I have to admit, I felt like masking was pretty goddamned pointless for a time a few months ago, and even got upset with my partner who is so strict about masking no matter where we go. We took a trip to Europe last year and while we masked everywhere we went, we noticed almost nobody anywhere wore masks, and in fact they seemed to be disgusted with us -- even to the point where restaurants wouldn't serve us if we continued to wear masks. We then had to attend a wedding directly after that trip where we couldn't wear masks because we were in the wedding party. We were surrounded by hundred and fifty or so strangers for an entire day in an indoor venue with no masks. We even bumped into an in-law who was very obviously sick and she coughed on me. We didn't get sick. I started feeling like the masking thing was no longer necessary and we were being fools.

But then just a month later hospitals were being overrun with covid patients again and we were back up into the 1-2 thousand people dying per day of Covid in the US.

I hate this. I hate how all-encompassing the media is where even our most basic safety is concerned. I was gaslighted into thinking everything was fine because everyone else is also gaslighted into the same thought bubble. I'm glad my partner is made of stronger stuff and will never back down on what she thinks is right no matter how many people or who says what.