[Jonathan Carone]

What would your response be if a business owner didn’t let you into their establishment if you weren’t wearing a mask?

I’m totally fine with a business putting up their guidelines. My barber shop had people wear masks and even though I have my own thoughts I wanted a hair cut there so I wore one. But that’s a big difference than the Governor mandating it

That’s the rational approach.

[Jonathan Carone]

Is there a difference between the governor of a state saying “you must wear a mask” and a local health department saying “for businesses to remain open, all patrons must wear a mask inside the building”?

[thepostman]

I get people being upset about the government shutting down businesses. That is their livelihood but the mask thing seems a little petty to me. But that is just my thoughts and I'm not about to sit here and try to change anybody's mind. I just want things for my kids to go back to normal. If that means wearing masks for the next couple of months, I'm cool with it.

[Ill flame]

What would your response be if a business owner didn’t let you into their establishment if you weren’t wearing a mask?

I’m totally fine with a business putting up their guidelines. My barber shop had people wear masks and even though I have my own thoughts I wanted a hair cut there so I wore one. But that’s a big difference than the Governor mandating it

If a business is requiring all customers to wear masks I typically go elsewhere. There is essentially no threat of covid where I'm at so i don't see the point.

[Purple Haize]

What would your response be if a business owner didn’t let you into their establishment if you weren’t wearing a mask?

I’m totally fine with a business putting up their guidelines. My barber shop had people wear masks and even though I have my own thoughts I wanted a hair cut there so I wore one. But that’s a big difference than the Governor mandating it

If a business is requiring all customers to wear masks I typically go elsewhere. There is essentially no threat of covid where I'm at so i don't see the point.

I am generally in the same school of thought. But I really like this guy. And they are all over 70 and several have health problems. So I was fine.
It’s going to be very very interesting to see how this plays out. The Governor admitted that the trend was going in the right direction and numbers were looking positive, yet decides to amp up the “precautions”. The only way to enforce it without making it a Class 1 Misdemeanor is to change the law ....in July. So is he saying we are going to be wearing masks until July? This doesn’t seem like a well thought out plan by the Governor

[jinxy]

And haize that is the exact point. Private business should have the right to make that call and then its our choice as citizens if we want to do that or not. Northam is a complete hypocrite. Not that we didnt already know that from the past year.

[Jonathan Carone]

Is there a difference between the governor of a state saying “you must wear a mask” and a local health department saying “for businesses to remain open, all patrons must wear a mask inside the building”?

I’m quoting this to make sure it doesn’t get lost. This is a legit question I’ve been wrestling with, not a trap.

In my context, I wouldn’t like it if Governor Cooper said everyone has to wear a mask at all times inside public buildings.

But if the Stokes County Department of Health said we can only open up our local businesses if everyone wears a mask while inside, I don’t think I’d have as much of a problem with it.

[Purple Haize]

Is there a difference between the governor of a state saying “you must wear a mask” and a local health department saying “for businesses to remain open, all patrons must wear a mask inside the building”?

I’m quoting this to make sure it doesn’t get lost. This is a legit question I’ve been wrestling with, not a trap.

In my context, I wouldn’t like it if Governor Cooper said everyone has to wear a mask at all times inside public buildings.

But if the Stokes County Department of Health said we can only open up our local businesses if everyone wears a mask while inside, I don’t think I’d have as much of a problem with it.

It is still the same thing. I think I understand where your train of thought is going, but it’s just a smaller scale. For starters, what enforcement power does the Stokes County Department of Health have? What’s to keep citizens of Stokes County from going one County over to conduct the same business? What is the actual health threat they are looking to mitigate? It’s a complicated question. But the answer seems to be the same

[Jonathan Carone]

The enforcement would be the health department shutting down businesses that weren’t enforcing the masks.

I think the reason I feel differently about the two approaches is one us telling me I have to do something while the other says for my friends to open their business, I need to do this to support them.

[thepostman]

But why is the mask thing such a big deal to people? I mean it is pretty uncomfortable so I get that part but is it because we just don't like that the government is telling us to do it? The government has been making laws to keep others safe for a long time, is this different or is the belief the government doesn't have that power either?

I'm really not trying to be a jerk, I honestly just don't get the outrage on masks and would love to better understand.

EDIT

I'm not trying to change anybody mind. That never goes well. Just trying to learn because the majority around these parts don't seem as opposed to it as in other parts of the country but the sentiment is still there.

[SumItUp]

Has the goal changed or is it still to flatten the curve? I understood the concern to be the overpopulation of ICUs and lack of respirators a couple of months ago.

[FlamesHighontheTide]

So much information overload right now concerning COVID-19 and it is hard to know what to believe because even doctors are saying different things.

