*** OFFICIAL *** COVID-19 CoronaVirus Thread. Fresh epidemic fears as child pneumonia cases surge in Europe after China outbreak. NOW in USA (24 Viewers)

[Doug B]

I wish mandate advocates could say the same.

Mask mandate advocates, in February 2023, are pretty darned thin on the ground. There's no full-frontal assault going on. A blog here, a quote in a news article there. No traction, though and no capacity to foment change.

 

[Scoresman]

Nobody I know who continues to mask is in any way in favor of mandates, including myself. There will always be fringe opinions on the matter. Mandates aren't coming back, unless we get an ebola variant or something.

 

[Doug B]

I wish mandate advocates could say the same.

Mask mandate advocates, in February 2023, are pretty darned thin on the ground. There's no full-frontal assault going on. A blog here, a quote in a news article there. No traction, though and no capacity to foment change.

Look, here's an example news piece from January playing games with their headline:

Arguments over masks aren't going away in 2023 (Yahoo News, 1/12/2023)

Sounds bad, right? "People are STILL arguing over it? Really? And it's probably a lot of people, yep, I bet it is!"

But then you read the article ... and see that they quote only ONE person who advocates for continuing public mask mandates. And a whole bunch of people who don't. But if you read through it casually, and bite hard on that hook of a headline, it looks like there's some 50-50 battle out there in public over "mask mandates!"

But there really isn't.

 

[Battersbox]

I wish mandate advocates could say the same.

Mask mandate advocates, in February 2023, are pretty darned thin on the ground. There's no full-frontal assault going on. A blog here, a quote in a news article there. No traction, though and no capacity to foment change.

Look, here's an example news piece from January playing games with their headline:

Arguments over masks aren't going away in 2023 (Yahoo News, 1/12/2023)

Sounds bad, right? "People are STILL arguing over it? Really? And it's probably a lot of people, yep, I bet it is!"

But then you read the article ... and see that they quote only ONE person who advocates for continuing public mask mandates. And a whole bunch of people who don't. But if you read through it casually, and bite hard on that hook of a headline, it looks like there's some 50-50 battle out there in public over "mask mandates!"

But there really isn't.

Great. I wish I shared your optimism that we've seen the end of them. I live in Chicagoland however, and the lengths I've seen public officials go makes me skeptical.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Nobody I know who continues to mask is in any way in favor of mandates, including myself. There will always be fringe opinions on the matter. Mandates aren't coming back, unless we get an ebola variant or something.

I don't believe you. I feel very confident that if you had a few more voters on your side, you would absolutely be advocating for continued mandates. The reason why I'm so confident about that is because you and other folks like you were doing exactly that this time last year, when conditions on the ground were not meaningfully different than today.

 

[Doug B]

Nobody I know who continues to mask is in any way in favor of mandates, including myself. There will always be fringe opinions on the matter. Mandates aren't coming back, unless we get an ebola variant or something.

I don't believe you. I feel very confident that if you had a few more voters on your side, you would absolutely be advocating for continued mandates. The reason why I'm so confident about that is because you and other folks like you were doing exactly that this time last year, when conditions on the ground were not meaningfully different than today.

I think you're overreaching here. February-March 2022 was the time when state-wide mask mandates started sunsetting in earnest (yes, some states were earlier). Those advocating for continued state-level mandates by late winter 2022 had been arm-wrestled down to the table pretty conclusively.

EDIT: A better link from the NYT.

 

[jobarules]

Nobody I know who continues to mask is in any way in favor of mandates, including myself. There will always be fringe opinions on the matter. Mandates aren't coming back, unless we get an ebola variant or something.

I don't believe you. I feel very confident that if you had a few more voters on your side, you would absolutely be advocating for continued mandates. The reason why I'm so confident about that is because you and other folks like you were doing exactly that this time last year, when conditions on the ground were not meaningfully different than today.

I dont believe him either

 

[jobarules]

There were tons of people here who supported both mask and vaccine mandates. To say otherwise is just revisionist history.

 

[jobarules]

LMAO

A lot of good masks did during the Omicron wave

The mandates were crap because they didn't mandate the right kind of masks. It's more about common sense than mandates at this point. Anyone with a brain can see that this isn't quite over yet.

Didnt take me long to prove him a liar

 

[Doug B]

There were tons of people here who supported both mask and vaccine mandates. To say otherwise is just revisionist history.

For me: my last post was not talking about people in this thread and also not talking about vaccine mandates.

 

[jobarules]

I'm not really in favor of mandates anymore. If they put another mask mandate in place, they'll never do it right and mandate N95s or KN95s. I'd rather avoid situations like getting on a flight and having it delayed due to a jackhole refusing to mask.

I would like to see corporations be forced to provide additional COVID sick time to employees so they don't feel forced to show up sick. Maybe offer government aid to smaller businesses who cant do this. People should be dissuaded from going to work sick, not praised for it. That culture needs to end now, but employers need to offer better sick pay benefits to help.

