Social Skills

 

Romanticism / John Roddam Spencer Stanhope/ The White Rabbit

Lots of folks out there are having a bit of a tizzy about the whole mask thing.  I can’t say that I am married to it either way.  I don’t think that they do that much good, but they do a little bit.  I can’t say that they do too much harm, but they do a little bit.

I look at masks kinda like I look at handkerchiefs.  Being a dinosaur, I usually carry one but I only use it when it seems appropriate.  

I think that the way to approach masks is to be aware of your surroundings and the folks around you.  Check out the local population and use that information to decide what your response will be.  If everyone is walking around without a mask and no one seems to be too sick, leave the mask in your pocket.  If everyone is wearing a mask and everyone seems skittish, put the mask on.  If there is someone sneezing or you are in a hospital or clinic where there is a decent chance of folks needing to be protected, put the mask on.  If you are outside on a nice day, leave the mask in your pocket.

Masks have never been about saving the world and stopping the mess that we are in.  Masks are about lowering (not eliminating) risk.  

That is the real trouble with the past two years.  Everyone is screaming that everything isn't good enough and there should be a sure-fire cure.  That kind of thing really isn’t possible, the best you can do is improve your odds.  Masks do improve your odds, they don’t eliminate the risk.  But you can be polite and be aware of your surroundings and let other people's life be a little less stressful by following a no-harm social nicetywhen that looks to be appropriate.  But this requires that you have sufficient awareness to "read the room".