this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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[–] UnicodeHamSic@hexbear.net 60 points 1 year ago (4 children)

There was a moment in my life where I was optimistic about masks. I pictured a cyberpunk future we didn't get sick as much and had a cool new fashion accessory we could have fun with. It is wild how capitlaism couldn't even resist the power of covid

[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.ml 42 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Covid has taught me that we will not do enough, then complain that we did too much. I am not optimistic about things if this new strain is as bad as the first ones.

[–] Angry_Maple@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago

If a zombie virus ever legitimately happened, too many people would purposely get bitten to "prove them wrong".

I want to be optimistic and all, but too many people bought too much toilet paper for a goddamn respiratory virus that it isn't even funny.

[–] Jtskywalker@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago

Same here. I was hopeful that covid would get people to at least be more conscious about not going places when sick, wearing masks when they are not feeling well, etc. But where I am at, people go to work, church, recreational activities, etc. with the flu and covid, even with positive test results knowing that they are contagious. I don't understand it and it hasn't gotten better.

As far as cyberpunk... I still want a full face respirator with a clear face shield (so people can see your lips when you talk), an integrated HUD (for navigation, air quality monitoring, and browsing lemmy), and some LEDs for night time illumination (and aesthetics)

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Seriously? I found masks uncomfortable and annoying, I would hate the idea of it being the new norm for the rest of our lives.

I live in a climate which gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter. I was often getting hot under the mask or fogging up my glasses so bad I couldn't see where I was going.

I would honestly rather just get the latest vaccine and risk getting a little sick by not wearing a mask than going through that whole mask thing again

[–] Abracadaniel@hexbear.net 33 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I hated them too but they're an effective public health tool if they're actually used. 🤷

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 10 points 1 year ago

I gotta say, N95s done right are much more comfortable then cloth and surgical masks. I just didn't know at the start of the pandemic.

[–] AntiOutsideAktion@hexbear.net 32 points 1 year ago

The material conditions dictate that it's the norm for the rest of our lives, unfortunately.

We're ignoring a grinding sound in our car right now.

[–] UnicodeHamSic@hexbear.net 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It is hot here but it doesn't get very humid. So maybe it is easier. It could get uncomfortable at time but I still liked it. It did take a few tries to get masks that worked for my glasses, this is also true.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It doesn't get humid where I am either, I personally never found a mask I was really happy with, then I just got fed up with it and only wore it when I didn't have a choice.

[–] UnicodeHamSic@hexbear.net 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I dunno. Maybe I am just weird but I like wearing work gloves and touching stuff I know wouldn't be good to touch bear handed. I always kinda get that same feeling from wearing a mask.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago

As someone who didn't try to not to get sick, avoided wearing a mask whenever I could, went to crowded bars with friends during the height of covid, etc, and never once got noticeably sick, I didn't find the air I was breathing to be all that dangerous to warrant protection.

I'm not denying that COVID exists, I got my vaccine the second it was available to me, I just didn't feel as threatened by it as some others did.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You'd be a hero if you kept trying.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry, guess I'm not a hero then, I think trying for two years was more than enough.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's mad that people can go "hey my actions put people at risk of death and injury and I'm just going to do it"

Coming from someone living with a person with long-COVID, someone who got infected AFTER being fully vaccinated and AFTER the emergency period, I just gotta say that this kind of thinking is really disappointing. Can you imagine if there was an afterlife, and you had to explain your actions to your higher power.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's mad that people can go "hey my actions put people at risk of death and injury and I'm just going to do it"

Yeah, you know, I realize that driving my car around puts others at risk, it pollutes the air, I might hit and kill someone accidentally, but I have to get food and go to work somehow. I guess screw me for just trying to live my life, right?

Can you imagine if there was an afterlife, and you had to explain your actions to your higher power

I would ask why that higher power thought creating covid was a good idea in the first place, or why he didn't care enough to stop it.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Guy, you drive a car under the speed limit, sober, and when you have the right of way. If you fail to do any of those, and someone gets hurt, you are definitely at fault. You need to reasonably limit how much air pollution your car has and not roll coal.

God definitely gave you the means to stop it. It's masks, filtration, ventilation, and obviously vaccines.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Am I not putting people at risk of death and injury by driving my car even if I do it while sober and follow the rules? Am I not harming people with my exhaust, even if it's stock and legal? We all do stuff that puts others at risk, it's part of life.

God could have made it not even happen in the first place, he needs to answer for creating a death virus, and cancer, and all the other horrible stuff he is responsible for.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Am I not putting people at risk of death and injury by driving my car even if I do it while sober and follow the rules? Am I not harming people with my exhaust, even if it's stock and legal? We all do stuff that puts others at risk, it's part of life.

As I already mentioned, the risk is much greater and is considered murder if it's outside of what's necessary. You drive but don't speed.

I see your comment that you didn't even mask during the mandate. Guy, after the suffering I've seen, your actions are appalling. But a sociopath like you will never get that no matter how many reasons you hear.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The rush may be greater if I don't follow the laws, but then finding the laws the risk still exists. I don't feel bad for driving and putting others at risk while I just try to get to work or home.

I did mask during the mandate what I had to, I also didn't mask during the mandate when I didn't have to. It's not like I went into a nursing home without a mask, I went out with other people who were also willing to not use masks, it's not like I intentionally exposed my breath on those who wanted to stay isolated and masked up. If it's appalling to hang out with other intentionally un-masked individuals, I don't know what to tell you.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As someone who didn't try to not to get sick, avoided wearing a mask whenever I could, went to crowded bars with friends during the height of covid, etc, and never once got noticeably sick,

You're a sociopath. BTW, Most COVID infections spread through an asymptomatic carrier. You likely did give many people COVID and did cause death and disability. Please stop replying to me, you knob.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If I gave covid to anyone, it was someone who either got it even though I was wearing a mask, or they were intentionally at an unmasked event where neither of us was required to wear one. Either way, I'm not going to be sorry for following the rules and trying to socialize during the pandemic.

I highly doubt I caused anyone death or disability, relatively few people got disabilities or death from covid compared to the whole population.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I said stop replying to me you knob

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

You are welcome to stop this conversation any time by not replying

[–] eldain@feddit.nl 9 points 1 year ago

I agree with you, at the same time it would be great if our air output would be viewed as "unclean" with masks being the worst fix for that if no better ventilation systems are available. We need to stop recirculating somebody elses waste air in indoor environments to make airborn diseases less common.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The 3M Aura and Vflex both breathe easily as heck. I've worn them on 40 degree days and I felt fine. They don't block air like surgical masks.

Good luck getting a new booster in most Western countries.

[–] Chriskmee@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If it comes down to then being required again I'll look out for those and give them a try.

I'm in the US, I think we have had maybe the best access to these vaccines. I just checked one pharmacy in my area, 17 locations within 30 miles all with appointments today, I can even choose between Moderna and Pfizer. I haven't gotten a booster in a while, but I want to say I've gotten the first two shots and like 2-3 boosters. The last booster was an updated one I think for Delta.

[–] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

I guess for the West, the US has more access. Other countries, such as the UK, are paring back boosters except for the really vulnerable. It is still weird that the current vaccine is for a strain in 2021, though. Our societies should be doing better.