I went to buy beer the other day. The liquor store is now curb service only. In the truck next to me was a guy in his thirties. I have seen him around town before. He's a commercial roofer. He was wearing a mask and gloves in his truck by himself. I've seen guys like him out and about who have shaved their beards to accommodate their little face masks better. I'll never be able to look at those guys the same again. It's as if I saw them run from a fight. No one WANTS to get sick; no one WANTS to get beat up either, but you don't run from a fight. I feel the same way about those guys as I would if I saw them run from a fight. I am proud of my close friends and colleagues. None of my inner circle of people, or their families, have taken the bait. None of us are participating in this panic pandemic. We are continuing to gather for play dates with the kids, church and BBQs. So far snowflakes running from the cooties are just good fodder for fun when we all get together, but we know that it's going to get awkward when we have to start dealing with those "men" again. The laughing always seems to die down when someone asks, "how are we going to ever look at them the same way again?"
There is a significant difference from being involved in a fight, and being the victim of an ambush. In a fight, one can see the assailant and has a chance to respond accordingly. One cannot see a virus coming their way, however, and have no way of knowing when or where they will become accosted/infected. The coronavirus cannot even be compared to a one-on-one fight, as thousands of viral particles are easily in the same location, making it more akin to being ambushed by a flash mob. Do you also not wash your hands before eating after working in dirt? Do you refrain from using a seat belt when operating a motor vehicle on a public right of way? If a tooth becomes infected do you remove it with a set of pliers at home?
A bit strong, but I get where you're coming from. Keep in mind, however, that we don't know the stories behind these decisions. Health issues for the wearer? A loved one with health issues? Something to keep in mind, but overall, yeah... A nasty flu has been turned into the political scam of the century. There will be Hell to pay for the Democrats come November.
Whether or not something is being purchased on the part of yourself has no bearing on the discussion. Dealing with a viral infection is not like being involved in a physical fight. In a physical confrontation between a victim and the victimizer, there is always the possibility of the victim being able to turn the tables on the victimizer and move from a defensive approach to an offensive approach, and emerge victorious. In the case of confronting a pathogen there is absolutely no way of an offensive approach, it is all purely defensive. One has no way of fighting back, and instead is subject to the equivalent of a beating with no means of physical resistance. Such is not a fight, it is an ambush by the equivalent of a flash mob.
And you are spreading this horror. YOU have told us that you are sick and refused to get tested. The world would be a better place if people like you went up into the woods never to return
LOL.. so much compassion, not.... If someone had written that to you, you'd be running to the moderators crying that someone had bullied you again.... So, if I'm reading your post right, you'd kill off those who you find inconvenient, or otherwise unwilling to submit to your dictations?
The entire premise of the opening post appears an example of what would truly qualify as so-called "toxic masculinity" and ties concepts of "manliness" to the amount of risk one takes in the real world. Supposedly "real men" do not take precautions. One may as well claim that "real men" go out and rape women.
Mind you, he was buying beer which rules out a number of things. Even if he was buying beer for his grandpa, why wear the kit to the store. I'm going with he was afraid.
I'm going with...he was sensible and protecting those around him in case has has it and doesn't know it...like you likely do, for instance
No one is forcing you to wear a mask. And no one is forcing the other fellow to wear one either. Apparently you are seeing his free will as weakness. He is interpreting news differently from the way you are. And you see him as weak because of it. You see yourself as better than him because of it. All because of a mask. And someone's desire not to make others ill. An ounce of prevention, and all that. You can carry on with your socializing and your play dates because the government has only suggested you not do so. From Trump on down. What will you do if there is a legal order for you to stop? For you to wear a mask? Will you defy the law in favor of your inalienable rights? Will you organize and protest? And if you don't, what will your gun toting buddies think of you? Will they 'see' you? How will they treat you when this is all over?
A real man would wear a sign to warn people with compromised immune systems and health workers that you are being “a real man”. By the way, the jury is still out on the whole immunity thing with this particular virus.
Corona is a temporary change. You decide how much you are going to change in response to Corona. My decision is that my beard stays, and I wear a John Wesley Harding bandana, even though some masks are pretty effective over a beard -- just not in a chemical plant when everybody is trying to jump under a desk with the sirens and alerts sounding. Everybody else makes their own decision, too. The deacon don't wear no mask:
Except for those who weren’t able to “get over it”. Unless of course you count dying from it as “getting over it”.
I refuse to play along and pretend that I believe that the CCP virus is more deadly than the common flu. This has not risen to the level of epidemic in the US; epidemic has been defined down to what is already common.
Tsk Tsk! Corona walkers are so charming. Think they're really accomplishing something with these half assed distancing measures
But, but, but, we have fairy god mothers to protect us and supply all of our needs. You don't have have to face the big bad world. It's scary!
If someone asks you why you're not wearing a mask, tell them it's ok because you're wearing a condom. That'll shut up.