# Are you wearing a mask if you go out in public? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [April 23, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448 "2020-04-23T16:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/202 "2021-07-28T03:35:56Z")
Didn’t do that for me in the current version of Chrome. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/203 "2021-07-28T04:15:59Z")
Just made it back to the gym, now worried about that, damn these people ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/204 "2021-07-28T05:13:18Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > People who wish to, fine. But all of us? No thanks. I literally don’t see a downside to it. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/205 "2021-07-28T10:28:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Why not? > [@Smapti](#): > > “Most people” were opposed to wearing seatbelts not that long ago. Seat belts are not especially inconvenient or uncomfortable for most folks. You get in your car, it’s always right there; one click, and it’s on and ready. You only wear it when you’re driving/riding in a car, not while you’re dining/shopping/working/attending movies. To wear a mask in public means I have to remember to take it with me when I leave the house, and it means I need to remember to maintain a stash of masks at home in the first place. Wearing it is hot, uncomfortable, and makes my glasses fog up. It muffles my voice. I fully supported mask mandates during the worst parts of this pandemic. But vaccinated folks who live in areas of lower COVID prevalence are at very low risk of becoming infected (and becoming a vector), and masks should not be required for them. > [@Smapti](#): > > Mask-wearing can be directly connected to this past flu season being the mildest on record. Not just the mask-wearing, but also the social distancing. A great many people have been working from home and avoiding direct contact with people outside their immediate household, and are continuing to do so. I didn’t set foot in a retail establishment for over a year, and went to my workplace maybe half a dozen times. I didn’t fly to visit my extended family in person for over a year. I didn’t go on any road trips. I’m doing OK, but it’s definitely not a normal, fulfilling life. It’s not the way I want to live for my remaining decades. COVID killed 600,000 people in the US in about a year’s time. That was with widespread mask-wearing and social distancing. In a typical year, the flu kills about 30,000 in the US. When it comes to fighting the flu, I’d rather get vaccinated every year (and I do) than wear a mask every day. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/206 "2021-07-28T10:43:56Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > To wear a mask in public means I have to remember to take it with me when I leave the house, and it means I need to remember to maintain a stash of masks at home in the first place. Wearing it is hot, uncomfortable, and makes my glasses fog up. It muffles my voice. I’m an essential worker. I’ve been wearing a mask 8+ hours a day, five days a week, since April of last year. These are all things that you can easily be accustomed to and/or find fixes for. Grabbing one on my way out the door is as easy as remembering to have my keys and my wallet. A mask that fits snugly around your nose will stop your glasses from fogging up, and avoiding breathing through your mouth will keep the mask from heating up and your face from getting sweaty. Speak clearly and firmly enough and people can understand you fine without having to see your lips move. [Mask-wearing has been normalized in Asia for decades now.](https://www.voanews.com/science-health/coronavirus-outbreak/not-just-coronavirus-asians-have-worn-face-masks-decades) It requires almost no effort and it keeps the people around you safe. There’s absolutely no reason Americans can’t become accustomed to it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/207 "2021-07-28T10:54:02Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Mask-wearing has been normalized in Asia for decades now.](https://www.voanews.com/science-health/coronavirus-outbreak/not-just-coronavirus-asians-have-worn-face-masks-decades) It’s been normalized in Asia for people who know they are sick, yes. Not normalized in the sense of everyone wearing masks all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/208 "2021-07-28T10:56:16Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It’s been normalized in Asia for people who know they are sick, yes. And now we’re in the age of covid, where it’s entirely possible for even a vaccinated person to be contagious but asymptomatic. Therefore, the moral thing to do is to wear a mask when interacting with the public. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/209 "2021-07-28T11:26:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And now we’re in the age of covid, where it’s entirely possible for even a vaccinated person to be contagious but asymptomatic. Mere possibility cannot be the basis for a decision. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/210 "2021-07-28T12:00:38Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > To wear a mask in public means I have to remember to take it with me when I leave the house, and it means I need to remember to maintain a stash of masks at home in the first place. Wearing it is hot, uncomfortable, and makes my glasses fog up. It muffles my voice. I suggest you shop around. Some masks fit better than others. Masks that fit snuggly around my nose don’t fog my glasses. Some masks feel hotter or more uncomfortable than others. I choose my mask partly based on the weather, like i choose my shirt partly based on weather. I realized in the winter that some of the warmer masks feel cozy – in fact, i noticed my daughter wearing one as we shoveled the driveway, and asked her why. She said she liked how it felt in the cold. I have one mask that makes me sound like Darth Vader. It was an expensive mask that i had high hopes for, but i never wear it. I agree that if you are fully vaccinated, feel healthy, and community transmission is low where you are, there’s little marginal value to a mask, and you should not feel bad about walking around with a naked face. But if you are feeling sniffly, or if community transmission is high in your area, it seems prudent to wear one indoors. Honestly, it’s a nuisance to carry them around, so if i plan to wear a mask at my destination, i generally just put it on at home, and leave it on until i return home. