Not saying it isn't the same as not effective and it was never my point. I am talking specifically in terms of protecting yourself.
Look, I'm going to be honest with you. Never in the history of the world has humanity as a whole decided to act in the best interests of everyone around them. Never in the future will this occur either. This is because as a species we are not a hive mind. Arguing with people to act in the interest in others is going to always end in futility. So if you are seeking to protect yourself then you need to wear an N-95. The reason I say, in the interest of self protection, masks are useless is due to the fact that wearing one does not save you from getting sick. Only from saving others.
Yes. In a perfect world. Everyone would wear masks. This would reduce the infection rate to negligible. This will not happen. This isn't going to happen. You are going to encounter people who, for whatever reason, refuse to wear one. So even if YOU choose to do so. You will remain at risk. So get an N-95.
It happens in Asian countries. America is just being stupid.
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You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. -Misattributed to CS Lewis