However, I really wonder how much these masks help with prevention of COVID-19. I have listened to quite a few doctors speak about them being unnecessary but if people feel more comfortable going to church, work, shopping etc then do it.

The county in Montana where I live has now had 54 days without a new case of COVID-19 and Montana is still holding strong at 479 confirmed cases with only 19 active. Masks have not be ordered to be worn by the governor only encouraged when you go to places like wally-world or the like.

[jbock13]

Has the goal changed or is it still to flatten the curve? I understood the concern to be the overpopulation of ICUs and lack of respirators a couple of months ago.

Basically the goal is now that we all must lockdown and live in fear until COVID-19 ceases to exist. Because orange man bad.

But in all seriousness, you're right. We have adequate resources to handle an outbreak now. However, it has become a political game among Democrats to see who can lockdown the most in their respective state.

[RubberMallet]

But why is the mask thing such a big deal to people? I mean it is pretty uncomfortable so I get that part but is it because we just don't like that the government is telling us to do it? The government has been making laws to keep others safe for a long time, is this different or is the belief the government doesn't have that power either?

I'm really not trying to be a jerk, I honestly just don't get the outrage on masks and would love to better understand.

EDIT

I'm not trying to change anybody mind. That never goes well. Just trying to learn because the majority around these parts don't seem as opposed to it as in other parts of the country but the sentiment is still there.

its inconvenient, uncomfortable, and I think the biggest thing is that we've been told numerous times by the experts that "they do matter, wait, they don't matter, wait they do now". Amplified by the fact that 50% of people that have passed away from this are in nursing homes, people are tired of being told what to do. even though its way better than "stay at home" orders.

I'm with you, if it opens stuff back up fine. i'll do it for a time.

stuff like this doesn't help though.

[Purple Haize]

But why is the mask thing such a big deal to people? I mean it is pretty uncomfortable so I get that part but is it because we just don't like that the government is telling us to do it? The government has been making laws to keep others safe for a long time, is this different or is the belief the government doesn't have that power either?

I'm really not trying to be a jerk, I honestly just don't get the outrage on masks and would love to better understand.

EDIT

I'm not trying to change anybody mind. That never goes well. Just trying to learn because the majority around these parts don't seem as opposed to it as in other parts of the country but the sentiment is still there.

If there was an absolute actual reason to do so I think more people would be inclined. But the early dire predictions have not been realized and for the powers that be to now say you MUST seems kinda dubious.
It’s now also become a type of virtue signal and that’s gonna rub a lot of people the wrong way. They want to make fear a virtue when it is not. If wearing a mask that won’t really protect you or anyone else from COVID isn’t a big deal than the opposite is also true.

[Jonathan Carone]

Has the goal changed or is it still to flatten the curve? I understood the concern to be the overpopulation of ICUs and lack of respirators a couple of months ago.

That's been my biggest issue. I was 100% on board with a shut down of 2-6 weeks to keep the medical system from being overrun. That made sense.

And I'm also on board with a phased roll out of "re-opening" because we want to make sure we do things safely.

But the goalposts keep moving in some areas, particularly those with Democratic governors.

Here in North Carolina, I don't understand why I can get a haircut but I can't go to the gym to work out. That's been one of the more baffling ones to me.

[thepostman]

If there was an absolute actual reason to do so I think more people would be inclined. But the early dire predictions have not been realized and for the powers that be to now say you MUST seems kinda dubious.
It’s now also become a type of virtue signal and that’s gonna rub a lot of people the wrong way. They want to make fear a virtue when it is not. If wearing a mask that won’t really protect you or anyone else from COVID isn’t a big deal than the opposite is also true.

The numbers are lower because we took action so it is nearly impossible to use that as any kind of basis because we really don't know how bad things would've gotten had no action been taken. Of course it doesn't help that one model was paraded around by the media even though it clearly stated it was the worst case scenario. But the media is going to media.

With that said, I freely admit part of my reasoning for being fine with masks is out of selfish desires. I just want school to open in the fall and I want my kids to have their normal life back. If wearing masks has the potential of helping that, then I'm going to do and it hope others will too.

I said this when everything was kicking off, but a lot of what we do can't fully be analyzed until we are on the other side of this. Too many people are doing that which is what causes so much misinformation. It also doesn't help reading the president and his critics continue to spew such childish rhetoric.

I'm tired of it and also I hate the term "new normal".

That's been my biggest issue. I was 100% on board with a shut down of 2-6 weeks to keep the medical system from being overrun. That made sense.

And I'm also on board with a phased roll out of "re-opening" because we want to make sure we do things safely.

