this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Are we really still pretending the mask I got from the front bin of Home Depot actually works?

Can we look at the other claims the government "scientists" claimed to see how they were not real scientists?

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What? Yes? Home Depot sells N95 masks. Protection is why they exist.

Are we really pretending this metal saw blade I got from the front bin of Home Depot actually cuts things? I'm skeptical.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Most people didnt use N95 masks, they used random cloth ones and the surgical looking ones. The N95 masks are actually really good for dust, I use them all the time.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

they used random cloth ones and the surgical looking ones. The

While not as good as a properly fitted N95, they are still more effective than no mask at reducing the spread of airborne particles from the wearer.

Remember that masks were always mostly about protecting others, not so much about protecting the wearer. And I think that's where the loudest resistance came from - selfish people who don't give a fuck about the wellbeing of other people.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Great, can you quantify how effective they were? So the issue is that if almost all infection happened not in public and cloth masks are marginally useful, what the point of wearing them in public if there is no measurable benefit?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Imagine still trying to start mask debates in 2024.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you don’t know the difference between starting a debate and pointing out the ridiculousness of the topic then I guess that explains the obsession.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You read this far so... I think you seem to care

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I think trying to start mask debates in 2024 is ridiculous, but I’m sure I’ve said that already.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are we really still pretending the mask I got from the front bin of Home Depot actually works?

Are we still pretending <100% effectiveness = worthless? (Just kidding, I know folks are.)

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The issue here is that people pretended masks were very affective, and I have not seen any actual data that they were very useful. I have seen a lot of memes like the one above that pretend they were essential when the only data I ever recall seeing was they were overall 4% useful, by a pro-mask source. And if you look around there are lots of sources that said they did nothing, I dont know which is true, but lack of solid evidence seems to point to it was pointless.

Do you think masks should have been mandated indoors if they had a 4% impact? How about 0.1%?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Twentyish studies are sourced at the bottom of the article I linked, and it details the effectiveness of each mask type in the body of the article. Why we are discussing mandates now I don't know, feels like a bit of the ol' goalposts on wheels to me, it's not what I replied to.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think this is the most important part of the article "Yes. When used with measures such as getting vaccinated, hand-washing and physical distancing, wearing a face mask slows how quickly the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads." It essentially says do all the things and it will be impactful.

At what level of impact do you think masks should have been forced on people?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not going to re-litigate mask mandates with you. I'm sure you'll find someone happy to have that argument. You can keep moving those goalposts, but I'm not following.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That was really the big question back in the day, and when I see spotty evidence at best for mandating something that really is the key question.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The cheap, dumpy masks are still going to somewhat reduce your intake of particles and significantly reduce your output, which is their main point.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Thats great, but did they actually prevent spread is the question to ask. We can start out with the hypothesis that they do work, then we need to actually confirm if that is true.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

here. just the first two research results for a simple google search "did masks work research."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10446908/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8499874/

i mean.... you could look into it? know that it's difficult to set up an ideal study during a pandemic.

edit - also, it's hard to take you seriously in this debate when you aren't bothering to ACTUALLY LOOK AT SOME RESEARCH yourself. but i see you making lots of comments making a show of concern.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

From all that I have seen and heard its at best split or the impact is so small that it is not noticeable. I think most of the ones that say it worked involved healthcare setting where trained people used good masks, not me at home depot with a mask from a box.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What I can say is that during the "mask years", I seriously never got a cold, flu, or Covid. I usually get a cold at least once or twice a year. I think it's still been a while since I've had one. My sister actually just got Covid about 2 weeks ago, I wore a mask around her for a few days and never caight it, tho I had a booster 6 months before, and she was about a year out. I took 3 home tests over 5 days and they were all negative.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Cool, I dont really know how this relates to the overall effectiveness of masks. I am going to guess that you were very cautious and took all kinds of precautions.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Even the guy he was replying to said nothing about mandates. I'd argue that's a related but different topic.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

you are probably right. I'll see myself out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well I wouldn't have said you needed to delete the comment, I just didn't want the antimasker taking support from it when it was dubiously related. 🙂

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I appreciate that :)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

That people can still type in these word salads in 2024 is beyond me. Real actual scientists all over the world have answered these questions years ago. Stop asking Facebook for answers. Try Google

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So you think that google is unbiased?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No. Google helps you search the web. It's up to you to look for trustworthy sources but that's not too hard. Just sticking to Wikipedia is fine most of the time.

But that involves reading and this may prove challenging to some.

Facebook is a cesspool.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is Lemmy and Reddit not cesspools?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Only if the people using it are making it into one. I am looking at no one in particular...

Answering everything with a question isn't as smart as you think.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

So wouldnt that apply to facebook also? And question are a good way of clarifying things, and pointing out flaws in people ideas. I also dont want to be smarter than anyone because that is not really controllable, I want to be wiser and more accurate in what I believe.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

and significantly reduce your output,

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Just out of curiosity, what is a real scientist?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Someone that takes in data and comes to a data driven conclusion, not an ideological driven solution.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

The one that aligns with and confirms your personal bias; as all real science works.