Hacker News Reader

Comment by DoreenMichele | Hacker News Reader

Maybe the takeaway we should try to get out of this is that, with so many people in the world, behavioral solutions -- like social distancing -- are overall superior to thing-based solutions (like masks).

I tried to start a blog about this idea. I probably tried to start more than one.

But with the hysteria in the air, I felt like I was going to attract a lynch mob for trying to critique the practice of turning to masks instead of looking for something better than masks as The Answer. So that idea of mine never really went anywhere.

View on HN

People who say that masks aren’t the answer frankly mystify me.

If you were to tell a child “there is a disease that is spread from our breath. What do you think a good solution would be?” I would be dollars to donuts that their answer would be “what about a mask?”

The answer is so obvious that even a child could come up with it. And it takes an adult to convince themselves otherwise. Even science says that masks are effective.

I live with a serious, incurable respiratory condition. I have many years of experience of managing it by first and foremost not exposing myself to germs rather than cavalierly exposing myself and hoping a little cloth over my face will somehow fix it.

But based on this comment and all the downvotes, it seems the decision to not pursue a blog in earnest promoting the idea "That maybe we can find a better-er answer" was the correct decision as a means to protect myself from people who don't want a better answer, they just want a dog to kick.

I'm trying to say something like "Instead of promoting condoms and prophylactic drugs for HIV and other diseases while saying casual sex is fine, we could suggest (alternatives like) celibacy and monogamy as better solutions."

But I imagine that would also be just as hated on. Can't tell anyone "Maybe keeping it in your pants sometimes when not doing so could kill you is a better answer."

Edit:

TLDR: Maybe adults should aspire to more sophisticated answers than ones even a five year old could come up with rather than attacking other adults as idiots for (supposedly) "not seeing something so obvious even a child could dream it up as a solution."

Your situation is atypical. So masks may not be a good solution for you. But for society in general, masks are the best solution. No amount of maskless social distancing can keep you safe but still be able to socialize with others. 6’ is not a number that was derived from science. When investigated, scientists said it was more like 20’.

But having masks and learning how to wear them properly allows people to engage in almost normal social gatherings. This is based on the fractional levels of infections in countries with extremely high compliance like Korea and Japan.

Masks are effective in a hospital setting with trained persons that know how to properly wear one and replace/clean. Wearing the same cloth mask every day while you grocery shop does nothing but make you feel better.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com