Had an appt today and seem to have found the magic order of words to get service providers to mask for me (1/?): “Will you protect me by wearing this KN95? I am immunocompromised and could die from another COVID infection.” This does a couple things:
1. By using “Will you” instead of “Would you mind,” the nature of the ask is changed. It’s no longer about how they feel- it becomes a simple yes or no question without real room for interrogation.
2. By including “protect me” and naming the risk, it allows someone to feel they are doing me a kindness (not a given & ppl like to be seen as nice) by protecting me and perhaps saving my life in that moment- bc they are!
3. Extending my hand / offering a packaged K95 engages the social response to accept something being offered. It leverages neurotypical social norms by forcing the other person to reject me on multiple levels if they say no (neurotypicals hate seeming rude).
This shift in the structure of the question from “Would you mind wearing a mask?” has resulted in much lower resistance and- so far- 100% acquiescence! Pretty rad.
I also let folks know I appreciate their wearing a mask just for me. I understand it can be uncomfortable if they aren’t used to it & though I essentially give the illusion of choice, I want to incentivize masking via giving them the positive feeling of having done a good thing!
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