thanks for "letting the chips fall where they may" on everyone else who still would much prefer not to get sick and risk long covid but I will keep the mask on for now, thanks
But what's the plan? Covid is showing no signs of going away.
If things stay the same, is your stance going to change in a year? 3? 5?
(Edit: seat-belts address a threat that ought to be persistent, because it's inherent to driving, so they're easier to accept. Covid is, at least allegedly, temporary.)
I wasn't alive in the 80s, but honestly it seems pretty similar. A lot of people hated the laws, there were public fights and court challenges for a while, and then eventually society got over it.
I can understand people who say it's worth it, but not those who say it's inconsequential. Especially compared to seat belts.
I have to cover my face every time I talk to someone. That's in no way inconsequential. It's depressing and antisocial.
I have to wear a mask while at the gym. That's in no way easy, particularly for cardio.
I'm lucky that I can work from home, otherwise I'd be wearing a mask for nearly my entire day at work.
And of course masking is just a part of the overall Covid restrictions that we still have to deal with.
To be clear, I'm in the bay area and fully follow local mask guidance. I can do that while also trying to figure out how long we can do this for, and acknowledging that I can't do this forever.
Is it? Why?
> I have to wear a mask while at the gym. That's in no way easy, particularly for cardio.
Of course it isn't at first. If society was such that we already used masks all the time I suspect people would just get used to it.
> I'm lucky that I can work from home, otherwise I'd be wearing a mask for nearly my entire day at work.
And...? We also wear clothes all day long at work. I suppose some people would call it bothersome or depressing or antisocial, but mostly we're all so used to it we don't even think about it.
I'm not opining on whether or not society can keep intermittently locking down forever, but we can certainly keep masking forever.
Huh? You don't just get used to a soggy, restricting mask. I tried running with a mask for like 3 months and it sucked the entire time.
> We also wear clothes all day long at work.
I don't think my belly button would contribute as much to building connections with people as my facial expressions do.
> we can certainly keep masking forever.
I can't. Period. And I don't think I'm a minority here.
Sure you do, the same way you get used to soggy clothes. You're telling me you ran with a mask for 3 months with no major issues other than "it's soggy and it sucked". Of course, but soggy clothes suck.
> I don't think my belly button would contribute as much to building connections with people as my facial expressions do.
Plenty of ways to build connections with people without them seeing the entirety of your face. Heck, I've plenty of internet friends who have never seen any part of it!
> I can't. Period. And I don't think I'm a minority here.
What I'm saying is: yes, people could, as in, they won't die or be permanently injured by it. At most there would be a few minor inconveniences, particularly during the time it takes for people to adapt. People say they can't, in general, to mean that they won't and as a way to feel less guilty about it.
for example, I have relatives who watch FOX news all day. they are convinced covid vaccines were created to kill people, for the purposes of "thinning the herd". the reason for this "thinning the herd", which they seem to believe is happening? despite most everyone they know including their whole extended family shaking their heads at their crazy facebook posts being vaccinated without any issue? is so that this would somehow pave the way for "communism". that's their whole worldview. so those are folks who think we're somehow all on board with covid being great, or something.
Besides, there is nothing wrong with being “anti mask”. Covid is endemic. I’m boostered. Why should I continue to be forced to wear a mask? Is Covid still the only problem I can ever focus on?
After COVID, what are the media and these people going to do? The gravy train is going to run out, everything else will be boring for them in comparison.
right now almost nothing is known about long covid except for the very terrifying pathways by which the virus causes it takes effect, directly attacking organs, cardiovascular, lungs, immune system, and brain with long term, extensive damage in some cases. no thanks
so the plan is "wait and see" until more is known. if indeed it's established that long covid is much too dangerous to be risked (in the same way that lyme disease is currently considered to be too dangerous to be risked) then hopefully they will work towards producing newer vaccines that keep the initial antibody wall up against variants, and oral antiviral drugs that stop the virus much more quickly will also be commonplace. as well as that the global population will slowly (very...slowly) be getting more and more immunity from vaccines and re-infection, hopefully reducing the rate at which new variants emerge.
so in 3-5 years there will be lots of things improving the situation. we are not there yet.
Uh yeah sorry, I'm already losing it less than 2 years into this thing. There's zero chance I'm making it another 3-5 years. It's just not possible mentally for me. I don't know exactly what my time frame is, but 3-5 years is certainly beyond my limit.
I wanted to know if they were prepared to go on for 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 more years of mask wearing in public, travel restrictions, remote learning, testing, etc. if things stay the same.
I wouldn't say that. On the extreme end, if I found out that this thing was not going to be "over" during my lifetime, I'd say it doesn't make sense to continue doing this for my entire life. What kind of life is that?
And to be fair, I'm from the perspective of the Bay Area which has some of the strictest restrictions in the US. If you live in a more red area then you're more likely to already pretend it's over.
> ask, if you're willing to ignore reality and just pretend it's over, why not just start pretending now?
That's what I've been asking myself. I don't know the answer.