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> for some reason They recommend against wearing medical to help cull the shortage, and they recommend against wearing non-medical because they can provide a f

> for some reason They recommend against wearing medical to help cull the shortage, and they recommend against wearing non-medical because they can provide a false sense of security, especially when worn incorrectly. Both very good reasons, IMO. I just assume that anyone wearing a mask is doing so because they're infected, as per the recommendations, and I'm giving them a wide berth.

dumbfounder 7y ago
Yes, but the messaging is not consistent which leads to public distrust, which might actually be worse. Don't wear masks, they don't help! But we need them because they do actually help! It's obviously not that simple but that's the way it's being perceived.
- stronglikedan 7y ago
  > which leads to public distrust Maybe a minority, as there will always be, but I think most people are aware of the difference between medical and non-medical masks, and feel the messaging is consistent.
  - anon102010 7y ago
    Definitely not - instead of emphasizing production the US has had this horrible no mask message - likely resulting in deaths
analog31 7y ago
>>> ...and I'm giving them a wide berth. Another reason to wear a mask.
- stronglikedan 7y ago
  Non-medical masks don't keep stuff out. They just keep stuff in, so the only reason to wear it is to not spread your water droplets when you sneeze or cough. Medical masks keep stuff out, but are in short supply. I think I'm helping more by going with the recommendations and not wearing a mask. Some people feel better wearing them, and that's fine too.
  - JoeAltmaier 7y ago
    I'm not so good with spreading my own potential risk around. It's essentially selfish to not wear a mask because 'it can't help me'. Further, just yesterday on HN, there was a post about how a University study of airplane travelers showed mask-wearers got both benefits - they rarely caught anything and rarely infected anyone, even with the simplest masks.
  - anandoza 7y ago
    I think you might have misunderstood the parent comment (since your reply is somewhat of a non sequitur). My interpretation was that "if I wear a mask, then people will assume I'm infected and give me space, which is actually just better for me regardless of the mask's direct efficacy".
  - anon102010 7y ago
    False - hand to nose mouth contact is THE primary vector for this illness - masks are very effective in reducing this. Please stop spreading misinformation as it could lead to deaths.
    - stronglikedan 7y ago
      I'm not spreading misinformation. Most people don't bother to wear the masks correctly, and they provide a false sense of security and overconfidence.
      - analog31 7y ago
        Is the overconfidence documented anywhere, in terms of its effect? Is the problem avoided by having a reasonable sense of security?
    - lecanucker 7y ago
      > hand to nose mouth contact is THE primary vector for this illness Do you have a source for this? It's contrary to most of what I've read (droplets through air is primary vector).
spoovy 7y ago
I'd disagree with the false sense of security line. Why would someone who cares enough to go to the effort of wearing a mask then go and not wash their hands? A positive correlation between the two seems more likely than negative to me. Also this argument is trotted out regularly by "experts" in the car manufacturing industry whenever new safety technology is invented and as far as I can tell is always proven years later to be bullshit. For examples see seat belts, air bags, traction control, ABS, AWD.
throwaway32120 7y ago
I've seen no evidence that masks give people a false sense of security. If anything, it seems to be the opposite. People report that when they wear masks, people move away from them, and employers have asked them not to wear them because they might make the customers feel unsafe. They're a giant reminder that things aren't normal and that we're in the middle of a massive pandemic. This is a good thing. If mask use becomes mandatory, will there still be groups of people standing in the middle of supermarket shouting to each other? Sure, just like there are now. The difference is those people will at least have masks on.
lonelappde 7y ago
Not good reason. Lying to people to try to manipulate their presumed stupidity for their own good doesn't work. We went through this with the malarkey around claiming "advising abstinence is safer than offering condoms for STD protection"

dumbfounder 7y ago

Yes, but the messaging is not consistent which leads to public distrust, which might actually be worse. Don't wear masks, they don't help! But we need them because they do actually help! It's obviously not that simple but that's the way it's being perceived.

stronglikedan 7y ago
> which leads to public distrust Maybe a minority, as there will always be, but I think most people are aware of the difference between medical and non-medical masks, and feel the messaging is consistent.
- anon102010 7y ago
  Definitely not - instead of emphasizing production the US has had this horrible no mask message - likely resulting in deaths

analog31 7y ago

>>> ...and I'm giving them a wide berth. Another reason to wear a mask.

stronglikedan 7y ago
Non-medical masks don't keep stuff out. They just keep stuff in, so the only reason to wear it is to not spread your water droplets when you sneeze or cough. Medical masks keep stuff out, but are in short supply. I think I'm helping more by going with the recommendations and not wearing a mask. Some people feel better wearing them, and that's fine too.
- JoeAltmaier 7y ago
  I'm not so good with spreading my own potential risk around. It's essentially selfish to not wear a mask because 'it can't help me'. Further, just yesterday on HN, there was a post about how a University study of airplane travelers showed mask-wearers got both benefits - they rarely caught anything and rarely infected anyone, even with the simplest masks.
- anandoza 7y ago
  I think you might have misunderstood the parent comment (since your reply is somewhat of a non sequitur). My interpretation was that "if I wear a mask, then people will assume I'm infected and give me space, which is actually just better for me regardless of the mask's direct efficacy".
- anon102010 7y ago
  False - hand to nose mouth contact is THE primary vector for this illness - masks are very effective in reducing this. Please stop spreading misinformation as it could lead to deaths.
  - stronglikedan 7y ago
    I'm not spreading misinformation. Most people don't bother to wear the masks correctly, and they provide a false sense of security and overconfidence.
    - analog31 7y ago
      Is the overconfidence documented anywhere, in terms of its effect? Is the problem avoided by having a reasonable sense of security?
  - lecanucker 7y ago
    > hand to nose mouth contact is THE primary vector for this illness Do you have a source for this? It's contrary to most of what I've read (droplets through air is primary vector).

spoovy 7y ago

I'd disagree with the false sense of security line. Why would someone who cares enough to go to the effort of wearing a mask then go and not wash their hands? A positive correlation between the two seems more likely than negative to me. Also this argument is trotted out regularly by "experts" in the car manufacturing industry whenever new safety technology is invented and as far as I can tell is always proven years later to be bullshit. For examples see seat belts, air bags, traction control, ABS, AWD.

throwaway32120 7y ago

I've seen no evidence that masks give people a false sense of security. If anything, it seems to be the opposite. People report that when they wear masks, people move away from them, and employers have asked them not to wear them because they might make the customers feel unsafe. They're a giant reminder that things aren't normal and that we're in the middle of a massive pandemic. This is a good thing. If mask use becomes mandatory, will there still be groups of people standing in the middle of supermarket shouting to each other? Sure, just like there are now. The difference is those people will at least have masks on.

lonelappde 7y ago

Not good reason. Lying to people to try to manipulate their presumed stupidity for their own good doesn't work. We went through this with the malarkey around claiming "advising abstinence is safer than offering condoms for STD protection"