Originally Posted by
cricketer
in my case I believe wearing a mask is responsible towards others around me. I'm in a lot of scenarios where covid can (and has spread), and I travel a fair amount. I do test before and after each trip so that I don't knowingly travel while positive, but I think wearing a mask is the decent thing for me to do just in case.
I take a similarly charitable approach to those who aren't wearing masks - I can never know what their reasons are, but I assume there's something good behind it rather than callous disregard. Same approach I take for what looks like an idiot driving recklessly on the freeway - maybe they're rushing to a hospital. Makes my life a lot better - there is little to be gained in assuming the worst of people, and plenty if you assume the best.
If only everyone would have the same perspective. I hate wearing masks as much as the next person, and often am required to in my business. I'm THRILLED not to have to wear them while travelling anymore, and I don't.
BUT if/when I have a reason to believe I've been exposed, even if unconfirmed, I'll wear one while travelling as well. I'm sure I'll get the looks from "that" crowd when I wear one, because I've seen that in my 4 flights since the mandate was stopped.
It's no different than when masks weren't required in stores anymore, and I didn't wear one. I got those same looks from "that other" crowd.
Along similar lines, I try hard to be really understanding of UA's pressures and challenges as things return to normal. During the worst of the pandemic, they were still flying me and a handful of other essential business people around so the world could go on. Some things can't be paused. And even when the crew outnumbered passengers sometimes, they were still flying us. Sure I'm frustrated with some things not returning to normal fast enough, when there appear to be few reasons why. But a good customer-provider relationship is a two-way street, and they really had our backs 2020 and into 2021.
OK sorry for the off-topic. Back to the mask policy itself.....