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/211 "2021-07-28T12:01:22Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Mere possibility cannot be the basis for a decision. Possibility is always the basis for decisions. It’s the level of possibility that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/212 "2021-07-28T12:55:43Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Possibility is always the basis for decisions. It’s the level of possibility that matters. Mere possibility is not enough. The level of possibility is probability, and yes, that matter, but by itself it’s still not enough. The probability of a bad outcome matters, together with some measure of just how bad that outcome would be, and the cost/burden of measures that would mitigate that probability. > [@Seanette](#): > > How can you TELL about your county? Trying to zoom in sends my approximate area right off the non-movable map. They need some sort of search function where you can input your county and get back usable info. It looks like they’ve fixed that now. Zooming in seems to offset the map, but now you can drag it back to wherever you need it. A bit flaky, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/213 "2021-07-28T13:06:46Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The level of possibility is probability, Different people use different words to mean the same thing. I’m an actuary. I have a full formal mathematical vocabulary i can pull out to talk about these things, but i rarely do so in casual conversations, because it’s not helpful. In this case, when someone says, “it’s possible” they usually mean “the probability is high enough that it worries me.” But always, but that’s typically my first reading. I agree with you about the importance of a cost benefit analysis. Andi think our main disagreement is regarding the cost. I find it nearly free to wear a mask when i shop, or visit the hospital. I insist on wearing a good mask when i visit my mom, who is vaccinated but immune compromised. I haven’t recently been masking when visiting friends, but might in the future, depending on where the numbers go. That’s why I suggested shopping for more comfortable masks. Because it sounds like your cost is higher than it needs to be. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/214 "2021-07-28T13:52:56Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I literally don’t see a downside to it. If I’m told I should wear a condom in high risk situations, I’d readily agree and comply. If it’s suggested that I should wear one every time I’m with my wife “indefinitely,” I’ll pass. Sex with a condom isn’t terrible, but (for me at least) it’s not the way I want to live my life. Same with wearing a mask. I hope it’s clear, I’m not anti-mask in the general sense. I wore one with no complaints for over a year. I’ll wear one again if conditions change and it’s required or strongly suggested. I won’t wear one indefinitely as a way to be extra cautious or avoid the seasonal flu. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/215 "2021-07-28T14:10:56Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Mere possibility cannot be the basis for a decision Ignorance and an indifference towards the health of others _should_ not be the basis for a decision. ---
**Author:** ![Chatterbox1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/57b2e6/32.png) [@Chatterbox1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chatterbox1)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/216 "2021-07-28T14:22:14Z")
So it’s masks for the rest of time or we are indifferent to the health of others. So would you say everyone disagreeing is some kind of ogre? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/217 "2021-07-28T14:35:50Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Seanette](#): > > Also, welcome to my ignore list. I’m not at all interested in hysterical ad-hominems that read like I blasphemed your religion. This is QZ, not the Pit. Dial it way back. Also, from the FAQ stickied in ATMB: > [@](#): > > **Ignore List** – Do not hint or state that any particular person or group of people is on your ignore list. Revealing the usernames of people on your ignore list is forbidden outside of the BBQ Pit forum. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/218 "2021-07-28T14:44:27Z")
> [@Chatterbox1](#): > > So would you say everyone disagreeing is some kind of ogre? Feel free to disagree with other posters, but let’s dial this back before it gets too heated and personal for QZ. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/219 "2021-07-28T14:48:15Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Ignorance and an indifference towards the health of others _should_ not be the basis for a decision. You seem to be implying that I favor ignorance/indifference as the basis for mask-wearing decisions. If so, I’m not sure why, since a few posts up I said this: > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The probability of a bad outcome matters, together with some measure of just how bad that outcome would be, and the cost/burden of measures that would mitigate that probability. If that’s not what you meant, then can you clarify? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/220 "2021-07-28T18:35:32Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Seat belts are not especially inconvenient or uncomfortable for most folks. You get in your car, it’s always right there; one click, and it’s on and ready. You only wear it when you’re driving/riding in a car, not while you’re dining/shopping/working/attending movies. Perhaps you’re not old enough to remember the moaning and groaning when the seabelt laws came in, and the large amounts of advertising and enforcement to get reasonable amounts of compliance. BTW the people I saw wearing masks in Hong Kong sure didn’t look sick. ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/221 "2021-07-28T20:37:19Z")
I’m vaccinated and almost everyone I care about is vaccinated. The vaccine is free and Available to all. I wore a mask the entire time until I got vaccinated. …and all that pre-vaccine time I was endangered by anti- maskers. Now that Delta is flourishing and endangering the antimask and anti-vaccine crowd, I feel ZERO social obligation to continue to wear a mask for their sake. Let nature take its course with them…sorry but that’s my stance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448.md?page=12)