fatjay
You have not been paying attention. Police and military are enforcing public masking. Around the globe. Sick isn't it!
Where will it end? "Systemic racism is an epidemic" according to some governors. Will masks be effective in "flattening the curve"?
Granted, I try to steer clear of covid stuff during non-work hours, because it's mentally taxing when it's all you do for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. However, please cite the sources where you're seeing this.
I would believe this might be happening in urban city centers with row homes and sidewalks or even suburban towns. However, I don't believe it would happen when you could ride a bike for 20 miles and see 2 cars, in a rural setting as you describe. On the flip side, you would also probably get arrested for driving a tractor on the road in the city, but you could probably do it where you live without issue. The point is, not all areas are created equal, not all areas have the same recommendations.
Now, you seem to be a bit of an extremist. My wife is also an extremist, as are a few of my friend's wives, so I have a bit of experience regarding this. You're reading this as "wear a mask every waking hour outside your home" vs "never wear a mask because freedom". Or 0 vs 100. Or in tractor terms, idle vs full throttle. Maybe that doesn't apply as much because personally it's all power all the time, unless I'm idling while talking to someone. But that's a bit further from the point. There are an infinite number of positions between two polar opposites.
* Wear a mask when working in your garden?
No.
* Wear a mask while grocery shopping?
Yes.
* Wear a mask while going for a jog in a rural area?
No.
* Wear a mask while going for a jog through time square?
Yes.
* Wear a mask while working on your tractor in your barn?
No.
* Wear a mask while watching the shop technician diagnose your tractor in the shop?
Maybe, depending on circumstances such as distancing, ventilation, closed/open doors, and if they ask you to. Generally yes, it's polite and shows courtesy towards the technician diagnosing your tractor and doesn't cost you anything.
There are a lot of position on this situation. It's not binary, a clear and concise yes/no for every situation.
It's the situation most men go through with their daughter regarding sex. In a perfect world it would never happen(no masks). However that's not the case and it's not a reasonable expectation in these circustmances. Should she have sex with a musician at a club she just met?(gardening) NO! But what about her husband of 3 years who earns a stable income doing a reputable office job?(grocery shopping) Ehhhh, i hate to say it, and i'm reluctant to say it, and it's unpleasant to even think about it, but yes, it's probably ok.
No one likes to wear masks. It's not fun.
It sucks. And if everyone would get their heads out of their asses we'd have kicked this thing by now and at least not have to go to extremes. But the simple fact is that we haven't kicked it. And it's lingering, spreading, and killing. So when forced into a social situation, forced to be within 6' of someone in a confined space, that is not a member of my household, yes, I will wear a mask and make every effort to distance myself from them.
