Read on Twitter
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Masks prevent wearers from seeing down, a view that includes their own bodies and floor in the periphery.
Accordingly, face masks raise the risk of physical injury from falls etc.
Among many other risks, these injuries must be factored in.
Masks prevent wearers from seeing down, a view that includes their own bodies and floor in the periphery.
Accordingly, face masks raise the risk of physical injury from falls etc.
Among many other risks, these injuries must be factored in.
1/
The mask debate must be MUCH more than just, “Do they slow viruses?”
I talk elsewhere about a wide variety of ignored issues, including human identity and emotional expressions. (Not to even mention civil rights!) https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1278298284642021379?s=20
The mask debate must be MUCH more than just, “Do they slow viruses?”
I talk elsewhere about a wide variety of ignored issues, including human identity and emotional expressions. (Not to even mention civil rights!) https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1278298284642021379?s=20
2/
But I failed to include in that thread the risks of falls and accidents, which I focus on here.
This is the sort of thing I have studied and discuss in one of my earlier best-selling books, VISION REVOLUTION. https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Revolution-Research-Overturns-Everything/dp/1933771666
But I failed to include in that thread the risks of falls and accidents, which I focus on here.
This is the sort of thing I have studied and discuss in one of my earlier best-selling books, VISION REVOLUTION. https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Revolution-Research-Overturns-Everything/dp/1933771666
3/
I wore a mask for a walk within a hospital setting. Setting aside the annoyingly wet warmth and my breath squirting out the top and into my eyes, I was severely handicapped at walking.
And I am an athlete. I can only imagine folks with physical ailments, e.g., Parkinson’s.
I wore a mask for a walk within a hospital setting. Setting aside the annoyingly wet warmth and my breath squirting out the top and into my eyes, I was severely handicapped at walking.
And I am an athlete. I can only imagine folks with physical ailments, e.g., Parkinson’s.
4/
Folks do not tend to consciously appreciate the extent to which they need visuomotor feedback to be dexterous.
In fact, the most fundamental reason we have two eyes at all is in order to see our own muzzle, AND to see “through” it.
Some excerpts from VISION REVOLUTION.
Folks do not tend to consciously appreciate the extent to which they need visuomotor feedback to be dexterous.
In fact, the most fundamental reason we have two eyes at all is in order to see our own muzzle, AND to see “through” it.
Some excerpts from VISION REVOLUTION.
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Without seeing your own muzzle — which for nearly all animals is their main “hand” — you couldn’t possibly have the brilliant motor behavior you do.
But by having two eye see your muzzle from opposing sides, each sees what the muzzle occludes in the other eye.
Without seeing your own muzzle — which for nearly all animals is their main “hand” — you couldn’t possibly have the brilliant motor behavior you do.
But by having two eye see your muzzle from opposing sides, each sees what the muzzle occludes in the other eye.
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You get a God’s eye (both sides) view of your muzzle, and yet you perceive it as semi-transparent through which you perceive the (unoccluded) world beyond it, as illustrated in another page below from my VISION REVOLUTION.
You get a God’s eye (both sides) view of your muzzle, and yet you perceive it as semi-transparent through which you perceive the (unoccluded) world beyond it, as illustrated in another page below from my VISION REVOLUTION.
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The design of our eyes in relation to other parts of our body is crucial for receiving the right visual feedback for our motor behavior.
The design of our eyes in relation to other parts of our body is crucial for receiving the right visual feedback for our motor behavior.
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In fact, you even get visual feedback of your *own* facial expressions (a wee bit like seeing yourself on a video chat), so as to be able to finely titrate them, something I discuss in my book HUMAN 3.0.
https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1285642281345851393?s=20
In fact, you even get visual feedback of your *own* facial expressions (a wee bit like seeing yourself on a video chat), so as to be able to finely titrate them, something I discuss in my book HUMAN 3.0.
https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1285642281345851393?s=20
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Of course, the fact that the mask is there means you can’t use your muzzle or facial expressions anyhow.
And THAT’s one of the biggest losses: it blocks our most ancient language, the topic of my upcoming book, UNMASKED: Why We Express Emotions https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1283542884529184771?s=20
Of course, the fact that the mask is there means you can’t use your muzzle or facial expressions anyhow.
And THAT’s one of the biggest losses: it blocks our most ancient language, the topic of my upcoming book, UNMASKED: Why We Express Emotions https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1283542884529184771?s=20
10/
But the real hindrance is the view of our lower extremities.
