Mask dependency in Japan predated Covid, but it was very much a minority pursuit. But the problem has massively expanded during the pandemic, leading to recent articles about it in the Japanese media. The Asahi Shimbun (AS) site EduA recently published an interview with psychologist Masami Yamaguchi (MY, pictured below) titled “
Masks make people look stupid. I will not have a conversation with a mask-wearer if I can help it. Covidians cannot think. Why would I waste my time talking to a non-thinking person? However, I would like to thank every single covidian for making my job easier. I know who to avoid.
How about the negative health risks associated with prolonged mask use for one? These people burn me up. My kid is finishing his 3rd year in elementary school. I have not seen the face of a single teacher at his school nor any of his classmates and their parents except those he went to nursery school through kindergarten with.
She wonders why kids wear masks for online classes? Hell, the mother faucing medical professionals here do! AND demand that we do too. Just had a 3 day long workshop as a simulated patient. 50 some odd medical students interviewed over Zoom as if I were a patent. 100% wore masks! Last year a small number took them off for the medical interview, these all wore them through out.
At some schools, I have 2 or more years of students whose faces I have never seen nor voices ever heard. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. Enough already. But it continues and looks to keep on keeping on.
Unbelievable that only a few years ago, the Hijab was much maligned and wearers even abused for being weak and not standing up to patriarchy, yet, here we are!
I was in Tokyo for a few hours two weeks ago. Everybody was masked on the skytrain. Nobody bothered us, (unmasked) which I suppose is good. Several wished me Merry Christmas based on my Santa hat. I don't have good solutions to get off of that train...it wasn't that common prior to Covid and some people will never give it up. For the rest who knows...
Somebody has to explain to all those people that corona virus is apparently ~100nm in size. There is NO material allowing breathing AND which would 100% filter out these small objects!! On the contrary ALL the available mask materials, which can include extremely toxic nanoparticles(!!), will in average block ~20% of the total OXYGEN intake, every breath you take. The exhaled air out of human lungs can contain up to 4% CO2, which with the given body temperature of ~37deg C makes the PERFECT CONDITION for growing bacterial and viruses right in that space between mouth, nose and the mask. Ask every virologist how they grow viruses, 37deg C and 5% CO2 is a MUST!!!! There is not a single article about viruses out there which is not mentioning that!!!
One of the german studies found >100s of different types of bacteria literally growing on the inside portion of the masks used for just few hours!! People/children are coming up more and more with bronchial issues, deteriorating gums, affected teeth, etc... The masks were and are part of the PLANNED GEONCIDE. They are making people PHYSICALLY SICKER, in addition to these countless psychological issues they cause. CHILDREN ARE THE NO1 victims of the side effects of the masks, due to their increased OXYGEN NEED for their fast brain development. Speech, IQ, all depend on that!!! PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY NOW! Look seriously into the face of a masked person. Don't you see a monkey? I do.
Remember when we were told the masks didn't cause any harm and claims the did were conspiracy theory? I remembers. As Dr Mark Changizi (background includes theoretical neurobiology & cognitive science ) has repeatedly pointed out on social media and in his print material, masks can have a psychological impact especially on developing children and this isn't some kind of secret knowledge either. All those in teh sciences who knew better were pushing the mask along with everything else because of pressure form both peers, the systems that over see the medical field and sciences as well as from the government; all combining to make for a near insurmountable force.
Even if we halted all mask usage now damage has already been done, some of which will never be undone. We have to stop living in fear of covid and any/all other viruses because our living in fear has empowered bad people to grab more power & control over us all and to act in ways that benefit them, not us.
Just say no to Masks
Just say no to 6 Feet
Just say #HELLNO to government abuse of its powers under the guise of a medical emergency.
I might start asking people to show me their face in the future. That seems like a reasonable request. Not saying "remove your mask", but "show me your face".
In the West a banal "business" stereotype of the Japanese (with some factual basis) is that the latter will, at all cost, avoid "loosing face". Ironic that Covid Masks do that in a very literal sense!
Maybe cheeky young Westerners should try the 'other' type of masks, like The Lone Ranger? (Hiding the eyes but not the mouth?) The more adventurous could explore the characters of the "Commedia dell'arte" and the Venetian Carnival. Pulcinella or Scaramuccia would have the advantage of obviously emphasising that the wearer was a Big Nose - Farang! Those who want to be more 'compliant' with contemporary mores, should obviously wear the Dottore Peste mask. Most appropriate.