But the goalposts keep moving in some areas, particularly those with Democratic governors.

Here in Maryland we have met those goals as far as increasing testing capabilities and ICU beds and overall hospital beds. The usage of those resources have gone down and we have more now than we have ever had so the govenor moved us to the low risk phase (phase 1) with the added power given to local counties to decide if their counties needed to remain stricter and our county executive lost it and came up with all of these other things we weren't meeting. Granted our county hasn't had a long sustained decline needed to move forward but instead of saying that he took political shots at the governor.

It is just extremely tiring.

[Jonathan Carone]

Our numbers in NC are looking good as well. Our testing capabilities are up and things have gone fairly well outside of the population centers (Charlotte & RDU). We entered Phase 2 on Friday, but Governor Cooper still decided to shut down bars, gyms, and breweries. Breweries were overturned, but he's still keeping bars and gyms closed for another five weeks.

I think he's done a fairly good job throughout this - and I've agreed with his timeline for the most part - just don't get some of the restrictions.

I'm also fine wearing a mask. My wife works at a hospital and routinely screens patients. If being uncomfortable and looking silly while shopping means I might be keeping those around me safe, I'm good with it.

[RubberMallet]

fyi, VA and NC both. 63% of covid deaths are in long term care facilities.

[Purple Haize]

fyi, VA and NC both. 63% of covid deaths are in long term care facilities.

Where lots of people wear masks

[RubberMallet]

the thing about the masks is you are seeing people walk around with hankerchiefs and like cut up socks and tshirts on their faces. and we, as a society, are like yeah thats fine enough. at that point, why wear a mask at all? their masks hang on their rearview mirrors or shift sticks, or sit on their filthy consoles, purse, etc etc. like giant petri dishes.

Thats why it seems like masks are pointless.

[Purple Haize]

the thing about the masks is you are seeing people walk around with hankerchiefs and like cut up socks and tshirts on their faces. and we, as a society, are like yeah thats fine enough. at that point, why wear a mask at all? their masks hang on their rearview mirrors or shift sticks, or sit on their filthy consoles, purse, etc etc. like giant petri dishes.

Thats why it seems like masks are pointless.

I like the people walking around in knitted and crocheted masks But even surgical masks aren’t going to protect you from the virus. Certainly not if you don’t change into a fresh one every time you enter a new structure

[Jonathan Carone]

I like the people walking around in knitted and crocheted masks But even surgical masks aren’t going to protect you from the virus. Certainly not if you don’t change into a fresh one every time you enter a new structure

But masks aren't supposed to protect you. They're to protect others from you in case you're asymptomatic. Even the basic cloth ones severely limit the amount of droplets you release into the air. That's why I wear one places. I don't know if my wife has brought something home and I'm asymptomatic.

[Yacht Rock]

[quote="Purple Haize" post_id=600907 time=<a href="tel:1590598517" data-original-title="" title="">1590598517</a> user_id=150]
I like the people walking around in knitted and crocheted masks But even surgical masks aren’t going to protect you from the virus. Certainly not if you don’t change into a fresh one every time you enter a new structure

But masks aren't supposed to protect you. They're to protect others from you in case you're asymptomatic. Even the basic cloth ones severely limit the amount of droplets you release into the air. That's why I wear one places. I don't know if my wife has brought something home and I'm asymptomatic.[/quote]

Yeah, a lot of folks don't seem to understand that. Yes, it's not 100% full proof. Just like social distancing, their success relies on collectivity. If one person wears a mask, doesn't have a big impact. If everyone wears masks, even somewhat crappy masks, it makes a huge impact. The science behind it is pretty solid.

[Purple Haize]

I like the people walking around in knitted and crocheted masks But even surgical masks aren’t going to protect you from the virus. Certainly not if you don’t change into a fresh one every time you enter a new structure

But masks aren't supposed to protect you. They're to protect others from you in case you're asymptomatic. Even the basic cloth ones severely limit the amount of droplets you release into the air. That's why I wear one places. I don't know if my wife has brought something home and I'm asymptomatic.

That has never made any logical sense to me. You even contradicted yourself. You said you wear one because of what you think your wife brought home. Based on your first sentence shouldn’t she be wearing one. Since you wearing a mask isn’t supposed to protect you?
If a mask can’t protect me how is it going to protect you? I’m not coughing or sneezing on you. And coughing or sneezing in an ad hoc mask isn’t going to do much better than doing it into my sleeve. So again, wearing these masks isn’t going to do much good. That’s not even getting into micron levels of filters and virus’.
If you want to wear a mask wear a mask. That’s fine. If you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t. In either case don’t cough or sneeze close to people