Okay, you get the idea, but there's more here and elsewhere. Blue Witch brought up the topic recently on her blog, and she is correct, this should be talked about more and correct protocols discussed. And I don't think either one of us is above mask-shaming. Masks are nothing but icky things on your face if not used correctly. And by correctly I also mean covering both your nose and your mouth. At the same time!
On the other side of the fence is another blogger who I shall not name, but is in my right column*. I've followed them for a very, very long time now so while I still check in over there I usually refrain from commenting. I have a feeling I would be shouted down anyway as I'm not really debate team material. At all.
One of my favorite sayings about masks likens it to pee: Imagine you're standing in front of someone, facing each other, and you're both naked. If he pees, you get wet. If you wear pants and he pees, you still get wet, but not as bad. If he wears pants and pees he gets himself wet. We can't help but pee, or in this case breathe. Respect others and keep yourself contained, for chrissake.
I've not addressed my own mask wearing here yet, but I will now. I don't wear a mask 98% of the time, but that's because I'm at home 98% of the time now, if not more. I don't wear a mask outside in my own yard, but I don't run into other people in my own yard. I don't wear my mask on neighborhood walks, unless we have to get near people, which is a good reason to avoid the bike paths. I don't wear a mask in my car, I wear a mask when I get to my destination, outside of home. Anywhere I have to go outside the home, like just regular errands, I wear a mask.
We've had exactly 10 friends over to the house effectively all of this year, and all for firepits. Social distancing is pretty easy in the back yard as the most at a time we have over is 2 other people. I have required masks if they need to go into the house, and all have happily complied or not had to go inside. No large gatherings here, and not likely for the holidays, either.
When this first started I ordered a pack of cloth masks, and used them, and washed them. But the washing made them shrink so they were tight and uncomfortable, so I bought a box of 50 individually wrapped black paper disposable masks. Much more comfortable for my big head. Now, if I only use one for a few minutes then I have been known to throw it in the glove box and use it again, but keep in mind that one I used for just a few minutes one day may sit for over a week until I use it again. I'll probably get some grief for that, and it may be deserved. But at only 40-50 cents a pop I have no qualms about tossing them and using a new one for most things, either.
How is your mask use? How's mine?
*Update: I removed this link from my right column on November 18, 2020. I can no longer support or promote his writing by leaving it there.
10 comments:
Great presentation of the idea: both multiple choice and pee.
But... (and I'm not having a go at you, just raising some issues) I find the idea of disposable masks bad from an environmental standpoint, and from a street hygiene one. Bins in town centes are overflowing with the things (which could be covered in virus which doesn't die for several days), and they litter the sides of roads. Some poor bugger has to pick them up! How long does a disposable mask exisit in landfill?
And don't get me started on disposable gloves, as used by delivery men and just tossed on the ground. I had to wrestle one out of the mouth of a sheep not long ago.
Thanks, BW, it's a worthy subject that warrants discussion.
Recently on the news they talked about how the paper ones are better because they are designed to be a filter, but not why I switched (comfort). I can't say that I've seen the litter from these much around here, but I don't go out a lot. There's been one or maybe two that I've picked up on our walks, but that's it. The rest of the litter will tell you people are pigs, though. I've not seen a lot of gloves, either. (We use a grabber to pick up litter into a plastic bag, never touch the stuff!)
Wisconsin is doing pretty bad. Numbers rise and set records almost daily as people are ignoring safety. There's hardly any mandates in place because the Republicans sue to get them removed. It will get worse here before it gets better.
Did you see artist Grayson Perry's Road Trip to America TV programmes? He went to Wisconsin... and what he showed proves your points (and no doubt set out to provide only that angle).
Glad I'm not the only one who picks up others' litter. I always wonder how dog walkers can walk past litter, day after day, and not pick it up.
With masks, the elastic is the worst bit for not degrading, plus, many have plastic blended in with the paper so they don't disintegrate as one breaths warm damp air through them. A friend who works in a hospital (doing ward food service) says she uses between 14 and 20 masks a day. But I think those ones are burned on site.
I've not seen the show, but I just found it online to watch. I'm trying to take half a day off today so if approved maybe soon.
I see tons of dog walkers in the neighborhood here. Thankfully 99% pick up what they're supposed to!
Good point about the plastic with the paper. On a side note, my wife surprised me with a pack of 3 cloth facemasks last night that fit well and are much better designed than what I bought back in May, so I'll probably use both going forward.
Well, I got the half day off, but they want way too much of my information to sign up just to watch one thing so I guess I won't see it.
Bloody streaming services. Grrrr. Does it have to be real info? I'm sure it would be interesting to you!
I wondered what the end of this sentence would be... "my wife surprised me with a..." Does she read your blog? If so maybe she thought I'd turn you into a frog for using paper masks so thought she'd err on the side of caution as she didn't fancy being married to an amphibian ;)
LOL, yes she does read the blog, and she even keeps up with the comments. I asked to be sure, but she ordered these before I posted this, so just a witchy coincidence.
BW, I never had the thought you were in any way attacking me about this subject, here or at your place. I enjoyed the discussion!
Disposable masks here but we have a lot of them since we wear them at work in the office unless alone, visiting patients, etc...
Gloves and aprons for clinical procedures plus hand washing ++++++++
Despite all of this we have had two nurses in our team off sick with flu like symptoms this week - negative for sars-cov 2 and a couple of us have colds. Other staff sent home from another team as track and trace has kicked in and they have been exposed to someone who is positive.
Otherwise masks for the shops and I have generally stayed at home avoiding socialising or crowds during this Fubar situation.
I have mixed feelings about the masks but having known someone who died after three months in hospital, much of it in ICU and others who have been very ill with it, I will wear the mask where I have to at work and in shops. I won't wear masks outside as I think that is heading into the realms of fantasy and stupidity.
Except for me working from home, that's pretty much how I do it, too, Delcatto. Sometime soon the firepits will have to end, then I may truly go stir crazy. Rather that than go be amongst the foolish, however.
BW, I tried again using all fake info, even had to use a UK address, and I got registered okay but it can tell I'm trying to watch from somewhere other than UK/Ireland. I know there's things you can get to change where it appears you are, but too many hoops to jump through for just this. Too bad, I do think I would enjoy it.
Yeah, proxy servers are a pain to find/use, and harder now than they were years ago. I wonder is someone has put it up on You Tube?
Thanks for the reassurance about understanding that it was debate not criticism :)
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