LMFAO

 

[jobarules]

So just to clarify, @Scoresman was in favor of a N95 mask mandate

 

[Battersbox]

I'm saying that a segment of people irrationally masking on a day to day basis makes these present and future mandates more likely to occur ... I maintain and have always maintained people should make their own decisions. Nonetheless, a potential harm of people masking in everyday life is that it emboldens the mask fanatics who would prefer we have more mandates.

The parts in red and blue are dissonant.

The parts in blue suggest that you would support active measures to discourage public masking. But I don't want to put words in your mouth, so I'll ask directly: Would you support active measures that discourage public masking in the U.S.?

And if yes, how does that square with "people making their own decisions"?

...

As an aside: Do you believe that Japan's Pre-COVID cultural customs about masking are intrinsically harmful to the public and therefore wrong?

...

I'm posting all of this as someone who rarely masks in public anymore: I really don't think you'll see, in the U.S., any kind of widespread public mask mandate in response to COVID again. A school district here, a workplace there, sure. County-wide or state-wide? Virtually impossible without a much-changed pathogen, but not with 2023-style COVID as we know it now.

Accordingly, you don't have to think of the 1-in-10,000 "forever maskers" in public as even having a hint of potential to bring about impingement upon your freedom. It's not going to happen.

I don't know how to say it more plainly: PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON MASKS. I'm not sure what you're struggling to understand. I can believe in personal choice even though i disagree with specific choices certain folks make. In other words, while I don't like the fact that the personal choice many will make to continue masking MIGHT help bring back future mandates, I'm willing to accept that risk in favor of not forcing my choices on others.

 

[AAABatteries]

This is like watching monkeys fling poo at each other at the zoo.

 

[Schmeabs]

This is like watching monkeys fling poo at each other at the zoo.

So entertaining then, correct?

 

[Doug B]

... while I don't like the fact that the personal choice many will make to continue masking MIGHT help bring back future mandates, I'm willing to accept that risk in favor of not forcing my choices on others.

All good.

I don't think you have anything to worry about without a seismic shift in the public-health landscape. News of "variants!" won't be enough to move the needle.

 

[Battersbox]

... while I don't like the fact that the personal choice many will make to continue masking MIGHT help bring back future mandates, I'm willing to accept that risk in favor of not forcing my choices on others.

All good.

I don't think you have anything to worry about without a seismic shift in the public-health landscape. News of "variants!" won't be enough to move the needle.

Again, I hope you're right. Your perspective may differ from mine considering what parts of the country we're from. As an example: just today I saw on Twitter a picture of the latest school board mtg for Chicago public schools. They are still using yellow police tape to section of chairs because of Covid risk. In February 2023.

 

[Mookie]

The mask bickering is so tiresome. Wear one or don't. You do you.

I just got over COVID that I caught at a conference earlier this month (FWIW - I did not wear a mask at the conference). Thought it was a sinus infection, and PCR tested before seeing doctor about prescribing antibiotics. Was pretty sick (headache, congestion, cough, loss of smell/taste) for 3 days and out of work for a week, but I'm feeling fine now and have re-entered society. Wife and co-workers remained negative while I quarantined in the basement. It's rampant in our community right now.

 

[humpback]

I'm saying that a segment of people irrationally masking on a day to day basis makes these present and future mandates more likely to occur ... I maintain and have always maintained people should make their own decisions. Nonetheless, a potential harm of people masking in everyday life is that it emboldens the mask fanatics who would prefer we have more mandates.

The parts in red and blue are dissonant.

The parts in blue suggest that you would support active measures to discourage public masking. But I don't want to put words in your mouth, so I'll ask directly: Would you support active measures that discourage public masking in the U.S.?

And if yes, how does that square with "people making their own decisions"?

...

As an aside: Do you believe that Japan's Pre-COVID cultural customs about masking are intrinsically harmful to the public and therefore wrong?

...

I'm posting all of this as someone who rarely masks in public anymore: I really don't think you'll see, in the U.S., any kind of widespread public mask mandate in response to COVID again. A school district here, a workplace there, sure. County-wide or state-wide? Virtually impossible without a much-changed pathogen, but not with 2023-style COVID as we know it now.

Accordingly, you don't have to think of the 1-in-10,000 "forever maskers" in public as even having a hint of potential to bring about impingement upon your freedom. It's not going to happen.

I don't know how to say it more plainly: PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON MASKS. I'm not sure what you're struggling to understand. I can believe in personal choice even though i disagree with specific choices certain folks make. In other words, while I don't like the fact that the personal choice many will make to continue masking MIGHT help bring back future mandates, I'm willing to accept that risk in favor of not forcing my choices on others.

I don't mean to speak for him, but IMO the part that doesn't make any sense is why a very small subset of the population wearing masks would make it more likely that there would be mask mandates put back in place? It's hard to understand why anyone would think that, other than being paranoid IMO.

 

[sho nuff]

LMAO

A lot of good masks did during the Omicron wave

The mandates were crap because they didn't mandate the right kind of masks. It's more about common sense than mandates at this point. Anyone with a brain can see that this isn't quite over yet.

