The belief that masks are controversion speaks more to the individual than the disease itself. People don't want to wear a mask because:
1) It infringes on their freedoms 2) They may have conditions such as claustrophobia which makes them very anxious and may trigger panic attacks 3) Ignorance, not keeping up with the news on their effectiveness 4) Belief that they can't get sick 5) May not have enough money or resources to make a mask
While the reasons are varied, I've mostly found #1 to be the case. Speaking to that, if you feel your freedoms are being limited in a pandemic, and that causes you to protest, is more of an emotional response than anything. Best not to argue with people who hold this view because you can't change their emotions on the topic. Better to maintain distance from them like everyone else to keep your family safe.