Mass mask-wearing makes very visible our battle against the invisible enemy, writes Vaughan Gunson. Photo / NZME
Mass mask-wearing makes very visible our battle against the invisible enemy, writes Vaughan Gunson. Photo / NZME
LIFE, ART AND EVERYTHING
Walking around Whangārei these past two weeks, it's been gratifying to see how many people are wearing masks. It looks like we might avoid the anti-mask silliness that's gripped some in America.
It's been an unusual sight, though. Mass mask-wearing makes very visible our battle against the invisible enemy.
Havingworn a mask only for short periods, where my eyes felt like they were fogging up, I've sympathy for people who have to wear them all day to do their jobs.
Some jobs may allow you to whip it off for a while. For others, that opportunity will be limited.
Driving past the busy KFC one night, I felt for the workers slaving in a hot kitchen with masks on. That can't be pleasant.
In looking for positives, however, I've identified some good things about wearing a mask:
1. Firstly, the double-lined cloth masks are rather warm. On a cold, windy day, it's quite nice to have your sensitive mouth, cheeks and nose covered. It's not quite like wrapping a scarf around your face to keep out the Antarctic wind, but I'm claiming a warm face in winter as a side benefit to wearing a mask.
2. It doesn't quite do the job of a Spiderman mask, or a Batman one either, but there are times when you want to be less recognisable. That person you don't really like who often wants to speak to you - well, wearing a hat, mask and sunglasses, there's no chance they're going to spot you. You can walk around town incognito. There is definitely something anti-social about wearing a mask. Even though we're doing it for very social reasons.
3. On the theme of anti-social behaviour, a mask affords you great scope for muttering under your breath. No one's going to hear you. That rude customer you're having to be polite to, now you don't just need to think a snide comment, you can say it with your mouth concealed behind a mask. When they ask: "What was that?" You can say, louder this time, "Have a nice day!" with a guilty, but concealed, smirk on your face.
4. Those blue disposable masks are overly medical looking, too much a reminder of the life-and-death scenario we're dealing with. By turning our masks into a fashion item we regain some control. Like choosing any other piece of clothing, you can use the mask to say something about your personality. I haven't seen too many political or comical statements on masks yet. Tasteful patterning is the general preference. I'm sure, though, as mask-wearing stretches into an uncertain Covid future, people will push the acceptable limits of mask-wearing with designs that are literally "in your face".
5. A mask can keep Covid at bay, but it might also keep a whole lot of other bugs and viruses from entering our nasal passages. That's got to hinder the circulation of the common cold, as well as the flu. And if you're walking next to a busy road, a mask reduces the vehicle exhausts going into your lungs. Runners and bike riders might also find that wearing a mask, while obviously constraining, is better than tasting petrol fumes.
6. Observing groups of mask-wearing teenagers walking around town and the obvious flirtations going on, I wonder how masks might change romantic encounters. To lower each other's masks for your first kiss will surely be a memorable moment. There's nothing like covering something up to make it more mysterious or desirable. As long as it's the same for both sexes, and not the Taliban-type enforced gendered face-covering. Masks will no doubt lead to some interesting changes to standard flirtation practices. If he/she lowers her mask, does that mean he/she really likes me? I'm sure our teenagers will find a way to build mask-wearing, and all the other changes happening in society, into new social codes.
