Exactly. I don't care if you mask. I'm going to keep masking in certain situations. Fine, it's all fine.
The morality tied to masks now is ridiculous. If people can't tell that you (general) aren't a Trumper in other ways besides a mask then perhaps buy a Pride pin or something to assuage your (general) feelings of inadequacy? (But also, please don't do that.)
LOL.
I have some otherwise very intelligent/educated friends who have been borderline agonizing about wishing they could wear pins or badges or something to show that they are, in fact, vaccinated, before going out in public without a mask. And I just....*head explodes*
I mean, I joke about wearing a Vaccinated AF t-shirt when I go out but at the end of the day, I know I’m following the expert guidance. That’s enough for me. But it’s still nerve-wracking, I can’t lie lol.
Can we stop with the ‘masks as virtue signaling’ bullshit?
Yes, I ‘m vaxed. Yes, I wear masks. Half my family cannot get vaxed. As long as that is true, I will wear masks so that they aren’t the only ones. Making them feel included matters much more to me than the feelings of some random busybody policing my clothing choices.
This is like bitching that someone else not drinking at a bar makes you feel guilty about your cocktail. Maybe they have a reason. Maybe that’s just what they prefer. Get over yourself.
This is fine.
The thing that's not fine, which I think people are having a hard time giving up, is the extension of masks saying, "Look, I'm a good person, I'm wearing a mask!" It's the equivalent of #notallwhitewomen
We did our parts. Now it's time to move on.
Wait, what about the @ kids who can't be vaccinated? Our state still has a mask mandate and no one really complains. This is the first I've heard of virtue signaling so I wasn't sure what it meant. Do you have an issue with people still wearing masks? I'm so confused.
The thing that's not fine, which I think people are having a hard time giving up, is the extension of masks saying, "Look, I'm a good person, I'm wearing a mask!" It's the equivalent of #notallwhitewomen
We did our parts. Now it's time to move on.
Wait, what about the @ kids who can't be vaccinated? Our state still has a mask mandate and no one really complains. This is the first I've heard of virtue signaling so I wasn't sure what it meant. Do you have an issue with people still wearing masks? I'm so confused.
I have some otherwise very intelligent/educated friends who have been borderline agonizing about wishing they could wear pins or badges or something to show that they are, in fact, vaccinated, before going out in public without a mask. And I just....*head explodes*
I mean, I joke about wearing a Vaccinated AF t-shirt when I go out but at the end of the day, I know I’m following the expert guidance. That’s enough for me. But it’s still nerve-wracking, I can’t lie lol.
I'm getting here...but I haven't quite worked up my nerve yet and found myself clinging to my mask this weekend at the last second. Combination of anxiety about my naked face, plus I walked by a giant TRUMP stickered truck in the parking lot and it made me feel angry. I vow to do better next time because, at this point, I think I am ready to try and follow health and safety guidelines over my emotions.
RT, I'm not trying to @ you, I'm just confused as to what the issue is. Isn't that what the CDC said, that if you are fully vaccinated, you don't have to wear masks in indoor, non-crowded settings?
For reference, I am vaxxed, I still wear masks when I go out anywhere in public, and I wear one during all hours I am physically at my work site (building policy).
ETA: I am not comfortable ditching the mask yet. I am in NoVA like a PP said and yes we do love our masks, lol.
Actually the CDC says
“If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.”
This is not a black and white issue for many people. It feels like everyone is treating it that way and it is incredibly frustrating.
If that’s you, then you should choose to do whatever makes you comfortable, including continuing to mask up. But you can’t judge others for not wearing a mask when the CDC says they’re protected.
It is INSANE. On our neighborhood Facebook page people are still being shamed for not wearing a mask OUTDOORS. Because if you aren't wearing a mask outdoors you clearly don't care about the people who have died. And you could be another non-vaccinated anti-masker. And you shouldn't be on the sidewalk. It's crazy.
For some people, masks have honestly become the liberal version of a MAGA hat. And that is sad.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY that people can't have perfectly valid reasons for wanting to continue to wear them. You do you, etc. We all have our individual circumstances/differing personal comfort levels and that's fine. I still wear my mask when doing so feels right to me under the circumstances. I don't care what choices people make on an individual level.
But to say there is absolutely zero tribalism behind it at this point ignores what is going on.
I did and I'm still confused. Your post says both "you do you" and "masks have become the liberal version of a Maga hat." Is the issue that people are talking about wearing a mask? Tribalism? What? I'm sorry if I'm being obtuse but I really dont' get it. Is it a regional thing?
