I did as well, briefly, in October when my youngest got fully vaxxed. And I stopped worrying about getting sick in crowded places. But with winter and Omicron, house rules got tighter so I got back into the habit of wearing masks. Though I tend to be more lax around friends than I used to be. Besides, I had family come in for Christmas, and they weren't going to be able to fly home (internationally) if they tested positive for Covid, so I was trying to be extra careful for them. But that's over, and this Omicron surge should be relenting soon, so I'll be going back to my maskless ways soon. The news is telling me to increase my protection with N95s now, but I'm not seeing a compelling argument.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brigha...tQTi7Ob4aTlUKsDztCotPmxRveRMiQMAGQSJOEuhDDyAY His body, his choice to die. DD
I only wear a mask when it’s a requirement like on flights…other than that, I am done with wearing masks and have been for a long time I also stopped worrying about being in large gatherings or crowded places a long time ago as well…I’m doing me, I couldn’t take putting my life on hold anymore
I generally wear a mask when I leave my home, unless I'm walking outdoors, in my car, eating, or I'm visiting other known people in their homes. Haven't really changed that practice since middle of 2020. I've kind of gotten used to it, and I'm not much a socializer anyway so it hasn't been too difficult personally. I did attend a wedding a few months ago, and no one was wearing a mask, so I admit I didn't wear a mask then so as not to stick out or make people nervous that I might be the one who is sick. I wouldn't have had any problem wearing one if even a small percentage of the other attendees were doing so.
I live in Florida, not too many people are wearing masks. I pity the people that got scared straight by the Keebler Elf and are wearing their face muzzle 24/7 for the last 2 years.
Well this looks quaint in retrospect. I didn't account for mutations, specifically mutations that increased virality but decreased lethality (also dumb to not have forseen that). I pretty much stopped wearing a mask, unless asked/required, after my 2nd dose this Summer. But then when things started going haywire this winter, I started masking again a lot more often. Even though it felt kind of futile, if I was going somewhere I would be in close proximity to others, it felt like the responsible thing to do. A bad flu strain is still nothing to joke around with and making sure at least *some* of what was coming out of my face stopped at the doorstep was the right thing to do. It bothers me how masking became such a tribal exercise and a political totem. My wife and I masked at highly varying rates (she masked nearly 100% of the time around others) over the past year and we largely respected each other's personal choice in the matter and always respected the requests of those whom we were guests to. The anti-vaxx movement was expected and predictably dumb, but the mask thing felt like America was just projecting its pre-existing divisions onto something convenient and tangible. One thing I am absolutely ready for is for my kid to stop having to wear a mask at pre-school. I understood why this was necessary before the vaccine. But now that the teachers are (or had the chance to get) vaxxed, it's time to take the masks off of the little ones. Ages 2-5 are critical social and emotional development ages and so far my kid has spent 2 of those years wearing a mask and looking at everyone else wearing a mask. I feel like we might be accidentally raising a giant crop of potential sociopaths.
That's funny. Through this pandemic, one thing I notice is kids adapt so much faster than adults. They are awesome and will be fine. And with a good role model like you, they are more than likely will be just fine.
I hope so. Kids need to interact with other kids and adults though. The entire pandemic most other kids have been told to stay away from each other. And they need to see their facial expressions, too. I'm not joking about how critical this is. Once the window for social/emotional development is over, it's gone for good, and you never recover. The studies on this are crystal clear. Limiting social interaction in the 2-5 age range is a guaranteed proven way to create maladjusted adults.
Just got back from CDMX and was shocked and impressed that almost everyone wore a mask. Here in Brooklyn, hardly anyone wears one. As for me, I’m vaxed, boosted and have recovered from Covid a few times. I only wear a mask when obligated.
I'm not sure what studies are crystal clear about this... ?? But remember that also they are home with you. I don't think you have them masked and you masked at home... hope not .
FWIW, data seem to show all our cloth masks (and I have several I have "liked" more than medical and N95's) are basically useless/pointless with omicron. (shrug). I have to be in a hospital more often than I would like, for my wife, so I've been masking a lot both to help protect her but, more likely, to protect others since I've been in relatively high-risk environments. I really hate masks. But of the good options, I like the KN94 type out of Korea. I noticed all these nurses wearing them, so I got some of them. Much more comfortable and supposedly fairly effective.
I don't know about the maladjustment, we'll have to wait on that one, but speech problems are a current thing among toddlers.
I suspect I got covid from eating at a restaurant. I don't mind wearing a mask to make others feel comfortable, but there is a large theatre aspect that you can't shake off. I don't like wearing masks while walking outdoors either. It's cumbersome. I reuse surgical masks 4-5 times.
