Thread by @ZubyMusic

I've said it before, but this is the first pandemic in history where millions of people desperately WANT it to be worse than it actually is.

Without the relentless multi-channel advertising campaign, we'd simply be in flu season.

This is one of many reasons why masks annoy me (and a reason I believe they are mandated...)

They are ADVERTISING

When you see people wearing them, it heightens anxiety and threat sensitivity. It keeps the virus on your mind.

When you're not surrounded, you forget about it.

People who say "What's the harm? It's just a piece of cloth." are low level thinkers.

There are tons of downsides to masks. Social, psychological, environmental, hygiene, and more... They are a key component of all this.

It's not a neutral activity, as many seem to think.

I support people's right to cover their faces in public like weirdos if they choose to.

But I will criticise it and don't participate.

It was not socially acceptable before. And that hasn't suddenly changed for me.

It's antisocial and makes it harder to communicate.

It's difficult to quantify the importance of being able to see people's facial expressions... To share a smile, laughter, and to see mouth movements as part of natural speech. It's especially important for children, deaf people, and non-native speakers.

We are SOCIAL beings.

It's all psychological and political manipulation and warfare.

The virology and epidemiology are the least interesting aspects of this... And they're not what the policies are based on.

It's social and political science.