Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

No mandate needed: Voluntary mask-wearing gains cultural foothold in post-COVID America
The Washington Times ^ | Tuesday, November 21, 2023 | Tom Howell Jr.

Posted on 11/22/2023 8:43:24 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

The American population is looking more like Asians, with voluntary face masking as people go about their daily routines.

Rates of COVID-19 are manageable, normal life has resumed and mandates are gone, with few exceptions at discrete businesses or schools. Yet masks have gained a foothold in American society, a remarkable change after face coverings sparked public spats and questions about cultural acceptance.

“Masks are at least acceptable, even though they are not widely employed,” said William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University. “At the moment, there’s a segment of the population that is very interested in health, very interested in prevention. I think they tend to be older.”

Mask use is not as ubiquitous as it was at the height of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and 2021. Still, it is not unusual to see a smattering of people wearing masks at grocery stores, at indoor concerts or on commuter trains.

Ray Meeks regularly wears a black mask with his green cap and fluorescent jacket as he works as a crossing guard at a busy intersection in Maplewood, New Jersey. He caught COVID-19 in 2021 and would like to avoid a repeat.

“It wasn’t nice,” Mr. Meeks said. “I’m 70 years old and, you know, I guess it’s easy for my immune system to be compromised.”

A KFF survey taken this month found that 30% of Americans would consider wearing masks in crowded places when asked about COVID-19 precautions for the colder months.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: covid; culture; masks
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last

1 posted on 11/22/2023 8:43:24 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

It must be a regional thing. I rarely see masks where I live.


2 posted on 11/22/2023 8:47:48 PM PST by Allegra (Stop the Zeepers from Censoring FReepers - Free Extremely Extreme Extremist! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

I see the occasional maskhole. But I live in a college town.


3 posted on 11/22/2023 8:50:41 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

Don’t see them here, either.
Saw two this year, obviously from out of state.


4 posted on 11/22/2023 8:50:42 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I’m in favor of non mandatory masking. It let’s me know who to think of as a coward and imbecile.


5 posted on 11/22/2023 8:52:12 PM PST by EEGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

We just laugh at them in private.


6 posted on 11/22/2023 8:52:14 PM PST by scott7278 (Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
I see the occasional maskhole. But I live in a college town.

I do too, but it’s in Texas. 😏

The students were mostly eschewing masks during the 2021 football season when they were “required” in the stadium. The powers that be tended to look the other way.

7 posted on 11/22/2023 8:55:44 PM PST by Allegra (Stop the Zeepers from Censoring FReepers - Free Extremely Extreme Extremist! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

There are a few near where I live, mostly elderly, Karen wish types and freaked out 20 somethings.

Now I am surprised to see them, as it seems silly.


8 posted on 11/22/2023 8:56:31 PM PST by madison10 (He watching over Israel slumbers not, nor sleeps.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EEGator

“I’m in favor of non mandatory masking. It lets me know who to think of as a coward and imbecile.”
Yep, let’s us know who the libtards are without them saying a word.


9 posted on 11/22/2023 8:58:22 PM PST by wjcsux (On 3/14/1883 Karl Marx gave humanity his best gift, he died. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: scott7278

The Pali sympathizers wore masks at the Yale-Harvard Game to hide their identity.

They tossed vulgarity at anyone who contradicted them. Lots of cops and yellow

jacketed field security present and excessive announcements to stay off the field.


10 posted on 11/22/2023 8:59:04 PM PST by Surrounded_too (Low priority)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
a remarkable change after face coverings sparked public spats and questions about cultural acceptance

Oh, it was about “cultural acceptance”, was it?

Huh. And here I thought it was about stupid, ignorant, tyranny. And I guess fighting about freedom is just a “spat”.

11 posted on 11/22/2023 9:00:07 PM PST by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: scott7278

I start hacking profusely near them.


12 posted on 11/22/2023 9:01:48 PM PST by Right Brother (Pray for God's intervention to stop UMCRevMom's invasion of Free Republic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I will never forget seeing a photo of a woman walking through an airport wearing a hazmat suit.

It’s obvious you can scare people into believing absolute nonsense and control their minds with so much fear, they become mindless globs of Jello.


13 posted on 11/22/2023 9:04:15 PM PST by Gnome1949
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

No mandate, just fidiots.


14 posted on 11/22/2023 9:04:29 PM PST by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Eh, who cares as long as it’s not mandatory.

And depending on the time of year, some people may use masks for allergies.


15 posted on 11/22/2023 9:04:48 PM PST by Fury
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

>> The American population is looking more like Asians, with voluntary face masking as people go about their daily routines.

Especially when their “daily routines” involve rioting, looting, “mostly peaceful protests”, and such lawlessness.


16 posted on 11/22/2023 9:05:24 PM PST by Nervous Tick ("First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people...": ISLAM is the problem!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Virtue signalling by idiots who are the last people I’d want to see survive a pandemic.


17 posted on 11/22/2023 9:06:23 PM PST by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Golden suburbs of Des Moines, very rare masking. Urban Des Moines, lots of masking.


18 posted on 11/22/2023 9:07:02 PM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fury

>> Eh, who cares as long as it’s not mandatory.

I basically agree with that, except when a public-facing person insists on wearing a mask and because of the mask I can’t understand what they’re saying. We were not designed by our Creator to relate face to face while wearing masks!


19 posted on 11/22/2023 9:08:13 PM PST by Nervous Tick ("First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people...": ISLAM is the problem!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

“I think they tend to be older.”

I think they tend to be liberals.


20 posted on 11/22/2023 9:08:30 PM PST by doorgunner69 (When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson