The citizens of Planet Earth have been wearing masks for almost two years, or rather they have been forced to do so in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, which seems very reluctant to contribute to the long-awaited unmasking of Homo sapiens. There have been varying degrees of protests or complaints or considered dangers of continually wearing masks. In a way, the citizens are showing signs of an acute mask fatigue which is actually very unfair to even hint at in view of the pandemic fatigue experienced by the tirelessly working medical fraternity, particularly during peak periods like the disastrous Second Wave in India. . . However, the citizens’ angle cannot be missed, because this is very real; in some cases, mask weariness led to large protest marches/uprisings in the US or in some European countries like Germany. Therefore, it becomes our noble duty to analyze the factors while, of course, keeping our mask of sincerity securely in place.
All around us, we have been getting used to seeing people mask themselves in very unique ways: some loosening it a bit more so that the nose remains visibly exposed as if they have only now realized the importance of this organ in regards to oxygen inhalation. and the exhalation of nitrogen is concerned; some are even bolder by wearing it as a necklace that dangles below the chin; some are even more daring by keeping it in their pocket or purse and using it the moment law enforcement authorities show up; and similar to this class, some others do the same when entering shopping complexes or the like where the ‘no mask, no entry’ sign is prominently displayed and the moment they enter they quickly tell the vendors that they have the masks, no problem (in fact, the mostly masked vendors or shopkeepers shouldn’t just smile understandingly at them, but order: ‘if you have it, why not wear it?’).
Senior citizens have not complained much as they realize the undeniable fact that they are the most vulnerable part of the population to become infected. However, vaccination in the full doses required makes them a bit bolder to start complaining, if not to ditch the masks altogether. They often refer to some doctors (we don’t know if they were real or fictional) who advise them not to wear the masks while walking in the morning or at night, as it can negatively affect the breathing process. But many seniors, myself included, have not experienced any discomfort from walking with our masks on. Therefore some of them don’t wear it at all and some show the other wearing styles like leaving the nose out or wearing it as a necklace.
The young male community turns out to be the latest example in violating this business of wearing masks with utter disdain, particularly after getting vaccinated. Their basic instinct to impress the most beautiful opposites is a huge factor, because with half their faces hidden, they can’t afford to show off their beautiful features, as well as some other ‘impressive’ activities or habits. Their ‘brave’ and ‘knightly’ display is displayed abundantly on the streets, in the markets, in the parks or playing fields and while riding the ‘brave heart’ racing bikes, not only putting other lives in danger of being struck but also spread the disease. We call them the future of a country, but unfortunately they do not understand their duty towards everyone in families or the other community outside or inside.
The community of young women had shown great interest, at the beginning of the pandemic era, in wearing the masks and many of them were diligently searching for masks that would perfectly match their dresses or were actively involved in the more expansive pandemic mask-making industry. . But, as in other cases, their interests were slowly and steadily replaced by mask fatigue influenced by similar instincts to show off their beautiful countenances with full use of cosmetics like lipstick that has been hit hard by the pandemic. Therefore, they have stopped wearing the masks altogether, not even following the unique wearing styles, as all this would negatively affect their beauty to varying degrees and prevent them from creating the desired impressions.
There is one very crucial mask fatigue factor that affects all of the aforementioned communities: the prolonged summer due to global warming that leads to sweat buildup inside the masks and makes them extremely uncomfortable to wear continuously. But why not take more than one mask with you? Take it off when it’s unbearable, wipe your face with a disinfected tissue and put on the second mask; we reject. There are large numbers of cheaply affordable masks available on the market. In addition, sweat also enters the trips / exits, unnecessarily and crowding the trains or the subway trains or the flights or the buses or the markets; like when during the Durga Puja festival ‘just-to-eat-devotees’ packed the fronts of houseful restaurants in the Indian city of Kolkata in particular, waiting for hours in the dead of night and of course not caring about proper masks . to the constant sweating or that they would have to take it off anyway once they went inside to eat. There is general agreement on this that you cannot eat with your masks on.
Governments or authorities have been in the act of making mask-wearing mandatory all the time and some have had to impose penalties for violations. Authorities are also looking at mask behavior patterns and ordering that “do not wear the masks below your nose or as a necklace.” But unfortunately, the citizens of Planet Earth feel that ‘enough is enough’ and that the ‘unmasking process’ must be started by hook or by crook. In India, with the Diwali festival approaching, this mask fatigue could instead usher in another peak of the pandemic, reversing the desired ‘unmasking’ process entirely, God forbid. Indian states always ban firecrackers during the Diwali celebration but allow ‘green crackers’, the ambiguity of definition of which leads to regular pollution and crowds with undaunted ‘firepower’ as seen last year.
We must conclude with a disclaimer that no generalizations are intended in this article. In fact, norms like wearing a mask are still followed very sincerely by a large portion of the population, including people from all of the communities mentioned here. The only concern is the growing number of ‘unmasked covidiots’ putting the rule-abiding population at risk. To take a serious tone at the end, it is medically proven that vaccines do not guarantee total protection against infection, but only reduce the severe type of disease and hospitalization; but people with many other diseases and low immunity are still at high risk and careless young people endanger their lives by carrying the virus and spreading it.
