They seem to have evolved into a strange beast at present. Having had to wear them purely for safety reasons in the past they don't hold this new weird mysticism for me. So I thought I might point out some foibles....

Some of this will apply more or less to covid but its really just masks generally.

* They are a pain in the butkiss...
* They restrict your airflow....
* A lot of people are allergic to cheap paper masks
* They're not considered effective unless they make a firm seal
around your face.
* You'll need to shave to make it work properly or....
lube up with something like vaseline.
* Do not use a mask with a single strap (insufficient seal)
* Do not touch the face mask or your face while wearing one, you'll
smear whats collected on the mask to your eyes and whatever else
you then touch.
*Remove your mask by the straps, saves you touching all the collected
crap on the front, and be prepared to wash/sanitise your hands immediately afterwards. If you've gone the respirator in place of the
dud papermask, wash it at this time also.

# They will stop a good portion of solid particulates.
# You can take extra steps to make sure they fit properly
# If you can conceiveably buy a better mask/respirator do so.
By this I mean the silicon face plate with screw on carts.
# Not all masks are equal, find one that fits you and feels comfortable
you're more likely to forget you're wearing it, it won't itch and
scratch so much.

Normally a mask is expected to filter on inhalation, so you'd expect it to catch covid carrying droplets in the air too, but they do NOT work for aerosols as such. So if your covid carrying particles are small enough they could possibly still make it through.

Expecting them to catch particles exhaled is a little odd. While they would only the cheaper paper masks would do so, but this also makes the mask harder to breathe through as it picks up moisture, leading to the exhalation valves on better models.

Here we had a flip on masks... no you don't need them... but after infection rates kept climbing they decided you should. It may be the benefit started to outweigh the risk portion of their thinking. To start we're not accustomed to wearing a mask all the time, unless you come from asia somewhere, they seem to.
And we've been harping on about islamic people keeping their faces covered. So there's cultural reasons not to go masks straight off. But all of a sudden we've got local transmission from unknown sources and notably iin Melbourne in large blocks of public housing. Well wearing a mask is starting to make more sense, you don't know where the vectors are anymore its all a bit out of control. I have little doubt wearing a mask will help/benefit the wearer to some degree and by extension help others regardles of whether everyone wears one or not. But maximum benefit would follow complete use of such.

So to finish up... I wouldn't wear one unless/until I have to. They're a pain, but I can see the potential benefit and in the right circumstances would wear one.

*** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: Scrawled in haste at The Lower Planes (21:3/101)

Spectre wrote to Anybody <=-

So to finish up... I wouldn't wear one unless/until I have to. They're
a pain,
but I can see the potential benefit and in the right circumstances
would wear one.

Its just that, scientifically, they have proven to slow THIS virus. So
while I won't fight with anyone who demands to NOT wear one... just wear
one.

If it *possibly* helps with COViD-19, just wear one. If the scientists and intelligent people who are stating that they help are correct, which they
are, then... just. Wear. A. Mask.



... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
___ MultiMail/Linux v0.52

--- Mystic BBS/QWK v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: American Pi BBS (21:2/150)

Hello Spectre!

** On Thursday 23.07.20 - 10:25, Spectre wrote to Anybody:

So to finish up... I wouldn't wear one unless/until I have to.
They're a pain, but I can see the potential benefit and in the right circumstances would wear one.

Our guidelines (ie Canadian) stipulate "masks or face-coverings".

As a result, some people use face shields.

I hacked one together using a single piece of plastic, a few holes, and slipping them over my pair of eye glasses. MUCH more comfortable wrt breathing.


--- OpenXP 5.0.45
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointFace (21:4/106.21)

Its just that, scientifically, they have proven to slow THIS virus. So

That still appears up for debate, but that wasn't my point. Primarily just about the masks themselves. They're not nice to wear especially the cheapies which now cost an arm anad a leg. Given the right circumstances though yes I have and will wear one.

Spec


*** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: Scrawled in haste at The Lower Planes (21:3/101)

I hacked one together using a single piece of plastic, a few holes,
and slipping them over my pair of eye glasses. MUCH more
comfortable wrt breathing.

Good work, the more comfy it is, the more likely you are to keep wearing it. The present guidelines for a "mask" here are pretty broad and include a scarf and a bandanna. I can see them changing that at some point though, but not everyone has a mask on the shelf, and the $5k you need to buy one now.

