That's extremely obnoxious behavior, even though you're likely right on the low risks of transmission in sparse outdoor settings.
This is precisely the insufferable safety-ism that characterizes the 21st century.
If you feel particularly at risk in the case of infection, and you'd wish to avoid infection - stay inside and isolate.
Isn't completely fair to say that the frail among us are imposing on everyone else outdoors keeping healthy and not depressed by exercising, etc?
If you "may wish to avoid having to pass people who aren't wearing masks": stay home!
Here's an idea, you can already keep them in business, order delivery w/ no-contact delivery.
Yes, life is certainly inconvenienced, but what's the alternative? Is going out to dinner worth directly or indirectly killing another human being over?
Could you elaborate on what "prolong" means? Say we shut down the entire country for 4 weeks and get the virus under control. Is the pandemic now "over" (i.e. no longer prolonged) and we can reopen restaurants again at full capacity and just treat individual outbreaks? Or is it going to be cyclical where cases start rising again and the governors start cracking down again ad infinitum? For island nations that can control who goes in and out it's one thing, but it's going to be very hard for USA or EU which has open borders between states to control spread of contagious disease.
Spoken like a true narcisist. This is the exact behavior that produces the continued rise in cases across the country.
> I certainly haven't seen the evidence that these are risky activities.
Well, I'm glad you've appointed yourself epidemiologist-in-chief.
> You can't eliminate any risk without literally putting everyone in quarantine by themselves.
No, you can eliminate much of the risk by isolating with your household, occupation permitting.
A little compassion for people would go a long way.
Is that obnoxious?
People act like “but cars kill more people!” is an argument in favor of whatever dangerous thing they’re talking about, not an argument against the way cars and roads are designed and operated.
The only accurate way is to quantify the risk, rather than blindly assert "extremely obnoxious behavior".
So it's "extremely obnoxious" when the OP "imposes their estimates of safety on others", and the correct response is for the OP to allow the misinformed estimates of safety of the others to require a mask be pulled up.
Why stop there? Some people think that a neck gaiter or cloth mask isn't enough. Why not wear an N95 outdoors since some people "wish to avoid having to pass people who aren't wearing [N95] masks, even outdoors".
Who gets to draw the line between obeying the science vs obeying the theatrical needs of the anxious ignoramuses? Surface transmission isn't a factor with this virus, and yet I know a few folks who still insist on disinfecting every box they come in contact with. They are welcome to do that, but it's certainly not following the science. Am I to cater to these people to?
The science should! Here's what the CDC says for high intensity activities:
"Masks should be used in public settings, but if you are unable to wear a mask because of difficulty breathing during high intensity activities, choose a location with greater ventilation and air exchange (for instance, outdoors versus indoors) and where you can keep at least 6 feet from others during the activity."
The trails and parks around here (North Carolina) have enough traffic and people who believe "I do what I want" that I don't feel comfortable visiting these places period.
I doubt the person upthread is doing this though, given that he seems to be going close enough to people that they can stop and scold him.
Wait wait wait...why should everyone be required to cater to the most paranoid people in the world, or be considered "obnoxious"? Where does this end? If I walk down the street, and someone twenty feet away from me scowls at me because I'm not wearing a mask, that's objectively their problem, not mine.
If you're so scared that you can't stand the idea of someone else being outside without obeying your rules, then perhaps you should reconsider being outside in the first place.
For anyone that lives in the area, the worst are the Nederland residents. Territorial assholes when there isn't a pandemic, and now they feel empowered to really let you have it. Going 10 miles south to trails in Jefferson County, and as long as you stay 6 feet or more, people smile and tell you to have a nice hike.