Didnt take me long to prove him a liar

HE is talking currently...and you brought a clip from 2022 discussing the mandates during Omicron. Really poor form.

 

[sho nuff]

So just to clarify, @Scoresman was in favor of a N95 mask mandate

Bolded a key word...

 

[Battersbox]

I'm saying that a segment of people irrationally masking on a day to day basis makes these present and future mandates more likely to occur ... I maintain and have always maintained people should make their own decisions. Nonetheless, a potential harm of people masking in everyday life is that it emboldens the mask fanatics who would prefer we have more mandates.

The parts in red and blue are dissonant.

The parts in blue suggest that you would support active measures to discourage public masking. But I don't want to put words in your mouth, so I'll ask directly: Would you support active measures that discourage public masking in the U.S.?

And if yes, how does that square with "people making their own decisions"?

...

As an aside: Do you believe that Japan's Pre-COVID cultural customs about masking are intrinsically harmful to the public and therefore wrong?

...

I'm posting all of this as someone who rarely masks in public anymore: I really don't think you'll see, in the U.S., any kind of widespread public mask mandate in response to COVID again. A school district here, a workplace there, sure. County-wide or state-wide? Virtually impossible without a much-changed pathogen, but not with 2023-style COVID as we know it now.

Accordingly, you don't have to think of the 1-in-10,000 "forever maskers" in public as even having a hint of potential to bring about impingement upon your freedom. It's not going to happen.

I don't know how to say it more plainly: PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON MASKS. I'm not sure what you're struggling to understand. I can believe in personal choice even though i disagree with specific choices certain folks make. In other words, while I don't like the fact that the personal choice many will make to continue masking MIGHT help bring back future mandates, I'm willing to accept that risk in favor of not forcing my choices on others.

I don't mean to speak for him, but IMO the part that doesn't make any sense is why a very small subset of the population wearing masks would make it more likely that there would be mask mandates put back in place? It's hard to understand why anyone would think that, other than being paranoid IMO.

Well, we HAVE mandates in 2023. So there's that.

 

[the moops]

There were tons of people here who supported both mask and vaccine mandates. To say otherwise is just revisionist history.

Nobody is arguing otherwise

 

[jobarules]

LMAO

A lot of good masks did during the Omicron wave

The mandates were crap because they didn't mandate the right kind of masks. It's more about common sense than mandates at this point. Anyone with a brain can see that this isn't quite over yet.

Didnt take me long to prove him a liar

HE is talking currently...and you brought a clip from 2022 discussing the mandates during Omicron. Really poor form.

I read it as he was never in favor of mask mandates. Regardless, at some point he was in favor of them proving my point exactly.

 

[Doug B]

Your perspective may differ from mine considering what parts of the country we're from. As an example: just today I saw on Twitter a picture of the latest school board mtg for Chicago public schools. They are still using yellow police tape to section of chairs because of Covid risk. In February 2023.

A lot of that kind of stuff is performative and due to the volition of a small number of people, or even one person.

Looking at the Chicago Public Schools Twitter page is interesting in light of what you've posted. The "masthead" of their page shows a kid with a mask on in class (two kids, actually, but one is out of focus in the foreground). No need to feel triggered by that image, though: I scrolled down that page looking over the last two days of tweets. There are many group shots of students in group activities, CPS sports teams, field trips, etc. An interesting video of a NASCAR driver signing autographs for a throng of 99% unmasked CPS students. Very little masking going on in those shots (almost all the photos have no masks at all).

I went to the CPS Twitter site to look for a photo of the taped-off chairs that you mentioned. On whose Twitter did you see that?

 

[Doug B]

Well, we HAVE mandates in 2023. So there's that.

... yeah, but not really.

I have money. Some bills in my wallet, even.

Warren Buffet has money, as well. How alike are we?

Degree matters. "Having mandates" might matter ... or it might not. All this stuff is not an on-off light switch.

 

[Doug B]

I read it as he was never in favor of mask mandates.

... you just quoted the following from him, on this page:

I'm not really in favor of mandates anymore.

I'd say Scoresman was up front about his current opinion on mask mandates.

 

[Battersbox]

Well, we HAVE mandates in 2023. So there's that.

... yeah, but not really.

I have money. Some bills in my wallet, even.

Warren Buffet has money, as well. How alike are we?

Degree matters. "Having mandates" might matter ... or it might not. All this stuff is not an on-off light switch.

Well, if you're a school kid in a district with a mandate it really isn't about degree, you're mandated to wear that thing. It is binary for the individual...there is either a mandate in place, or there isn't. Look, I'm glad we're all in agreement that mask mandates are foolish. I wasn't aware we were all on the same page with that.

 

[Scoresman]

I was never in favor of an n95 mandate. I don't think it's logistically possible. I have said that if they were going to mandate masks it's pointless to mandate anything other than N95s or KN95s because other types of masks at this point are nothing more than a fashion accessory. It doesn't mean I think they should do it. re are many reasons they shouldn't. Those are two different statements.

By the time we figured out N95s protected the individual on some level, mandates of any kind of mask weren't on the table for me anymore. It then became an individual choice to protect yourself. A choice that for me, is very beneficial.

