I've often pondered why two courses: logic and world religions, aren't generally taught at a college level, at least in any widespread way. One is about teaching you how to think, not what to think, while the other gives incredible insight into the biases of others, as well as your own. For this article about face masks, the premise (I.e. root lie) is most important to keep your eye on.
Of course I've read about the stay on the CDCs US facemask order on public transit (including air) and seen videos of cheering passengers ripping those filthy rags off before they landed the airplane. My flight desk friend posted a jubilant photo of all "face masks required" signs in the bin on Facebook.
And then there was the backlash from her predominately liberal friends. "Well it looks like I'm not booking a flight anytime soon." One chimed in right away. I didn't respond but I'll say what I was thinking. First, this sounded a lot like all those Twitterati who said they'd move to Canada if Trump was elected. How many moved to Canada, exactly (and why not Mexico? There's much nicer beaches!). Other than that, I'm sorry if people not being coerced to ascribe to your desires threatens you. I mean surely I, with an elderly mother and a teenage daughter, had no compelling need to get on a flight, that might have been imperiled by the facemask rule? So sorry my choice to breathe ruined your potential trip to Disneyworld or wherever, you entitled POS. Screw you, screw you very much.
A second "friend" of BFF 3 came in with "Well this was the youngest federal judge and Trump appointed so surely they'll appeal." This person clearly got their liberal talking points from the box in the living room.
A third "friend" started on this "I'm so worried about this the children are too young to be jabbed and we just had this huge outbreak at our daycare." The ones telling me that they're begging to hurt kids with an unsafe, ineffective, untested product really lose me right there. This person was all onboard with root lie number one (conjabs are safe and effective) and root lie number 2 (face masks prevent viral spread and have no downsides). I also wasn't sure what this point had to do with travel on airplanes, as I'd presume most kids don't get to daycare that way.
BFF 3 must have felt she needed to put out some fire then , so she came in with a "I am pro vaccine but this mask mandate has caused great stress to wear and enforce" thing. Our pilot friend then waded in (note: yes we all know each other from the Ohio days: he recommended her for her first job as a flight attendant). "Finally a glimmer of hope and sanity." I concur. He was the only direct comment that was supportive of the mask mandate being lifted. Notably they are the ones that work in the airline industry.
It was depressing to realize that there really are people who want this insanity to continue. Beyond that, look at what good con artists these guys pulling the strings have been. These folks were arguing about things while keeping root lie 1 and root lie 2 regarding face masks totally intact!
ROOT LIE #1: Face masks reduce viral transmission of illness. That studies prior to 2020 showed that they did no such thing, even in hospitals, is irrelevant. The lie stands. It's a combination of vague propaganda pieces about how China (whose stats are fake as a $3 bill) didn't have a lot of Covid because everyone in Asia wears filthy rags over their faces combined with cherry picked numbers and selection bias. Now if somebody points out the many flaws in the CDCs gold standard studies, they defer with sleight of hand to:
ROOT LIE #2: Wearing a facemask is benign, just like wearing pants, with no psychological, physical, or social emotional downsides. If you question Root lie 1 too much they move to Root lie 2. Who cares if our numbers were massaged a bit, right? The trend is there and it doesn't matter because it's no big deal to wear one, if it saves even one life! You don't want to kill grandma with your selfish masquerade about freedom! Screw you!
I actually find face masks to be even more galling psychologically than conjabs. They are a physically identifiable marker on your face, readily visible by everyone who sees you, of your belief in, compliance with, or submission to a lie. There is something truly sinister and Satanic in them exercising dominion over how you breathe. There's no smiles, no kissing, no eating, no drinking and no singing with these dehumanizing rags. It's like they are stealing joy from the world and replacing it with fear.
Sometimes I wonder how all these liberals would feel if they were forced to wear a sign over their head that said "I voted for Trump."
Anywho the Biden administration appealed the judges ruling. This shows a remarkable tone deafness regarding the will of most people that this stupid thing be dropped, but obviously he's appealing to some psychotic base of lonely virtue signallers who are very uncomfortable with the idea of themselves being the outcast on a crowded airplane or in a grocery store. My bet is most of these pussies will bend to that pressure now that the shoe is on the other foot.
I'm not sure how successful they could be at putting the genie back in the bottle, but I'm doubling down on not letting the criminals get away. I want to make sure that none of this can happen again. None of this the CDC has authority for next time slinking around. I found this article from flight attendants and pilots about keeping the masks off for good.
From the article:
"We are subject to the Mask Mandate every hour we are working, with an exception only for pilots on duty in the cockpit due to safety reasons,” according to the filing. “While passengers only have to endure forced masking when traveling on public transportation, we are expected to obstruct our oxygen intake nearly all the time while at work. This endangers our health and imperils aviation safety.”
In a way I can understand why my friend at the flight desk seemed so adverse to the idea of me getting a facemask exemption. If you're forced to wear this dehumanizing compliance signal day in and day out, and suffer from the repercussions of it, and have to force others to wear it, you are going to project your frustration on lowly passengers who deem themselves above that thing for their short flight. It's guaranteed to cause fighting.
So why are they trying to bring it back? Was the facemask stay order about ferreting out enemies Chinese style? Always remember the Root Lies. Unless you want to live in a dystopian horror show like China, take back your freedom. They will try again if you don't.
Progress on the no facemask front seems to be being made in Thailand too. Yesterday I had to do my 90 day address reporting at Phuket Immigration and then went to look for a laptop. I did not wear a facemask anywhere. I went into the immigration office facemask free and nobody bothered me. I went to the information desk. Only one person cut in front of me in line.
The man gave me a number, seeming a bit exasperated. "You can use drive through for this." He told me. It was unspoken but I have no doubt that nobody bothered enforcing face masks at the drive through window.
I smiled."I know but I drive here on motorbike and it is a very hot day. I wanted to sit in the air conditioning." My number was called in less than 30 seconds. I'm thinking they are tired of toying with me.
I bought water in a 7 Eleven. The woman behind the counter said nothing about my naked face. That's odd for a corporate store. Unfortunately all the laptop shops were closed and out of business. I drove to three different listings on Google maps before giving up. Guess I will have to use Lazada.
Logic 101: Always start with the core premise. Unless of course you believe the lie. In which case you are more than welcome to keep your face covered…
Fantastic to hear the dismissal of face-nappies happening in Thailand too.
Was at Disneyland Paris recently and it was fantastic to see the muzzled were in the small small small minority. Folks just want to get back to old normal.
Hopefully Europe will follow UK and US's lead of altogether binning these rags soon.
Reading you is like talking to a sane neighbor, except I don't have any sane neighbors. Blessings.