If you're not wearing a mask at the grocery store by now, you're a fucking idiot.

The BBQ Pit
1

I get that face masks aren’t the most comfortable thing to wear, especially now that it is getting warm. But you know what else isn’t comfortable? Being laid up in the hospital for days or weeks and not being able to see family. Being on a ventilator isn’t comfortable. Wondering if you were the source of infection for a loved one isn’t comfortable. Grieving that loved one’s death isn’t comfortable. Those things are way more uncomfortable than having to don a piece of fabric across your face for 30 minutes.

A week ago, if you had asked me if I was concerned about getting infected with COVID-19, I would have told you “hell naw.” I’m not a spring chicken, but I’m not in a sensitive age group. I don’t have any of the known risk factors. I’m in good physical shape.

But today? I’m fucking afraid. A few days ago, I found out I have breast cancer. As far as they can tell, it hasn’t spread and my prognosis is excellent. But I. Can’t. Get. Sick. Because if I get sick, my treatments will be delayed. My surgery will be delayed. And if I do have to get chemo, COVID-19 could very well take me out of here. It wouldn’t matter how healthy I am right now. A weakened immune system is a weakened immune system. These things were abstractions for other people to worry about just a few days ago, but now they are a sober reality for me. Unfortunately, I still have to go to the grocery store and pick up prescriptions and shit like that. So I really need people to get with the fucking program and help a sista out. Help keep a sista alive and stop being selfish idiots, you people who refuse to wear face coverings!

Especially if you live in a metropolitan area where the number of new cases is still growing, please stop with the naked face thing. Every 7-11 and truck stop in the country sells bandanas. Get you some. They might be cheap-looking, but they are better than nothing. The other day I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt tied around his face. I was all, “You go, dude!” Because dude wasn’t just protecting himself. He was protecting me too. When I see naked faced people at the store, I feel like they just don’t give a fuck about anyone or anything, despite all their bitching and moaning about how shitty the lockdown is. I get super angry now when I see these people–almost none of which ever look like perfect pictures of health, I should say.

If 80% of us wore masks out in public, we could make a huge dent in the number of coronavirus cases

So if you’re sick of this corona stuff, put on the motherfucking mask. If you’re tired of people locking shit down, put on the freakin’ mask. If you’re tired of people giving Trump a hard time about the corona, put on the fooking mask. If you’re tired of the economy being shit, put on the GODDAMNED mask! If you’re not wearing a mask every time you enter public indoor or crowed outdoor places, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. Even if you aren’t spreading virus, you’re still PART OF THE PROBLEM if you aren’t wearing a mask. Because as long as other naked faces see a critical mass of other naked faces out there, they won’t feel compelled to stop being idiots and get with the fucking program already.

Thank you.

2

Remember in April, when “we’re all in this together”? Yeah. That lasted until the weather got nice and the pools and bars opened. Now it’s “screw all you guys, masks are stupid.”

3

I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, monstro. And I agree, wearing a mask is an easy thing to do. The resistance is rather bewildering. I’m struggling with a lot of other questions as things open back up, but that one’s pretty straightforward.

4

((((((((((Monstro))))))))))

Believe me, I understand. I was diagnosed with stage IIa breast cancer on October 3rd, 2017, and after two excisions and 20 radiation treatments, my life expectancy is the same as if this had never happened.

https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=836996

I, too wear a mask, not for me, but for them.

5

I would say about 60 to 70% of our customers at my store wear masks. Friday it becomes mandatory in the state of Virginia. It will be interesting to see how many people will flout the the law.

6

Listen up you idjits… If God didn’t mean for you to wear a mask, He wouldn’a given you ears!

7

Thanks for the well wishes, y’all. I definitely had some major existential angst last week when I got the diagnosis, but now that I know what I’m looking at, I’m not so scared. And I’ve learned that I’m a big club now. I never wanted to be in the club, but it’s comforting knowing I’m not alone.

8

I’m very sorry to hear about your diagnosis too, monstro.

I have recently become a member of a high-risk group too. I agree with you completely about the masks and am frustrated and frightened by people who refuse to wear one.

I live near the corner of one of the busiest streets in the city. It’s especially scary when people not wearing masks are approaching, singly or in a group, from the opposite direction and don’t budge from the middle of the sidewalk at all, even though I’m hanging on to the very edge by my toenails to allow them plenty of room to pass and wearing my mask as a courtesy to them. I don’t see why they can’t at least walk in single file when they see someone else coming the other way and try to move to one side. It’s not much of a choice: Do you step into traffic or risk being exposed to a potentially fatal illness?

I will be keeping you in my thoughts. Every day when I don my mask, I will now think, “I’m doing this for us all, especially for monstro.”

9

Oh, Monstro. Reading that was like a kick in the gut.:frowning: You can’t be sick; your Monstro!!!Our brightest and strongest. But, being our strongest I know you’ll kick cancer’s despicable arse. Please add my well wishes to the many others here.

As for the masks, I’ve railed about it before but I’ll say it again:

You wear a mask for others, you dickheads.If you’re not afraid for yourself, I really could not possibly give a smaller fraction of a fat rat’s ass.Don’t put other people at risk. Unless you live under a rock (and you might) you know this, so the only conclusion I can come to when I see you out without one is that you’re a selfish cunt.

You know who you are; please don’t make me say it again.

10

So sorry about the diagnosis, monstro. I, too, am in that club. Who signs us up for this shit? For me the worst part was the waiting–the system is incredibly freakin’ slow here–between discovering the lump and getting surgery–a full two months. So I hope your surgery isn’t delayed so you can get that cancer outta there.

BTW, I thought my cancer history wouldn’t affect my COVID risk because I never had chemo (didn’t need) or radiation (needed but couldn’t have due to lupus). Not true. Once you’ve had cancer, you’re considered immune-compromised and at higher risk for good, so you may have to yell at maskless idiots for some time to come. Take no prisoners. We need you around.

11

So many hugs, monstro. And all the dope slaps to ask the fuckers who are so stupid and selfish to not wear masks. I’m in VA and I’ve been seeing a ton of the morons.

12

Well dammit to hell! I didn’t know that. What a bummer!

13

I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Best wishes as you travel through treatment and recovery.

I think we’re largely singing to the choir here, but, yes, everyone should wear a mask! It looks like we’re headed for a second peak, before we get to the second predicted wave this fall. :frowning:

14

Sounds a bit like the “baby” cancer my sister had a few years back. Scary but she came through fine. Good luck, monstro. You’re nice to have around.

15

No one at work bothers wearing masks anymore. It’s frustrating. Thankfully, it’s a small, not crowded machine shop, so it could be worse. One of the most adamant mask deniers proved his case with a few impeccable displays of logic:

  1. If you’re gonna get it (covid-19), you’re gonna get it.
  2. Does underwear stop a fart?
    The guys I work with are real smart about some things, and bafflingly stupid about others.
16

Best wishes monstro! Very sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

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In my haste to get my rant posted I neglected to react to your news, monstro. Best wishes and good luck – there are millions of breast cancer survivors and you’ll be one of them.

18

Show him this.

19

Aw, hell, monstro. I hope everything works out OK for you.

20

No, but it keeps the shit off your pants when it’s a shart.