Apart from the latter, any of these masks will give precisely the same risk of transmission as the finest n95 mask, whilst making it very much easier to breathe and less likely to succumb to bacterial or fungal infections.
I suppose that I should, in fairness, mention that the normal face-nappy masks might help those with Hay Fever allergies to pollen. I'm not aware, (nor sufficiently interested to look), for any (genuinely) scientific evidence that they work, but at least there is a fair possibility that they might. With virions typically a tenth of a micron in diameter and pollen particles often 20 to 35 microns (but ranging from
15-200 microns, a face mask might help. Certainly they have a use for very dusty or smokey environments and (as a Chartered Engineer) I have had to write very many method statements and risk assessments stipulating their use, whilst recognising how difficult they are to wear for anyone to wear whilst working physically.
Naturally, any type of mask can assist bank robbers or muggers.
Same here in Thailand. Mask compliance is very strong, especially in the main towns and city’s. It’s breaks my heart to see the toddlers wearing their useless cloth masks. Now a lot of foreigners have arrived for the holiday season and almost none of them are wearing masks. I thought the Thais might notice this and start to unmask but it hasn’t happened. I’m not sure all the Thais really believe they work. When I go to the gym all the Thai people now take their masks off but put them back on as soon as they step outside. It seems more to do with not standing out.
You asked about risk assessments. First of all, I must say I retired in 2012, set up a Consultancy (one man band + wife as Company Secretary) but had to stop that in 2017 as unable to get insurance cover. (UK Insurance Companies wanting to virtue signal by inserting an exclusion clause - no work to be carried out in, around, at or concerning Coal Mining. (Of course, if you were a big Consulting firm, probably, knowing nothing about evil Coal Mining (but paying big fat insurance premiums), of course their "virtue" had a price like everything else and they were happy to exclude the exclusion. Who knew?
Anyway, all my paperwork, codes of practice, regulations, method statements, risk assessments have long since gone through the shredder.
After graduating in Civil & Structural Engineering, I worked seven years in potable water engineering. Mainly reservoirs, dams, pipelines, pumping stations etc. Than, having achieved Chartered Engineer, and after the "Oil Crisis" caused by the Yom Kippur war, it was obvious that the UK desperately needed indigenous, affordable and reliable energy. Even the politicians agreed. So I spent roughly 20 years building new coal mines and roughly 20 years knocking them down again. What fun. Just what I studied and trained for. Who needs affordable & reliable energy, anyway?
So the risk assessments were in basically two categories. Underground works, where I was involved in sinking new shafts, drift tunnels, major underground bunkers and junctions. Then subsequently filling and sealing shafts and drifts. All generally under the Mines & Quarries Act 1954, with reams of following Codes of Practice, Guides, Instructions - the whole paraphernalia.
Obviously underground works had to be carried out whilst minimising the inhalation of coal and mineral dust to reduce levels of Silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and appropriate dust masks had to be worn, various types in accordance with exposure levels and recognising the amount of physical work, high temperatures, 'stale air' underground. There were also the 'self rescuers'. These were issued from the 1960s and were principally for emergency use if there was an underground explosion or fire which would produce large quantities of toxic Carbon Monoxide. Chemical reactions converted this to non-toxic Carbon Dioxide (whilst also generating heat.) Most unpleasant to use but better than being dead. I've never heard these called a 'mask', but that is what they are.
Search for "Self-Rescuers - South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group" for more information.
On the surface, masks had to be used for normal dust protection, especially when dealing with asbestos or other dangerous dusts / fibres. Here the 'normal' Health and Safety legislation applied in addition to the Mines and Quarries Acts requirements. I could go on in some detail about 'fugitive' dust (your PM10 and PM2.5 particles), but they are usually just sticks to beat cars and industry with rather than a genuine problem. Air pollution today is negligible, even in London, compared with when I was a lad.
In my opinion, all masks affecting breathing are horrible to wear (I suffer chronic respiratory conditions, which certainly don't help). But if there is a genuine, evidence based reason for wearing one, I'll do my best.
If it is essential to protect me (or you) from a nanosized virion, then I want a full HazMat suit with forced ventilation. All the other cloth or 'surgical' masks you can stick where the monkey stuffed his nuts.
