They're Vaccinated and Keeping Their Masks On, Maybe Forever

[Demovictory9]

They’re Vaccinated and Keeping Their Masks On, Maybe Forever
Face coverings have been a political flash point for more than a year. But now, the backlash is directed at people who don’t plan to take them off.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/nyregion/vaccinated-masks-cdc.html


oe Glickman has been wearing two masks and goggles for grocery runs — and said he planned to continue doing so for at least the next five years.Credit...Cindy Schultz for The New York Times

For people like Mr. Glickman, a combination of anxiety, murky information about new virus variants and the emergence of an obdurate and sizable faction of vaccine holdouts means mask-free life is on hold — possibly forever.

“I have no problem being one of the only people,” said Mr. Glickman, a professional photographer and musician from Albany, N.Y. “But I don’t think I’m going to be the only one.”

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But as more Americans become vaccinated and virus restrictions loosen, masks are at the center of a second round in the country’s culture brawl. This time, people who choose to continue to cover their faces have become targets of public ire.


In interviews, vaccinated people who continue to wear masks said they are increasingly under pressure, especially in recent days; friends and family have urged them to relax, or even have suggested that they are paranoid. On a recent trip to the grocery store, Mr. Glickman said he was stared down by a man who entered, unmasked.

“I’m confused,” the retired news anchor Dan Rather wrote on Twitter last week as backlash mounted on the platform to those still masked. “Why should people care if someone wants to wear a mask outside?”

[RegularJam]

1. I can't imagine making issue of someone wearing a mask.

Even before the pandemic.

The arguments have turned emotional and are often giving logic the middle finger.

[Siwsan]

3. Exactly!!

I'm fine going bare faced when I'm outside and not in a big crowd but I'll keep wearing a mask when I'm inside stores. 15 months with not a single head cold - that's a record, for me.

I've got a 'check up' in 3 weeks, and I'll DEFINITELY be wearing my mask for that occasion.

[AllaN01Bear]

2. twas trump and his idiots whom weaponized masks , the pandemic , and the vaccinations .

[pandr32]

12. +1

[NJCher]

27. yep

it didn't have to be this way.

If properly communicated, people could have seen this as their best bet for getting themselves and the country back to normal.

But no...Needy Amin had to gin up the situation.

I'll never forget him defiantly taking off his mask when he returned from the hospital from Covid. He whipped it off like some sort of Spanish bullfighter. I burst out laughing. Such a pathetic person.

[BobTheSubgenius]

43. It was like he was expecting an applause moment, wasn't it?

He actually struck a post.

[pandr32]

44. He thinks he's masculinity personified

He IS pathetic.

[Maru Kitteh]

4. So the "freedom people" of 'Murcia draw the line

at someone else having the freedom to wear their own mask as they see fit. So I guess it really wasn’t about freedom after all was it. Shocking.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

42. These fucking antimask

Assholes are all about controlling what other people do.

Every republican votes with glee when it means suffering for someone not like them,screwing over the poor,excusing abuse,pro death,and controlling what other people not like them,do.

Republicanism=
sociopathy.

[RockRaven]

5. If anyone bothers you about wearing a mask, remind them that your medical conditions are

none of their fucking business. Especially if it is a random person who doesn't know you.

And feel free to try and shame them (like asking "what kind of asshole bullies a cancer patient trying to protect themselves?" or other rhetorical questions).

[littlemissmartypants]

11. And maybe...

"Since you believe my medical history is you business, why don't you stay a while and tell me all about your medical history."

I'd be tempted to add, "I can already see that you have a bad case of stupid."

Or

"I bet there are a couple of venereal diseases you can share."

Probably not advisable to say anything. The loonies are out in force. Also, avoid eye contact. You don't want to traumatize yourself staring into soulless eyes.

[Voltaire2]

6. ok. Good for them.

I am not opposed to mask wearing, in fact I expect to be wearing one next fall and winter during flu and cold season.

[Ocelot II]

7. I'll probably wear one indoors if it's crowded, and when winter comes,

most of the time in public areas. It was kind of nice to go for a whole year without getting so much as a mild cold. And anyhow, why the fuck should anybody else care if I wear a mask? I can imagine a conversation like this:

Maskhole: Hey, liberal snowflake, why are you still wearing a mask?

Me: Why do you care?

Maskhole: Because it's stupid.

Me: And that hurts you exactly how?

Maskhole: It's just stupid.

Me: Do you care that I'm wearing a green shirt?

Maskhole: No, but that's different.

Me: Is it any of your business that I'm wearing a green shirt? Do you think you have the right to tell me what to wear?

Maskhole: No, but....

Me: So it's OK for me to wear a green shirt on my body but not to wear a mask on my face?

Maskhole: It's just different.

Me: What's different is that you're turning a simple public health measure into a political statement. Which means that you're a moron.

[aggiesal]

36. Whenever I confronted someone NOT wearing masks when they should have,

I get the response "No government is going to tell me what to wear."
I always follow up with, "You're wearing pants!"
Stare at them for about 5 seconds with that dumb look at their face,
then turn around and walk away.

