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anethum wrote

i still wear a mask when i go out because it enables me to look at reflective surfaces
(i'm lucky that i don't suffer from jaw problems or even ear problems with well-made masks, wearing it for a long time)

i live in a physically and socially cramped space (higher danger of transmission!) but coming into close contact with tens of people everyday, who smile at you and are generally nice to you at no cost, while having the "everyone else is a selfish asshole" mindset, is just psychologically untenable

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flabberghaster OP wrote

while having the "everyone else is a selfish asshole" mindset, is just psychologically untenable

Hard to draw any other conclusion

During the early part of the pandemic, everyone was saying "we're all in this together! Social distance, wear a mask, you're supposed to protect other people!" It was a great outpouring of support for collective action. It was wonderful.

But almost the minute the vaccines became available, people immediately shifted to saying, "oh, I'm safe from it, I don't need it. If you're vulnerable, I don't mind if you wear a mask but I am safe from it." Or "I already had it, so I don't mind."

While everyone felt they were in danger, it was a collective action problem that we all had to protect each other. As soon as people felt like they personally were safe from it, suddenly everyone else's health was their problem, don't tread on me.

The mask came off, literally.

I don't think people are inherently selfish, I just think we live in a poisonous, atomized and individualistic culture where thinking about others or taking steps to protect others at minor expense to yourself is just an alien concept to most people due to our upbringing.

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