This is where a culture built around selfishness has gotten us

[misanthrope]

There's little surprising about his observations, but the waste of life is still sorrowful. Read his thread. It all stems from complacency and the fruits of idolizing self-interest.

Link to tweet

[Hortensis]

1. Anti-masking? I think you're on the wrong track here.

It goes much deeper than greedy self interest. And look at who're mostly doing it.

Conservatives and liberals view morality somewhat differently, you know. Conservatives are more concerned with the stability and health of the community, the family, tribe, than the individual. Ergo, their protection of authorities at the expense of individual rights.

Liberals elevate the rights and freedoms of the individual over duty to the group.

Yet, around the planet, anti-masking and claiming the freedom to spread deadly disease is overwhelming a conservative phenomenon.

Liberals are far more likely to mask to protect not just themselves but others even at expense of self. And that's not just pandemic behavior, but always behavior.

“Nice little holocaust you have going here. May I ask...why?”

[Turin_C3PO]

2. What you say is true

but it’s also true that conservatives have a bigger “fear” reaction in the amygdala portion of the brain. You’d think the threat of a deadly virus would provoke this fear in the conservative brain and compel them to protect themselves by wearing masks. It’s quite baffling.

[Hortensis]

4. SOO true. I suspect the fear reaction is in big play, though,

less against a disease that they know is unlikely to kill themselves but as an underlying factors in attitudes toward other perceived threats. Whatever's going on with them, Trump certainly knew how to manipulate it.

And it has almost nothing to do with the supposed greedy, morally bankrupt selfishness of supposedly one pervasive modern culture.

The Old Testament Book of Proverbs was written a few centuries before the birth of Christ and these abominations were obviously old and pervasive then:

“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

[Hortensis]

5. Duplicate, deleted.

[misanthrope]

7. That's because the masking behavior you ascribe to liberals

is due to their empathy. Some of those not wearing masks are doing so in deliberate allegiance to Trump and political biases. Others just don't care. They have a "I'll do as I like" attitude that goes hand-in-hand with elevating self-interest above all else.

[Hortensis]

8. Empathy does affect moral reasoning, and perhaps has something

to do with comparatively independent, non-authoritarian attitudes.

And of course naturally callous people are given permission and cover to be themselves.

I'm also sure, though, that fear's involved somehow in anti-mask behaviors, along with the hostility and aggression that it breeds, because it always seems to be behind our worst behaviors. Most liberals at least tend to be far less motivated by both.

[misanthrope]

9. I also think the willingness to align with larger authority

varies according to the topic at hand. Conservatives in the Far West of the U.S. seem to blanche at federal authority pertaining to firearms, land usage or taxes. Liberals don't seem to mind federal authority when it comes to health care, social programs or environmental preservation.

[Hortensis]

11. Interesting and no doubt true, but how much of it is really just

loyalty to local ways and authorities? Western resistance to federal controls on land usage and taxes seem very similar to poor southern farmers' resistance to tariffs and attempts to limit slavery that only affected the wealthy and didn't take anything from them.

Liberals don't mind federal "authority" mainly because they don't view it as authority but rather as government of, by and for the people, being used by the people for their benefit (progressivism). Federal legislation is highly valued as a way to extend equality and other benefits to the whole nation. As do a lot of moderate conservatives who approve of progressive programs.

A huge difference from those strong cons who do regard the federal government as an oppressive external authority. Except when their leaders are in control, of course. Then they value its ability to extend "their" authority to the entire nation...

[onecaliberal]

3. If they're more concerned with family it still doesn't make sense. Especially if they're

“Christian”. In a parable the father has 50 sheep and leaves the 49 to find the one who wondered off. If the tribe doesn’t have food and healthcare and a place to live and a decent job, it’s all going to fall apart. Just my .2

[Buckeye_Democrat]

6. It would've likely been completely different if...

... the Trump administration, right-wing media and their church leaders had encouraged their use.

If Trump had framed it as necessary to combat an "outside threat" from China, like they intentionally created it to destroy our "freedom" or whatever, they would've been even more likely to wear them.

[betsuni]

10. I just realized something yesterday while shopping.

Usually at this time of year people are sniffing, sneezing, coughing. I'll be in a store and can't wait to escape before I catch whatever's going around, and usually do.

Everyone wears face masks where I live. This winter it's quiet! I haven't caught cold once this season and apparently most other people haven't either.