Not exactly the bank but I was at Big C in Pattaya today and at least 90% of Thais were wearing masks and 90% of foreigners were not. That sort of tin ear is unfortunate.

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

But I suspect most folks in close quarters there, including myself, would give a wide-berth to non-maskers in this continuing time of COVID.

 

I cannot comment on what you would do, but no one gives me a "wide berth" when I ride the BTS without a mask. No one pays me any attention at all.

 

I have also traveled with Air Asia a couple of times in the last week, and numerous people were unmasked on both flights.

most banks all over the world you won't see many people wearing masks. covid is so so so over for  the rest of the world yet this place.......it may never end here.

 

the whole mask thing here is starting to get a little scary. 

11 minutes ago, stoner said:

most banks all over the world you won't see many people wearing masks. covid is so so so over for  the rest of the world yet this place.......it may never end here.

 

the whole mask thing here is starting to get a little scary. 

It actually is far from over. 

1 hour ago, NancyL said:

What is the harm in putting on a mask for the few minutes you'll be in a business or riding on public transport  Walking down the street or riding on a motorcycle, OK it makes sense to go maskless, but please just humor everyone.  You could insist on going around shirtless, too, I suppose, but you'd get plenty of push-back.

I think you have the burden of proof backward here (that is, I think the burden lies with those making the affirmative claim -- namely, those arguing in favor of masking), but I'll bite anyway.

 

Here are some of the harms:

 

1. Discomfort in terms of temperature. It is hot outside. I sweat heavily, and the mask only makes the situation worse. In fact, the mask often makes it just gross.

2. Discomfort in terms of breathing. Yes, this is a real issue, especially when the paper (surgical) masks get wet from sweat.

3. Occasional allergies or other bad reactions to masks. From time to time, I have developed coughs or other symptoms from talking, walking, exercising extensively while wearing masks.

4. Communication. I find I communicate better -- and am often actually treated better -- when people can see my face.

5. No need. I was always at low risk, but I'm at lower risk now that I have had five vaccine shots (two Chinese plus three American). Even if masks did help (and again, I don't think the paper ones I wear to meet mandate requirements do much at all), why would I need them? I'm vaccinated.

6. Promoting false solutions and yielding to a climate of fear and ignorance. Just to appease the moderators, let me acknowledge that N95 and similar masks absolutely can work, but the recent real-world data on the effectiveness of mask mandates (which usually prompt people to wear paper or cloth masks) are fairly unimpressive. I will post some links below, but the example of Hong Kong is illustrative -- terrible outbreak despite near 100% mask compliance.

 

 

Some links related to point 6, so that the moderators do not accuse me of spreading "misinformation":

 

https://www.sfgate.com/coronavirus/article/bay-area-mask-mandate-results-17271294.php

 

(sfgate.com is the San Francisco Chronicle, a major newspaper)

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/briefing/masks-mandates-us-covid.html

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It actually is far from over. 

the danger it once was is. the world has moved on so should you. 

There's a difference between the issue of whether face mask wear policies reduce the levels of COVID transmission in society at large VS whether face make wear reduces the risk of transmission among those actually wearing the masks...

 

The Reuters fact check article above provides clear evidence that face mask wear reduces the COVID risks for those people who actually wear the masks.

 

And accordingly, the headline of the NYT article you linked to is:

Why Masks Work, but Mandates Haven't

 

"Masks reduce the spread of the Covid virus by preventing virus particles from traveling from one person’s nose or mouth into the air and infecting another person. Laboratory studies have repeatedly demonstrated the effect."

 

But...

 

"The main explanation seems to be that the exceptions often end up mattering more than the rule. The Covid virus is so contagious that it can spread during brief times when people take off their masks, even when a mandate is in place."

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 20223 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

1 minute ago, stoner said:

the danger it once was is. the world has moved on so should you. 

 

Just passed 1 million new global COVID deaths for 2022. Yes, for those unfortunate folks, it IS over.

 

17 minutes ago, stoner said:

the danger it once was is. the world has moved on so should you. 

You do you. I'm not telling you what to do. 

Just now, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Just passed 1 million new global COVID deaths for 2022. Yes, for those unfortunate folks, it IS over.

 

thats it ? a measly 1 million ? 

 

and the 19 million other humans who also died ? 

 

 

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

 You do you. I'm not telling you what to do. 

take it as good advice. the vast majority of humans have. 

3 minutes ago, stoner said:

thats it ? a measly 1 million ? 

 

and the 19 million other humans who also died ? 

 

 

For the people it hits hard, it is far from trivial.

Yes we're more in a management phase but the virus is not going away, and people that are high risk are not being irrational to take more aggressive mitigation measures. 

Edited September 2, 20223 yr by Jingthing

1 minute ago, stoner said:

take it as good advice. the vast majority of humans have. 

