Read on Twitter
So I had an odd experience. Rich and I were walking from the grocery store to our vehicle. We were masked up (as we now always are when having to enter a populated public space), & an older woman walks past us. She gives us the full on stink-eye walk-by glare. She was not masked.
Now, we were only walking to our vehicle. We saw her coming and made sure we walked single file so as not to crowd the sidewalk for social distancing. Were our masks offending her somehow? They are geometric patterns, nothing "offensive."
It's not surprising (but highly disappointing) that some people are anti-mask. Some people are not moved by "hey, let's do the right thing and not unwittingly spread disease and kill people" reasoning. The greater good reasoning often falls on unwilling ears.
No one has actively said anything to us for wearing masks, but this is the first time we've received a purposeful glare while wearing one. Of course I've been thinking about what may provoke that reaction.
I think the big motivator is fear. Masks remind people of their mortality.
I think the big motivator is fear. Masks remind people of their mortality.
They are fearful of how their lives have to change because of this pandemic (and we all know how people love change).
They are fearful they will die of this disease. They stubbornly refuse to accept its realities. They don't like the reminder. They believe denial will save them.
They are fearful they will die of this disease. They stubbornly refuse to accept its realities. They don't like the reminder. They believe denial will save them.
The more aggressive their reaction is to a mask, the more afraid they are. To them, they see a person wearing a mask as a mockery of their fear of their own vulnerability.
To them, whether they know it or not, they feel that a mask is a personal attack as it reveals their fears.
To them, whether they know it or not, they feel that a mask is a personal attack as it reveals their fears.
Yes, this pandemic is scary. People are getting sick. People are dying.
People wearing masks (properly, btw: cutting holes around your mouth and nose, or not covering your nose is not helping) are trying to be proactive in making this pandemic less scary, not more scary.
People wearing masks (properly, btw: cutting holes around your mouth and nose, or not covering your nose is not helping) are trying to be proactive in making this pandemic less scary, not more scary.
Despite what you may have convinced yourself of to talk yourself out of fear, wearing a mask is not a sign of weakness. It does not signal anything "lesser" in you. Putting on an ill-conceived "strong show" will not keep you safe from infection. That's not how viruses work.
