Althouse: The government wants you to "stop talking to people and get back to staring at your phone."

August 6, 2020

The government wants you to "stop talking to people and get back to staring at your phone."

John observes, looking at this:

39 comments:

mikee said...: Tinder and Grinder still operating, right? Asking for a friend, of course.; 8/6/20, 9:52 AM
Danno said...: Looking at jaltco's post, this is an ad for the NYC/MTA transit system. In that context, may not so bad. But who would be so foolish to ride MTA in a pandemic and now that NYC is sinking into a crime-ridden cesspool?

It may not be a stretch to believe Ann's extrapolation to realize this is attributable to government in general.; 8/6/20, 9:56 AM
Yancey Ward said...: Things like this just show how fucking stupid we have become. I am beginning to think J. Farmer is correct- the country, indeed, our entire civilization is doomed. We just aren't a serious people any longer.; 8/6/20, 10:02 AM
rehajm said...: So mask mouth is a thing. Wearing masks leads to cavities, gum disease...rot. Gum disease leads to more dangerous health issues.

...but supposedly, someday we'll have data demonstrating we're better off all being mask Karens. The data is just a little shy...; 8/6/20, 10:04 AM
Fernandinande said...: Stop the spread. Avoid New York.; 8/6/20, 10:05 AM
walter said...: Shut up. Comply.; 8/6/20, 10:08 AM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: Althouse in the Era of That's Not Funny. It's a funny subway poster, but subway spread killed a lot of New Yorkers, so that's not funny. Right?; 8/6/20, 10:12 AM
n.n said...: There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. For the next hour we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to the outer limits.
h/t Google; 8/6/20, 10:12 AM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: I'm surprised Althouse isn't criticizing this on feminist grounds. For Best, the man is engaging in the lofty enterprise of reading a book, the woman is staring at her phone.; 8/6/20, 10:14 AM
Craig said...: Gross propaganda.; 8/6/20, 10:16 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: How much does Coronavirus spread by people talking with each other without masks?; 8/6/20, 10:19 AM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: Stop comparing notes about the mass hysteria we are surrounded by. You might find likeminded people and start resisting the “public health” power grab and we can’t have that!!; 8/6/20, 10:20 AM
Scott said...: This is the same MTA that campaigned against "manspreading."

The MTA doesn't just hate men. They hate people generally.; 8/6/20, 10:29 AM
Retail Lawyer said...: Is silence still violence? Its getting difficult to be a good citizen without a daily briefing.; 8/6/20, 10:30 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: I think viruses are spread mostly by coughing and sneezing.; 8/6/20, 10:34 AM
Carol said...: Meh. I read books on my phone, so I got this knocked.

It was my preference anyway.; 8/6/20, 10:39 AM
Birkel said...: I liked it better in the original Italian.
In English, it's nothing outside the state...

Winnie Xi Flu is the excuse.
They are never going to let a crisis go to waste.
Thanks, ChiComs!; 8/6/20, 10:46 AM
John henry said...: As I was walking into the hotel back door last night from my car, there was a guy standing by the door smoking with no muffler on. I told him he should wear his muffler but cut a hole in it for smoking.

I was not wearing a muffler either.

We both had a chuckle.

Later I realized that I am turning into a mask Karen! Oh, no!

I wonder what the risk of smoking is relative to not wearing a muffler? Smoking doubles the chance of lung cancer (4.5% to 9% chance). How much does not wearing a muffler increase risk of getting chinese lung rot?

Re mufflers: I am in North Carolina last week and this. NC law requires the use of a "cloth face covering" First thing I would point out is that a lot of people are wearing paper mufflers which A) do not cover the "face" but only the mouth and nose and B) are paper, not cloth. Seems like they are violating the letter of the law.

Many companies require me to wear a hair net and beard/mustache cover when on the floor. Most are sort of tissue paper things with an elastic band around the neck. This plant using a nylon mesh mustache cover.

Here's a pic via amazon https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71PxF08klyL._AC_UL320_.jpg

I figured that it is a "cloth face covering" as required by law and signs prominently posted on every business. I decided to see if it qualified. So, first step Waffle House for a delicious breakfast. No problem, none of the cooks or wait staff were wearing masks at all.

Next Walmart. They have a greeter outside the door who will tell you to put a muffler on or pull it up over your nose. The greeter saw me coming and started to say something, then had a second thought then started to say something again. Finally she just gave me the stinkeye and let me in without saying anything.

I got some looks in the store. One employee looked like they wanted to say something but didn't.

I figured if anyone did say something, I would tell them that this face covering is used in pharmaceutical plants so it should be OK for a Walmart. I also was going to say "I am old and have trouble breathing and I need to wear this kind of mask" All of which is truthy.

I've been wearing it around all week and nobody has said anything.

The nice thing about it is that the mesh is so big I can drink my coffee without pulling it down. It's nylon so it does not get wet.

John Henry; 8/6/20, 10:53 AM
cf said...: I am becoming a bit freaked out at how completely real conversation between regular folks has been shut down.

In an election year.

My church, for instance, is cowering more than fully with Oregon's Governor Brown's edicts, not even experimenting with ANY use of our broad outdoors and parking lot.
The necessary, natural conversations that normalize people are gagged, while the digital conversations flow like a flood.

