Week 51, 2020

Since shortly after I returned in March, I’ve been mostly isolating myself. I haven’t gone to my place of business since early April(working remotely). I hopped from my apartment to hiding at my family’s home in upstate New York, and now I’m hiding out at my parent’s apartment.

During all this, I have not left the house without wearing a mask, fitted over my nose and mouth. I find masks uncomfortable to wear. Even in cases where I pulled it down outside, when no one but my immediate family was around, if anyone else approached, I pulled it back up.

From others, however, I’ve seen a casual attitude toward the wearing of masks and the downplaying of this. Forcing people to wear a mask during a pandemic is an acceptable infringement on their personal liberties. Society in general is a shared consensus to agree on limitations of personal freedom. If you want absolute freedom, to do anything and everything, we call that anarchy.

I tend to take a centrist point of view to most things. So, let’s accept that some people do not want to wear masks and do not believe in it, and others do.

If you fall into the maskless category, and you encounter someone who is choosing to wear a mask, you can:

• Approach them or otherwise infringe on their six foot bubble as if nothing was happening.
• Give them the six feet of distance their mask indicates they want from you
• If you carry one, pull your mask up till you are out of their presence.

Out of these three categories, the only one I object to is the first. So, you don’t believe in wearing a mask….respect those who do. This is what we call courtesy and decency. It applies regardless of belief. You can’t claim ignorance of social distancing as a thing in the current environment.

I personally believe that wearing a mask protects both parties. It isn’t a 100% solution, but what is?

So, if I want to avoid people who won’t respect my beliefs, I could either constantly be vigilant any time I leave my safe zone, which I am…or, as some of those people would suggest, if I don’t like it, I can just lock myself up till this is over.

I’m looking forward to the time where my face can be seen freely in public. However, until then…kindly put on a mask(over the nose and mouth) any time you are within six feet of me, or make an effort to give me space.