So the argument is that “anti-maskers are ableist”… or even worse of a charge “they are eugenicists.” I think it’s long overdue to turn this argument around - and there’s no better place to do it than in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities. It is the pro-masking crowd that are viciously ableist. People with communication problems, hearing problems, cognitive disorders, dementia - they are the ones that suffer the most with this useless obsession with procedure and cloth masks.
In London, at the beginning of lockdown 2020, my 96 year old neighbour replied to a man who asked her to wear a mask in the communal garden " leave me alone please, I went through the WWII our house being bombarded, helping as a teenager in the communication services, I am 96, ready to die, just let me talk to my charming neighbour and laugh". Life is full of risks. no risk, no freedom.
I really appreciate this comment. I think there’s a (pardon my French) absolute shit-ton of people who look at the widespread aversion of the able-bodied older adults who avoid masks as somehow evidence that they’re stupid, or have been duped somehow, or that they are horribly right wing.
They don’t seem to get that any number of these older adults simply understand they don’t have much time left in this world and they simply want to enjoy it in the way they see fit and always have.
Thank you for the "pardon my French", it made me smile as I am French (as well). I could have added in my anecdote that the 96 year old was asked to wear the mask and of course to "respect" the 2 meter or rather 6 feet social distancing. She retorted that she does not hear well and wants the neighbour (a good looking 55 year old man and my husband) NOT to enforce social distance and on the contrary to come closer so she can hear him better and flirt. Immense real respect for her. We broke the "lockdown rules" and had tea with a bunch of other neighbours to have fun. I am not an expert in your domain, however, I understand that society tends to de -responsabilise people of all ages, and evidently more so when it comes to old age. Most people tend to be submissive voluntarily (La Boetie 16 century) and lazy so they do not question any authority who comes to tell them how to live their life. When the body no longer functions properly, few have the courage to stand up for their liberty. Too many are scared of dying, and are convinced that a mask will save their life and even save others' lives. A act of heroism and meaning in wearing a mask! Religious belief has diminished to leave the room for nihilistic narcissism as predicted by Nietzsche.
In London, at the beginning of lockdown 2020, my 96 year old neighbour replied to a man who asked her to wear a mask in the communal garden " leave me alone please, I went through the WWII our house being bombarded, helping as a teenager in the communication services, I am 96, ready to die, just let me talk to my charming neighbour and laugh". Life is full of risks. no risk, no freedom.
I really appreciate this comment. I think there’s a (pardon my French) absolute shit-ton of people who look at the widespread aversion of the able-bodied older adults who avoid masks as somehow evidence that they’re stupid, or have been duped somehow, or that they are horribly right wing.
They don’t seem to get that any number of these older adults simply understand they don’t have much time left in this world and they simply want to enjoy it in the way they see fit and always have.
Thank you for the "pardon my French", it made me smile as I am French (as well). I could have added in my anecdote that the 96 year old was asked to wear the mask and of course to "respect" the 2 meter or rather 6 feet social distancing. She retorted that she does not hear well and wants the neighbour (a good looking 55 year old man and my husband) NOT to enforce social distance and on the contrary to come closer so she can hear him better and flirt. Immense real respect for her. We broke the "lockdown rules" and had tea with a bunch of other neighbours to have fun. I am not an expert in your domain, however, I understand that society tends to de -responsabilise people of all ages, and evidently more so when it comes to old age. Most people tend to be submissive voluntarily (La Boetie 16 century) and lazy so they do not question any authority who comes to tell them how to live their life. When the body no longer functions properly, few have the courage to stand up for their liberty. Too many are scared of dying, and are convinced that a mask will save their life and even save others' lives. A act of heroism and meaning in wearing a mask! Religious belief has diminished to leave the room for nihilistic narcissism as predicted by Nietzsche.