It's disgusting advice for people at high risk. Offensive actually. 

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's disgusting advice for people at high risk. Offensive actually. 

its what the world has and is doing.

9 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

And accordingly, the headline of the NYT article you linked to is:

Why Masks Work, but Mandates Haven't

 

"Masks reduce the spread of the Covid virus by preventing virus particles from traveling from one person’s nose or mouth into the air and infecting another person. Laboratory studies have repeatedly demonstrated the effect."

I'm not sure what you think you're refuting, but this is what II actually wrote:

 

"Just to appease the moderators, let me acknowledge that N95 and similar masks absolutely can work, but the recent real-world data on the effectiveness of mask mandates (which usually prompt people to wear paper or cloth masks) are fairly unimpressive. I will post some links below, but the example of Hong Kong is illustrative -- terrible outbreak despite near 100% mask compliance."

 

Are you imagining some inconsistency where none actually exists?

 

But that Reuters article is from late 2021, before omicron. The data here are post-omicron:

 

https://www.sfgate.com/coronavirus/article/bay-area-mask-mandate-results-17271294.php

 

Hong Kong's experience is also post-omicron.

 

 

The use of face masks is now voluntary but who actually listens to the government?

 

I see many places still reinforcing the mask ruling even after most are vaccinated so what's the point of vaccination in the first place?

 

A post mischaracterizing a past news report on face mask wear has been removed, along with several replies.

 

Just now, EricTh said:

so what's the point of vaccination in the first place?

There is no point, since vaccinated people can get infected as well

3 minutes ago, EricTh said:

The use of face masks is now voluntary but who actually listens to the government?

 

I see many places still reinforcing the mask ruling even after most are vaccinated so what's the point of vaccination in the first place?

Many places are enforcing the mask mandate because they do listen to the government, you are misinformed about what the government says. The official health department advice in Thailand is to wear masks in crowded places. The government has made it legal to not wear a mask but that differs from the recommendation.

Edited September 2, 20223 yr by ozimoron

12 minutes ago, stoner said:

its what the world has and is doing.

People at high risk are being advised to continue to take mitigating measures. Don't even bother to say that isn't true.

19 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

There is no point, since vaccinated people can get infected as well

Of course there's a point. 

Decreasing the chances of hospitalization and death if/when infected.

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Man placed are enforcing the mask mandate because they do listen to the government, you are misinformed about what the government says. The official health department advice in Thailand is to wear masks in crowded places. The government has made it legal to not wear a mask but that differs from the recommendation.

The recommendation from the government is advisory.

 

Since when are banks and supermarkets crowed places?

 

When I go to Big C xtra, 10% of the checkout counters are open, and no queues. You think they are crowded?

 

 

Edited September 2, 20223 yr by peterfranks

1 minute ago, peterfranks said:

The recommendation from the government is advisory.

Yes, and I said so. The post I was replying to implied that the government did not issue such advice because it wasn't mandatory.

6 minutes ago, EricTh said:

so what's the point of vaccination in the first place?

To somewhat reduce your risk of contracting the virus...

 

And to greatly reduce the risk that the virus will end up killing you or putting you in the hospital.

 

That sounds like pretty sound medical advice to me.

 

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

To somewhat reduce your risk of contracting the virus...

 

And to greatly reduce the risk that the virus will end up killing you or putting you in the hospital.

 

That sounds like pretty sound medical advice to me.

 

 

I know that , then why do some people still insists on other people wearing masks?

 

Edited September 2, 20223 yr by EricTh

Just now, EricTh said:

 

I know that , then why do some people still insists on other people wearing masks?

 

Because there's a greater reduction in risk of contracting the virus when BOTH people are wearing high quality masks vs. when only one of the two are and the other is unmasked.

 

1 minute ago, EricTh said:

 

I know that , then why do some people still insists on other people wearing masks?

The main benefit derived from wearing masks is to prevent transmission from the person wearing a mask, not to the person wearing a mask.

I do not favor mask mandates even in crowded indoor areas.

In practice, most people are wearing crappy masks anyway when they do wear them.

But most everyone should keep up to date on vaccines, and high risk people would be wise to consider indefinite continuation of optional mitigation measures. 

 

Another comment, many people including me mask up while walking outdoors towards an indoor public space. It's become popular to mock such people and behavior without consider it's a matter of convenience to just keep the mask on. outdoors while on the way. If you see someone wearing a mask outdoors it doesn't necessarily mean that think it's worthwhile to mask outdoors. Pulling them up and down to the chin is hygenically questionable. 

As long as the majority of locals continue to wear masks I will as well. That's the path of least harm. No need to force locals to feel unsafe through lack of consideration and public manners.

https://www.newsweek.com/fauci-said-masks-not-really-effective-keeping-out-virus-email-reveals-1596703