I definitely got shamed by a woman while I was outside my house with my dog the other day. I didn’t have my mask on and she told me I should be masked up. I also still have acquaintances who are super liberal- or leftists- and it’s definitely become a symbol of who they are. They’re still shaming people for “going out to brunch” because it’s putting peoples lives at risk for a mimosa.
I don’t care if anyone wears a mask forever. H still wears one, I’ll wear one every winter simply because it keeps my face warm, but the shaming people is getting ridiculous.
I'm not ready to give up my mask quite yet even though I'm vaccinated and my state no longer has a mask mandate. Part of this is because I'm anxious in general and this whole year has messed with my head by checking many of my "worst case scenario" boxes. I have decided I will continue to wear my mask for a month and look at the data.
I'm meeting with about 20 people tomorrow at work and we have been told that masks are mandatory if you're unvaccinated. I'm sure that I will be judged for wearing a mask and it will not reflect well on me.
I did and I'm still confused. Your post says both "you do you" and "masks have become the liberal version of a Maga hat." Is the issue that people are talking about wearing a mask? Tribalism? What? I'm sorry if I'm being obtuse but I really dont' get it. Is it a regional thing?
Key words: “for some people.”
I’m repeating myself now, but SOME people are obsessing over continuing to wear masks because of how it makes them look/appear to others and what it signals to other people. Not because they have personal circumstances that dictate it (e.g., @ reasons, health reasons, true personal comfort reasons, rates of vaccinations/cases in the community, etc, etc.).
That is what virtue signaling is. I mean, Google it?
I guess I just don't know how you would differentiate why other people are wearing masks without judging them because otherwise just wearing a mask = virtue signaling. No one knows peoples personal situations so how do you know the difference between need and virtue signaling?
meganew, makes sense. I didn't get the part that people who are still masking are looking down at those who are not where not required anymore.
I mean, you have to follow the science. It's just slightly annoying to me that everything is going back to normal while those @ under 12 are still just as at risk as they were in December.
meganew , makes sense. I didn't get the part that people who are still masking are looking down at those who are not where not required anymore.
I mean, you have to follow the science. It's just slightly annoying to me that everything is going back to normal while those @ under 12 are still just as at risk as they were in December.
Really? I have @ under 12 in my household and feel like they are much more protected with the vaccine in the community bringing down the number of cases. I also know that all the adults we interact for prolonged periods with indoors masked or unmasked (which are few, but include their teachers) are vaccinated and I think they are much safer for that reason as well since the vaccine cuts transmission. I mean, we're not at normal (or even approaching it yet), but I don't think they need to have had the vaccine to start benefitting incrementally. That said, I do know what you mean about feeling annoyed because we can't fully jump back into normal life yet.
meganew , makes sense. I didn't get the part that people who are still masking are looking down at those who are not where not required anymore.
I mean, you have to follow the science. It's just slightly annoying to me that everything is going back to normal while those @ under 12 are still just as at risk as they were in December.
Between this and the lower-than-desired vaccination rates in my area, I am still masking and wish more people would. It isn't virtue-signaling for me. It's genuine doubt that the people unmasked are actually vaccinated.
@@@@@@
Kids age 12-15 aren't immune yet, even if they have been vaccinated, because only Pfizer is approved for that age range and they haven't had time to get both shots plus 14 days to build immunity.
Virtual signaling or not, I'm annoyed with you if I pass you in a busy place and you aren't masked. I'll feel more comfortable come mid-summer when kids 12+ are better protected and when hospital case counts and variant counts are even lower. We ARE headed in the right direction, but we aren't beyond another possible surge yet. Kudos to y'all who live in areas where larger percentages of people believe in science. (Remember, in Texas-aka-wanna-be-florida, the state legislators are trying to pass a bill making it illegal for businesses - even hospitals - to mandate the vaccine, or to treat people differently (e.g. require masks) if people don't get the vaccine).
NJ is dropping their indoor mask mandate at the end of this week. It's for all - there is no stipulation of being vaxxed or not since I think we've reached the 70% of the population vaxxed.
If we’re at 70% it must be those over 18. NYTimes has us at under 60% of the total population fully vaccinated, far too low for herd immunity yet.
This is causing a nightmare for me at work because I run our weddings and I’m being pushed to ditch masks and open to 100% capacity but personally unwilling to be inside our Chapel like that until we’re at 70% of the total population vaxxed.
