Portland group stages a funeral for the death of face masks

[ThatRobGuy]

Portland stages a funeral for the death of face masks

Today, at 4:30 Pacific Time, a group calling itself Mask Bloc will gather in the courthouse square in Portland, Oregon dressed in black, with masks, to mourn the official end of mask requirements in healthcare settings in Oregon. Mask Bloc’s tweets are now protected, but the gathering invited...

unherd.com

Group in Portland protests lifting of mask mandate in medical settings

Beginning April 3, the mask requirements for health care settings is lifting, but groups in three states about to lift that mandate are protesting its repeal.Po

katu.com

Attendees will gather to mourn the end of 'public health'​

Today, at 4:30 Pacific Time, a group calling itself Mask Bloc will gather in the courthouse square in Portland, Oregon dressed in black, with masks, to mourn the official end of mask requirements in healthcare settings in Oregon.

Mask Bloc’s tweets are now protected, but the gathering invited protesters to “”Wear funeral black, wear your mask, bring signs” to lament “the end of infection control in OR”. It’s billed as a “funeral” for “public health”.



I'm wondering if these folks actually feel this strongly about this topic, or if over the course of 3 years, they've allowed "caring about covid prevention" to become their main personality trait and core part of their identity, and they don't want to see it go away.

There was something similar that happened in NY when they lifted theirs

— MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK: Demonstrators sing a song about wanting mask mandates reinstated | — MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK: Demonstrators sing a song about wanting mask mandates reinstated | By Shot Out Radio | Facebook

— MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK: Demonstrators sing a song about wanting mask mandates reinstated

fb.watch

It seems sort of like the people who were the last remaining folks at the Occupy Wall Street protests...like it gave them a sense of identity and purpose and didn't want to see it go away.


And I was honestly unaware that there were areas left that had mask mandates in the US. When parts of Canada (like Ontario) had lifted their mask mandates on public transit and hospitals back in June 2022, I guess I just assumed that everywhere in the US had already done so by that point given that Canada was stricter in general with regards to covid measures than the US was.

 

[Ceallaigh]

In the Seattle area at best I've seen 1 person in 100 wearing a mask for more than a year now.

 

[Nithavela]

Just wear a mask if you feel under the weather or you are otherwise feel the need.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Just wear a mask if you feel under the weather or you are otherwise feel the need.

You'd think at this point in the game, people would have come around to the "live and let live" mentality given that the majority of the population is vaccinated and/or has gotten it (many more than once).

Evidently, this group of folks saw the need to form a whole social movement and group around it.

Judging by their twitter page they're also in the game of getting people to donate masks to them, so they can in turn try to go out in public and try to hand them out to people who aren't wearing them. (I can just imagine how some of those interactions go based on the fact that they have tweets lamenting the fact that they'll go out in the streets with 400 masks to distribute, and only a fraction of people take them up on their offer)

Also, based on this post:

I would question if their commitment to this is really rooted in a practical view of masks being seen as a medical/public health tool and not a fashion statement or political amulet

It feels like if this were being purely viewed as a health intervention, cosmetic appeal would be irrelevant. For instance, if someone was looking to do a bottled water drive for people impacted by some sort of event, I'd doubt they'd be having the conversation about "well, the government will provide bottled water from brands that have white lids on the bottle, but we know some people like the bottled water that has blue/green lids on the bottle, so give us money so we can buy some"

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Title is somewhat misleading - it suggests that this is some form of official event. "Portland" isn't staging a funeral - Mask Bloc is staging a funeral in Portland. I'm curious to see how many people actually show up.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

I would question if their commitment to this is really rooted in a practical view of masks being seen as a medical/public health tool and not a fashion statement or political amulet

It feels like if this were being purely viewed as a health intervention, cosmetic appeal would be irrelevant. For instance, if someone was looking to do a bottled water drive for people impacted by some sort of event, I'd doubt they'd be having the conversation about "well, the government will provide bottled water from brands that have white lids on the bottle, but we know some people like the bottled water that has blue/green lids on the bottle, so give us money so we can buy some"

I believe that they've fashioned their organization after "Black Bloc," which is a protest tactic where everyone wears identical black outfits to make individuals harder to identify.

 

[Nithavela]

You'd think at this point in the game, people would have come around to the "live and let live" mentality given that the majority of the population is vaccinated and/or has gotten it (many more than once).