[Politicub]

8. I kind of like wearing my mask in the grocery store and other indoor, public

places.

I’m fully-vaccinated, but am going to continue to be part of team mask for the foreseeable future.

[TraceNC]

9. Very easy reply to anyone harassing you about a mask.

Just calmly ask: “What do you know about my health that my doctor doesn’t?”

This doesn’t even have to be true. Just put them on the spot. They brought it up. Make them answer.

[underpants]

10. As others have noted - Masks were made an issue but Trump and his defenders

All of the opposition to science is just a continuation of refusing to admit that Trump failed miserably. A historic Clustertrump.

Oh and social distancing is no longer needed either according to the CDC. That’s not getting as much attention but people getting up close is going to really freak people out.

[comradebillyboy]

13. My wife will continue to wear a mask because

it does filter out dust and pollen. She has fewer sinus/allergy problems when she masks.

[NJCher]

30. I was raking leaves

and was told to put my mask on because as I raked up so much debris was flying into the air and some of it was going into the house.

If I did that raking, just imagine what a leaf blower would do. I don't and won't use one, but I did put my mask on for leaf raking and noticed I didn't sneeze.

[Mosby]

14. Wearing a mask all the time has public safety aspect

After covid, you won't be able to enter some businesses with a mask and sunglasses. Like banks, c-stores etc.

[Grokenstein]

38. When this all began, people were asked to pull masks down in such places.

I work in a secure area, so I've had to (briefly) yoink my double-masks down to confirm my ID to TSA throughout all this. Not a huge deal, as long as everyone's masked, and it shouldn't be a huge deal once the risk is reduced. (My workplace will continue to require masks for everyone until at least mid-September per federal and local mandates.)

Similarly, it shouldn't be a huge deal to pull one's mask back up inside banks and such, once all the cameras have had a look. We've been going masked for over a year, businesses should have anticipated the eventual transition. But I'm sure this will ultimately have to be hashed out in court, because everything does.

[MuseRider]

15. What if they or their kid or parent

has cancer and they are immunosuppressed? There are any number of reasons a person would wear a mask. We saw it before the pandemic but nobody really noticed because nobody cared, you did what you did.

Do we really have to bow down to the dumbest, cruelest, clueless people on the planet just to keep them from getting their feelings hurt or so they can feel like big, important people? Who spoiled these brats so much that whatever their moron master said let them think they owned the rest of us?

Fuck them. I have not seen much mask anger around here but I will be ready with my phone at hand. These assholes need to pay for their bullying of people trying to take care of themselves.

[peggysue2]

16. Had my teeth cleaned today

My dentist is still observing protocol. Temperature before you come in and mask requirements. I'm fully vaccinated but intend to continue masking until the the incident rate is down to 20,000 or below.

My face, my choice.

Btw, I was in Costco and Walmart over the weekend. About half of the customers at Costco were masked and surprisingly about three quarters at Walmart. Both stores have dropped the mandate.

[Texaswitchy]

17. I am wearing my mask because I am 67.

Hell to pay if someone gets into my face about it.

Let everyone live their own life.

Go hug anybody you want.

Go into as many crowds as you want.

My allergies have been almost nothing thanks to my mask.

I am switching to two paper masks because the summer nothing else will change.

Live and let live.

Peace.

[Budi]

19. YES!! Texas pollen is high here, all 4 seasons of every year.

Its now called a Pollen Mask.

[Texaswitchy]

23. I have two really good air cleaners in the house.

Outside it the mask or pills.

I am tired of taking pills.

[Budi]

18. Living in Tx, I now wear a Pollen Mask

After suffering from high pollen allergies since I moved here, I realize my chronic sinus infections & sinus headaches from the constant pollen producing allergies of my geographical area No Longer Exist Because I Wear A Mask.

I haven't taken allergy meds since I began wearing a mask. They can sit in my med cabinet forever. Masking is healthier, cheaper & It Works!!

Among all the reasons to wear a mask, this one is the most obvious.
Seasonal allergy free ~

[NYC Liberal]

32. I started taking my mask off outside after I got my second shot

and within a day or two I started having seasonal allergy symptoms. Didn't have any at all last year around this time when I was wearing the mask the entire time I went outside. In fact, I wasn't sick once last year -- normally I at least come down with a cold a few times.

I've gotten used to wearing it; I might just keep it. Maybe I won't wear it 100% of the time, but maybe most of the time.

[Budi]

37. Yup. Same here.

Winter is actially the worse for my allergies due to seasonal Cedar pollen.

Which I never ever knew about till moving to N Tx.
Its become quite an eye opener to think a pollen mask could prevent much of those endless allergies, alone.
Then there's flu & colds that come with every season as well.

We all have the absolute right to choose how we keep ourselves healthy.

[Dial H For Hero]

20. I won't be wearing masks in the future except where required, but the idea of a backlash against

those who wear them voluntarily is beyond absurd.

[Grokenstein]

39. trumpkin: "Beyond absurd" means "MAGA!"

"Gotta nuke sumpin'!"

[CrispyQ]

21. I'm going to get a mask that reads: I wear this mask so you don't think I'm a republican.

I stole that & you can too.