Spec


--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: (21:3/101)

On 23 Jul 2020, Spectre said the following...

Its just that, scientifically, they have proven to slow THIS virus. S

That still appears up for debate, but that wasn't my point. Primarily just about the masks themselves. They're not nice to wear especially
the cheapies which now cost an arm anad a leg. Given the right circumstances though yes I have and will wear one.
Spec

I think we'll both just disagree - because nowhere from any of the sources
I've researched (not the boob tube) is it 'in debate'. Every intelligent American professional with M.D. next to their name says ANY mask helps curb covid.

But we're both just gonna disagree... I'm glad for your choice to decide how
to proceed. I wish Americans were more apt to try harder, but.... we'll see
how it plays out.



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: American Pi BBS (21:2/150)

how to proceed. I wish Americans were more apt to try harder, but.... we'll see how it plays out.

Don't get me wrong, I've been wearing one. But I do like to make as an informed decision as possible. And there are or can be downsides to wearing masks too. Not just that I can't see your face or my glasses fog up :)

Spec


*** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: Scrawled in haste at The Lower Planes (21:3/101)

On 25 Jul 2020, Spectre said the following...

Don't get me wrong, I've been wearing one. But I do like to make as an informed decision as possible. And there are or can be downsides to wearing masks too. Not just that I can't see your face or my glasses
fog up :)

We're required to wear them at my work. If you're sitting by yourself in
your office you can take it off, but you have to wear them in all common
areas and if there's more than one person in a room. We're also required to wear them in in all indoor businesses in my city.

I don't know why, but I sweat whenever I wear a mask & not just a little bit either. You can see the drops dripping down my forehead.

Jay

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/06/11 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Northern Realms BBS | bbs.nrbbs.net | Binbrook, ON (21:3/110)

Hello Spectre!

** On Saturday 25.07.20 - 04:21, Spectre wrote to paulie420:

...And there are or can be downsides to
wearing masks too. Not just that I can't see your face or my glasses fog
up :)

Make sure your glasses fit OVER (pressing down on) the mask.


--- OpenXP 5.0.45
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointFace (21:4/106.21)

Hello Warpslide!

** On Friday 24.07.20 - 15:32, Warpslide wrote to Spectre:

I don't know why, but I sweat whenever I wear a mask & not just a little bit either. You can see the drops dripping down my forehead.

Try a sweatband?


--- OpenXP 5.0.45
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointFace (21:4/106.21)

On 24 Jul 2020, Ogg said the following...

I don't know why, but I sweat whenever I wear a mask & not just a litt bit either. You can see the drops dripping down my forehead.

Try a sweatband?

Have to wear the masks provided by my work.

We're a food manufacturing facility so the rules are bit more strict:

Mandatory sanitation & temperature checks on the way in along with a survey
you have to fill out for contact tracing. This is paired with us operating
on a skeleton crew. Only "essential" people are supposed to be on site with everyone else working from home.

Jay

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/06/11 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Northern Realms BBS | bbs.nrbbs.net | Binbrook, ON (21:3/110)

Make sure your glasses fit OVER (pressing down on) the mask.

Doesn't seem to make any difference to mine....

Spec


--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: (21:3/101)

On 25/07/2020 8:55 a.m., Spectre wrote:

Make sure your glasses fit OVER (pressing down on) the mask.

Doesn't seem to make any difference to mine....

Try a little bit of vodka, or starch on the glasses.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (21:2/101)

paulie420 wrote to Spectre <=-

Its just that, scientifically, they have proven to slow THIS virus. So while I won't fight with anyone who demands to NOT wear one... just
wear one.

You need to actually check the sources and not just listen to what the media tells you.

Both the CDC and WHO said that masks don't work except for limited circumstances.

If it *possibly* helps with COViD-19, just wear one. If the scientists
and intelligent people who are stating that they help are correct,
which they are, then... just. Wear. A. Mask.

Wearing a mask under normal coditions does nothing but fear monger and make some sheeple "feel" better.


... It's not hard to meet expenses, they're everywhere.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Diamond Mine Online BBS bbs.dmine.net:24 (21:1/194)

On Sunday, July 26th Dr. What said...