I also have an immunocompromised husband at home, so the 5% risk of breakthrough infection for me puts him at high risk, so I am more cautious than most people need to be. I really wish that instead of bowing to Jersey shore summer pressure the governor had waited at least until late June when the total vaccinated population is expected to be quite a bit higher than now due to access.
“If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.”
This is not a black and white issue for many people. It feels like everyone is treating it that way and it is incredibly frustrating.
If that’s you, then you should choose to do whatever makes you comfortable, including continuing to mask up. But you can’t judge others for not wearing a mask when the CDC says they’re protected.
Eh, I still judge the folks at work that aren't wearing masks. My company has not yet relaxed our mask mandate on site, so per company directives, we are required to mask at work. It's just another piece of PPE - they already have a list of other things we have to wear in certain areas of the workplace.
But, that's not quite the same thing as out and about in public.
If that’s you, then you should choose to do whatever makes you comfortable, including continuing to mask up. But you can’t judge others for not wearing a mask when the CDC says they’re protected.
Eh, I still judge the folks at work that aren't wearing masks. My company has not yet relaxed our mask mandate on site, so per company directives, we are required to mask at work. It's just another piece of PPE - they already have a list of other things we have to wear in certain areas of the workplace.
But, that's not quite the same thing as out and about in public.
That is a totally judgeworthy situation. We still have a mask requirement at work and even though the vast majority of people on my team are fully vaccinated, I'd be judging the hell out of them (and as their boss, I'd have to take more action) if they were maskless except where our employer allows it. We're still not even technically supposed to have in-person meetings yet - everyone needs to stay at their distanced workspaces and attend virtually.
This is the kind of thing people are talking about when they complain about virtue signaling.
okay. But haven’t fauci et al told people to publicize they are vaccinated to normalize the vaccine and let undecided people see their friends or family are doing this? Demonizing it as ‘virtue signaling’ doesn’t help.
I’m sure whatever smug asshole is annoying you does other things we can all join you in bitching about.
Edit: the phone autocorrected fauci to disco at first. Which read very strangely.
Post by litebright on May 24, 2021 21:04:23 GMT -5
NYT headline: "No, People Are Not Returning Pandemic Dogs in Droves"
Excerpts: "Animal welfare advocates were delighted when the pandemic prompted thousands of bored and isolated Americans to adopt dogs last year. They also worried that when offices reopened and social life began returning to normal, those new pet owners would cast aside their dogs, like children who had outgrown their teddy bears.
Despite some alarmist news reports, the story so far is much happier than that.
Shelter data and interviews with animal welfare experts point to a confirmed shift in pet ownership in the United States, as people bonded with their new animal companions during an incredibly stressful period. ... As coronavirus restrictions were lifted in recent weeks, fears of mass pet abandonment have been fanned by local news reports that shelters in Florida, Virginia and other places were taking in more dogs, compared to the same time last year. ... Monthly reports from PetPoint, a website that aggregates data from more than 1,100 animal welfare organizations in the United States, suggest that while shelters have experienced an increase in pets coming in, their numbers are merely returning to the levels reported before the pandemic.
In April, for example, 15,906 dogs were surrendered by their owners — an increase of nearly 80 percent over April 2020, according to PetPoint. But many shelters curtailed operations in April 2020, meaning fewer pets could be returned that month. And the numbers were still well below the 20,289 dogs that were surrendered in April 2019, before the coronavirus upended life and commerce."
The story that was linked here last week also had numbers (and some terribly contradictory writing) that suggested some reason for positivity:"Even though shelters across the United States are experiencing a huge return of dogs, it doesn't appear to be a national trend. (Me: WTF to that sentence!!?!?) While owner surrenders were up 82.6% compared to 2020, they are down by 12.5% vs. 2019, according to Best Friends Animal Society."
ETA: Also encouraging, I ran across another story from WaPo in the past week that talks about how trainers are really busy with calls from people who are trying to deal with their dogs' adolescent/pandemic-born behaviors. Yes, some people are returning dogs and trainers are worried that it will ramp up in the next 3-6 months, but right now, they are seeing people turn to training rather than go straight to giving up the pet.
Our county (of 295K people) had zero reported cases of COVID today for the first time since October! I’m still a little worried about all the tourists coming in, but last year our cases rate was super low even with packed, maskless beaches.
