shield be an alternative to a mask for you?

People that have medical reasons should not be required to wear masks, but then would think they would find alternatives to putting others at risks. Masks don't protect me, they protect you. A sudden need to cough or sneeze is mitigated with a mask....if you can't wear one then help us all and find alternatives. Ask a spouse, ask a friend, order online......or something else to help us all.

I'll say this as gently as I can. You are wrong. And posting such misinformation is bad for public health and disease prevention. Your research is not correct. You need to be reading more scientific and fewer political websites. If you are actually interested you may PM me and I will reply with several accurate up to date references.

Wearing a mask does not reduce your oxygen intake up to 60%. The wearer would drop like a rock in a matter of minutes. Surgeons and OR nurses would be unable to work. A simple google search would completely debunk your false beliefs about the danger of masks
Just google What is the effect of masks on oxygen and carbon dioxide and read the hits.

You are free to "believe" what you want. Your beliefs are not science based and are only being pushed on right wing conspiracy theory websites and media. Fortunately you can take the opportunity to read the truth on other sources.

If the "latest information" is that masks are not effective, why are more and more stores mandating them not to mention cities being mandating for people to wear masks? I would not trust your information. Can you provide a link please or is this information you received from a news source?

The virus is microscopic. That is so tiny, 10,000 of these viruses can fit on the head of a pin. Of course the virus can easily pass through fabric or paper masks. BUT.....the virus is contained in droplets and each droplet can contain thousands of these microscopic viruses. It is the droplets that are blocked by masks. So......think of the virus in a droplet as a basketball trying to get through a chain link fence. Understand now?

Constant hand washing is OK but not necessary, IMHO. Rather than scrubbing the skin off your hands or constantly drenching your hands in hand sanitizer, the more effective practice for you to do is......DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE. The reason for the "constant hand washing" is so you don't touch your possibly virus contaminated hands to your eyes, nose or mouth. When you don't touch your face, even if you have virus on your hands, you will not infect yourself with the virus.

I wear mask to protect me, if it protect you so be it. And in 8 weeks new travelers will start the spread again. Let’s face it , it will be very long time before we don’t have to wear masks? There not going to be vaccine anytime soon.

If I had medical problem (more likely lung issue cause I can’t breath) I Da— sure would want to wear mask even it I had to put it over oxygen tube.

Restaurants are one establishment where social distancing is guaranteed if the tables are spaced out properly. I will not give any restaurant my business unless they follow the CDC guidelines and that includes all their employees wear masks.

Dr. Fauci stated he is cautiously optimistic there will be a vaccine by the end of 2020 or no later than the first quarter of 2021. That is very soon if you ask me.

Wearing a mask is such an easy thing to do to help this country get out of a MESS!

Sheep
 

They are sheep, and easily manipulated. Clearly it’s in their own self interest to wear a mask to avoid contracting a virus that no one on earth has immunity to. You often hear these people repeating the lies they are fed, like it’s just like the flu. No, it’s not like the flu and it’s orders of magnitude more transmissible and deadly than the flu. They are confused, and have been gaslighted into believing the lies that have been used to others advantage. To save your own life, and perhaps that of your family members, it’s such a small inconvenience to deal with. The government insists you have to have a license to drive a car, you have to wear a seatbelt, you have to pay your taxes, we are a nation of rules. I don’t understand how people can, with a straight face, complain that their freedom and rights as an American citizen are being violated in a heinous way by being asked to wear a mask to save their own life, the lives of their family, our country and the economy. Really? Your so delicate that you can’t handle wearing a mask when you go shopping, or to a store? Seriously? My kids acted out the same way, of course they were 9 and 10 years old at the time. People, suck it up and do the right thing for the USA. Oh yes, stop whining.

I really can't believe with what is currently going on in our country with this virus (especially here in FL) that we have this same "mask" discussion over and over. and over. WEAR THE F'IN MASK for heaven's sake. Geez, what's the matter with (some of) you people. I just don't get it. Suck it up and put on your grown up pants. Eventually the current increase in cases is going to find it's way up here and burst our bubble.

Yup. My parent's town (also in Florida) just imposed a curfew after 100 people died in their county 2 days ago. I'm supposed to go there to visit them this week and I, the one person in the family who is always immune to EVERYTHING - am nervous about the visit.

Another solution would be to negative pressure interior rooms and increase the fresh air exchange/purification rate within buildings. OSHA recommends 6 air changes per hour for hospital biohazard environments.

Effectively make inside air quality as close to outside air as possible.

The government can’t protect you, you have to do it. Federal government late place I’d look for guidance regardless which party in charge.

Wow, just WOW!

It’s feel good guess! Many others have said not going to happen that quick.

Yes, You You You You You You You You You You You You You ||||||||||||||||||||| :ohdear:

Fred

If someone is asymptomatic and goes out in public without a mask, they are more likely to cause suffering or death than a drunk that drives his car or golf cart to the grocery to pick up a case of beer. To deny simple added protection to others By wearing a mask is showing respect. Not to wear one is incredibly selfish. :pray:

Sorry, but I am "quick to judge"
 

So, I gather by your post that you will run the risk of coming in contact with the virus, and either escape unharmed, or recover from it, instead of becoming one of the nearly 200K that have ended up in a body bag. Faulty logic! You can go ahead and believe your six "in the know" doctors who say it is highly unlikely that you can catch the virus a second time, but when I hear other docs say that you can catch it, or they don't know if it can be caught again, I say. why run the risk? Wear a freaking mask, and make us all feel a little bit better that you appear to be taking this pandemic to be a serious threat.

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

Here's the Johns Hopkins Sumter County COVID-19 Stat Map:

Sumter County COVID-19 Statistics

Population: 121,000

Total confirmed COVID cases: 757

COVID-attributed deaths: 19

Population age 65+: 67,271

Population UP TO age 34: 19,384

Fatality rate per population: ~.6%

Fatality rate per confirmed cases: 2.51%

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.

How does "social distancing" keep you from inhaling the virus in a closed area? If that's the case, then social distancing in a grocery store would work even better than sitting in one place such as a restaurant. Funny how there is always some "explanation" to fit the scenario, for whatever suits those that wish to debate. So called "specialists" are saying that being outside is "safer" and a mask is not necessary (if social distancing). Being in Walmart, you are in a large area and should be safer than if you are in a small restaurant. I am asking this because it is interesting to hear the "experts" on here with their explanation that suits their agenda/demands.

I am amused because even though I wear a mask when shopping, I have not worn a mask at a restaurant since they reopened, and I eat out at least once a week.

By the way, I have a relative that is in ICU wearing a respirator fighting for his life, virus infected. He ALWAYS wore a mask and has not been around anyone that has tested positive, other than when he visited a relative in the hospital that tested negative. The patient was not in the hospital for virus related illness. The only way this relative could have contracted the virus is by visiting in the hospital, if wearing a mask kept him safe before the visit. He was not around any crowds and shopped curbside, and had no visitors to his home and did not visit anyone else except family that all tested negative after he was infected.

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

not wearing a mask worst then driving drunk
 

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.

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 :icon_wink:

Fred

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This is what you wrote:

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.


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."

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.

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. :icon_wink:

Fred