To Mask or not to two - Mask Megathread cont.

Losing the war

:/

That's the point, the majority of people have moved on and their mental health is all the better for it, as highlighted by the article I quoted.

But, it's equally clear how damaging the constant scaremongering, obsession with case numbers, mask wearing etc has been on some people - 1 in 4 still referenced in the article as "highly worried" despite the fact that ICU numbers are tiny, 50% of those in hospital are incidental cases, even Tony Holohan (one of the most conservative figures throughout this) has said as recently as last night that restrictions are not required etc.

This level of anxiety is far more concerning and is a problem that is not getting nearly enough attention or supports. It affects their ability to work, to socialise, to do everyday activities outside of their home, and leads to feelings of isolation, loneliness, frustration and many other deeply damaging emotions.

The reason I will continue to comment on your article dumps, calls for enforcement and restrictions, and your obsession with mask wearing is because it is highly important that there is a counterpoint and sense of perspective to your narrative - even if you or some others here disagree with it - which is: omicron is more infectious certainly, but far less dangerous to the overwhelming majority of people who get it (just as previous variants were little real risk to the same group). Yes some people do get very sick with it, and some of those may unfortunately die, but that is the case with every disease and while very sad of course, it's an unfortunate fact of life that we deal with every day and long before covid entered the public consciousness.

Ultimately your problem (and you're not alone - this thread and social media is filled with similar posts) seems to be with people making choices or decisions that disagree with yours. Your attitude is the same divisive and confrontational "you're vocally with me or you're a target to be attacked" attitude that is increasingly causing division and conflict in society. Your obsession with authoritarian rules and a need (for you and others) to be told what to think and do are fundamentally at odds with the concept of a liberal democracy and free society.

The "toys out of pram" ("talking bull") or "stop picking on me" ("not seeing the need for you to constantly tell me to move on") responses when posts by yourself or some others are challenged or even questioned are more evidence of this - you expect to post whatever you want and for it to be accepted as gospel, and attack/shut down any other views expressed on it, but I'm afraid that's not how debate or discussion forums work.

I may completely disagree with your opinion and your attitude, but I have never resorted to the aggressive and petty name calling, or tantrums that you have tried with me (unsuccessfully I might add! If anything it only undermines any point you might be trying to make!)

So by all means (and TL;DR) continue, but expect that others - including me - will disagree with you and post their own comments and responses to it.

But, it's equally clear how damaging the constant scaremongering, obsession with case numbers, mask wearing etc has been on some people - 1 in 4 still referenced in the article as "highly worried"

It's best to read the actual survey and not an interruption of it.

When asked what they are worried about.

Turning to the individual components of worry, worry about the effect of the pandemic on the economy remains the highest of all components but fell significantly while other components remain stable

This level of anxiety is far more concerning and is a problem that is not getting nearly enough attention or supports. It affects their ability to work, to socialise, to do everyday activities outside of their home, and leads to feelings of isolation, loneliness, frustration and many other deeply damaging emotions.

What qualifies you to make the above statement? Where are you getting your data?

According to the Survey you cited.

A majority of people judge their mental health to currently be the same or better now compared to before the pandemic

"Your problem seems to be..."

Earlier in the thread weren't you comparing them with 1950s bowing to the bishops Catholics.

No, that's something you just made up utterly without merit or foundation. But you get defensive when posters call you out for being aggressive and petty name calling? That's an aggressive accusation. And there's more.

"your obsession with mask wearing"

"it's equally clear how damaging the constant scaremongering, obsession with case numbers, mask wearing etc has been on some people"

You are basically accusing those who still have concerns about covid and think masks should be worn (even via persuasion a free choice) are 'gaslighting' others into mental health issues.

You seem unable to accept that there are reasonable people on the thread who think covid is still an issue, who would prefer not to get covid, who are convinced by the evidence that masks reduce transmission and urge people to wear masks to reduce cases. They have to have 'a problem', some issue whether it's political or mental health or whatever. It's the paperback pop political psychology that leads to people butting back at you, not the counterpoint position itself.

I could just as easily reply that your position is equally at odds with one of the fundamentals of a liberal democracy and a free society, which is that reasonable people disagree on issues. You are trying to 'deligitimize' those who continue to think masks have a role.

Nope. You are the one who roll out lines like "fundamentally at odds with the concept of a liberal democracy and free society" but this seems to be only lip service when you use words like "persuasion" and "the only entitlement you have at this point". Who are you, in a liberal and free society to tell others that their only entitlement is?

If people are free to wear masks, then they are free to urge others to do so as per government recommendations - that is persuasion not "persuasion".

They are also free to indicate support \ lobby the government, as per the journal poll, to re-introduce masks in certain circumstances.

Those are not entitlements, those are rights in this liberal and free society.

What, you've never seen a Journal poll on a measure that the government implemented subsequently?

It's obviously a topic of the day if they are polling on it, and the poll was 2:1 in favour of masks.

No one has the right to "urge"/persuade anyone else to wear a mask. Their only right is to wear one themselves. They should also respect others choice NOT to wear one.

Some people who aren't wearing masks think other people should wear masks.

We're back to this nonsense.

Yesterday at the Senead Éireann Debate Senator Jerry Buttimer asked that the Deputy Leader to facilitate a debate on the issue of mask wearing.

This "wear your mask if you want" has to stop. NPHET or our government has never even bothered to recommend the wearing of ffp2 masks. FFP2 masks that give better protection. Older and vulnerable people out and about and wearing rubbish masks and they're not even being protected.

Best way to avoid posting shìte is at least put minimum effort to look around for info. Google will help you. And of course, give it time and read a bit.

Bit of a joke considering the vast majority of bus drivers never wore masks during the pandemic.

And there lies your problem, Google.

Surely if the polls are correct and 60-70% want masks back then if those people wear masks we will be back close to compliance levels when it was mandated?

I’m only seeing around 10% compliance but maybe that due to where I live