mikenz66 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:58 pm
Bundokji wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:17 pm
Not all, but it is more likely to see those who promote wearing masks appealing to authority. The appeal to authority either takes the form of "scientists say this, or science say that" or supporting governments decisions to make it compulsory.
You mean like making seat belts compulsory, rules about which side of the road to drive on, speed limits, alcohol limits, airbags, anti-lock brakes, and well-engineered roads?
Mike
A sound point, but there are a couple of differences. The first is that until recently, the Government in the UK were saying that wearing a mask was not necessary, and citing scientific evidence to that effect. The view (from the WHO, I believe) was that face-covering provided a positive but marginal benefit. This has been coupled with an attempt to re-start the service economy, which has led quite a lot of people in the UK to question whether the government's motivation is due to that marginal benefit, or something else, such as a desire to make people feel safer when out and about. None of these sorts of issues and scepticism surrounded the introduction of seat belts and driving on one side of the road. Nor was there the "wealth" of information, much of it contradictory, available to people via the internet. So perhaps the reluctance is more understandable.
Personally, I will wear a mask because - in 25 hours time - it will be the law to do so when shopping in the UK, and I don't want to be fined. Nor do I want unpleasant interactions with people who object to me not wearing one. This exempts me from taking a view on the science behind it.
In my Thursday night Zoom meeting with a small group of meditators associated with Cittaviveka, one of the members is a retired gentleman who used to be the medical director of the National Health Service. That's quite something, especially given the near-religious status of the NHS in the UK. He has occasionally grumbled about our government's response, but I won't even bother to ask him about his speciality - the science behind it. It wouldn't help, as my hand is already forced by the law. And I probably wouldn't understand it!