[kairos12]

22. Awaiting results of COVID test.

Will be my standard line.

[Marthe48]

24. For now, I'm masking

I got my Moderna vaccinations in March and April, and observed the 2 weeks that the 2nd one needed to be effective. I have been inside 2 stores and the bank since then. And wore my mask and gloves. And did my decontamination routine. I hugged my grandkids and daughter for the first time since Mother's Day 2020.

I went to an outside concert at my grandkid's school. Hardly anyone was masked. I decided to skip the inside Grandparent's Day tea. Unfortunately, the school has a majority of r's and I was afraid I'd get more than tea and cookies. Since Mother's Day, I went through a drive through to play lottery and I didn't wear a mask. Today, I went to a nearby farm and picked strawberries. Since it was outside, I didn't wear a mask. Baby steps.

reagan told us that russia was now our friend. After my lifetime of being told that russia was the bad guy, I was slow to embrace the new outlook. Recent events have proved that my caution was justified. russian government is an enemy you can see, and you know when they do damage. I can't see the virus. I can only do what I can to avoid being harmed. I had pneumonia 3 maybe 4 times since 2012 to 2016. The bout in 2016 was really bad, even though I haven't been hospitalized for any of the illnesses. If I felt that bad with a moderate case, believe me when I say that I have no desire to experience a case of Covid-19.

I'm keeping track of the news and a lot of more recent news about the vaccine effectiveness is heartening, but I'm content to keep using delivery, curbside, online stores and so on. I'm going to miss out on things, and I might regret my caution. But maybe I won't.

[TXPaganBanker]

25. I'm wearing mine forever.

My surgeon, oncologist and I have decided to call it. I'm a terminal cancer patient. Being immunocompromised, I'd like to stay "not dead" for as long as possible. I got big red masks printed with the Medalert logo on one side and "CANCER PATIENT" in the biggest letters possible on the other. If it helps keep me from being sick and gets people to back up while I'm wearing it, it's a double win.

[Marthe48]

26. Good luck to you

every day you are a live is a fresh chance of a breakthrough.

Love your description of your mask

[ShazzieB]

28. I will be wearing a mask to the grocery store for the foreseeable future. 😷

I am allergic to scented products. They make me sneeze, make my eyes water and my nose run, any time I am in an environment that sells lots of smelly things, like laundry detergent, air freshener, cleaning products, the last goes on and on. Needless to say, grocery stores stock a LOT of such products.

A few months into the pandemic, it dawned on me that I had not needed to blow my nose while grocery shopping in ages, unlike in the past when I had to do it repeatedly, starting almost the minute I walked in the door. Thanks to wearing a mask, I no longer have this problem. No more constant digging through my purse looking for more tissues because the last one is disintegrating, no more squinting though watery eyes trying to read labels, etc., and it's GREAT.

Because of this, I will happily continue to mask in the supermarket, even after covid19 is a blip in the rear view mirror. 😷

[aggiesal]

29. Also, CDC did not say we could go maskless ...

their guideline is, if you're FULLY vaccinated you don't need to wear masks indoors or outdoors.

Because masks have been politicized, who in this forum doesn't believe that those who went maskless, prior to the vaccine, haven't been vaccinated?

The honor system won't work, because only about 33% have ben vaccinated.
We're just asking for trouble.

[NightWatcher]

31. '20-'21 broke everyone. I sobbed knowing I was going to die when this came out (Lupus, RA, ..)

If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, even if it's just as a crutch or like a safety blanket, I don't care. It's been rough .We all need a little ( or a lot) of emotional support.

We were told that the only thing that would save us was a mask and then overnight they said "no masks needed anymore". It takes a little time to adjust.

I am not faulting anyone. I know people who still refuse to leave their homes and they've gotten their vaccines.


I also sobbed when I got my shot, knowing that I might not die.

Peace

[Demobrat]

33. I will wear masks indoors as long as

employees where I do business are required to wear masks. When their masks come off so do mine. I consider it a sign of respect for the fact that they are there working, as they have been throughout this nightmare.

[Sprite]

34. I will always wear a mask on trains, planes and crowded places

It protects against variants, the flu, colds, strep throat, etc. I don't know why we did not think of it sooner!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

35. I wore a mask yo the grocery store yesterday

[jaxexpat]

40. As we go forth shopping and EATING OUT in our new found freedom I notice something.

We still wear masks and will continue to do so until something, perhaps esoteric, recommends we cease. But even in our enclave burgeoning with plenty of the FOX news addicts we've seen no actual lessening of mask adherence. Quite the contrary in fact.

I have a theory and it goes like this. These people are so Pavlovian, so knee-jerk suspicious of anything and everything from the federal government that they are purposely donning their masks (some for the first time) to "show them libtards they're not falling for some librul fake president telling them it's safe".

Could this really be a thing? Stranger things have happened. Stay tuned. Another possibility is that some people are just now coming out of their houses for the first time since February 2020. Can't be sure. Don't speak groundhog.

[Solly Mack]

41. I'll continue to wear mine and anyone with a problem w/ it can go fuck themselves.