The great mask debate that never should have been.

It consistently amazes me how many people care only about themselves and maybe their immediate circles. You would think I’d be used to it by now, with constant reminders popping up every few days, but there’s always new examples of selfishness to behold.

Perhaps it’s not too strange to expect better. I’m presented with an equal number of examples of people trying to stretch themselves, open their minds, do research that they may not have been motivated to do and generally look outside of their own sphere of experience. They don’t always get it right, but I see so many people trying.

In this entry, I’m specifically addressing the issue of face masks. Although this issue affects everyone as human beings with the ability to both inhale, exhale and thus spread our little microbes around willy nilly with absolutely no thought or effort, I feel the effects in a variety of different ways due to my roll in the fitness industry. As the general manager of a small facility here, it’s my responsibility to enforce mandated guidelines. As a group fitness instructor at another facility, it’s my duty to follow guidelines and enforce them within the studio.

I personally wear a mask whenever anyone enters the small fitness center that I manage or if I leave the center to check the mail or laundry. Our building has mandated masks since reopening unless you are seated at your desk in your office. We also do temperature checks and screening questions upon entry to the fitness center. We also have members sign up for appointments so that we can check them in, ensure that we remain within capacity restrictions and have time after they have left to clean the fitness center. We also put out extra cleaning solution and wipes so that members are able to wipe down their own equipment as much as possible. 

For the most part, the few that have come in have behaved beautifully. There are some who won't wear a mask while they're talking to me getting checked in. I am always masked. I notice those who stay masked and try to stand socially distance while I check them in. I feel respected. One of my clients stopped by to chat for a bit. He was in the building to do something specific, but was mainly working from home.  We were discussing this very issue and he said, "The way I see it, I don't have to be here. You do have to be here. You don't get paid if you don't come in. So i'm wearing this for you." That's a nice way to look at it, don't you think?

Now, most fitness centers want to be open. Like many other establishments (and individuals) this pandemic continues to be terrible for their income. Almost all of them are doing whatever they can do abide by mandates and regulations in order to keep their doors open and avoid having a case on their premises. One of the gyms that I teach for shares information over many different formats, including social media. When Nashville began to mandate mask usage in indoor public spaces (with lots of exceptions) they shared this information throughout their channels, as well as putting in simple terms what this meant for behavior in the club. (I.E. - wear the mask until you step onto your socially distant treadmill and then put it back on again as soon as you step off.) The comments under that post degenerated into people whining and arguing. (There were also a few people saying “thank you for keeping us safe and staying open”.)

I am still amazed that there are people who argue against mask usage. But they are apparently in larger numbers than is healthy for the general population. Below I'm going to discuss my feelings about this practice, as well as the arguments (both legitimate and completely self serving).

1. “Exercise keeps us mentally and physically healthy! It’s worse to be unfit and wearing a mask makes exercise hard!” I understand that many people don't have the means or the space to have the same equipment in their home that they have access to in a fitness center. I further understand that many people enjoy the motivation that comes with working out in a group class or among others. I am obviously an advocate for health and the continuance of fitness centers or I wouldn't have made it my main source of income for the past decade. I also feel that if you cannot wear a mask, workout at home. Run outside and remain socially distanced. Every fitness instructor I know (myself included) has been developing online offerings. Many of us are even doing remote personal training sessions, specifically geared to our clients, using the equipment they have at home. (I personally enjoy using household objects in my clients' workouts in addition to whatever fitness equipment they have on hand.) The arguments have been that masks don't really help (incorrect) and that some people have legitimate problems, like asthma and COPD, where they cannot wear a mask. As an asthmatic, I understand wanting to breathe and have as much access to air as possible, which is why I run outside and workout at home. I also spend as little time as possible in public areas as I don't want to contract this disease and further compromise my lungs. Everything is different for everyone now and fitness center managers and staff are bending over backwards to give you a safe environment to get your workout in. Please consider their needs also and do your part to keep them safe.

2. “If the employees are wearing masks, I don’t need to.” One person is masked, the other doesn't feel a need to wear one while standing near them and conversing with them. Okay, that's pretty safe. For the unmasked person. The one wearing the mask is much more likely to inhale vapor expelled from the non-compliant individual. The person wearing a covering is also in danger of coming into contact with droplets that their inconsiderate conversationalist expires onto the surfaces between them. Sometimes this is forgetfulness, sometimes I believe it's pure selfishness. There have been a few times where I have gently asked someone else to please pull up their mask while we're talking. So far, I haven't had anyone outright refuse. I have had a few people that I've felt afraid to ask for one reason or another. I really don't see why this can't just become common courtesy to other people, who's aliments you may not be aware of.

3. "It's my right not to be oppressed by forced mask-wearing mandates." When I was in school,  one of my teachers (I don't remember the subject) asked us all where our individual rights ended. The answer was "where someone else's rights begin." I have always remembered that. I think it highly applicable here. I also find it difficult to understand how so many people who are into their 'anti-mask rights' are perfectly happy policing women's bodies, or, for a less inflammatory example, perfectly okay with adhering to "no shirt, no shoes, no service." But to lay it bear; everyone else on the planet has a right to exist without fearing you will expel your microbes all over them in the middle of a pandemic where more and more people are sickening daily.

4. "We should just let nature take it`s course. We can't do this forever." Currently, the U.S. has the highest percentage of COVID-19 cases in the world. Right now, about 5% of our citizens are infected. In order for herd immunity to take effect, somewhere between 65% and 70% would need to contract the illness. We've also had over 126,700 deaths so far. How many more deaths would we be looking at if we increased this by 60% or so? I'll let you do the math, it’s not my thing. But I can infer enough to know that we should do our best to avoid that scenario. While there are many people who go through COVID with mild to no symptoms, those who experience moderate to severe symptoms (and survive) deal with relapses, severely damaged lungs, a host of other physical problems and even some mental issues. We don't know yet if any of these cases will ever fully recover and in most, they experience lifelong changes. Do you really want to experience that? Do you want your family and friends to experience that? Do you want 75% of Americans to risk that? Do you want to roll the dice that it won`t be you?

5. "The economy can't handle this." Well, the economy would probably have been a lot better off if we had all worn masks and continued to take social distancing seriously in the first place. Now we can just watch as cities and states begin to shut down again and their hospitals start becoming stressed. If you want to continue reopening, don't give grief to those of us who aren't able to stay home, who are both trying to survive and trying to comply with mandates. I’ve had a few people chafe and the time restrictions and the distance restrictions imposed in places where I work. Many of these people are able to work from home and only go out when and where they chose. Please don’t give me grief when I am just trying to follow rules and avoid becoming ill myself. And yes, it is probably much more likely that I’ll become ill than you will, because I come into contact with a lot more of you.

6. "Why does the government have to make it a law? Why do they have to fine us?" Because apparently there are enough inconsiderate, selfish assholes out there who refuse to think outside of their own little box, who don't give a shit about the welfare of those around them, who think they're immortal, who won’t do this of their own free will for the safety of the general population. Apparently if government doesn't get involved, you assholes won't do it.

I got a COVID test last week. I was in a drive through line for two hours. (Upside, I was able to listen to the entire Hamilton soundtrack.) I did not do this because I felt sick, (although I had a little Sahara Desert dust cloud asthma cough) but because I had plans to visit my parents for the holiday weekend and I had been around too many people who just don’t care about my health or my family’s health. COVID-19 was not detected. This time.

In conclusion, don’t make me ask, just wear a mask.