Seriously, I despair. long time coming and so I despair especially at myself, that I have mostly, passively watched.; 8/6/20, 10:56 AM
John henry said...: Blogger Left Bank of the Charles said...

I'm surprised Althouse isn't criticizing this on feminist grounds. For Best, the man is engaging in the lofty enterprise of reading a book, the woman is staring at her phone.

How dare you use your privilege to assume what the woman is doing? How do you know she is not reading a book, perhaps the current bestseller "White Fragility" on her phone's Kindle app?

You really need to do the work, Lefty.

I am currently reading Daly's bio of Juan Trippe and Pan Am airlines on my phone.

John Henry

(The above is tongue in cheek for the humor impaired.); 8/6/20, 10:57 AM
Duke Dan said...: Not required by law. Required by governors executive order which is not enforceable as law; 8/6/20, 10:59 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: I think Coronavirus infects the lower lungs. Therefore, it does not spread much by talking.; 8/6/20, 11:05 AM
John henry said...: Blogger cf said...

The necessary, natural conversations that normalize people are gagged

Exactly. That is why I have taken to calling them mufflers.

John Henry; 8/6/20, 11:16 AM
John henry said...: Duke Dan,

I don't know specifically about North Carolina and don't know if you meant NC specifically or all states generally.

In some states the police can arrest you, charge you, fine you, put you in jail for not wearing a mask. Texas is one. California is another.

I don't know if this is EE or law but it will certainly do until a real law comes along.

John Henry; 8/6/20, 11:18 AM
n.n said...: I think viruses are spread mostly by coughing and sneezing.

And fecal contamination a la HIV/AIDS.; 8/6/20, 11:19 AM
Not Sure said...: Also, when assaulting someone on the subway please do it from behind.; 8/6/20, 11:27 AM
stlcdr said...: I was just saying this morning to a co-worker that masks are destroying any kind of social interaction.

It does seem like it is by design.; 8/6/20, 12:04 PM
Michael K said...: Mike Sylwester said...
I think Coronavirus infects the lower lungs. Therefore, it does not spread much by talking.

I think this is late and only in the severe cases. The testing and the presumed early location is nasopharynx.; 8/6/20, 12:28 PM
tommyesq said...: The MTA doesn't just hate men. They hate people generally.

True, but they do hate men more.; 8/6/20, 12:33 PM
Temujin said...: Stay inside.
Stay home.
Stay in your bedrooms.
Under the covers.
We are all going to die.
And, PS- you are all racists.

A note from your Democrat National Committee.; 8/6/20, 12:51 PM
Sam L. said...: I don't stare at my phone, and it can't stare at me when it's in a pocket. (I'm so MEAN to it.); 8/6/20, 1:41 PM
rehajm said...: In some states the police can arrest you, charge you, fine you, put you in jail for not wearing a mask. Texas is one. California is another.

Why can't we be more like Sweden?; 8/6/20, 1:43 PM
bagoh20 said...: Look at that graphic and imagine how many virus particles are in the masks. All day long collecting and building up with every breath, sneeze, and cough into that matrix. A lot of people are not even bothering to change or clean them anymore. Now that person is talking to you or breathing and coughing through that mask near you, and you both feel more secure that the fabric that passes the virus like gnats through a chain link fence is protecting you. It's just collecting the virus, loading it up and aiming at you by staging it right in font of your lung-powered distribution system like a viral shotgun.; 8/6/20, 1:57 PM
stevew said...: Their credibility would be greatly improved if they swapped out "stop" for "slow". The virus will not be stopped and it won't be eliminated.; 8/6/20, 2:56 PM
I'm Not Sure said...: The government wants you to "stop talking to people and get back to staring at your phone."

Well, yeah. If people talk to each other, they might be sharing unapproved thoughts that can't be tracked on their social media accounts.; 8/6/20, 4:27 PM
Megthered said...: I still don't understand the mask thing. If someone is wearing a mask and you're not, aren't they protected from the wu flu? You would not be spreading anything to them and you would not be catching anything from them. I know masks don't work, so I don't wear one, but I feel if you are wearing one you should feel just fine and go about your day.; 8/6/20, 4:39 PM
JAORE said...: Went to Wally World a couple of days ago. A young lady was at the door telling people they must wear masks.

In the store I observed multiple employees with masks not covering mouth or nose. Many, many more with an exposed nose.

As I left I asked the young woman if she was the one making sure people were wearing masks. She proudly said, "I am!"

I responded that she needs to take a walk through the store and tell her co-workers.

The cheery disposition disappeared.; 8/6/20, 4:58 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: If masks work why are we shutting down all businesses and not letting people gather together.

If masks DON'T work then why are we wearing them anyway?; 8/6/20, 5:47 PM
MadTownGuy said...: About masks: if you are near someone who is contagious and their aerosols are floating around you, do they just land on tour mask and nowhere else? I'm thinking they land on the rest of your face - including your eyes, which is why some people wear face shields - but also your hair, your clothing, and even your shoes including whatever you pick up from the floor. No guidance from the CDC about shedding your outer wear and showering after visiting the store, as far as I know.

Also, an expert from the World Health Organization has stated Asymptomatic spread of coronavirus is ‘very rare,’...but had to sort of walk back her comments after some objection from somewhere...because 'it's complicated.' WHO walks back comments on asymptomatic coronavirus spread, says much is still unknown; 8/7/20, 5:00 AM