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Comment by codezero | Hacker News Reader

Probably because we should have been, and now some of us have learned. It’s been a pleasure going two years without any upper respiratory illnesses for me. I look forward to being steadfast in that since it’s really not that hard to wear a mask, and it’s not hurting anyone else when I do so.

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It's nice not to have upper respiratory illnesses, but I'm not going to be wearing masks forever because of that, especially since it's not clear cut that not ever getting illnesses is a good idea. (Especially since you're bound to get infected at some point. Might as well exercise the immune system a bit.)

Now, I look forward to it being more socially acceptable to wear masks when you have an infection.

What happens when you eventually do catch an upper respiratory disease, and your immune system is no longer used to the challenges it presents?

I take advantage of every medical technology available to me. Duh.

Are you suggesting that one’s immune system becomes stronger after year over year infection? If so, to what end? Every year? Even when I’m 80? When does my system break down. Isolation seems to solve all of these issues and I hate people so isolation is easy.

> Isolation seems to solve all of these issues and I hate people so isolation is easy.

Ah, so this is the real reason. That's fine, but it's also not really applicable to the wider population and hence isn't about what I originally asked -- which is why we would universally continuing wearing masks forever.

The answer is we wouldn't, because that makes no sense.

It has nothing to do with sense and only to do with feelings on all sides. I also mask because I have elderly family and I care that they will die if they get sick at this point, I’m doing my part to minimize the impact on others with what is essentially a zero cost effort. It’s literally the least one can do, next to washing their hands thoroughly, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. That last one is something many people still don’t do, so I’d be happy with a social expectation of fully covering one’s face when expelling saliva and mucus.

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