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A comment on The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have our expectations?. Parent comment

Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by caseysoftware on Friday July 03, 2020 @11:42PM (#23729922)
I wish they had treated the public like adults:

"Listen, we believe masks are effective but we don't have enough for medical personnel who need them right now so unless you absolutely need one please stay home, stay safe, and leave them to doctors, nurses, and other emergency personnel."

No misinformation and the vast majority of people would have complied.

Lying to everyone just cost them credibility and probably lives when this is all said and done.

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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by Mirioron on Saturday July 04, 2020 @12:35AM (#23730151)
I don't think the public would've acted like adults though, but I don't think it would've changed anything either. Even with them saying that masks don't work, there was a mask shortage almost everywhere.
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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by caseysoftware on Saturday July 04, 2020 @12:37AM (#23730160)
Then the worst case: Still a shortage and no misinformation (aka lying) to undo.

Still a major win over our current situation.

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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by kingofpandora on Saturday July 04, 2020 @02:01AM (#23730469)
But the shortage would have been worse ...
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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by caseysoftware on Saturday July 04, 2020 @09:41AM (#23732109)
How does a shortage get worse than "we're all out"?
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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by nicholaides on Saturday July 04, 2020 @10:45AM (#23732560)
The duration can differ. A shortage lasting a week is better than a shortage lasting months.
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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by tacon on Saturday July 04, 2020 @12:15AM (#23730067)
"And, by the way, there is plenty of toilet paper." I bet that would have stopped the panic buying, too.
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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by colordrops on Saturday July 04, 2020 @12:58AM (#23730234)
Always this talking point whenever anyone suggests they should tell the truth. What else should they lie to us about because the public supposedly won't react well?
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Re:The science of mask-wearing hasn’t changed, so why have o... by crocodiletears on Saturday July 04, 2020 @03:11AM (#23730702)
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more the state lies, the less we listen to it, and the more we start looking out for ourselves, and disregarding the public good.

Government officials see us behaving like this, they assume we're too dumb and self-centered to do the right thing, so they attempt to manipulate us in order to get us to behave properly.

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