Evidently, this group of folks saw the need to form a whole social movement and group around it.

Judging by their twitter page they're also in the game of getting people to donate masks to them, so they can in turn try to go out in public and try to hand them out to people who aren't wearing them. (I can just imagine how some of those interactions go based on the fact that they have tweets lamenting the fact that they'll go out in the streets with 400 masks to distribute, and only a fraction of people take them up on their offer)

Also, based on this post:
View attachment 329289

I would question if their commitment to this is really rooted in a practical view of masks being seen as a medical/public health tool and not a fashion statement or political amulet

It feels like if this were being purely viewed as a health intervention, cosmetic appeal would be irrelevant. For instance, if someone was looking to do a bottled water drive for people impacted by some sort of event, I'd doubt they'd be having the conversation about "well, the government will provide bottled water from brands that have white lids on the bottle, but we know some people like the bottled water that has blue/green lids on the bottle, so give us money so we can buy some"

I think that if they are serious about making masks a permanent feature of society, they should go the route of east asia: have poor sanitation and unsafe food preparation so you cause a few more epidemics until people get the message.

 

[FireDragon76]

I still wear a face mask on public transit or in Uber rides.

Wearing a mask is still probably a good idea in certain situations. But I've given up on the average person exercising any kind of wisdom and discretion.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I believe that they've fashioned their organization after "Black Bloc," which is a protest tactic where everyone wears identical black outfits to make individuals harder to identify.

Seems like an odd choice for a public health protest...I can't imagine that would be one of the things where people would get themselves into trouble since I haven't heard of this particular group engaging in any sort of protest methods that would land them in any hot water.

And even then, everyone wearing white masks instead of black masks really doesn't make anyone more identifiable unless they're literally the only one wearing a white one in a large group.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Title is somewhat misleading - it suggests that this is some form of official event. "Portland" isn't staging a funeral - Mask Bloc is staging a funeral in Portland. I'm curious to see how many people actually show up.

I had copied it from the title in the one article...thread title has been updated to say "Portland group"

In terms of how many people show up...they picked an odd time by having it at 4:30 in the afternoon on a weekday. That pretty much eliminates anyone who works normal hours and didn't want to burn a vacation day for something like this.

 

[Nithavela]

Seems like an odd choice for a public health protest...I can't imagine that would be one of the things where people would get themselves into trouble since I haven't heard of this particular group engaging in any sort of protest methods that would land them in any hot water.

And even then, everyone wearing white masks instead of black masks really doesn't make anyone more identifiable unless they're literally the only one wearing a white one in a large group.

I think the goal is that since it's "funeral for masks", people are wearing black masks because black is the traditional funeral clothing in western countries.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

I think that if they are serious about making masks a permanent feature of society, they should go the route of east asia: have poor sanitation and unsafe food preparation so you cause a few more epidemics until people get the message.

Poor sanitation?

Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea would like a word with you

 

[Nithavela]

Poor sanitation?

Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea would like a word with you

No, they wouldn't. Those countries are keenly aware that the poor sanitation and hygene in their neighbouring countries have caused a lot of epidemics in the region, with them suffering from it because of travelers importing those diseases. Countries like Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar.

Emerging infectious diseases in southeast Asia: regional challenges to control

Southeast Asia is a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases, including those with pandemic potential. Emerging infectious diseases have exacted heavy public health and economic tolls. Severe acute respiratory syndrome rapidly decimated the region's tourist ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This is why in asian cultures, you see a lot more mask wearing. Well, that and the whole "do things that are good for the community, even if they inconvenience you" stuff.

If you think that countries are immune to epidemics coming from other countries because of their higher than normal hygene standards, you haven't been paying attention the last three years. (Don't worry, you haven't missed much)

 

[FireDragon76]

No, they wouldn't. Those countries are keenly aware that the poor sanitation and hygene in their neighbouring countries have caused a lot of epidemics in the region, with them suffering from it because of travelers importing those diseases. Countries like Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar.

Emerging infectious diseases in southeast Asia: regional challenges to control

Southeast Asia is a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases, including those with pandemic potential. Emerging infectious diseases have exacted heavy public health and economic tolls. Severe acute respiratory syndrome rapidly decimated the region's tourist ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This is why in asian cultures, you see a lot more mask wearing. Well, that and the whole "do things that are good for the community, even if they inconvenience you" stuff.

