I guess the immuno-compromised and those who currently have a mild respiratory infection now feel they have “permission” from society to wear a mask. A non-East Asian person wearing a mask two years ago would have attracted a range of unwelcome behaviour – quizzical looks (mildest), questions, comments, verbal or even physical abuse (worst-case scenario) – depending on who they encounter.
Personally, I hope our knowledge and scientific understanding improves with regard to the effectiveness of mask wearing in a non-medical environment to mitigate either spreading or being infected by pathogens.
I think you’re quite off-base with your assertion that someone wearing a mask would be met with violence. Nobody would care. You’d just say “oh I am immuno-compromised so I try not to get sick” and then that’s that. In fact more likely someone would go to great lengths to make you feel comfortable and help you out because generally people are sensitive to people who are sick or have health problems, especially in America. Somebody might have question you because it’s abnormal, but it isn’t any more abnormal or different then someone noticing you are wearing pink hair or a random interesting t-shirt.
I agree that people now feel they have permission, which is good because people who actually need to wear a mask should be able to wear one without being looked at strangely. But the vast majority of people who will continue to wear masks won’t fall in this category. Even after the Democratic administration (who I voted for) and CDC relaxed mask mandates people still wear them for no good reason. (They’re not sick, have no scientific reason for them, etc.)
Regarding violence, I explicitly envisioned this as a worst-case scenario.
As a young male of 20, I was a fan of heavy metal and used to have long hair. Because I was “different”, I used to have inner-city kids shout verbal abuse and throw stones at me (in daylight, walking home from college), have adult males try to start fights in pubs or on the streets and once had a random thug spit in my face as I cycled past while in a bad part of town. Even other friends who were taller and more physically imposing had to deal with similar crap if they were on their own. There are always going to be malicious people who will pick on anyone who’s different in some way. They’ll probably pick on anyone they think isn’t a threat but the less “different” you are, the better your chances are of avoiding unpleasantries.
Yea... I think that's just life, unfortunately. It could be long hair, it could be a mask, or it could be your skin color. Unfortunately there are a lot of morons in this world.
Personally, I hope our knowledge and scientific understanding improves with regard to the effectiveness of mask wearing in a non-medical environment to mitigate either spreading or being infected by pathogens.