A sign of times to come
I pay little heed to the papers these days.
The Irish Times seems to be trying to make itself subscription only which is fine if it wants to lose readership. RTE’s news site is very flaky when I have VPN switched on. The only two major players left that I visit are the Examiner [parochial] and the Journal [Cut And Paste Land].
I visited the latter today and noticed with interest their daily ‘poll’. I quite enjoy that feature, not for the poll results but for the comments that follow. Generally anyone who votes against the popular answer will get flamed with abuse and the comments can become really nasty. In other words, fun.
Anyhows, today’s poll was on the subject of mask wearing. The general expectation is that masks will no longer be mandatory after the end of the month [I can be arrested today but not in a fortnight’s time?], so the poll was predictably “Will you still wear a face mask when it’s no longer mandatory?”.
The results [at the time of reading] were sad. Excluding the Don’t Knows, 63% said yes. Nearly two thirds of the population will be happy to continue breathing their own exhale and muffling their voices? What saddens me is the level to which the population has descended into abject unquestioning obedience to the pronouncements of other so called “experts” [epidemiologists and mathematicians?]. I have read responses in the past to this question and the general tone is one of fear. “I feel safer wearing a mask” or “I avoid people not wearing masks”.
My objections to masks are legion. They hinder communication by both muffling voice and hiding facial features. Their value is questionable in the extreme. I’m tired of seeing them discarded in the street. And a less obvious one is that if, and it’s a huge IF, they protect against Coronavirus then long term wearing will “protect” the wearer against the Flu or Common Cold. The natural immune system needs regular training, just like any army [ask the Russians] and without that training and exercise the immune system will weaken. And they just plain look neurotic.
The leader of the Green Party [a stupid twat who really annoys me] has declared that mandatory mask wearing should be abolished immediately without waiting until the end of the month.
For the first time in history, I agree with him.
I doubt that will ever happen again.
You still believe in polls???
I believe in the North Poll and the South Poll, but apart from them…..
There was a loud breaking of wind in the middle of the classroom on Tuesday and all masks were immediately pulled up over noses. “See,” I said, “I told you that you would find them useful.”
One can still smell a fart with a mask on, even an industrial air fed mask. Ask me how I know.
https://brandnewtube.com/watch/masks-really-do-work_AMzdHlrGbCeES2q.html
Don’t you know that teachers aren’t supposed to break wind in class? Fair play though. I would probably have done the same.
My wife bought me a cloth mask with a wire insert to shape around the nose and this is the only one I can wear(very reluctantly) without fogging my glasses. I was amused to read the disclaimer on the packet that it would not protect against dust, smells or biological hazards,so useless in other words. I only wear it when absolutely necessary and am hopeful that now that the Omicron variant is beginning to rampage through the country,eventually even Princess Jacinda and her hangers on will finally see sense.Still, an election is due next year and I look forward to seeing her go as she has no chance of winning even with the strange electoral system New Zealand has.
It sounds like the one I have. The wire insert is fuck all use as my glasses still fog. There again, I have only worn it on very rare occasions, usually when visiting a medical facility such as a hospital, a clinic or Doc’s waiting room. I usually pull it down so my nose is clear [when no one is looking]. It’s just an exercise in political correctness more than any health issues. Sadly they are heading towards making masks optional in all settings except medical facilities so the band waggon still rolls on.
The hospital at which I work provides us with masks.
The information leaflet specifically states that they should not be used for anti-viral purposes.
Hah! I get the distinct impression that people only wear masks for the psychological benefit [and to comply with the law]. I can guarantee that the vast majority of masks are useless.