One of our local columnists wrote recently about an experience he had with some people wearing and some people not wearing masks.  He described a situation where he was waiting for a carryout order outside a restaurant.  He and the other two people in line were wearing masks.  During this time, a person without a mask walked into the store, picked up his order and left.  Those standing in line were apparently incensed by – not the idea of the guy cutting in line – the fact that the guy was not wearing a mask.

The writer opened his post by stating that “There are plenty of ways to divide us into two types of people.  I think the newest way is this: Those who wear masks when they go out and about, and those who don’t.”  He closes his article by stating: “if you’re wearing a mask, it shows that you’re thinking about others. And if you don’t, it feels like it’s all about you.”

My reaction to his statement is that we already have way too many ways to divide people like us and people who aren’t like us.  The mask thing is just something else for people to be divided and self-righteous about.  We were already harboring an overly-reactive state of suspicion and paranoia before the virus arrived.  We don’t need to be thinking up new ways to judge people.

A month or so ago, the “experts” were telling us that masks weren’t necessary.  But now, a different set of “experts” is telling us that wearing a mask “can’t hurt” or something to that effect.  And yes, I understand that a small percentage of the population might be “carriers” and not know it.    Both approaches are right, neither of them is wrong.

My concern with masks is that they give people a false sense of security.  Just like someone taking a cholesterol medicine rationalizes that he/she can eat anything he/she wants, wearing masks makes people think they are “safe” when the safest thing to do is to stay the f*** home.

Because we are dealing with incompetent, ineffective and inconsistent leadership at all levels in this country, particularly at the national level, no one really knows who or what to believe.  We as a society act like a flock of sheep.  Where the crowd goes, we follow.  When it comes to knowing what to do in a crisis, we tend to follow the one with the loudest voice.  Right now that voice is hollering about masks.