Edited to add: I was in favor of mandates at the beginning of the pandemic as they were (any kind of mask), because at the time they were effective against early strains, and we also did not have any means of other protection, vaccines, paxlovid, etc.

 

[sho nuff]

LMAO

A lot of good masks did during the Omicron wave

The mandates were crap because they didn't mandate the right kind of masks. It's more about common sense than mandates at this point. Anyone with a brain can see that this isn't quite over yet.

Didnt take me long to prove him a liar

HE is talking currently...and you brought a clip from 2022 discussing the mandates during Omicron. Really poor form.

I read it as he was never in favor of mask mandates. Regardless, at some point he was in favor of them proving my point exactly.

A point that seems to be made just to take a shot at a poster for the way you read his post. My point remains.

 

[gianmarco]

My link

 

[The Commish]

 

[humpback]

I'm saying that a segment of people irrationally masking on a day to day basis makes these present and future mandates more likely to occur ... I maintain and have always maintained people should make their own decisions. Nonetheless, a potential harm of people masking in everyday life is that it emboldens the mask fanatics who would prefer we have more mandates.

The parts in red and blue are dissonant.

The parts in blue suggest that you would support active measures to discourage public masking. But I don't want to put words in your mouth, so I'll ask directly: Would you support active measures that discourage public masking in the U.S.?

And if yes, how does that square with "people making their own decisions"?

...

As an aside: Do you believe that Japan's Pre-COVID cultural customs about masking are intrinsically harmful to the public and therefore wrong?

...

I'm posting all of this as someone who rarely masks in public anymore: I really don't think you'll see, in the U.S., any kind of widespread public mask mandate in response to COVID again. A school district here, a workplace there, sure. County-wide or state-wide? Virtually impossible without a much-changed pathogen, but not with 2023-style COVID as we know it now.

Accordingly, you don't have to think of the 1-in-10,000 "forever maskers" in public as even having a hint of potential to bring about impingement upon your freedom. It's not going to happen.

I don't know how to say it more plainly: PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON MASKS. I'm not sure what you're struggling to understand. I can believe in personal choice even though i disagree with specific choices certain folks make. In other words, while I don't like the fact that the personal choice many will make to continue masking MIGHT help bring back future mandates, I'm willing to accept that risk in favor of not forcing my choices on others.

I don't mean to speak for him, but IMO the part that doesn't make any sense is why a very small subset of the population wearing masks would make it more likely that there would be mask mandates put back in place? It's hard to understand why anyone would think that, other than being paranoid IMO.

Well, we HAVE mandates in 2023. So there's that.

So? There are very few mandates right now, but that's not the point at all. The mandates weren't put in place because a small percentage of people decided to wear masks- do you honestly think that's a serious concern, that government officials are going to see these few people that you're mocking for "irrationally" wearing masks and start implementing widespread mask mandates because of it?

Rhetorical question, I'll bow out now.

 

[Battersbox]

I'm saying that a segment of people irrationally masking on a day to day basis makes these present and future mandates more likely to occur ... I maintain and have always maintained people should make their own decisions. Nonetheless, a potential harm of people masking in everyday life is that it emboldens the mask fanatics who would prefer we have more mandates.

The parts in red and blue are dissonant.

The parts in blue suggest that you would support active measures to discourage public masking. But I don't want to put words in your mouth, so I'll ask directly: Would you support active measures that discourage public masking in the U.S.?

And if yes, how does that square with "people making their own decisions"?

...

As an aside: Do you believe that Japan's Pre-COVID cultural customs about masking are intrinsically harmful to the public and therefore wrong?

...

I'm posting all of this as someone who rarely masks in public anymore: I really don't think you'll see, in the U.S., any kind of widespread public mask mandate in response to COVID again. A school district here, a workplace there, sure. County-wide or state-wide? Virtually impossible without a much-changed pathogen, but not with 2023-style COVID as we know it now.

Accordingly, you don't have to think of the 1-in-10,000 "forever maskers" in public as even having a hint of potential to bring about impingement upon your freedom. It's not going to happen.

I don't know how to say it more plainly: PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON MASKS. I'm not sure what you're struggling to understand. I can believe in personal choice even though i disagree with specific choices certain folks make. In other words, while I don't like the fact that the personal choice many will make to continue masking MIGHT help bring back future mandates, I'm willing to accept that risk in favor of not forcing my choices on others.

I don't mean to speak for him, but IMO the part that doesn't make any sense is why a very small subset of the population wearing masks would make it more likely that there would be mask mandates put back in place? It's hard to understand why anyone would think that, other than being paranoid IMO.

Well, we HAVE mandates in 2023. So there's that.

So? There are very few mandates right now, but that's not the point at all. The mandates weren't put in place because a small percentage of people decided to wear masks- do you honestly think that's a serious concern, that government officials are going to see these few people that you're mocking for "irrationally" wearing masks and start implementing widespread mask mandates because of it?

Rhetorical question, I'll bow out now.

Hey, eff them kids, it's only a few, amirite?

