They're keeping their masks on. Their reasons extend beyond their health.

NBC ^ | May 25, 2021, 4:31 AM EDT | By Elizabeth Chuck

[conservative98]

When federal health officials recently announced that fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks in most situations, Jaz Johnson was among those who kept hers on.

Johnson, 46, of Kansas City, Missouri, has received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, but she has no desire to go maskless.

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In addition to helping keep her and her family healthy, masks have offered Johnson something else: the chance to hide emotions, such as contempt when someone is standing too close to her in a checkout line, or boredom when a relative tells the same story for the tenth time.

“I am one of those people that cannot lie or get away with anything,” Johnson, who works in information technology, said. “It’s been pretty fun now that no one really knows, necessarily, what I’m thinking.”

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some people are continuing to do so — having come to appreciate the reprieve they provide from stifling social expectations while out in public.

These mask-wearers say they see a multitude of benefits to covering up. No one can tell you to smile when you don’t feel like it. It gives you a break from putting on makeup. And it provides a degree of anonymity.

“It’s exhausting having to put on this smiling, very calm, brave face,” said Cassidy, 35, of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, who asked to be identified by first name only for privacy.

A Navy veteran, Cassidy has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia and said masks feel like a “shield” that prevent uncomfortable interactions while running errands: “I can absorb the environment in a much more controlled manner without having to think about what my face is doing, and having to think about someone seeing my face.”

[conservative98]

Those wearing masks for reasons beyond their health told me that by covering their faces, no one can tell them to smile when they don’t feel like it. It offers a break from putting on makeup. And it provides a degree of anonymity. https://t.co/kmFESW1xRt— Elizabeth Chuck (@echuckles) May 25, 2021

Yes, I think this helps my anxiety. I’m not sure just yet how I feel about going maskless.🤷🏽‍♀️— LilOlMe🦄🌊🏝🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🌮 (@ESMERALDAPANAT1) May 25, 2021

Wearing a mask helps with unwanted male gaze. I'm going to miss that.— Jane V (@JaneVelocity) May 25, 2021

Yup, those are actually my top 3 reasons— ashleigh ✨ (@placeboasis) May 25, 2021

Losers— JimmyTheKid (@JimmyTheKidUF) May 25, 2021

These peopke have quite a few deep seeded mental issues. Sad to hear of this~ may you become better versions of yourselves. Best to you all.💚💜❤— April Dunnington (@AprilDunnington) May 25, 2021

AS LONG AS YOU RIGHT-WING, RACIST, TREASONOUS, TRUMPNAZIS CONTINUE TO LIE ABOUT BEING VACCINATED THE REST OF US PATRIOTIC AMERICANS WHO GOT VACCINATED TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR OUR MASKS UNTIL WHICH TIME YOU ARE FORCED TO VACCINATE, OR DIE FROM COVID-45!— Maynard G. Krebs (@SSilverbergh) May 25, 2021

Cool, could you do us a favour and remain locked in your basement as well? Thanks,— Scott (@skawt13) May 25, 2021

That’s what liberal sheep want to be anonymous— Dennis Jay (@Ddreddog) May 25, 2021

[BenLurkin]

She craves attention, yes?

[VastRWCon]

Me: What are your specials today?

Masked Waitress: blah, blah, blah, blah, and blah.

Me: I just have a cold beer.

[immadashell]

Masks still fog up my glasses even though I have been fully vaccinated!

[ConservativeInPA]

I don’t give two craps about Jaz Johnson. Her irrational thinking should be ridiculed and abused. She knows not of freedom and for all I care she can drop off the face of the earth.

[subterfuge]

Psychological damage to millions who will not go maskless thanks to the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the world just so Trump could be taken out.

[The Pack Knight]

1. Yet more evidence that progressivism is a mental disorder, as if we needed it.

2. I love this evidence-free gem: “ The public health benefits of masking combined with social distancing were striking this past year. U.S. flu deaths, normally in the tens of thousands annually, were significantly lower.” I’ll put that right next to “global warming causes hurricanes.”

[Stentor]

Masks still fog up my glasses even though I have been fully vaccinated!

That's spike protein mist. Only breathe at people you don't like.

[BlackAdderess]

Couldn’t wait to get rid of mine!

[subterfuge]

But “follow the science!”

[CheshireTheCat]

Once when a clerk told me, “Smile. It’s not that bad,” I had the perfect retort.

“My grandmother just died. Excuse me if I’m sad.”

It was true at the time.

I bet it was the last day that clerk said that to anyone.

My people aren’t rude enough to tell someone else to smile, perhaps because it was explained to them once why someone did not feel like smiling.

All you have to do is tell someone off who tells you to smile. You don’t have to wear a mask to prevent them from being rude. Just be rude back.

[freespirit2012]

Beyond physical health, to mental illness...

[SaxxonWoods]

Healthy body, sick mind.

It’s all too common now.

[WildHighlander57]

Masks make communication impossible for hearing disabled folks that don’t know sign language and must lip-read.

[KrisKrinkle]

I keep saying a mask makes it harder to pick you out of a lineup.

[SamAdams76]

In addition to helping keep her and her family healthy, masks have offered Johnson something else: the chance to hide emotions

Not true at all. I can easily detect people's emotions even when they are wearing a mask.

[matt04]

I love that line. Masks and social (why not call it what it really is, physical) distancing stopped the Flu, but somehow made no difference with Rona.

They spot the lines but never actually think about what they Just said.

[Jonny7797]

The loonies are out in force.

[Vendome]

Maskerbaters...