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This is really the reason why masks were common in Asia. Except Japan. But their pollution is a lot higher than ours. Pollution here in Barcelona is not high e

This is really the reason why masks were common in Asia. Except Japan. But their pollution is a lot higher than ours. Pollution here in Barcelona is not high enough that I'd consider wearing a mask for it. And the upcoming bans of old diesels and two stroke scooters will make things even better. I'll never get used to masks anyway. They'll always be an extreme annoyance. I wear them because it's mandatory and I agree right now they make sense. But as the pandemic turns endemic they have to stop. I'd rather live 10 years less than have to wear them for the rest of my life. Especially outside.

tonyedgecombe 5y ago
>Especially outside. Who wears masks outside? That's never been required in the UK.
- ben_w 5y ago
  I do. I have on most occasions throughout the pandemic, except last summer right after the second jab when I thought everything was finally over (and even then continued to wear them in crowded places). IIRC I only forgot 2 or 3 times even for solitary walks, and some of those were 5 hours long. To my ongoing confusion, me talking here about my intention to continue wearing masks beyond the point of it being needed resulted in someone going to my blog and posting a few abusive messages on an unrelated entry: https://kitsunesoftware.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/why-do-some-people-hate-masks/ https://kitsunesoftware.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/why-do-some... Ties though, I really don’t like wearing ties.
- GekkePrutser 5y ago
  Where I live in Spain it was mandatory again until last Friday and a lot of people still do..
BoxOfRain 5y ago
>I'll never get used to masks anyway. They'll always be an extreme annoyance. I'm definitely in this category, I can't stand the things and haven't worn one since the mandate in England ended. Something about blocking my mouth and nose is just a really unpleasant sensation, it's not the type of mask or the fit rather the essential nature of having something stuck to my face. I think a lot of people really downplayed just how unpleasant mask-wearing actually is for many, charitably this was for the greater good but now I think we have to be open about the downsides too. The pollution from plastic masks is a big issue too, lots of very long-lived litter that's pretty gross in the streets and bad for the marine environment where they eventually wash up into as well. I too would accept the greater risk of death than wear them for the rest of my days. I'm glad that in my country at least we're not letting this turn into the same kind of ritualistic safety theatre we've seen at airports for the last two decades.
- GekkePrutser 5y ago
  Thanks, it's really good to hear I'm not the only one. For me it feels like I'm choking after a while, like an hour or so (less when I talk or exercise). But it's also because I had a childhood disease where I actually almost choked for real several times. It brings the feeling back. Unfortunately I live in Spain where they have been really relaxed this wave but here they just love their masks. It's like virtue signaling and a feeling of safety for them I guess. They were even mandatory on the streets again and still are in shops and public transport, and work all day long. About 50% of people still wear them on the street. I really hope that they will relax it soon because I'm ready to find another country again. Too bad because until 2019 I was really happy here. It seems to be working totally fine in other countries which have stopped them completely and sometimes even have lower vaccination rates. I wouldn't care if they locked down 3 months a year but this masking is just so difficult :(

tonyedgecombe 5y ago

>Especially outside. Who wears masks outside? That's never been required in the UK.

ben_w 5y ago
I do. I have on most occasions throughout the pandemic, except last summer right after the second jab when I thought everything was finally over (and even then continued to wear them in crowded places). IIRC I only forgot 2 or 3 times even for solitary walks, and some of those were 5 hours long. To my ongoing confusion, me talking here about my intention to continue wearing masks beyond the point of it being needed resulted in someone going to my blog and posting a few abusive messages on an unrelated entry: https://kitsunesoftware.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/why-do-some-people-hate-masks/ https://kitsunesoftware.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/why-do-some... Ties though, I really don’t like wearing ties.
GekkePrutser 5y ago
Where I live in Spain it was mandatory again until last Friday and a lot of people still do..

BoxOfRain 5y ago

>I'll never get used to masks anyway. They'll always be an extreme annoyance. I'm definitely in this category, I can't stand the things and haven't worn one since the mandate in England ended. Something about blocking my mouth and nose is just a really unpleasant sensation, it's not the type of mask or the fit rather the essential nature of having something stuck to my face. I think a lot of people really downplayed just how unpleasant mask-wearing actually is for many, charitably this was for the greater good but now I think we have to be open about the downsides too. The pollution from plastic masks is a big issue too, lots of very long-lived litter that's pretty gross in the streets and bad for the marine environment where they eventually wash up into as well. I too would accept the greater risk of death than wear them for the rest of my days. I'm glad that in my country at least we're not letting this turn into the same kind of ritualistic safety theatre we've seen at airports for the last two decades.

GekkePrutser 5y ago
Thanks, it's really good to hear I'm not the only one. For me it feels like I'm choking after a while, like an hour or so (less when I talk or exercise). But it's also because I had a childhood disease where I actually almost choked for real several times. It brings the feeling back. Unfortunately I live in Spain where they have been really relaxed this wave but here they just love their masks. It's like virtue signaling and a feeling of safety for them I guess. They were even mandatory on the streets again and still are in shops and public transport, and work all day long. About 50% of people still wear them on the street. I really hope that they will relax it soon because I'm ready to find another country again. Too bad because until 2019 I was really happy here. It seems to be working totally fine in other countries which have stopped them completely and sometimes even have lower vaccination rates. I wouldn't care if they locked down 3 months a year but this masking is just so difficult :(