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The Surgeon General said back in March that wearing masks increases the chance of spreading covid because people aren't trained on how to use them correctly and

by dx87 6y ago

The Surgeon General said back in March that wearing masks increases the chance of spreading covid because people aren't trained on how to use them correctly and it gives them a false sense of security. https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/02/health/surgeon-general-coronavirus-masks-risk-trnd/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/02/health/surgeon-general-corona...

klyrs 6y ago
Yes, that was a concern back in March. Back in March, when we had very little understanding of transmission and when hospitals were facing dire mask shortages. What has the surgeon general said since then? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-surgeon-general-jerome-adams-wearing-masks-face-the-nation/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-surgeon-general-jer... Are people on HN actually too stupid to learn how to properly wear a mask in 8 months time? I don't believe that. I think that each of us is smart enough to do that research and train ourselves.
- gnusty_gnurc 6y ago
  You can characterize what you’re saying to simply: “just comply, citizen” That attitude is precisely what’s wrong with this situation. An elite who’s prescribing technocrat-informed decisions instead of offering balanced and neutral scientific conclusions. Meanwhile you can point to a long line of completely wrong technocratic advice during the pandemic. Always make sure you’re able to say “I might be completely wrong.”
  - klyrs 6y ago
    Yes, you can point at a long line of mistakes. Wiser minds focus on possible solutions, when they exist, and mitigations when they don't. Masks are shown to be effective mitigations. You're being asked to understand the evidence at hand, and make a best effort to participate in the mitigation. Not to comply on blind faith. And sure, I accept that I, and other scientists, make mistakes. To err is human. What about you?

by dx87 6y ago

klyrs 6y ago

Yes, that was a concern back in March. Back in March, when we had very little understanding of transmission and when hospitals were facing dire mask shortages. What has the surgeon general said since then? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-surgeon-general-jerome-adams-wearing-masks-face-the-nation/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-surgeon-general-jer... Are people on HN actually too stupid to learn how to properly wear a mask in 8 months time? I don't believe that. I think that each of us is smart enough to do that research and train ourselves.

gnusty_gnurc 6y ago
You can characterize what you’re saying to simply: “just comply, citizen” That attitude is precisely what’s wrong with this situation. An elite who’s prescribing technocrat-informed decisions instead of offering balanced and neutral scientific conclusions. Meanwhile you can point to a long line of completely wrong technocratic advice during the pandemic. Always make sure you’re able to say “I might be completely wrong.”
- klyrs 6y ago
  Yes, you can point at a long line of mistakes. Wiser minds focus on possible solutions, when they exist, and mitigations when they don't. Masks are shown to be effective mitigations. You're being asked to understand the evidence at hand, and make a best effort to participate in the mitigation. Not to comply on blind faith. And sure, I accept that I, and other scientists, make mistakes. To err is human. What about you?