When we walk, we see in our lower peripheral visual field our own feet and the ground in front of it. It’s that view that allows us to nimbly navigate obstacles, irregularities, curbs, stairs, other people, etc.
But the real hindrance is the view of our lower extremities.
When we walk, we see in our lower peripheral visual field our own feet and the ground in front of it. It’s that view that allows us to nimbly navigate obstacles, irregularities, curbs, stairs, other people, etc.
11/
Mess with our design, and accidents and falls will invariably rise.
Many of us could fall a dozen times a day and bounce back up.
But many older folks, and many with disorders, are always worried about falls.
Such folk are much more likely to fall even without a mask.
Mess with our design, and accidents and falls will invariably rise.
Many of us could fall a dozen times a day and bounce back up.
But many older folks, and many with disorders, are always worried about falls.
Such folk are much more likely to fall even without a mask.
12/
I remember when I was young I saw an older lady fell while walking. I ran over to help her and was amazed to see that, despite the simple fall, her skin had ripped or slushed off as if it was butter.
Bodies and skin of the infirm aren’t like yours and mine.
I remember when I was young I saw an older lady fell while walking. I ran over to help her and was amazed to see that, despite the simple fall, her skin had ripped or slushed off as if it was butter.
Bodies and skin of the infirm aren’t like yours and mine.
13/
One fall and the infirm go to the hospital.
And often that’s just the start of their troubles.
Sitting in a hospital bed and they’re at risk for, say, a UTI and that alone can cause their body to crash.
Dominoes fall quickly for the infirm experiencing a “simple” fall.
One fall and the infirm go to the hospital.
And often that’s just the start of their troubles.
Sitting in a hospital bed and they’re at risk for, say, a UTI and that alone can cause their body to crash.
Dominoes fall quickly for the infirm experiencing a “simple” fall.
14/
Healthy folk can handle a short trip to the grocery store, but when hundreds of millions are doing it, the risk of accidents/falls rises. Given the low risk of COVID19, these risks are relevant.
Especially for the millions who have to wear masks for their entire shifts.
Healthy folk can handle a short trip to the grocery store, but when hundreds of millions are doing it, the risk of accidents/falls rises. Given the low risk of COVID19, these risks are relevant.
Especially for the millions who have to wear masks for their entire shifts.
15/
To the line, “It’s not clear masks are helping. But just wear one cuz what’s the down side?”
There are LOTS of potential down sides.
E.g., most folks reuse their masks, and store them in unhygienic places. https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1284527057704296448?s=20
To the line, “It’s not clear masks are helping. But just wear one cuz what’s the down side?”
There are LOTS of potential down sides.
E.g., most folks reuse their masks, and store them in unhygienic places. https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1284527057704296448?s=20
16/
And an even dirtier place to put your mask is on your face, which expels bacteria on a wet cloth, turning your mask into a Petri dish you are forced to carry into restaurants, grocery stores, and even hospitals with you.
And an even dirtier place to put your mask is on your face, which expels bacteria on a wet cloth, turning your mask into a Petri dish you are forced to carry into restaurants, grocery stores, and even hospitals with you.
17/
“What’s the down side to masks?” is a very strange question given that one is covering the two orifices we breathe with, and masks unquestionably hinder the ability to get a good breath.
“What’s the down side to masks?” is a very strange question given that one is covering the two orifices we breathe with, and masks unquestionably hinder the ability to get a good breath.
18/
But even setting aside these obvious down sides, and even setting aside the totally unclear up sides, and EVEN setting aside the civil rights issues,
there are hosts of non-obvious down sides, like the handicapped view of oneself I am raising awareness of here.
But even setting aside these obvious down sides, and even setting aside the totally unclear up sides, and EVEN setting aside the civil rights issues,
there are hosts of non-obvious down sides, like the handicapped view of oneself I am raising awareness of here.
19/
Our bodies are exquisitely designed.
If you don’t have respect for civil liberties and wish to thrust your hair-brained policy on the populace,
then at least do some sophisticated utilitarian calculus, rather than just, “muh, no down side to masks.”
<END to main thread>
Our bodies are exquisitely designed.
If you don’t have respect for civil liberties and wish to thrust your hair-brained policy on the populace,
then at least do some sophisticated utilitarian calculus, rather than just, “muh, no down side to masks.”
<END to main thread>
That we are in this situation now was entirely obvious from the hysteria in March. https://twitter.com/MarkChangizi/status/1239995212572876802?s=20