I can’t decide whether to have our annual 4th of July barbecue or not. Obviously we skipped it last year. I’ve asked a few close friends if they’d be into it, and they’ve said they’d come, but I’d like to have a bigger party (all outdoors). I just don’t want to freak anyone out if there ends up being a lot of people. We are all vaccinated but some of my friends are super cautious, and still wearing masks even outdoors, and would probably leave if we couldn’t distance. I don’t want to just not invite them, though, so I don’t know. Maybe we’ll wait another year.
okay. But haven’t fauci et al told everyone to tell people they are vaccinated to normalize the vaccine and let undecided people see that their friends or family are doing this? Demonizing it as ‘virtue signaling’ doesn’t help.
I’m sure whatever smug asshole is annoying you does other things we can all join you in botching about.
Edit: the phone autocorrected fauci to disco at first. Which read very strangely.
LOL, these are actually family/friends of mine that are annoying me. Not smug assholes
And yeah, sure, go ahead and post your one time vaccine selfie on social media (though I don't think doing so is going to change anyone's mind). Talk to your friends/family/coworkers about your vaccine experience. But I don't view advertising vaccine status with clothing/jewelry/lapel pins to complete strangers as anything more than signaling and slacktivism. And I generally loathe slacktivism in all its forms, no matter who is doing it.
You (general) want to actually make a difference? Have the tough conversations with Uncle Bill Who Thinks The Vaccine Has A Microchip/Is Hesitant. People would be better off spending their efforts on that.
then we’ll be more generous with them
I’m not a vaccine pin wearing (or even selfie posting) person, so I’m letting fauci down. But I have talked to some liberal ‘masks give you covid and vaccines make you infertile’ types. I’ll take slackdivism over promoting conspiracies any day. Lol.
Our county (of 295K people) had zero reported cases of COVID today for the first time since October! I’m still a little worried about all the tourists coming in, but last year our cases rate was super low even with packed, maskless beaches.
I can’t decide whether to have our annual 4th of July barbecue or not. Obviously we skipped it last year. I’ve asked a few close friends if they’d be into it, and they’ve said they’d come, but I’d like to have a bigger party (all outdoors). I just don’t want to freak anyone out if there ends up being a lot of people. We are all vaccinated but some of my friends are super cautious, and still wearing masks even outdoors, and would probably leave if we couldn’t distance. I don’t want to just not invite them, though, so I don’t know. Maybe we’ll wait another year.
I think you should invite them and share as many details about the guests, etc. as possible if they ask, or just offer up that information if they feel weird about asking.
NYT headline: "No, People Are Not Returning Pandemic Dogs in Droves"
Excerpts: "Animal welfare advocates were delighted when the pandemic prompted thousands of bored and isolated Americans to adopt dogs last year. They also worried that when offices reopened and social life began returning to normal, those new pet owners would cast aside their dogs, like children who had outgrown their teddy bears.
Despite some alarmist news reports, the story so far is much happier than that.
Shelter data and interviews with animal welfare experts point to a confirmed shift in pet ownership in the United States, as people bonded with their new animal companions during an incredibly stressful period. ... As coronavirus restrictions were lifted in recent weeks, fears of mass pet abandonment have been fanned by local news reports that shelters in Florida, Virginia and other places were taking in more dogs, compared to the same time last year. ... Monthly reports from PetPoint, a website that aggregates data from more than 1,100 animal welfare organizations in the United States, suggest that while shelters have experienced an increase in pets coming in, their numbers are merely returning to the levels reported before the pandemic.
In April, for example, 15,906 dogs were surrendered by their owners — an increase of nearly 80 percent over April 2020, according to PetPoint. But many shelters curtailed operations in April 2020, meaning fewer pets could be returned that month. And the numbers were still well below the 20,289 dogs that were surrendered in April 2019, before the coronavirus upended life and commerce."
The story that was linked here last week also had numbers (and some terribly contradictory writing) that suggested some reason for positivity:"Even though shelters across the United States are experiencing a huge return of dogs, it doesn't appear to be a national trend. (Me: WTF to that sentence!!?!?) While owner surrenders were up 82.6% compared to 2020, they are down by 12.5% vs. 2019, according to Best Friends Animal Society."
ETA: Also encouraging, I ran across another story from WaPo in the past week that talks about how trainers are really busy with calls from people who are trying to deal with their dogs' adolescent/pandemic-born behaviors. Yes, some people are returning dogs and trainers are worried that it will ramp up in the next 3-6 months, but right now, they are seeing people turn to training rather than go straight to giving up the pet.