 

[The Commish]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

 

[Scoresman]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

 

[The Commish]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

 

[Battersbox]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

 

[fatness]

You asked what potential harm there could be from people masking, and I answered. Then, I showed a link which demonstrates there are still mandates in select places in 2023 which millions of school kids are forced to comply.

Those mandates were a week or two in limited areas. That's a flimsy justification for your great fear.

I was simply suggesting that the continuing presence of masks could embolden a segment of the population who want to push for future mandates.

To put it plainly, over a million people in the US are dead from COVID and life expectancy in the US has shortened by 2 years since COVID hit, and you're worried about what people might think when they see someone with a mask on. I think that's extraordinarily strange.

 

[fatness]

n/m

 

[fatness]

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing?

Yes.
It's a leftover political thing. A piece of cloth the size of women's underwear is a place where some people make their stand about past events.

 

[Terminalxylem]

You know what worries me the most about the future? When (and it is "when", not "if") the next pandemic hits, everyone on all sides will retreat to the same battle stations, but the virus may act completely differently. Imagine a hypothetical virus that impacts children the way Covid impacts seniors, and against which masks are completely useless.* We'll see one group saying, "This time, we absolutely can't close the schools again" and another saying, "We need to go back to wearing masks." And both of them could end up being disastrously wrong. Add to that the fact that the changing science will cause lots of people to simply throw up their hands and distrust public health officials and scientific experts even more than they already do.

* I have no idea if either of these are scientifically possible, but just go with it

There probably won't be another pandemic in any of our lifetimes. But if there is, I'm not worried about any of this stuff. I learned from this pandemic that I can manage a noisy information environment just fine on my own.

I hope you’re correct about not living through another pandemic, but I wouldn’t bet on it because:

1. Human population is increasing, as is population density.
2. Human encroachment into animal habitats is worsening.
3. International travel/trade is increasing.
4. Climate change promotes expanded range for disease vectors, and natural disasters, where sanitation is often compromised.

One or more of these factors have probably contributed to the increased frequency of novel disease outbreaks over the last 50 years. Most of those were zoonotic (animal-derived), including AIDS, H1N1 flu, and covid. We’ve already had 4 pandemics in the last 70 years, so it’s by no means a stretch to believe we’ll see another in our lifetimes.

This study estimates ~2% chance/year of a covid magnitude pandemic. So it becomes a coin flip whether another occurs by year 35.

The study, appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of Aug. 23, used a newly assembled record of past outbreaks to estimate the intensity of those events and the yearly probability of them recurring.

It found the probability of a pandemic with similar impact to COVID-19 is about 2% in any year, meaning that someone born in the year 2000 would have about a 38% chance of experiencing one by now. And that probability is only growing, which the authors say highlights the need to adjust perceptions of pandemic risks and expectations for preparedness.

“The most important takeaway is that large pandemics like COVID-19 and the Spanish flu are relatively likely,” said William Pan, Ph.D., associate professor of global environmental health at Duke and one of the paper’s co-authors. Understanding that pandemics aren’t so rare should raise the priority of efforts to prevent and control them in the future, he said.

 

[The Commish]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

Put me on ignore....You've spent the last two pages completely distorting the mandate situation in this country as it stands today to support doing all this doomsday "what if" nonsense. Call it whatever other word you want, but your actions in this thread are textbook as I pointed out in my very first comment to you. You're no better than those shouting from the rooftops that everyone should be masked when they step foot out of their houses. Well done?

 

[Battersbox]

You asked what potential harm there could be from people masking, and I answered. Then, I showed a link which demonstrates there are still mandates in select places in 2023 which millions of school kids are forced to comply.

Those mandates were a week or two in limited areas. That's a flimsy justification for your great fear.

I was simply suggesting that the continuing presence of masks could embolden a segment of the population who want to push for future mandates.

To put it plainly, over a million people in the US are dead from COVID and life expectancy in the US has shortened by 2 years since COVID hit, and you're worried about what people might think when they see someone with a mask on. I think that's extraordinarily strange.

Nowhere did I indicate I have any 'great fear'. You asked a question and I answered it. Feel free to disagree with me.

I'm fine with people choosing to mask, as I've stated over and over, very plainly. I also said even if I think people masking can encourage future mandates to some degree, I'm STILL in favor of people masking if they think that's the best option for themselves. There is nothing here for you to get up in arms about.

Do I hope very much that our school kids never have to endure another mask mandate? Absolutely.

 

[Battersbox]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

Put me on ignore....You've spent the last two pages completely distorting the mandate situation in this country as it stands today to support doing all this doomsday "what if" nonsense. Call it whatever other word you want, but your actions in this thread are textbook as I pointed out in my very first comment to you. You're no better than those shouting from the rooftops that everyone should be masked when they step foot out of their houses. Well done?

I didn't distort anything. I posted 2 links (after they were asked for).

What exactly do you disagree about these statements?

