Coronavirus. Your thoughts? [Serious and Non-Serious]

Well yes, that there is an issue. It's not the same for everyone. So of course we will have different views. I'm certainly thankful things are quiet.

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/annistonstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/be/8be77300-6fdb-11ea-b1d1-d3cb8dcec289/5e7d73bc6203b.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C768

The following is from a logical humanist perspective. Not from my nihilistic side. A face mask is not an absolute tool that stops COVID-19. But a face mask does decrease the risk of further infection. Treat a face mask like a seat belt. A seat belt won't save a person's life with 100% certainty in a car crash. But a seat belt will decrease the chance of death. Likewise a face mask won't nullify the spread of the disease with 100% certainty. But a face mask will decrease the chance of infection. Stating that the spread is, " inevitable", thus why do anything about it, is plain erroneous. One has to look no further than the infection curves of different countries. Different countries took different measures and precautions. One of those many measures to reduce the infection rate was the use of face masks. Many countries that took more drastic measures against COVID-19 fared better. That is to say, when compared to the US. Their growth curves are flat or on a negative downtrend. What is the problem with not wearing a face mask? I've heard the argument from quite a few people and I quote, " This is America" or "I live in a free country". Hence they don't have to wear a face mask because of freedom. A democratic republic like the US does not grant people with infinite freedom. People are generally free to the extent that they don't infringe on other people's life, liberty, freedom etc. As stated before. Not wearing a face mask increases the rate of infection. A higher infection rate sets a higher risk for more people's lives. A person not wearing a face mask puts people around him/her at a higher probable death. People not wearing a face mask infringes on other peoples's right to life. Because the person not wearing a mask increases the risk of infection and thus also increases the chance of death. As one of the core tenets of a democratic republic. A person should not have the right to infringe on another person's right to life. It is analogous to free speech. People don't have infinite free speech. Otherwise with infinite free speech. One would be able to falsely yell the cliche, "fire" in a crowded theater. A plausible outcome of falsely yelling fire in a crowded theater is a sudden panic stampede for the exits. Someone could trip in that stampede. Then everyone else out of panic could simply not see the man/woman lying on the ground and trample him/her. Thus falsely yelling fire in a crowded theater infringes on other peoples right to life. Unsurprisingly many states have falsely yelling fire codified into law. For example: in California, per Cal. Pen. 148.4(a)(2) a person is a violator if he: "Willfully and maliciously sends, gives, transmits, or sounds any false alarm of fire, by means of any fire alarm system or signal or by any other means or methods." I do agree with the general idea of freedom. As long as you don't infringe on other people's freedom. I also generally agree with the idea that people have the right to be stupid. Even if that stupidity is risky for their own lives. But I don't agree with the idea that someone has the right to be stupid at the expense of someone else's life. Hence, I don't agree with the freedom of not wearing a face mask because it puts other peoples lives at risk. More importantly for me. My life and the lives of the few people that I actually care about

@alephy Agreed. I wish more people in Huntington Beach shared your views. Its so bad wear people look at you funny if you wear a face mask. smh.