# If you're not wearing a mask at the grocery store by now, you're a fucking idiot. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558 "2020-05-27T18:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/41 "2020-05-28T02:29:58Z")
I treat cancer patients every day and it sounds like yours was caught pretty early. If there is no lymph node involvement and the tumor is less than 2cm you may not have to be given concurrent chemotherapy, and may only need surgery and radiation. I bet you will do well, and I wish you the best! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/42 "2020-05-28T02:40:36Z")
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis monstro, and doubly sorry that it had to come during such a scary-enough-already time. I’m wearing a mask. And I’m determined to be good at it. I like to do things well. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/43 "2020-05-28T03:17:17Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > People, in public, have said something to you about wearing a mask? Yes. Accused me of being a little pussy. I’m 5’8”. But not when I attack someone. 😃 Damn, I tell you I was tempted. But it was a remark that came from a guy being told to get his mask from his car at Walgreens. He was pissed he had to back to his car, I backed off when he turned to go there, “Fuck off, little pussy.” Meh. Children are of all ages. I’m among them sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/44 "2020-05-28T03:43:39Z")
Thinking good thoughts your way Monstro ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/45 "2020-05-28T10:54:46Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > 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. I don’t get this. Why is your store allowing mask-less shoppers in the damned door? They might as well come right out and announce to their employees that they don’t give a shit about your health and safety. “Not wearing a mask” is not a protected class. My gf had a breast cancer diagnosis a while back. It was small, surgery was done early, genotyping the cancer showed that chemo was unnecessary, only radiation. Hope yours is as straightforward as hers was, **monstro**. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/46 "2020-05-28T11:30:22Z")
Thanks again for the encouragement, everyone! For real!! Through the years, you guys have provided so much support for all my issues and problems–which now all seem rather piddly in comparison to what I have in front of me. It was hard not telling anyone about my diagnosis while waiting for the specifics from the oncologist. How I was going to break the news to my real life family and virtual family (you) was at the top of my mind while I was waiting. Another PSA: Women, PLEASE don’t skip your mammograms! My disease was detected after having my first ever routine mammogram. You’re supposed to start scheduling those once you hit your 40s. I’m 42. Because I hadn’t felt a lump, I thought it was NBD that I hadn’t had a mammogram. Thank goodness my PCP scheduled me for one anyway. And thank goodness I went, pandemic and all. So get those mammograms, wimmins! Even if everything feels fine. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/47 "2020-05-28T11:47:37Z")
I’m so glad you got that mammogram Monstro, and I’m happy to hear that your prognosis is good. I hope things go as well as expected and I’ll keep you in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/48 "2020-05-28T12:25:55Z")
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis Monstro. Good luck with your treatment. A friend posted on FB over the weekend a picture of one of those “public safety” type of graphics. I don’t know how accurate these numbers are, but here’s what it said. For a COVID carrier and healthy person both NOT wearing a mask, chance of transmission is over 90%. For a carrier without a mask and healthy person with a mask, chance of transmission is around 70%. For a carrier with a mask and healthy person without, it drops to around 5%. And if both are wearing a mask, chance of transmission is only 1.5%. Maybe I should get it printed on a t-shirt and wear it every time I go out. ---
**Author:** ![tricoteuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tricoteuse/32/4334_2.png) [@tricoteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tricoteuse)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/49 "2020-05-28T14:11:21Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Maybe I should get it printed on a t-shirt and wear it every time I go out. Too many words. And the shitheads without masks aren’t going to be convinced by a t-shirt. The smart people are already wearing them. As someone who caught COVID before masks were mandatory I wish they had been mandatory from the start. I’m going to keep right on wearing them for people like Monstro and Skinnybones Lampshade. Air hugs, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/50 "2020-05-28T14:23:08Z")
Too bad we have a fucking asshole “president” that is now making fun of people wearing masks and calling it “politically correct”: > **[What Do You Do With a Stolen van Gogh? This Thief Knows (Published 2020)](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/arts/design/van-gogh-stolen.html?searchResultPosition=1)** > > Octave Durham, who went to prison for stealing two paintings by the artist, explains the difficulties encountered in this line of work. :mad: Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I hope your treatment goes swimmingly. And I really wish more people would wear masks. I live in redneck’ville where there are more lifted pickups with huge flags flying from the bed than there are people wearing masks. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/51 "2020-05-28T14:35:32Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I fully endorse this beautiful rant, and I am so sorry to hear about the cancer diagnosis, **monstro**. My sentiments exactly. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/52 "2020-05-28T14:56:41Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Sorry to hear about your diagnosis Monstro. Good luck with your treatment. > > A friend posted on FB over the weekend a picture of one of those “public safety” type of graphics. I don’t know how accurate these numbers are, but here’s what it said. > > For a COVID carrier and healthy person both NOT wearing a mask, chance of transmission is over 90%. > > For a carrier without a mask and healthy person with a mask, chance of transmission is around 70%. > > For a carrier with a mask and healthy person without, it drops to around 5%. > > And if both are wearing a mask, chance of transmission is only 1.5%. > > Maybe I should get it printed on a t-shirt and wear it every time I go out. To get The Straight Dope so far, one should not use that example, there are no good sources for those numbers but: The CDC recommends using masks, and the evidence points to masks as being effective to contain the spread of the virus that is in an infected person. > **[Tired Of Wearing A Face Mask In Public? New Research Underscores Why You...](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/05/14/here-is-more-evidence-for-face-mask-use-with-covid-19-coronavirus/#55e31ade1060)** > > A study suggests that simply speaking could spew thousands of virus-laden fluid droplets that may hang in the air for tens of minutes. > [@](#): > > For some body parts, the answer has long been yes. Please, yes. However, when it comes to covering your face in public with the COVID-19 coronavirus continuing to spread, you may have been hearing some conflicting advice. Well, that’s in part because new scientific evidence about this nasty virus continues to emerge, like a study just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It’s also because the wearing of masks has become, get ready for this, politicized. Yes, politicized. The look of shock on your face from this revelation may be obvious, unless, of course, it is covered by a mask. > > Well, let’s stick to the science. This PNAS study may provide more evidence for mask wearing while in enclosed areas with other people. It showed how many little fluid droplets you can spew out just when talking loudly and how long these droplets may hang in the air. Spoiler alert: the answer is a “yucky” amount that can hang in the air for a “say what?” length of time. > > For the study, Valentyn Stadnytskyi, Adriaan Bax, and Philip Anfinrud from the Laboratory of Chemical Physics at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and Christina E. Bax from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine had a person repeat the words “stay healthy” repeatedly into a box for 25 seconds. Now these words were spoken relatively loudly because, after all, you don’t tend to whisper “stay healthy” while winking and shaking your hips seductively. > [@](#): > > The study found that the person emitted around 2,600 small droplets of fluid during every second of speaking. That’s per second. So you can imagine what a person actually having a conversation could do. Although a number of these droplets could dry up within seconds, a fair amount could also hang out in the air for a while. > > A study published in Nature has suggested that on average a fluid droplet from an contagious person could contain 7 million viruses per millilitre. The research team used this number to then estimate that just one minute of loud speaking could generate at least a thousand virus-containing little droplets of fluid that may hang in the air for over eight minutes. Such droplets could then be readily inhaled by someone else and result in a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Yucky indeed. > > In fact, the researchers explained that their study showed how “normal speech generates airborne droplets that can remain suspended for tens of minutes or longer and are eminently capable of transmitting disease in confined spaces.” Tens of minutes? That would be a “say what” length of time. The researchers found that saying the sound “th” seemed to produce even more little droplets. So, presumably someone saying “shake your thang” over and over again could leave the air in a room rather contaminated for quite a long time. > > Again, the current advice is that you should wear face masks in enclosed areas to protect others. Because after all, it’s not always all about you. Enclosed areas include an airplane, a grocery store, a toilet paper emporium, a medical facility, a nursing home, or any other place that’s not very wide open and the air is not circulated by Nature’s gigantic muffin fan. So a face covering is a selfless, contribute-to-society type of thing. That’s the thought behind the #MaskingForAFriend campaign, started by the Pandemic Action Network. As you’ll notice, the name of the campaign includes “for a friend” and not “for a political statement.” An in the article they point at Arnold Schwarzenegger showing in pictures how girly is the huge girly man that is the in the White House for being so scared of showing some concern for others. And: I hope everything goes well for you **monstro**. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/53 "2020-05-28T15:54:15Z")
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and am beaming you good vibes, **mosntro** . Around here (Chicago) all of the groceries and big box stores I’ve been to have required masks to be worn for several weeks now. I’m surprised this isn’t more universal, especially in metropolitan areas. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/54 "2020-05-28T16:12:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and am beaming you good vibes, **mosntro** > . > Around here (Chicago) all of the groceries and big box stores I’ve been to have required masks to be worn for several weeks now. I’m surprised this isn’t more universal, especially in metropolitan areas. It’s universal here in the Bay Area, too. Imagine an alternate universe where the decisions on how to combat the virus are driven by science, not by politics; where the federal government backs the science and leads by example; and that the people are united, not divided, in this fight. It’s nice to dream. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/55 "2020-05-28T16:55:27Z")