1. Everyone should have the right to choose whether to mask or not.
2. One possible effect of people continuing to mask is it could encourage those in authority to institute mask mandates
3. Even if I believe #2 is true (which I do, to some degree), I still support peoples rights to continue to mask when they wish because their personal agency outweighs any risks from #2

None of these suggest I'm triggered. And none of these suggest I'm the same as those who 'shout from the rooftops that everyone should be masked'.
Instead of making snide comments about me to the general board why not engage with what I've actually said?

 

[The Commish]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

Put me on ignore....You've spent the last two pages completely distorting the mandate situation in this country as it stands today to support doing all this doomsday "what if" nonsense. Call it whatever other word you want, but your actions in this thread are textbook as I pointed out in my very first comment to you. You're no better than those shouting from the rooftops that everyone should be masked when they step foot out of their houses. Well done?

I didn't distort anything. I posted 2 links (after they were asked for).

What exactly do you disagree about these statements?

1. Everyone should have the right to choose whether to mask or not.
2. One possible effect of people continuing to mask is it could encourage those in authority to institute mask mandates
3. Even if I believe #2 is true (which I do, to some degree), I still support peoples rights to continue to mask when they wish because their personal agency outweighs any risks from #2

None of these suggest I'm triggered. And none of these suggest I'm the same as those who 'shout from the rooftops that everyone should be masked'.
Instead of making snide comments about me to the general board why not engage with what I've actually said?

Your assertion is that .0003% of the US population behaving in fashion "X" MIGHT embolden a huge set of our population to also do "X" in the future. That's what #2 boils down to. That is EXACTLY the same sort of fear and irrational thought in the minds of those that think everyone needs to be wearing a mask to stay alive.

I've already told you three times now that I am on board with your #1 and agree 100%...I did that in the VERY FIRST reply. Since that reply, you've walked back "millions" to "hundreds of thousands". I see no evidence of this assertion though. I've provided you the reality of government driven mandates. If you're really for private choice, then you're ok with private businesses doing what's best for them. Feel free not to support them in their efforts. We are not in danger of a massive set of gov't driven mandates for COVID anymore (unless something with the virus changes in a significant way) and Joe Bob continuing with the requirement in his private place of business isn't going to change that into some national movement.

 

[Battersbox]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

Put me on ignore....You've spent the last two pages completely distorting the mandate situation in this country as it stands today to support doing all this doomsday "what if" nonsense. Call it whatever other word you want, but your actions in this thread are textbook as I pointed out in my very first comment to you. You're no better than those shouting from the rooftops that everyone should be masked when they step foot out of their houses. Well done?

I didn't distort anything. I posted 2 links (after they were asked for).

What exactly do you disagree about these statements?

1. Everyone should have the right to choose whether to mask or not.
2. One possible effect of people continuing to mask is it could encourage those in authority to institute mask mandates
3. Even if I believe #2 is true (which I do, to some degree), I still support peoples rights to continue to mask when they wish because their personal agency outweighs any risks from #2

None of these suggest I'm triggered. And none of these suggest I'm the same as those who 'shout from the rooftops that everyone should be masked'.
Instead of making snide comments about me to the general board why not engage with what I've actually said?

Your assertion is that .0003% of the US population behaving in fashion "X" MIGHT embolden a huge set of our population to also do "X" in the future. That's what #2 boils down to. That is EXACTLY the same sort of fear and irrational thought in the minds of those that think everyone needs to be wearing a mask to stay alive.

I've already told you three times now that I am on board with your #1 and agree 100%...I did that in the VERY FIRST reply. Since that reply, you've walked back "millions" to "hundreds of thousands". I see no evidence of this assertion though. I've provided you the reality of government driven mandates. If you're really for private choice, then you're ok with private businesses doing what's best for them. Feel free not to support them in their efforts. We are not in danger of a massive set of gov't driven mandates for COVID anymore (unless something with the virus changes in a significant way) and Joe Bob continuing with the requirement in his private place of business isn't going to change that into some national movement.

We agree on #1, great.

You may disagree on #2, doesn't matter. It's pure speculation. It was an answer to another poster's question.
I guess I 'walked back' millions to hundreds of thousands, sure. I didn't look at it too deeply. I was asked for a link and quickly googled one. The story mentioned several high-population states where there were recent mask mandates for school kids. It doesn't matter though: it was LOT of kids who were mandated to mask all day in school in 2023. I think that's wrong and damaging to them.

Masking 10's of thousands of kids doesn't have to be a path for masking millions of kids for me to disapprove. Do you approve of the recent mandates?

 

[The Commish]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

Put me on ignore....You've spent the last two pages completely distorting the mandate situation in this country as it stands today to support doing all this doomsday "what if" nonsense. Call it whatever other word you want, but your actions in this thread are textbook as I pointed out in my very first comment to you. You're no better than those shouting from the rooftops that everyone should be masked when they step foot out of their houses. Well done?

I didn't distort anything. I posted 2 links (after they were asked for).

What exactly do you disagree about these statements?