You need to actually check the sources and not just listen to what the media tells you.
Both the CDC and WHO said that masks don't work except for limited circumstances.
Wearing a mask under normal coditions does nothing but fear monger and make some sheeple "feel" better.

The irony of this post is incredibly thick.

Wear a damn mask.


--

NuSkooler
Xibalba BBS @ xibalba.l33t.codes / 44510(telnet) 44511(ssh)
ENiGMA 1/2 BBS WHQ | Phenom | 67 | iMPURE | ACiDic

--- ENiGMA 1/2 v0.0.12-beta (linux; x64; 12.13.1)
* Origin: Xibalba -+- xibalba.l33t.codes:44510 (21:1/121)

On 23 Jul 20 09:44:00, Dr. What said the following to Paulie420:

Wearing a mask under normal coditions does nothing but fear monger and make some sheeple "feel" better.

Unfortunately some of us sheeple are required to wear a mask due to employment conditions or bylaws passed by our government. We really don't want to, but we sometimes do not have a choice.

I love to argue and rebel as much as the next guy but kindof not when my job or ability to do basic grocery-shopping is on the line.

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

Unfortunately some of us sheeple are required to wear a mask due to employment conditions or bylaws passed by our government. We really
don't want to, but we sometimes do not have a choice.

I work for the county government as a temp office worker and I do share your position. I would love to wear a mask that says Security Theatre.

I love to argue and rebel as much as the next guy but kindof not when my job or ability to do basic grocery-shopping is on the line.

Yea, there is a right place and a wrong place to protest the issue. Bad idea
is to wear a nazi flag covering on your face, but you can say my governor is
an idiot as an example.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A39 2018/04/14 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Weather Station BBS * Bel Air, MD -USA (21:1/170)

NuSkooler wrote to Dr. What <=-

Both the CDC and WHO said that masks don't work except for limited circumstances.
Wearing a mask under normal coditions does nothing but fear monger and make some sheeple "feel" better.

The irony of this post is incredibly thick.

Wear a damn mask.

Baaaa (sheep sound).

I figure that's the only response you'd understand.


... When a girl goes bad--men go right after her.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Diamond Mine Online BBS bbs.dmine.net:24 (21:1/194)

On Wednesday, July 29th Dr. What said...

Baaaa (sheep sound).
I figure that's the only response you'd understand.

Nothing intelligent to respond with I see.



--

NuSkooler
Xibalba BBS @ xibalba.l33t.codes / 44510(telnet) 44511(ssh)
ENiGMA 1/2 BBS WHQ | Phenom | 67 | iMPURE | ACiDic

--- ENiGMA 1/2 v0.0.12-beta (linux; x64; 12.13.1)
* Origin: Xibalba -+- xibalba.l33t.codes:44510 (21:1/121)

NuSkooler wrote to Dr. What <=-

Baaaa (sheep sound).
I figure that's the only response you'd understand.

Nothing intelligent to respond with I see.

My apologies. Since I'm not a sheeple (like you), it's ESL for me so
I may get some of the intonations incorrect.


... Microwave Hint#3: Make a hole in the turtle's shell first
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Diamond Mine Online BBS bbs.dmine.net:24 (21:1/194)

On 31 Jul 2020, Dr. What said the following...

NuSkooler wrote to Dr. What <=-

Baaaa (sheep sound).

Nothing intelligent to respond with I see.

My apologies. Since I'm not a sheeple (like you), it's ESL for me so
I may get some of the intonations incorrect.

Did I get lost? Am I on a FidoNet politics echo?

- Andre

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Runaan BBS (21:3/117)

Dr. What wrote to NuSkooler <=-

Baaaa (sheep sound).
I figure that's the only response you'd understand.

Nothing intelligent to respond with I see.

My apologies. Since I'm not a sheeple (like you), it's ESL for
me so I may get some of the intonations incorrect.

Dude. Take this garbage somewhere else. It's not welcome (nor
allowed) here in FSXNet.



... Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)

My apologies. Since I'm not a sheeple (like you), it's ESL for me so I may get some of the intonations incorrect.

Did I get lost? Am I on a FidoNet politics echo?

They do seem to be entirely unaware of the no-politics rule. I don't know how they could've missed it, so maybe they're just ignoring it?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)