New York To Drop Indoor Mask Mandate This Week- Page 3

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:44pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "I was always kind of an introverted extrovert -- the life of the party to a limited extent, very outgoing, but always more comfortable on the couch than in a club, so to speak. During the lockdown, I got to see what happens when people adjust to my lifestyle instead of my adjusting, however briefly, to theirs.

All that to say: I went into this crap trusting very few fellow humans. Now I don't trust a damn one of you, responsible or not, and you can hardly blame me.All this pandemic has proven to me is what little regard people have for human life the minute that a minor inconvenience gets on their nerves.

FWIW, not that anyone asked, I'm staying full-on masked up in public unless I'm eating or drinking for life. Hey, it works for Japan! And to those who say I'm paranoid, eat a Snickers, you get hostile when you're hungry. I don't care if I'm stigmatized as "that weirdo with the mask" for the rest of my days. I'll be "that weirdo with the mask," andalive."

I would have to agree with you on one point: absolutely no one asked.

But, even such, I hope no one comes to judge you for that decision. But there's a catch you that: YOU have to also be willing to not judge others, if they choose to NOT wear their mask. The hostility of your third paragraph (oh, the irony) indicates that this might not end up being the case. I hope I'm wrong. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:46pm

OhHiii said: "We're approaching the phase of the pandemic where risk assessment and protocols will no longer be the responsibility of the government/municipalities and instead shift to the individual. This is how we approach the flu, and really any other contagious sickness. We assess our risk, make a decision on what we're comfortable doing and we go through our lives in that way.

The days of internet shaming and cancelling over masking/being in crowds is decidedly over and there will always be people who act like it's March 2020 and they'll eventually be preaching to a smaller and smaller choir. That's already starting to happen. This board is even a mini study of that. The ones who have always been doomsdayers are continuing to tell others they're wrong and irresponsible, but even those who were once super cautious are coming around to the enough is enough mindset.

When the FDA gives authorization for 6months and older, I think that will be a major tipping point. Parents will be responsible for protecting their kid with the tools that are available to them. "BUT WHAT ABOUT MY KID?!?!?!" won't be something parents can throw in the faces of others because they'll now have options where they didn't before. If they choose not to take advantage of said options, then they live with that level of risk. It's not up to everyone else to protect someone who has actively chosen not to protect themselves."

I like you.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:52pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "I was always kind of an introverted extrovert -- the life of the party to a limited extent, very outgoing, but always more comfortable on the couch than in a club, so to speak. During the lockdown, I got to see what happens when people adjust to my lifestyle instead of my adjusting, however briefly, to theirs.

All that to say: I went into this crap trusting very few fellow humans. Now I don't trust a damn one of you, responsible or not, and you can hardly blame me.All this pandemic has proven to me is what little regard people have for human life the minute that a minor inconvenience gets on their nerves.

FWIW, not that anyone asked, I'm staying full-on masked up in public unless I'm eating or drinking for life. Hey, it works for Japan! And to those who say I'm paranoid, eat a Snickers, you get hostile when you're hungry. I don't care if I'm stigmatized as "that weirdo with the mask" for the rest of my days. I'll be "that weirdo with the mask," andalive."

If you don't want to be judged for wearing your mask indefinitely, you need to reassess how you judge others for making a different choice. From how you've worded this, it seems like you're wearing a mask to virtue signal rather than for your actual health. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 1:04pm

I do hope this doesn't turn into a back-and-forth, finger-pointing battle.

I firmly believe everyone has the right to make their own decisions, re masking, without being judged or ridiculed by those who don't choose the same path as them.

And, while a common media narrative is to paint those who prefer to not wear a mask as those more likely to cast stones, from everything I've seen, it is very much the other way around. And it isn't particularly close. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 1:13pm

Also, we’ve been with this pandemic crap for quite some time now and this mask thing will be around for a bit longer.  If you hate wearing a mask as it’s uncomfortable - CAN A CUSTOM ONE MADE.  Geez. 

I sport a long beard.  Those disposable masks were not only insanely uncomfortable but left a dent in my beard from how tight they were.  Did I bitch and whine forever?  Nope.  Had a custom built mask that runs the length of my beard and has pockets to insert filters (I use those blue disposable masks but cut off the straps).  I fly frequently a few times each month and I fly comfortably and can sit thru a 4 hour show or movie with no discomfort whatsoever.  Took care of the situation.  Not once screamed and shouted how I, a person with a beard, was being discriminated for masks not accommodating me.  If you find commercially available masks are uncomfortable - HAVE ONE CUSTOM MADE FOR YOU!  Geez.  Mine is even machine washable.  