1. Everyone should have the right to choose whether to mask or not.
2. One possible effect of people continuing to mask is it could encourage those in authority to institute mask mandates
3. Even if I believe #2 is true (which I do, to some degree), I still support peoples rights to continue to mask when they wish because their personal agency outweighs any risks from #2

None of these suggest I'm triggered. And none of these suggest I'm the same as those who 'shout from the rooftops that everyone should be masked'.
Instead of making snide comments about me to the general board why not engage with what I've actually said?

Your assertion is that .0003% of the US population behaving in fashion "X" MIGHT embolden a huge set of our population to also do "X" in the future. That's what #2 boils down to. That is EXACTLY the same sort of fear and irrational thought in the minds of those that think everyone needs to be wearing a mask to stay alive.

I've already told you three times now that I am on board with your #1 and agree 100%...I did that in the VERY FIRST reply. Since that reply, you've walked back "millions" to "hundreds of thousands". I see no evidence of this assertion though. I've provided you the reality of government driven mandates. If you're really for private choice, then you're ok with private businesses doing what's best for them. Feel free not to support them in their efforts. We are not in danger of a massive set of gov't driven mandates for COVID anymore (unless something with the virus changes in a significant way) and Joe Bob continuing with the requirement in his private place of business isn't going to change that into some national movement.

We agree on #1, great.

You may disagree on #2, doesn't matter. It's pure speculation. It was an answer to another poster's question.
I guess I 'walked back' millions to hundreds of thousands, sure. I didn't look at it too deeply. I was asked for a link and quickly googled one. The story mentioned several high-population states where there were recent mask mandates for school kids. It doesn't matter though: it was LOT of kids who were mandated to mask all day in school in 2023. I think that's wrong and damaging to them.

Masking 10's of thousands of kids doesn't have to be a path for masking millions of kids for me to disapprove. Do you approve of the recent mandates?

Which ones? This isn't black/white. What I will say is that I"m good with local municipalities doing what they think is right for their little piece of society. I am unaware of any schools mandating masks at this point, so if they were implemented in 2023, it was for a short period of time. That said, I am not a fan of mandates in general, but will make exceptions on occasion, depending on the circumstance. Give me the details of what was required and the conditions of the environment at that time and I can better answer. I'm not a big fan of seatbelt laws for example. My view is if you want to be dumb and not wear one, that's on you. The difference of course is in that situation, it's a decision that impacts you alone. When we talk about laws/rules/mandates that impact others it takes on a completely different tone for me and I then look at what level the mandate is coming from. I'm generally more ok with mandates when they are as specific as possible taking into account what the requirement impacts.

 

[Battersbox]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

Put me on ignore....You've spent the last two pages completely distorting the mandate situation in this country as it stands today to support doing all this doomsday "what if" nonsense. Call it whatever other word you want, but your actions in this thread are textbook as I pointed out in my very first comment to you. You're no better than those shouting from the rooftops that everyone should be masked when they step foot out of their houses. Well done?

I didn't distort anything. I posted 2 links (after they were asked for).

What exactly do you disagree about these statements?

1. Everyone should have the right to choose whether to mask or not.
2. One possible effect of people continuing to mask is it could encourage those in authority to institute mask mandates
3. Even if I believe #2 is true (which I do, to some degree), I still support peoples rights to continue to mask when they wish because their personal agency outweighs any risks from #2

None of these suggest I'm triggered. And none of these suggest I'm the same as those who 'shout from the rooftops that everyone should be masked'.
Instead of making snide comments about me to the general board why not engage with what I've actually said?

Your assertion is that .0003% of the US population behaving in fashion "X" MIGHT embolden a huge set of our population to also do "X" in the future. That's what #2 boils down to. That is EXACTLY the same sort of fear and irrational thought in the minds of those that think everyone needs to be wearing a mask to stay alive.

I've already told you three times now that I am on board with your #1 and agree 100%...I did that in the VERY FIRST reply. Since that reply, you've walked back "millions" to "hundreds of thousands". I see no evidence of this assertion though. I've provided you the reality of government driven mandates. If you're really for private choice, then you're ok with private businesses doing what's best for them. Feel free not to support them in their efforts. We are not in danger of a massive set of gov't driven mandates for COVID anymore (unless something with the virus changes in a significant way) and Joe Bob continuing with the requirement in his private place of business isn't going to change that into some national movement.

We agree on #1, great.

You may disagree on #2, doesn't matter. It's pure speculation. It was an answer to another poster's question.
I guess I 'walked back' millions to hundreds of thousands, sure. I didn't look at it too deeply. I was asked for a link and quickly googled one. The story mentioned several high-population states where there were recent mask mandates for school kids. It doesn't matter though: it was LOT of kids who were mandated to mask all day in school in 2023. I think that's wrong and damaging to them.

Masking 10's of thousands of kids doesn't have to be a path for masking millions of kids for me to disapprove. Do you approve of the recent mandates?