I just don’t get why there isn’t a broader attempt to stop these people. Where are the ads saying not wearing a mask makes you a murderer? Where are the people with gins protesting those not wearing masks? Where are the questions on whether you can be in legitimate fear of your life or physical harm and whether you can defend yourself? Where are the vouchers going around scaring people? Even with a quarter of America voting for Trump, I still thought the majority were not self is, psychopathic monsters, and that rational fear would keep them in line. It worked in other countries, but I guess the US actually is exceptional–exceptionally callousness and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/56 "2020-05-28T17:20:52Z")
Not many mask-wearers here in the UK - certainly not when exercising outside, and I’d say the majority in shops (staff and customers) aren’t wearing one either. But then, I’ve only been into retail places twice in the last couple of months, and both were almost deserted anyway, so I didn’t feel bad about not wearing one. I believe there aren’t official rules or even guidance in the UK saying you should wear one, so most of us don’t. I suspect this is at least partly because wearing one could slightly increase the wearer’s risk (touching face more, not cleaning the mask enough, believing themselves to be protected when they are not). Provided no-one gets within 2m of me, I’m fine with that. And in my area, most people have been good at that (e.g. crossing the street to avoid brushing past each other on the pavement). ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/57 "2020-05-28T17:40:35Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > wearing one could slightly increase the wearer’s risk (touching face more, not cleaning the mask enough, believing themselves to be protected when they are not). That’s kind of like saying ‘condoms increase the risk of pregnancy because some people don’t wear them right.’ If you’re worried that those improper mask-wearing practices would increase your risk, then don’t engage in improper mask-wearing practices. But wear the damn mask, it’s protecting other people. – monstro, sorry to hear about the diagnosis. Please consider me as trying to add to the encouraging words. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/58 "2020-05-28T18:06:58Z")
I’m so sorry to hear of your diagnosis, \*\*monstro \*\*- sending you healing thoughts. The mask issue pisses me off as well. The primary arguments I’ve heard so far is, “I’m a perfectly healthy adult!” or “The government isn’t gonna tell me what to do!” It’s short sighted as hell. Also, I find it disappointing that a lot of the people who refuse to wear masks are also people who tout these Christian values, yet don’t seem to give a shit about their fellow humans’ health. Sometimes, it’s not about the individual, it’s about the collective. And if that makes us drones, let’s be drones, just for a while. Especially if 100,000 people have died and we’re opening businesses, we’ve got to at least be a little cautious of breathing out droplets when we’re in the midst of a pandemic that is spread by droplets. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/59 "2020-05-28T21:43:57Z")
Hi **monstro** , another club member here to wish you the best. Sounds like it should be a quick fix for you. From diagnosis to all clear I was two months. The time is going to drag for you, but once you have a surgery date, pick a point beyond that and focus on it (for me it was New Year). Just work your way through until you get to your chosen date - it’s a way of dealing with the process. And yes, I do wear a mask. > [@nelliebly](#): > > …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… > [@monstro](#): > > Well dammit to hell! I didn’t know that. What a bummer! I’m not at all sure that’s true. [This](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/) is the NHS list, and just having had cancer **is not, in itself, a listed risk factor** (I’m an interested party here, obviously). OK, so there may be other lists, but this is my cite. j ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558/60 "2020-05-29T00:41:56Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > 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. Can we turn this into a billboard? It’s amazing how true this is. People hate being the odd man out, so when almost everyone else is wearing a mask it becomes that much harder to brush off. It becomes that much harder to forget we are still in pandemic status and thousands of people are dying everyday from this virus. We need signs everywhere that say “Something is wrong with you if you’re not wearing a mask right now”. People need to wear T-shirts that say “Don’t want to kill someone? Put a mask on already”. A mask is such a small price to pay to have freedom of movement again, and so there is little excuse to not be wearing one. I share your righteous indignation on this one. You’ve done a good thing by sharing your diagnosis to hammer home this message. If there is at least one asymptomatic carrier who reads your OP and pledges to do better with covering up, then you’ve done a powerfully good thing by posting this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-not-wearing-a-mask-at-the-grocery-store-by-now-youre-a-fucking-idiot/854558.md?page=4)