Jingthing Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Are you curious about the Asian thing, including the Thailand thing, with all the FACE MASKS? Perhaps this can help explain it: The reality is that the woven-cloth surgical masks provide minimal protection from environmental viruses anyway. (Surgeons use them to protect patients from their mouth-borne germs, not the other way around.) But the masks’ actual prophylactic utility is, in a way, secondary to other reasons they’re being worn, which is why they’re likely to become more common in the future—even among non-Asians. http://qz.com/299003/a-quick-history-of-why-asians-wear-surgical-masks-in-public/ "Smog Couture" Yes, yes, before y'all nitpick too much, yes the article refers to EAST Asian culture, but given then strong influence of the Thai Chinese demographic in Thailand, it also applies here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David48 Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Surgical masks are used to stop the medical staff infecting the patients. Heaven only knows why the prospective patients here wear them. Must be the smell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptHaddock Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 When I saw Japanese people wearing it was explained to me that they were already sick and wanted to avoid affecting others. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritManToo Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) I wear them so government CCTV can't use their computer facial recognition routines on me. Surgical mask + hoody = anonymity Edited November 21, 2014 by BritManToo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooPoopedToPop Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 A form of elective purdah... possibly that, or just another manifestation of lemming-like behaviour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxclever Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 It's not for germs, it's for the pollution and dust! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillageIdiot Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 A form of elective purdah... possibly that, or just another manifestation of lemming-like behaviour. Elective purdah. Yes, that sounds plausible considering that it seems to be more women than men who wear them Plus ca change... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapout Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 The world seems to be becoming a heaven for the mask bandits, terroists, etc of many societies. Some seem to dress the part due to religion, protection from the burning sun, the cold, etc, but I reckon a large number just do not want law enforcement groups or even those they know to reconize them, as their actions will/have caused too much grief already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lust Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Are you seriously asking? 1. Prevent spreading sickness 2. Reduce pollution entering the body. There's no mystery... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert24 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Suggest you travel to Japan and stay there for a while:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldragon Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 When I saw Japanese people wearing it was explained to me that they were already sick and wanted to avoid affecting others. This has always been my understanding too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ammagic Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 It's considered very impolite in Japan to cough & sneeze on other people. One should keep one's germs to oneself. This spread to Hong Kong during SARS and has continued to spread. Personally I think it's an excellent idea - ESP once flu season starts. I shall be wearing mine! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim armstrong Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I thought it was another whitening device as they're worn mainly by women. Up country they have a practical use which is to keep chemical crop spray away and not be breathing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watcharacters Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I wear them so government CCTV can't use their computer facial recognition routines on me. Surgical mask + hoody = anonymity . What will you do when iris detection is perfected? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) I wear them so government CCTV can't use their computer facial recognition routines on me. Surgical mask + hoody = anonymity Either that or you're a scally twocker who moonlights as a dentist. Edited November 21, 2014 by mca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim armstrong Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Is a scally twocker the same thing as a scallywag ? and what does it mean ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Is a scally twocker the same thing as a scallywag ? and what does it mean ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scallie http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=twocker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willyumiii Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) While traveling in Asia during the SCARS scare, I saw many women wearing them that were probably gorgeous Asian women. I started thinking of them as " face bras". Just another unneeded contraption ( like the A cup bras ) to hide the true beauty of Asia! 555 Edited November 21, 2014 by willyumiii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjunadawn Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Face masks that are commonly worn by medical staff and many civilians are really only effective at stoping droplets of salvia, spray, etc. They may have minimal effect with bacteria but likely little effect for viruses. Most of the pictures seen lately of medical staff treating ebola patients have them wearing the same masks described above (which provide zero protection from the virus/virons) or the higher filter masks N95. However, IMO these masks would also be ineffective and one would need the N100 or P100 masks for such scenarios to protect from viruses. The cost of these masks increased considerably as one goes from the common medical reception type mask to the N100 masks. The difference might be, like, 100/$20. The N95 masks perhaps 10/$30 and the N/P100 masks roughly $4 each. I question whether the masks worn in traffic actually filter anything other than bugs. I suspect if one wore a simple common mask it would have two black spots at the end of the day, so perhaps it helps in this regard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendejo Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Thais usually cover their faces when coughing or sneezing, something I can appreciate. The Chinese-Thais, the same ones that push you out of the way, cough and spew wherever they please, racial inferiors be damned. A good reason to not live in Bangkok. The Chinese have this disregard of others, probably cultural all over the region. In the US it seems to be weeded out of them in the first generation, my guess is the other kids at school straighten them out by the end of first grade. I'm all for the people of Asia wearing face masks all the time. I know it'll never catch on, as they get in the way when someone wants to pick their nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisphil Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 I actually want to start using a face mask when driving. I've quit smoking (although I do have the odd one on occasion) in fear of lung cancer and whatever else, but it seems I'll die sooner from the black smoke from the traffic in front. If a mask helps I'm all for it, although I'm sure I'll look like a silly farang with one on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinity11 Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 it's the new look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wow64 Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 If someone is sick its good they were them. Sent from my c64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussieroaming Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 The masks are pretty good for keeping dust out of the nose and throat when riding a scooter in the dry season...I think every Vietnamese person used them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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