Which ones? This isn't black/white. What I will say is that I"m good with local municipalities doing what they think is right for their little piece of society. I am unaware of any schools mandating masks at this point, so if they were implemented in 2023, it was for a short period of time. That said, I am not a fan of mandates in general, but will make exceptions on occasion, depending on the circumstance. Give me the details of what was required and the conditions of the environment at that time and I can better answer. I'm not a big fan of seatbelt laws for example. My view is if you want to be dumb and not wear one, that's on you. The difference of course is in that situation, it's a decision that impacts you alone. When we talk about laws/rules/mandates that impact others it takes on a completely different tone for me and I then look at what level the mandate is coming from. I'm generally more ok with mandates when they are as specific as possible taking into account what the requirement impacts.

I disagree with the local mandates for masking children in school that took place in place in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusettes last month. I think there the net benefit is not there. You think those might be okay, we disagree.

 

[The Commish]

I was curious to see what reality was regarding masks since I haven't paid a bit of attention to any of the mask policies for the better part of a year. Until the "concerns" were raised in this thread just a day or two ago I can't tell you the last time I even thought about a mask.

Here's the current situation

TL'DR: Not a single state has a state mandate for masks. Most of the local municipalities that had them dropped them in 2022.

If nothing else, you need to click the link, scroll to the bottom and read all the comments...comedy gold.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have never understood why masks got people’s blood boiling so much. Is it an American thing? Are there other countries where asking someone to wear a mask is like asking them to sacrifice thier first born? And then to continue to be upset simply by seeing me wearing one. It’s crazy.

whatever you do, don't call them "triggered"...you end up on a merry-go-round to nowhere as their triggeredness is on full display.

Again, juvenile.

Put me on ignore....You've spent the last two pages completely distorting the mandate situation in this country as it stands today to support doing all this doomsday "what if" nonsense. Call it whatever other word you want, but your actions in this thread are textbook as I pointed out in my very first comment to you. You're no better than those shouting from the rooftops that everyone should be masked when they step foot out of their houses. Well done?

I didn't distort anything. I posted 2 links (after they were asked for).

What exactly do you disagree about these statements?

1. Everyone should have the right to choose whether to mask or not.
2. One possible effect of people continuing to mask is it could encourage those in authority to institute mask mandates
3. Even if I believe #2 is true (which I do, to some degree), I still support peoples rights to continue to mask when they wish because their personal agency outweighs any risks from #2

None of these suggest I'm triggered. And none of these suggest I'm the same as those who 'shout from the rooftops that everyone should be masked'.
Instead of making snide comments about me to the general board why not engage with what I've actually said?

Your assertion is that .0003% of the US population behaving in fashion "X" MIGHT embolden a huge set of our population to also do "X" in the future. That's what #2 boils down to. That is EXACTLY the same sort of fear and irrational thought in the minds of those that think everyone needs to be wearing a mask to stay alive.

I've already told you three times now that I am on board with your #1 and agree 100%...I did that in the VERY FIRST reply. Since that reply, you've walked back "millions" to "hundreds of thousands". I see no evidence of this assertion though. I've provided you the reality of government driven mandates. If you're really for private choice, then you're ok with private businesses doing what's best for them. Feel free not to support them in their efforts. We are not in danger of a massive set of gov't driven mandates for COVID anymore (unless something with the virus changes in a significant way) and Joe Bob continuing with the requirement in his private place of business isn't going to change that into some national movement.

We agree on #1, great.

You may disagree on #2, doesn't matter. It's pure speculation. It was an answer to another poster's question.
I guess I 'walked back' millions to hundreds of thousands, sure. I didn't look at it too deeply. I was asked for a link and quickly googled one. The story mentioned several high-population states where there were recent mask mandates for school kids. It doesn't matter though: it was LOT of kids who were mandated to mask all day in school in 2023. I think that's wrong and damaging to them.

Masking 10's of thousands of kids doesn't have to be a path for masking millions of kids for me to disapprove. Do you approve of the recent mandates?

Which ones? This isn't black/white. What I will say is that I"m good with local municipalities doing what they think is right for their little piece of society. I am unaware of any schools mandating masks at this point, so if they were implemented in 2023, it was for a short period of time. That said, I am not a fan of mandates in general, but will make exceptions on occasion, depending on the circumstance. Give me the details of what was required and the conditions of the environment at that time and I can better answer. I'm not a big fan of seatbelt laws for example. My view is if you want to be dumb and not wear one, that's on you. The difference of course is in that situation, it's a decision that impacts you alone. When we talk about laws/rules/mandates that impact others it takes on a completely different tone for me and I then look at what level the mandate is coming from. I'm generally more ok with mandates when they are as specific as possible taking into account what the requirement impacts.

I disagree with the local mandates for masking children in school that took place in place in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusettes last month. I think there the net benefit is not there. You think those might be okay, we disagree.

I don't know anything about them to agree or disagree. Curious how you know enough about those local situations to determine benefit or lack thereof?

I'd be hard-pressed to be upset with my kids' schools if they required everyone to wear a mask because 20% of the students were out sick with COVID and they couldn't find enough teachers to man classrooms. Of course, this was our real situation here in Florida during Delta and the schools weren't allowed to require masks by the state....that went on for over a month.

On the other hand I'd label "absurd" a school district/community that had no meaningful struggle with the virus yet still maintained rigid mask requirements.