Never really sure what level is COVID Eternal strain, how much is a badge of group identity, and how much is planned attempts to hide their identity. I do see people around that I figure might show up to such an outing, but certainly seem to mask up while just walking around.
At the worst of the Cultural Revolution, a seasonal flu encouraged the Red Guard mobs to wear surgical masks as they rioted. I remember that the added anonymity was remarked upon at the time. Covered faces made more violence less ‘shameful.’
I always figured the masks were Performative Victimhood. I’ve seen TRAs recommend mask-wearing to Protest rallies for protection — so they don’t get doxxed and have bullies invade their accounts and armed thugs show up at their houses which happens all the time. The masks are a way of saying “I’m frightened of you for very good reason. I’m weak; you’re strong. But still I prevail.”
The fact that the cowering, vulnerable Oppressed are often given a lot of leeway when fighting back against an overpowering and brutal enemy is kind of an unintended side benefit, I assume they assume.
I’ve seen TRAs recommend mask-wearing to Protest rallies for protection — so they don’t get doxxed and have bullies invade their accounts and armed thugs show up at their houses which happens all the time.
More like “If my mom finds out what I’m doing, she’ll kick me out of her basement.”
Well yes, but I’m sure OB has seen it too because she’s in my region. There’s a lot of weirdos that still go masked up everywhere, even on a jog) around here even if it represents a minority practice. My best mate is one of these and he’s never gone to a goblin rally. Pandemic Eternalists are a real thing… but maybe it’s not even worth making a distinction, since the Venn Diagram between COVID-foreverists and is pretty close to a circle. It can certainly be that they believe at the same time “must mask up to save the vulnerable from the dire threat of COVID-19/long COVID” and “my this is convenient for any protest I want to show up at”. It was certainly like that during the Summer of Love (2020).
I mask up when I’m out, though usually not outside (unless I’m in an area populated by smokers). COVID made it obvious how much good masks do me, since I have been sick a lot less since starting to mask. I don’t think it has anything to do with going to protests; that might be a different subset of people.
Never really sure what level is COVID Eternal strain, how much is a badge of group identity, and how much is planned attempts to hide their identity. I do see people around that I figure might show up to such an outing, but certainly seem to mask up while just walking around.
At the worst of the Cultural Revolution, a seasonal flu encouraged the Red Guard mobs to wear surgical masks as they rioted. I remember that the added anonymity was remarked upon at the time. Covered faces made more violence less ‘shameful.’
I always figured the masks were Performative Victimhood. I’ve seen TRAs recommend mask-wearing to Protest rallies for protection — so they don’t get doxxed and have bullies invade their accounts and armed thugs show up at their houses which happens all the time. The masks are a way of saying “I’m frightened of you for very good reason. I’m weak; you’re strong. But still I prevail.”
The fact that the cowering, vulnerable Oppressed are often given a lot of leeway when fighting back against an overpowering and brutal enemy is kind of an unintended side benefit, I assume they assume.
More like “If my mom finds out what I’m doing, she’ll kick me out of her basement.”
Well yes, but I’m sure OB has seen it too because she’s in my region. There’s a lot of weirdos that still go masked up everywhere, even on a jog) around here even if it represents a minority practice. My best mate is one of these and he’s never gone to a goblin rally. Pandemic Eternalists are a real thing… but maybe it’s not even worth making a distinction, since the Venn Diagram between COVID-foreverists and is pretty close to a circle. It can certainly be that they believe at the same time “must mask up to save the vulnerable from the dire threat of COVID-19/long COVID” and “my this is convenient for any protest I want to show up at”. It was certainly like that during the Summer of Love (2020).
Hard to say with things like identity…
I mask up when I’m out, though usually not outside (unless I’m in an area populated by smokers). COVID made it obvious how much good masks do me, since I have been sick a lot less since starting to mask. I don’t think it has anything to do with going to protests; that might be a different subset of people.