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Comment by drcode | Hacker News Reader

I don't know, people in the US seem to be pretty stubborn. I think people feel that being asked to wear a mask is somehow "un-American"

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It’s not about being “un-American”, which is ridiculous just for the mere fact that not wearing masks in public is a western country thing, not just an American thing. The reason it’s not culturally acceptable is because, in western countries, wearing a mask in public is like wearing a big “warning: I’m toxic” sign, precisely because we haven’t had to deal with these fucked up super viruses that Asian countries are used to.

You have a point on the "West" thing, however Austria, Chzech republic, and UK have already instituted mandatory mask use in some circumstances.

So it took a government mandate, and then only in "some circumstances." Not exactly indicative of a cultural shift just yet.

At this point you might actually find a good number of people, even in the US, who would wear face masks without being forced to, assuming we could actually get our hands on them.

Hope so.

"People in the US" isn't a useful category for thought on this matter. There are subcultures where I find the idea that they will ever wear masks routinely risible. There are subcultures where I could easily see it becoming absolutely de rigueur with social consequences for non-compliance. You and I probably have different ideas about what those subcultures are, but for this post it would simply suffice to say that there would be different reactions.

I tried to give away cloth masks (not medical masks) to people in my area and nobody wanted one, and I live in a very liberal, highly educated part of the country. I'm hoping this attitude can be changed, I'm just pointing out that there seem to be some uniquely American psychological issues associated with mask wearing that need to be taken into account.

There have been doctors in the US in TV, articles, etc that have been recommending people not to wear masks. Doctors who work/worked for CDC, not just random doctors. Some say it's because masks don't work. Some say don't because Americans don't know how to wear masks properly. There have even been doctors saying masks will make spreading/getting infection easier.

People are probably just following their advice and once the advice switches, they will probably follow that advice too.

I would wear a mask I bought from a reputable vendor. I would not wear a mask given out on the street by someone I never met. Maybe it's a matter of trust and not attitude or education.

Just launder the mask.

I live in Austin and people are wearing masks here.

Well... this is why I said "you and I probably have different ideas about what those subcultures are". With my priors, "liberals" not wanting to wear masks doesn't surprise me at all.

Consider watching something like https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_the_moral_roots_of_... , and then ask yourself: Which groups would you expect to accept and even enforce mask wearing, and which will reject it?

Thanks for the link to the video. Wouldn't ultra conservatives wear masks because of 'Ingroup', 'Authority', 'Purity', and only when it becomes law? Wouldn't ultra liberals wear masks because of 'Harm', 'Fairness', as it becomes clear scientific consensus? Thanks

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