Really? If it prevents INHALING respirable microdroplets by 96%, why are we told that we have to wear the mask to protect OTHER PEOPLE from US?
The reason is very simple: if we were told that a mask would prevent us from catching COVID, then we could CHOOSE to wear one or not. But we are specifically told that masks DON'T protect us, that we MUST wear them to protect others (and if you don't, you're a selfish, callous, blah blah blah). So what's the truth?
I don't have a "visceral hatred" of wearing the mask. I do have a great deal of skepticism about it, and I do think it is a psychological tool to keep everyone terrified, the purpose of which is to continue to extend "lockdowns", "socialist distancing", the ruination of businesses and people's life savings, and incredible expansions of government power/authority, and mountains of new government debt.
I'll say this again:
Two and a half months ago, we were told that for 15 days, we all needed to stay home, social distance, wear masks, to FLATTEN THE CURVE. Two and a half months later, we are still being told we have to stay home, wear masks, social distance. How much longer can they dangle the carrot of freedom in front of your nose, and the abject, irrational fear of the COVID bogeyman over your head, before you decide that maybe all of this crap isn't working, and maybe even that none of it was effective or necessary? Why are you so resistant to the notion that there might be better ways to deal with this?
If I could jump in. If you look at the places where this has been under control pretty well, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and S Korea...the reason is strict adherence to masks, social distancing, and aggressive contact tracing.
My guess is you don’t want to do any of those things. And that is the reason the government is “making” you do it. Generally, Americans don’t like being told what to do. Many Americans are stubborn for no apparent reason. Many are just stupid.
Just wear the mask in the store. Then take it off when you leave. Why is that so difficult. Do you wear a seatbelt? Probably not.
Uh, because it does BOTH at the same time. The self-protection rate is 96%, the "other-protection" rate is 99+%.IOW, a mask traps both inhaled or exhaled particles.
"Two and a half months later, we are still being told we have to stay home, wear masks, social distance."
Because the virus is still killing more than 1000 people A DAY in the US. That rate HAS gone down significantly, and progress is most certainly happening. What you fail to grasp is that if you "do" wear a mask, the need to stay home and social distance goes away.
I like the situation as little as anyone else, but as a scientist, I have no choice but to go where the best data tells me I need to. Wearing a mask is a trivial price to pay to protect my fellow citizens, and to a lesser extent, myself.