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Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by IfOnlyYouKnew on Saturday December 19, 2020 @02:35PM (#25480420)
One side effect that was mentioned at the time was people engaging in risky behaviour thinking they'll be protected by the mask.

Medicine also isn't in the "we recommend it because there aren't many reasons against it" business. They neither recommended masks nor warned against them, but laid out the facts: "we don't (didn't) know. We're scrambling to get data. We'll let you know"

I'm honestly baffled that the concept of a trial is so alien to people, and that nobody seems to be capable of the tiny transference of recognising that masks are no different than a pill. I could come up with a possible reason Aspirin might work: maybe it's the fever that kills, Aspirin lowers it. The risk is known and rather small. Should medical science recommend everyone to take Aspirin? Does it seem entirely implausible that a significant number of people would say/think "It's not the best time for a wedding, but everyone has taken triple doses of Aspirin so it should be fine"

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by wutbrodo on Saturday December 19, 2020 @09:54PM (#25483437)
> Medicine also isn't in the "we recommend it because there aren't many reasons against it" business. They neither recommended masks nor warned against them, but laid out the facts: "we don't (didn't) know. We're scrambling to get data. We'll let you know"

This is false.

> Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!

> They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk! http://bit.ly/37Ay6Cm

--@Surgeon_General

https://mobile.twitter.com/surgeon_general/status/1233725785...

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by tertius on Saturday December 19, 2020 @02:51PM (#25480559)
Masks and the way this virus spreads isn't new.

New medicines, requiring trials are novel.

Golden eggs and apples shouldn't be compared.

What new data has finally come in that has shown that masks do not slow the spread or that they do? And new we have guidance?

The problem here is that the medical community, when they have skin in the game wear and recommended masks, from day 1.

Again, the virus is novel, how it spreads is not.

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by IfOnlyYouKnew on Saturday December 19, 2020 @07:16PM (#25482627)
I answered this far above:

The evidence on masks was thin, and limited to use by professionals in a medical setting

Go find a study showing the effectiveness of masks for prevention of infection in the general population published before 2020.

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by tertius on Saturday December 19, 2020 @09:20PM (#25483292)
Moving the goalposts. I didn't say general population, I said masks. Efficacy will be tested where it can be observed. I.e. very unlikely that a trial with high confidence will ever work on the public.

Also, given your arguments, what is your position on the efficacy of lockdowns vs. their negative effects?