The director of the dog and cat rescue I volunteer with just sent all the volunteers an email stating percentage wise our returns are about normal but because we have higher than average adoptions over the past year, that means real number wise more dogs and cats coming back. Also they've noticed an increase in the number of animals being surrendered to the shelters we pull from (mostly in SC) as well as a decrease in the amount of people able to foster and volunteer as adoption coordinators. Things are really slowing down for us as far as being able to rescue dogs and cats from the rural shelters because of all of that.
Post by Velar Fricative on May 24, 2021 21:49:58 GMT -5
The people peddling outright misinformation about vaccines on social media frustrate the hell out of me and I need to learn to sit on my hands more, but I am heartened when I see true numbers out there. As of today, more than 61% of American adults have gotten the vaccine. In NYC, it's 60% of adults with at least one dose, and the percentage of residents of all ages here at least partially vaccinated is a hair under 50%, so vaccinated people will be the majority in my city soon. Yes, the plateauing sucks, but I know we haven't vaccinated everyone who wants to be vaccinated yet. So all these social media asshats may be loud, but they're outnumbered.
I’m not a vaccine pin wearing (or even selfie posting) person, so I’m letting fauci down. But I have talked to some liberal ‘masks give you covid and vaccines make you infertile’ types. I’ll take slackdivism over promoting conspiracies any day. Lol.
Except this type of slacktivism is not accomplishing anything except making the people who do it feel good/smug about themselves.
No hesitant/antivaxx person is going to be convinced to get the Covid vaccine just because they see people started wearing jewelry, anymore than I was ever going to be convinced to support Trump by seeing MAGA hats anywhere. If anything, this kind of shit is just more polarizing. Getting the vaccine should be the norm, the default, the “so obvious thing to do” that no one needs to make a huge display/show about it at this point. To me, that kind of shit hurts more than it helps. There’s a way we can reach (some of) the hesitants/undecideds, and this ain’t it.
But yes…liberal conspiracy theorists suck too. That we can agree on.
I’m surrounded by narcissism in many forms so I’m immune. Someone is always being uselessly self aggrandizing and smug about something around here.
Recently I had someone say ‘if it doesn’t change the world, then it isn’t worth doing.’ And meant it. Was this a UN recognized expert on refugees? A world health champion? Nope. A hedge fund recruiter.
Post by AdaraMarie on May 24, 2021 22:11:26 GMT -5
I am not quite fully vaccinated yet, so I haven't had to make the mask/no mask decision and I am dreading it. In the last week most people I have seen out in stores are still wearing masks but I don't really know if it is because they aren't vaccinated or they just want to. It feels like it is respectful to wear a mask at a place where employees are wearing masks. I was also surprised that several places seem to still be requiring masks. Not sure if they do any enforcing, but still have signs on the door. I think no matter when I start going into places without a mask I will feel really anxious about it (even if illogical), so I might put it off for a while.
We still have a statewide mask mandate, so I absolutely judge the people going maskless at indoor public places.
I don’t own any vaccinated apparel, but I don’t hate it. It makes me feel safer in public spaces as an immunocompromised person to see visual markers of vaccine status. Similar to how I have appreciated the vaccinated stickers on hospital badges for months now.
Can we stop with the ‘masks as virtue signaling’ bullshit?
Yes, I ‘m vaxed. Yes, I wear masks. Half my family cannot get vaxed. As long as that is true, I will wear masks so that they aren’t the only ones. Making them feel included matters much more to me than the feelings of some random busybody policing my clothing choices.
This is like bitching that someone else not drinking at a bar makes you feel guilty about your cocktail. Maybe they have a reason. Maybe that’s just what they prefer.
YES.
I’m going to “virtue signal” the fuck out of my mask until all the people I love are vaccinated and probably in crowded places and during flu season forever.
RT, I'm not trying to @ you, I'm just confused as to what the issue is. Isn't that what the CDC said, that if you are fully vaccinated, you don't have to wear masks in indoor, non-crowded settings?
For reference, I am vaxxed, I still wear masks when I go out anywhere in public, and I wear one during all hours I am physically at my work site (building policy).
ETA: I am not comfortable ditching the mask yet. I am in NoVA like a PP said and yes we do love our masks, lol.
Actually the CDC says
“If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.”
This is not a black and white issue for many people. It feels like everyone is treating it that way and it is incredibly frustrating.
My sister, who has cancer and immune deficiencies, has been vaccinated and did not retain immunity. Five months later it’s almost like she never had it.