Masks make people look stupid. I will not have a conversation with a mask-wearer if I can help it. Covidians cannot think. Why would I waste my time talking to a non-thinking person? However, I would like to thank every single covidian for making my job easier. I know who to avoid.
How about the negative health risks associated with prolonged mask use for one? These people burn me up. My kid is finishing his 3rd year in elementary school. I have not seen the face of a single teacher at his school nor any of his classmates and their parents except those he went to nursery school through kindergarten with.
She wonders why kids wear masks for online classes? Hell, the mother faucing medical professionals here do! AND demand that we do too. Just had a 3 day long workshop as a simulated patient. 50 some odd medical students interviewed over Zoom as if I were a patent. 100% wore masks! Last year a small number took them off for the medical interview, these all wore them through out.
At some schools, I have 2 or more years of students whose faces I have never seen nor voices ever heard. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. Enough already. But it continues and looks to keep on keeping on.
Unbelievable that only a few years ago, the Hijab was much maligned and wearers even abused for being weak and not standing up to patriarchy, yet, here we are!
I was in Tokyo for a few hours two weeks ago. Everybody was masked on the skytrain. Nobody bothered us, (unmasked) which I suppose is good. Several wished me Merry Christmas based on my Santa hat. I don't have good solutions to get off of that train...it wasn't that common prior to Covid and some people will never give it up. For the rest who knows...
Somebody has to explain to all those people that corona virus is apparently ~100nm in size. There is NO material allowing breathing AND which would 100% filter out these small objects!! On the contrary ALL the available mask materials, which can include extremely toxic nanoparticles(!!), will in average block ~20% of the total OXYGEN intake, every breath you take. The exhaled air out of human lungs can contain up to 4% CO2, which with the given body temperature of ~37deg C makes the PERFECT CONDITION for growing bacterial and viruses right in that space between mouth, nose and the mask. Ask every virologist how they grow viruses, 37deg C and 5% CO2 is a MUST!!!! There is not a single article about viruses out there which is not mentioning that!!!
One of the german studies found >100s of different types of bacteria literally growing on the inside portion of the masks used for just few hours!! People/children are coming up more and more with bronchial issues, deteriorating gums, affected teeth, etc... The masks were and are part of the PLANNED GEONCIDE. They are making people PHYSICALLY SICKER, in addition to these countless psychological issues they cause. CHILDREN ARE THE NO1 victims of the side effects of the masks, due to their increased OXYGEN NEED for their fast brain development. Speech, IQ, all depend on that!!! PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY NOW! Look seriously into the face of a masked person. Don't you see a monkey? I do.
Masks should be banned in public.
Remember when we were told the masks didn't cause any harm and claims the did were conspiracy theory? I remembers. As Dr Mark Changizi (background includes theoretical neurobiology & cognitive science ) has repeatedly pointed out on social media and in his print material, masks can have a psychological impact especially on developing children and this isn't some kind of secret knowledge either. All those in teh sciences who knew better were pushing the mask along with everything else because of pressure form both peers, the systems that over see the medical field and sciences as well as from the government; all combining to make for a near insurmountable force.
Even if we halted all mask usage now damage has already been done, some of which will never be undone. We have to stop living in fear of covid and any/all other viruses because our living in fear has empowered bad people to grab more power & control over us all and to act in ways that benefit them, not us.
Just say no to Masks
Just say no to 6 Feet
Just say #HELLNO to government abuse of its powers under the guise of a medical emergency.
I might start asking people to show me their face in the future. That seems like a reasonable request. Not saying "remove your mask", but "show me your face".
Another great and informative piece by Guy Gin.
In the West a banal "business" stereotype of the Japanese (with some factual basis) is that the latter will, at all cost, avoid "loosing face". Ironic that Covid Masks do that in a very literal sense!
Maybe cheeky young Westerners should try the 'other' type of masks, like The Lone Ranger? (Hiding the eyes but not the mouth?) The more adventurous could explore the characters of the "Commedia dell'arte" and the Venetian Carnival. Pulcinella or Scaramuccia would have the advantage of obviously emphasising that the wearer was a Big Nose - Farang! Those who want to be more 'compliant' with contemporary mores, should obviously wear the Dottore Peste mask. Most appropriate.
Apart from the latter, any of these masks will give precisely the same risk of transmission as the finest n95 mask, whilst making it very much easier to breathe and less likely to succumb to bacterial or fungal infections.
