To be “smart” one should concede that surgical masks may work in some instances:
A surgical masks is worn in the operating room to reduce the chance that that one would infect an open wound with bacteria from their mouth. It also blocks blood or other potentially infectious materials from reaching the wearer’s skin, mouth, or mucous membranes. Keeps droplets and larger particles from being inhaled. A surgical mask, by design, does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes, or certain medical procedures. Surgical masks also do not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants because of the loose fit between the surface of the face mask and the face. If worn properly, a surgical mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose.
Thus a person actively coughing and sneezing due to an upper respiratory infection likely gives some benefit to those around him/her. Masking up when you have a cold is likely a good idea. Surgical masks may help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others.
In my experience it is both very impolite and very unusual for somebody to cough or sneeze directly at another person. Turning away and covering one's face seems to be very common. Seems it is just good manners and part of basic consideration for others that existed long before the push for wearing masks.
Now of course the spittle and what-not is still expelled into the air. Maybe partly in one's hand or on one's sleeve, or toward the ground if someone has turned down to the side to sneeze. If they were wearing one of the typical everyday masks with the gaps around the nose that are ubiquitous in common everyday usage under mandates, the spittle of course would be in the mask. Either way that spittle will likely get into the air as smaller particles over time, but in neither case will it be likely to be sprayed as large particles directly on another.
Even more beneficial is staying home when you're actively coughing and sneezing due to an upper respiratory infection. More polite, also.