Th differences I'm seeing here are quite interesting:
(1) People who are fully vaccinated in almost empty buildings wearing masks, even after the mandate was lifted. (2) People who aren't refusing to go into shops that have signage asking people to wear a mask -- even to just get take out.
Both of these sets of people are very conservative (knowing them or overhearing comments). The first group wearing the masks because it's still suggested, even if not "required" (more on that later), the second not willing to violate arbitrary rules, even if they aren't enforced. Following whatever the current guidance is seems to be more a personality thing than a political thing.
To be honest, anything the government didn't enforce, e.g., masks, was honored in the breach. No one was wearing masks, even though it was "required." Except at work or the grocery store. They would wear the masks walking around, but as soon as they sat down, the masks came off so that conversation could ensue-- even though that's probably riskier and creating more risk for others than just walking in, buying some stuff, and getting the fuck out.
I found that people's idea about how bad the pandemic was at any given time was based on how much was being enforced. At the height, in December/January, people actually said "I thought that was over." And for them it was, because they were using a pretty good heuristic: the strength of the restrictions corresponds to the current likelihood that I'll encounter the virus.
Basically, the restrictions were used as a way to determine if the judge or the governor really meant it.
And usually, that's a good heuristic for severity of the infraction.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 07:45 pm (UTC)(1) People who are fully vaccinated in almost empty buildings wearing masks, even after the mandate was lifted.
(2) People who aren't refusing to go into shops that have signage asking people to wear a mask -- even to just get take out.
Both of these sets of people are very conservative (knowing them or overhearing comments). The first group wearing the masks because it's still suggested, even if not "required" (more on that later), the second not willing to violate arbitrary rules, even if they aren't enforced. Following whatever the current guidance is seems to be more a personality thing than a political thing.
To be honest, anything the government didn't enforce, e.g., masks, was honored in the breach. No one was wearing masks, even though it was "required." Except at work or the grocery store. They would wear the masks walking around, but as soon as they sat down, the masks came off so that conversation could ensue-- even though that's probably riskier and creating more risk for others than just walking in, buying some stuff, and getting the fuck out.
I found that people's idea about how bad the pandemic was at any given time was based on how much was being enforced. At the height, in December/January, people actually said "I thought that was over." And for them it was, because they were using a pretty good heuristic: the strength of the restrictions corresponds to the current likelihood that I'll encounter the virus.
Basically, the restrictions were used as a way to determine if the judge or the governor really meant it.
And usually, that's a good heuristic for severity of the infraction.