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 1:27pm

Cool story bro. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 3:04pm

OhHiii said: "If you don't want to be judged for wearing your mask indefinitely, you need to reassess how you judge others for making a different choice. From how you've worded this, it seems like you're wearing a mask to virtue signal rather than for your actual health."

That advice about the Snickers? That was for you too, sugar.

[joevitus]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 3:29pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "

FWIW, not that anyone asked, I'm staying full-on masked up in public unless I'm eating or drinking for life. Hey, it works for Japan!"

Uh, the Japanese are right now always masked in public because it took much longer to get the vaccine there, and the government was doing all it could to control the spread. Japanese have, of course, not always  masked in public, not even in the recent past, and there is no reason to believe this will continue in Japan--as the ads once said of Cats--now and forever. Japanese individuals have, for decades, chosen to wear masks when there is an outbreak of something--you saw a lot of footage during it during SARS, and it is much more common during flu season. But those are all still issue-specific instances, and not simply the way public life is led in that country. 

 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 3:41pm

New York City might have different mask requirements than New York State.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 3:49pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "OhHiii said: "If you don't want to be judged for wearing your mask indefinitely, you need to reassess how you judge others for making a different choice. From how you've worded this, it seems like you're wearing a mask to virtue signal rather than for your actual health."

That advice about the Snickers? That was for you too, sugar."

That advice about the Snickers? It didn't make sense.

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 4:20pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "And, while a common media narrative is to paint those who prefer to not wear a mask as those more likely to cast stones, from everything I've seen, it is very much the other way around. And it isn't particularly close."

Yep. I just want common sense decisions now. If they’re gonna continue the mask policy going forward (at least thro April) then it only makes sense if they make it a requirement to wear N95 masks, otherwise it just becomes performative with negligible benefit. I wouldn’t underestimate how much of a detrimental effect continuing these Broadway mandates will have on bringing tourists back to the city. 

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 4:20pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "And, while a common media narrative is to paint those who prefer to not wear a mask as those more likely to cast stones, from everything I've seen, it is very much the other way around. And it isn't particularly close."

Yep. I just want common sense decisions now. If they’re gonna continue the mask policy going forward (at least thro April) then it only makes sense if they make it a requirement to wear N95 masks, otherwise it just becomes performative with negligible benefit. I wouldn’t underestimate how much of a detrimental effect continuing these Broadway mandates will have on bringing tourists back to the city. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 5:03pm

The last ticket I have booked right now is for late March. I'm absolutely not buying another if they stop checking vaccination status. I wear the N95 because I know the cloth masks other people are wearing are just for show.

[adotburr]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 5:25pm

Masks in general are just for show. Maybe at first they were for protection but no longer. They’re a political argument now. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 5:38pm

adotburr said: "Masks in general are just for show. Maybe at first they were for protection but no longer. They’re a political argument now."

Nah. I'm a college English tutor now, and our student population seems to be all over the place about vaccinations, nor can our state require masks. So I always wear a mask when working with students in person (we also schedule virtual sessions). 

The point is, people are wearing masks for all sorts of reasons, and while there is some (a lot? a little?) virtue signaling, there are others who are just trying to be safe. And yeah, my wearing a mask protects them from catching anything from me much more than it works the other way around, but it does provide some small protection, and I'll take what I can get.

[Scott456]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 6:44pm

I don't think that this decision is good for the society...But I may be wrong of course.

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 6:46pm

With all the talk about individual audience members being responsible for their own protection, I think it's important to remember that the big push to require audience members to wear masks came from Equity in the first place to protect the actors who cannot do their jobs wearing masks. There is still a pandemic fueled by a variant that is good at evading vaccines, which we all know caused many shows to shut down not that long ago. We are in a different place now, but we are not in the clear yet. Perhaps we will be by April 30, but considering the havoc of just over a month ago, there's reason to proceed with caution.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 7:19pm

I fear for the house staff now. I just rode the LIRR and it was packed due to a concert at MSG. About 90% unmasked. I asked a conductor and he said he is scared to enforce it because everyone thinks Hochul’s mandate means trains too. He said he tried earlier in the day and was frightened by the response. Now he feels unsafe.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 8:19pm

OhHiii said: "g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "I was always kind of an introverted extrovert -- the life of the party to a limited extent, very outgoing, but always more comfortable on the couch than in a club, so to speak. During the lockdown, I got to see what happens when people adjust to my lifestyle instead of my adjusting, however briefly, to theirs.