I suppose that I should, in fairness, mention that the normal face-nappy masks might help those with Hay Fever allergies to pollen. I'm not aware, (nor sufficiently interested to look), for any (genuinely) scientific evidence that they work, but at least there is a fair possibility that they might. With virions typically a tenth of a micron in diameter and pollen particles often 20 to 35 microns (but ranging from
15-200 microns, a face mask might help. Certainly they have a use for very dusty or smokey environments and (as a Chartered Engineer) I have had to write very many method statements and risk assessments stipulating their use, whilst recognising how difficult they are to wear for anyone to wear whilst working physically.
Naturally, any type of mask can assist bank robbers or muggers.
Same here in Thailand. Mask compliance is very strong, especially in the main towns and city’s. It’s breaks my heart to see the toddlers wearing their useless cloth masks. Now a lot of foreigners have arrived for the holiday season and almost none of them are wearing masks. I thought the Thais might notice this and start to unmask but it hasn’t happened. I’m not sure all the Thais really believe they work. When I go to the gym all the Thai people now take their masks off but put them back on as soon as they step outside. It seems more to do with not standing out.
Japan the "kao-nashi" [no face] society. Just like the character from Sprited Away...
I want to say that Prof Yamaguchi is a doublemasker, but I am afraid that something will be lost in translation.
Sorry, Kitsune!
Just caught up with this.
You asked about risk assessments. First of all, I must say I retired in 2012, set up a Consultancy (one man band + wife as Company Secretary) but had to stop that in 2017 as unable to get insurance cover. (UK Insurance Companies wanting to virtue signal by inserting an exclusion clause - no work to be carried out in, around, at or concerning Coal Mining. (Of course, if you were a big Consulting firm, probably, knowing nothing about evil Coal Mining (but paying big fat insurance premiums), of course their "virtue" had a price like everything else and they were happy to exclude the exclusion. Who knew?
Anyway, all my paperwork, codes of practice, regulations, method statements, risk assessments have long since gone through the shredder.
After graduating in Civil & Structural Engineering, I worked seven years in potable water engineering. Mainly reservoirs, dams, pipelines, pumping stations etc. Than, having achieved Chartered Engineer, and after the "Oil Crisis" caused by the Yom Kippur war, it was obvious that the UK desperately needed indigenous, affordable and reliable energy. Even the politicians agreed. So I spent roughly 20 years building new coal mines and roughly 20 years knocking them down again. What fun. Just what I studied and trained for. Who needs affordable & reliable energy, anyway?
So the risk assessments were in basically two categories. Underground works, where I was involved in sinking new shafts, drift tunnels, major underground bunkers and junctions. Then subsequently filling and sealing shafts and drifts. All generally under the Mines & Quarries Act 1954, with reams of following Codes of Practice, Guides, Instructions - the whole paraphernalia.
Obviously underground works had to be carried out whilst minimising the inhalation of coal and mineral dust to reduce levels of Silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and appropriate dust masks had to be worn, various types in accordance with exposure levels and recognising the amount of physical work, high temperatures, 'stale air' underground. There were also the 'self rescuers'. These were issued from the 1960s and were principally for emergency use if there was an underground explosion or fire which would produce large quantities of toxic Carbon Monoxide. Chemical reactions converted this to non-toxic Carbon Dioxide (whilst also generating heat.) Most unpleasant to use but better than being dead. I've never heard these called a 'mask', but that is what they are.
Search for "Self-Rescuers - South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group" for more information.
On the surface, masks had to be used for normal dust protection, especially when dealing with asbestos or other dangerous dusts / fibres. Here the 'normal' Health and Safety legislation applied in addition to the Mines and Quarries Acts requirements. I could go on in some detail about 'fugitive' dust (your PM10 and PM2.5 particles), but they are usually just sticks to beat cars and industry with rather than a genuine problem. Air pollution today is negligible, even in London, compared with when I was a lad.
In my opinion, all masks affecting breathing are horrible to wear (I suffer chronic respiratory conditions, which certainly don't help). But if there is a genuine, evidence based reason for wearing one, I'll do my best.
If it is essential to protect me (or you) from a nanosized virion, then I want a full HazMat suit with forced ventilation. All the other cloth or 'surgical' masks you can stick where the monkey stuffed his nuts.