[2006alum]

Even more, when someone doesn't wear a mask--even if they verbalize it as saying they want to assert themselves, or nobody else controls them, or they don't want to live in fear, or whatever--you don't know what depth of anxiety, fear, overwhelm, depression, or inflexible thinking due to neurodevelopmental differences they are dealing with. Does it make their choice to go maskless right? No. But, they are still human beings, who, although you profoundly disagree with them, deserve compassion and care for the hidden struggles that have brought them to that place, just as those who are at higher risk for Covid deserve our compassion and care by following proper infection control measures. 

For what it's worth, I have yet to see anyone online articulate a coherent explanation along the lines quoted above as their personal reason for not wearing a mask. 

Online, what I've mostly seen is videos of people threatening low-paid security guards and store personnel for making them follow the rules. And it's not surprising that these rude and indignant individuals are met with massive vitriol online, especially since half the time they're the ones to have recorded themselves having a meltdown. 

In person, I've not yet seen a single case of mask-shaming in either direction - shaming those who do, or shaming those who don't - but perhaps living in SF means that people are a bit more live and let live. I'm very thankful that thus far I've yet to have one unpleasant encounter of any kind. Everyone has been conscientious about spacing, mask wearing inside, etc. Many well wishes of "be safe" etc. But just as the stock market is not the economy, twitter is not the real world.

For what it's worth, I also think it doesn't help when the leaders of the country manage to make mask-wearing a partisan issue. Once that happens, few people view this issue through the lens of "neurodevelopmental differences."

And yes, we could all be kinder. First and foremost, probably, would be to shut down twitter and facebook altogether.

My two cents.

[2006alum]

Even more, when someone doesn't wear a mask--even if they verbalize it as saying they want to assert themselves, or nobody else controls them, or they don't want to live in fear, or whatever--you don't know what depth of anxiety, fear, overwhelm, depression, or inflexible thinking due to neurodevelopmental differences they are dealing with. Does it make their choice to go maskless right? No. But, they are still human beings, who, although you profoundly disagree with them, deserve compassion and care for the hidden struggles that have brought them to that place, just as those who are at higher risk for Covid deserve our compassion and care by following proper infection control measures. 

For what it's worth, I have yet to see anyone online articulate a coherent explanation along the lines quoted above as their personal reason for not wearing a mask. 

Online, what I've mostly seen is videos of people threatening low-paid security guards and store personnel for making them follow the rules. And it's not surprising that these rude and indignant individuals are met with massive vitriol online, especially since half the time they're the ones to have recorded themselves having a meltdown. 

In person, I've not yet seen a single case of mask-shaming in either direction - shaming those who do, or shaming those who don't - but perhaps living in SF means that people are a bit more live and let live. I'm very thankful that thus far I've yet to have one unpleasant encounter of any kind. Everyone has been conscientious about spacing, mask wearing inside, etc. Many well wishes of "be safe" etc. But just as the stock market is not the economy, twitter is not the real world.

For what it's worth, I also think it doesn't help when the leaders of the country manage to make mask-wearing a partisan issue. Once that happens, few people view this issue through the lens of "neurodevelopmental differences."

And yes, we could all be kinder. First and foremost, probably, would be to shut down twitter and facebook altogether.

My two cents.