This article is a good try with lots of clickable links. The writer is trying hard to be a journalist. It's very long so I want to sum it up buy copying what I thought was the best part:
"While the virus itself could certainly pass through cloth, the droplets that spread it can't. Cloth masks block most large droplets, and multi-layer cloth masks block a lot more, with reductions as high as 50-70%. Masks are much more effective at preventing an infected person from spreading COVID than they are at keeping you safe from catching it, but it's still much better than not using a mask at all, especially if you're in an area with closely-packed infected people."
What I got from this is that somewhere she got the idea (no evidence presented) that large droplets were a major way of getting Covid. I can imagine it very bad someone who is infectious was coughing or sneezing in your face from a couple feet away, but I don't recall that happening to me since this began.
So I give her credit for even writing an article titled: "What's the science behind masks? Do masks prevent or reduce COVID infection?"
I thought the idea that cloth masks work was settled in the minds of almost everybody, as true.
Notice I used the word 'true.' This writer seems to think, like most people who have kicked the religious habit, that science = truth. I would have been impressed if the title had been,"What's the truth behind masks? Do masks prevent or reduce COVID infection?"
The virus is now known to have very little spread through droplets. The main vector is a fine invisible aerosol suespended in the air for weeks, similar to the way TB is spread. The virus particle is, on average, 1000 times smaller than the smallest hole in your chinese nappy, so good luck with your rain dancing mask wearing. But droplets have been burned into your brain by perpetual propaganda, so there's no way back for you.
I think as far as masks go, they illustrate the irrational "surely every little bit helps" or "even a little bit is better than nothing" thinking that prevails these days, largely do to marketing brainwashing. People think that there is some minimum number of virons that need to be inhaled before you get sick (is there? what if it's just one?) and so if you can block some of them, you'll be good. That infamous "Swiss-cheese" theory of useless protective actions.
Marketing has sold people on the idea that tiny things, tiny changes are BIG DEALS and now it's ingrained in our thinking. Selling cookies in 100 calorie packages in order to "help you lose weight." Touting an energy drink that "burns 5% more calories." A savings account that pays you the "highest rates in the country" of 0.05%. A new car that offers "highest gas mileage in the country" of 1 mpg higher than it's competition. A pill that lowers your cholesterol so that you can live four days longer. "Plant a tree" every time you fly to "lower your carbon footprint." Etc. Etc.
People are no longer able to separate the hype from the reality, and seem unable to understand that something can be both true and irrelevant at the same time. "Higher" doesn't mean high. "Prettier" doesn't mean pretty. "More effective" does not mean "effective." Buying a lottery ticket truly does increase your chances of wining the lottery, but you are still going to lose. "Mask work to block boogers" does not mean "masks work to stop a pandemic."
Umm, most people, including and likely especially, the liberal arts educated gender studies types, are pretty dull. Add a sprinkle of wokeness and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings unless they are white and conservative and I hope you will excuse me when I say the future leaders of our teetering western democracies do not inspire confidence. But then again neither do our current leaders. End of story, case closed.
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/07/23/masks-covid-19-science-behind-how-face-coverings-work/8062401002/?utm_source=palmbeachpost-Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_thumb&utm_content=FLORIDA-PALMBEACHPOST-NLETTER65
This article is a good try with lots of clickable links. The writer is trying hard to be a journalist. It's very long so I want to sum it up buy copying what I thought was the best part:
"While the virus itself could certainly pass through cloth, the droplets that spread it can't. Cloth masks block most large droplets, and multi-layer cloth masks block a lot more, with reductions as high as 50-70%. Masks are much more effective at preventing an infected person from spreading COVID than they are at keeping you safe from catching it, but it's still much better than not using a mask at all, especially if you're in an area with closely-packed infected people."
What I got from this is that somewhere she got the idea (no evidence presented) that large droplets were a major way of getting Covid. I can imagine it very bad someone who is infectious was coughing or sneezing in your face from a couple feet away, but I don't recall that happening to me since this began.
So I give her credit for even writing an article titled: "What's the science behind masks? Do masks prevent or reduce COVID infection?"
I thought the idea that cloth masks work was settled in the minds of almost everybody, as true.
Notice I used the word 'true.' This writer seems to think, like most people who have kicked the religious habit, that science = truth. I would have been impressed if the title had been,"What's the truth behind masks? Do masks prevent or reduce COVID infection?"
The virus is now known to have very little spread through droplets. The main vector is a fine invisible aerosol suespended in the air for weeks, similar to the way TB is spread. The virus particle is, on average, 1000 times smaller than the smallest hole in your chinese nappy, so good luck with your rain dancing mask wearing. But droplets have been burned into your brain by perpetual propaganda, so there's no way back for you.
I think as far as masks go, they illustrate the irrational "surely every little bit helps" or "even a little bit is better than nothing" thinking that prevails these days, largely do to marketing brainwashing. People think that there is some minimum number of virons that need to be inhaled before you get sick (is there? what if it's just one?) and so if you can block some of them, you'll be good. That infamous "Swiss-cheese" theory of useless protective actions.
Marketing has sold people on the idea that tiny things, tiny changes are BIG DEALS and now it's ingrained in our thinking. Selling cookies in 100 calorie packages in order to "help you lose weight." Touting an energy drink that "burns 5% more calories." A savings account that pays you the "highest rates in the country" of 0.05%. A new car that offers "highest gas mileage in the country" of 1 mpg higher than it's competition. A pill that lowers your cholesterol so that you can live four days longer. "Plant a tree" every time you fly to "lower your carbon footprint." Etc. Etc.
People are no longer able to separate the hype from the reality, and seem unable to understand that something can be both true and irrelevant at the same time. "Higher" doesn't mean high. "Prettier" doesn't mean pretty. "More effective" does not mean "effective." Buying a lottery ticket truly does increase your chances of wining the lottery, but you are still going to lose. "Mask work to block boogers" does not mean "masks work to stop a pandemic."
Umm, most people, including and likely especially, the liberal arts educated gender studies types, are pretty dull. Add a sprinkle of wokeness and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings unless they are white and conservative and I hope you will excuse me when I say the future leaders of our teetering western democracies do not inspire confidence. But then again neither do our current leaders. End of story, case closed.
Not your brain, apologies, I see you're still agnostic.
Recommended: https://rationalground.com/masks-are-not-source-control/
by the impressive
https://mobile.twitter.com/mamasaurusMeg