Mask force: London's five centuries of face coverings

BBC ^ | 2021-02-22 | Bethan Bell

[LordOddsocks]

Once limited to bank robbers, eccentric pop stars and health-conscious (and conscientious) Japanese tourists, the wearing of face masks in public is now common enough to be dubbed "the new normal". Normal it might be - but it's not new. From the Black Death to the suffocating smog, traffic pollution to the threat of gas attacks, face coverings have been worn by Londoners for the past 500-odd years. Although the very earliest masks were used to disguise, donning a protective (rather than costume) mask dates back to at least the 6th Century BC. Images of people wearing cloth over their mouths were found on the doors of Persian tombs. According to Marco Polo, servants in 13th Century China covered their faces with woven scarves. The idea was that the emperor did not want their breath affecting the smell and taste of his food. Charming.

[LordOddsocks]

Now we are being prepared for more Farce Masking.

[knarf]

[C210N]

That's funny. Went to the article, and found not one instance of the word 'slave'.

Slaves wear masks so that they can be seen and not heard by their masters.

[ronnie raygun]

convincing the masses that wearing masks protect you from disease worked. Even though it didn’t.

[Gay State Conservative]

I've visited Japan a half dozen times (all of which were in winter),the most recent visit being about 5 years ago.

I was always amazed by how many people in Tokyo would wear masks.