If you think that countries are immune to epidemics coming from other countries because of their higher than normal hygene standards, you haven't been paying attention the last three years. (Don't worry, you haven't missed much)

Southeast Asia having so many coronavirsuses isn't due to poor sanitation, but due to having large populations of livestock combined with proximity to a large resevoir of viruses in bats.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I think the goal is that since it's "funeral for masks", people are wearing black masks because black is the traditional funeral clothing in western countries.

Maybe that was the motivation for that particular event, but the tweet I screenshotted above was from January, and seemed to be referencing purely cosmetics.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

No, they wouldn't. Those countries are keenly aware that the poor sanitation and hygene in their neighbouring countries have caused a lot of epidemics in the region

If you think that countries are immune to epidemics coming from other countries because of their higher than normal hygene standards, you haven't been paying attention the last three years. (Don't worry, you haven't missed much)

We think our recession is bad and our restaurant industry was hurting...that was nothing.

The proprietor of the Wuhan "Bat-on-a-Stick" has really been taking it on the chin these last 3 fiscal years...

 

[DaisyDay]

And I was honestly unaware that there were areas left that had mask mandates in the US.

The medical offices I've been to lately here in Western New York require masking, but I don't think it is a government mandate.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The medical offices I've been to lately here in Western New York require masking, but I don't think it is a government mandate.

I think you're right.

Cleveland Clinic changed their policy "strongly encourage", but require you to wear one if you're visiting a covid patient...which I guess was something else I found surprising, they'll actually allow active covid patients to have in-room visitors now.

If one of the top hospitals in the world is posting new rules under the header "Covid: Learning to Live with it" that actually allow you to go into a hospital room with someone who currently has covid (where you know you're getting exposed), I think it's safe to say that this portland group insisting that everyone still wear them maybe needs to pick their battles.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

Portland stages a funeral for the death of face masks

Today, at 4:30 Pacific Time, a group calling itself Mask Bloc will gather in the courthouse square in Portland, Oregon dressed in black, with masks, to mourn the official end of mask requirements in healthcare settings in Oregon. Mask Bloc’s tweets are now protected, but the gathering invited...

unherd.com

Group in Portland protests lifting of mask mandate in medical settings

Beginning April 3, the mask requirements for health care settings is lifting, but groups in three states about to lift that mandate are protesting its repeal.Po

katu.com

Attendees will gather to mourn the end of 'public health'​

Today, at 4:30 Pacific Time, a group calling itself Mask Bloc will gather in the courthouse square in Portland, Oregon dressed in black, with masks, to mourn the official end of mask requirements in healthcare settings in Oregon.

Mask Bloc’s tweets are now protected, but the gathering invited protesters to “”Wear funeral black, wear your mask, bring signs” to lament “the end of infection control in OR”. It’s billed as a “funeral” for “public health”.



I'm wondering if these folks actually feel this strongly about this topic, or if over the course of 3 years, they've allowed "caring about covid prevention" to become their main personality trait and core part of their identity, and they don't want to see it go away.

There was something similar that happened in NY when they lifted theirs

— MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK: Demonstrators sing a song about wanting mask mandates reinstated | — MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK: Demonstrators sing a song about wanting mask mandates reinstated | By Shot Out Radio | Facebook

— MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK: Demonstrators sing a song about wanting mask mandates reinstated

fb.watch

It seems sort of like the people who were the last remaining folks at the Occupy Wall Street protests...like it gave them a sense of identity and purpose and didn't want to see it go away.


And I was honestly unaware that there were areas left that had mask mandates in the US. When parts of Canada (like Ontario) had lifted their mask mandates on public transit and hospitals back in June 2022, I guess I just assumed that everywhere in the US had already done so by that point given that Canada was stricter in general with regards to covid measures than the US was.

But it is objectively NOT a "funeral for public health".

It is just the finally recognized ending of forcing masking on the unwilling healthy people (everyone else can wear them until Kingdom comes...no one cares), which made virtually no difference at all, as many asserted up front, even Fauci, in March of 2020, before he backtracked.

Cochrane did the review:

"It has published a new Cochrane review of the literature on masks, including trials during the Covid-19 pandemic in hospitals and in community settings. The trials compared outcomes of wearing surgical masks versus wearing no masks, and also wearing surgical masks versus N95 masks. The review, conducted by a dozen researchers from six countries, concludes that wearing any kind of face covering “probably makes little or no difference” in reducing the spread of respiratory illness.