All that to say: I went into this crap trusting very few fellow humans. Now I don't trust a damn one of you, responsible or not, and you can hardly blame me.All this pandemic has proven to me is what little regard people have for human life the minute that a minor inconvenience gets on their nerves.

FWIW, not that anyone asked, I'm staying full-on masked up in public unless I'm eating or drinking for life. Hey, it works for Japan! And to those who say I'm paranoid, eat a Snickers, you get hostile when you're hungry. I don't care if I'm stigmatized as "that weirdo with the mask" for the rest of my days. I'll be "that weirdo with the mask," andalive."

If you don't want to be judged for wearing your mask indefinitely, you need to reassess how you judge others for making a different choice. From how you've worded this, it seems like you're wearing a mask to virtue signal rather than for your actual health."

Wearing a mask helps to protect other people from you. It’s really very simple. 

[Mariavontrapp2]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 9:05pm

I absolutely respect your views, but I just have to ask, because I truly don't understand - if you trust your mask to protect you, what does it matter what anyone else is doing? I just don't get it. I would never, ever criticize someone for wearing a mask, because I know the concerns people have and the health issues they bear. Back in pre-Covid days, you'd see folks wearing medical masks out and about and you'd know it was because they were undergoing some kind of chemotherapy or were immunocompromised in some way, and you understood - but no one expected the rest of the world to mask up, too. Again, not trying to pick a fight here, just trying to understand. If you are vaxxed and masked, don't you feel safe? 

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 10:03pm

adotburr said: "Masks in general are just for show. Maybe at first they were for protection but no longer. They’re a political argument now."

I definitely don't wear a mask for a political argument. I still wear one for protection from colds, flus and whatever nastiness people spread. Prior to getting covid before Christmas I haven't had as much as a head cold since early 2020. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 10:24pm

I’m just shocked that people are STILL acting as if these masks impede on their lives so much.

It’s been almost two full years. I have been wearing them for over 700 days. People should be used to this sh*t by now. It’s insane how many refuse to adapt. I literally forget about it being on my face…because it’s become a part of my daily life for almost two years.

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 2/10/22 at 1:54am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I’m just shocked that people are STILL acting as if these masks impede on their lives so much.

It’s been almost two full years. I have been wearing them for over 700 days. People should be used to this sh*t by now. It’s insane how many refuse to adapt. I literally forget about it being on my face…because it’s become a part of my daily life for almost two years."

This isn’t evolution. We’re not all going to grow protective masks if we wear one long enough! And people have adapted, because they’ve been wearing masks without a second thought for 2 years (including myself) - doesn’t mean people want to continue doing it indefinitely at the point at which it becomes unnecessary, and people aren’t selfish for wanting that either. I’ll continue wearing my mask in certain situations too for the time being (in shops, public transport etc) but I don’t agree with extending the broadway mask mandates for months on end, especially when all theatergoers have to be vaccinated and are therefore at very low risk from contracting covid, and we already know that cloth masks are minimal effect at actually stopping any spread. I respect anyone who personally chooses to wear masks going forward - certainly no judgement from me. 

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 2/10/22 at 2:19am

I'm going to reiterate what I said earlier and point out that it's not just about your own health and safety but also that of the unmasked performers in the same room as you. In some intimate houses--especially off-Broadway and off-off-, audience members can be inches away from actors. If we reach the point where that can happen with negligible risk, fine, but as the CDC keeps telling us, we are not there yet.

[Luscious]

Posted: 2/10/22 at 2:40am

Let me preface this by saying that I'm a lifelong New Yorker and an avid theatre-goer. As far as I'm concerned, theatres, restaurants, etc., can check vaccination status until the end of time and I wouldn't mind in the least, In fact, at present, I won't go anywhere they DON'T check. But I won't purchase another ticket to another show until the mask mandate is lifted. I'm not in any way an anti-makser - I understand the reasoning and desire to protect the unmasked actors - but I'm just not comfortable wearing a mask throughout an entire performance. I've tried several times since Broadway has reopened. It just doesn't work for me. I'll probably never ride the subway or take any form of public transportation again without wearing a mask, and, although I no longer wear one walking around outside, have no problem putting one on to enter a store, etc., for the short time I'll be inside, but I simply cannot tolerate wearing a mask in a theatre for upwards of two hours or longer while watching a show.