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In a nutshell, not wanting to risk my entire future due to organ damage from repeated COVID infection (especially my brain of course, since I'm a programmer by trade and my livelihood and everything I've worked towards depends on my sharpness/etc.)... Family member died from a COVID infection. Another family member developed a heart arrhythmia immediately following "asymptomatic" COVID infection. Family friend's mom died from it. Coworker's sister disabled due to it, can no longer work, gets winded just walking to the kitchen. One of my favorite musicians called it quits completely because she went deaf in one ear from it. I could share anecdotes like these all day, it's not like a rare thing but shockingly common that people have serious issues from this. Most of the time wearing a mask has no ill effect (particularly in stores or whatever), but it does get super old that it's an uphill battle with pretty much everyone everywhere, because for them everything is "back to normal". I don't care if I have to sit there in the restaurant and not eat anything while everyone else eats, but other people find it awkward and make constant comments about it -- or I just don't get invited to stuff too. (As an aside, it's frustrating that restaurants with outdoor patios often aren't much help, because apparently the trend is that outdoor patios have to be completely enclosed in plexiglass thus defeating the purpose of an outdoor patio) ... It has been a pretty interesting 6 years, noting how people respond to the masking. I think people just think we're ill, pretty often. I've had a few people give a judgemental look, especially in Europe. No one has really said anything out loud, surprisingly. What's especially surprising is just how inconsiderate people are -- going to work (or just being out in public) while blatantly sick, spreading their illness to others, never wearing a mask because apparently that's too hard or something. Too bad for anyone who's immune-compromised or lives with immune-compromised people, I guess. The pandemic has really opened my eyes to just how selfish people are, and it has been very disappointing to see. It has also highlighted the degree of consideration and thoughtfulness many people enact, which is super awesome to see! |