Face coverings on viewings

Davesnave

GDB2222 said:

Davesnave said:

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

There seem to be minor benefits. OTOH, there are also down-sides to wearing them, especially over longer periods or through repeated usage. In shops I wear one out of politeness, but that's only a tiny fraction of my week, so no big deal. I wouldn't do it all the working week.

It would be far more sensible for people to focus on boosting their immune systems, but that requires effort and information not readily available from government-backed sources in this country.  One wonders why, if their aim is to lower infection rates. There's this weird idea that if a certain germ gets inside your body, that's it, you're stuffed. It ignores the fact that our bodies are covered inside and out with millions of micro-organisms and natural processes normally prevent the dangerous ones getting out of hand. Knowing this, I don't tend to notice or get offended if someone is/isn't wearing a face covering, though I appreciate others still set great store by it

Great idea to boost immunity. Apart from taking exercise, and having a good diet, is there anything you recommend for that?

I can't recommend here; it counts as offering medical advice and it's off topic too.

All I can say is that a couple of common supplements are good for those who have poor diets and lack exercise, especially in winter. Others of a more esoteric nature will also assist healthy people, and as they're part of protocols used in hospital treatment worldwide they are likely to be of value.

Swasterix

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

A little confused as to why you are explaining that to me lol.  I know, hence starting the thread and wanting agents to wear them.

Re people not wearing coverings - I can only assume they don't understand that, don't value it, or don't care, especially for a short amount of time in a shop or on a house viewing.  Or people find them truly inhibiting / uncomfortable.

We were in Scotland the other week.  Everyone asked to wear masks and everyone doing so.  Very simple as mandated by the Scottish government.  It's also a lot less divisive amongst those who want to continue to take the precaution in public spaces and those that don't, as the choice is not left to the individual.  The problem with choice about risk in this scenario is that the risk is not to oneself, it is to others.  Nobody seems to have pointed that out to those citing personal choice regarding behaviour in this context.  In my mind you can choose to put yourself at risk, but don't choose to put me at risk please.

Playing devils advocate, one could argue that you have chosen to put yourself at risk, since you could decide to stay home. 

Interesting that you keep reiterating that you don’t want to get into a debate, but are quite happy to continuously offer your own opinion. 

nicknameless

Swasterix said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

A little confused as to why you are explaining that to me lol.  I know, hence starting the thread and wanting agents to wear them.

Re people not wearing coverings - I can only assume they don't understand that, don't value it, or don't care, especially for a short amount of time in a shop or on a house viewing.  Or people find them truly inhibiting / uncomfortable.

We were in Scotland the other week.  Everyone asked to wear masks and everyone doing so.  Very simple as mandated by the Scottish government.  It's also a lot less divisive amongst those who want to continue to take the precaution in public spaces and those that don't, as the choice is not left to the individual.  The problem with choice about risk in this scenario is that the risk is not to oneself, it is to others.  Nobody seems to have pointed that out to those citing personal choice regarding behaviour in this context.  In my mind you can choose to put yourself at risk, but don't choose to put me at risk please.

Playing devils advocate, one could argue that you have chosen to put yourself at risk, since you could decide to stay home. 

Interesting that you keep reiterating that you don’t want to get into a debate, but are quite happy to continuously offer your own opinion. 

I think I said I didn't want to start one - not that I didn't want to get into one

nicknameless

Davesnave said:

nicknameless said:

Davesnave said:

GDB2222 said:

nicknameless said:

GDB2222 said:

davilown said:

maxsteam said:

It's up to you. If you wear a mask it creates one barrier between you and the outside world but, at the moment, you cannot demand that other people wear masks.

Regardless of opinion on masks, how on earth does it create a barrier?

The information I have seen (quoted in the newspaper) is that mask wearing reduces transmission of the virus by 20%. That's a significant difference. For most people, donning a mask is a minor inconvenience, and if it saves lives and helps the economy it's worthwhile.

I think they were saying that it is not a protection for the wearer.  The wearer is protecting others from their potential COVID.  

If we both wear masks, we protect each other.

So, even the most selfish person benefits from wearing a mask, if it inspires other people to do so.

There seem to be minor benefits. OTOH, there are also down-sides to wearing them, especially over longer periods or through repeated usage. In shops I wear one out of politeness, but that's only a tiny fraction of my week, so no big deal. I wouldn't do it all the working week.

It would be far more sensible for people to focus on boosting their immune systems, but that requires effort and information not readily available from government-backed sources in this country.  One wonders why, if their aim is to lower infection rates. There's this weird idea that if a certain germ gets inside your body, that's it, you're stuffed. It ignores the fact that our bodies are covered inside and out with millions of micro-organisms and natural processes normally prevent the dangerous ones getting out of hand. Knowing this, I don't tend to notice or get offended if someone is/isn't wearing a face covering, though I appreciate others still set great store by it

And there was I not wanting to start a debate lol.

Back to viewings.

I'm not getting into a debate with you. You are fully entitled to your opinions and I don't expect to change them. I was simply explaining why some people, including agents, may not take the wearing of face coverings on viewings so seriously now. I'm finding that in people's behaviour in other commercial settings. It's happening. Personally, I'd wear one for that short time out of politeness, as already explained.

But please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't advocate  'letting a virus run free.' Focusing strongly  on the human immune response doesn't mean that. If you had read research into the subject, you'd know how shortcomings in people's immune responses are being addressed, both prophylactically and post-infection. That's at least as valid in the fight against disease as a piece of cloth.

I appreciate that and appreciate the response.

Please do PM links to the prophylaxis research - would be interested to read it.  Are you meaning the Vit D stuff?  I haven't read it I admit, which is shameful as my day job is health research

Of course behavioural changes are not going to make a difference in the short term - we've been trying to change health-related behaviours for decades - it won't work in response to a pandemic in the short term.

TripleH

Regardless of viewers and Estate agent's opinions, should the key deciding factor be the property owner?

zagubov

I'm educated to degree level on health issues, and I'd obviously only be happy to go into places where everyone's masked, but, hey, half the population are below-average IQ.

So if there's any consolation for there being near unmasked people, just think how useful it is to know what stupid people's faces look like.

Davesnave

zagubov said:

I'm educated to degree level on health issues, and I'd obviously only be happy to go into places where everyone's masked, but, hey, half the population are below-average IQ.

So if there's any consolation for there being near unmasked people, just think how useful it is to know what stupid people's faces look like.

Rather than criticise the less able, I'd say that people in this in this country have been sent mixed messages and the blame for that may be laid squarely at the door of the government and their advisors.

We should remember  it was only last year Chris Whitty  and others in high places told the public face masks were of minimal value and they didn't recommend their use.

Now, in England, people may choose whether to wear a mask or not, so it's hardly surprising that some make the inference they're not that important, especially those who hate wearing them or see them as a symbol of worrying and ever-increasing state interference in their lives. They could argue quite rationally that we never went through this palaver for 'flu.

I'm not siding one way or the other here; just trying to present reasons why people might act as they do, particularly in commercial settings where the restrictions have crippled many businesses. However, the latter comment obviously hasn't applied to EAs in recent times!

Swasterix

zagubov said:

I'm educated to degree level on health issues, and I'd obviously only be happy to go into places where everyone's masked, but, hey, half the population are below-average IQ.

So if there's any consolation for there being near unmasked people, just think how useful it is to know what stupid people's faces look like.

University education =/= intelligence