Would You?

 

Would you buckle your seatbelt, but not belt your child in?

Would you put sunscreen on your arms, but not your face?

Would you shovel your front walk, but leave your stairs encrusted in snow?

Would you let your child ride a bike, but not have them wear a helmet?

Would you encourage someone to dive in the deep end of the pool if they didn't know how to swim?

Would you put a diaper over your son's penis, but leave his butt hanging out?

Would you do ANY of these things?

WHY would you do any of these things?

If your child is not wearing a seatbelt, it doesn't mean that you'll get in a car accident.  But there is risk involved.  Is that a risk you are willing to take?

If you put sunscreen on only some parts of your body that are exposed to the sun, but not all, that doesn't guarantee that you will get a sunburn.  But there is a risk.  Not just of sunburn, but of skin cancer later down the road.  Is that a risk you are willing to take?

Why would you shovel your front walk, but not your stairs?  Your walk to the stairs will be easy, but you'll be covered in snow when you go up those stairs.  There is a risk that you could fall.  You're probably going to track snow in the house.  (That would piss me off.)  Is this a risk you are willing to take?

Would you let your child ride a bike without a helmet?  As a child, I rode a bike without a helmet.  Sure I fell off and scraped and bruised myself.  My brother felt and broke his toe.  There is always a risk when you are riding a bike.  Falls are inevitable.  Are you willing to risk head injury when that fall comes?  Is that a risk you are willing to take?

If you knew someone didn't know how to swim, why would you encourage them to dive in the pool?  Maybe they'll be ok.  Maybe they won't.  It seems like a pretty dumb thing to do.  It seems pretty risky.  But the risk is with the other person's life, not yours.  Is that a risk you are willing to take?

Finally, we know all babies pee and poop.  With boys if you don't cover that penis...you are at serious risk of getting a stream of urine somewhere you don't want it to be.  Of course you cover the penis.  But would you leave the butt hanging out?  If you carried your baby around without a diaper, you would be at risk of getting peed and/or pooped on.  That's pretty risky.  You wouldn't just cover one part without the other.  You diaper all "exits."  To not do so is VERY risky.

I'm hoping you wouldn't do any of the above.  I think you'll agree that none of them make sense.

So WHY would you not wear a mask over both your mouth AND nose? It doesn't make any sense.  You are putting YOURSELF at risk.  You are putting OTHERS at risk.  You are putting the ones you love at risk.  You are putting total strangers at risk.  WHY would you do this?

I know you are tired of hearing this (or reading this as the case may be).  I am tired of saying it.  I am tired of going shopping and seeing people carelessly wearing masks; noses exposed.

Now I KNOW that masks can slip.  MY mask has slipped.  A mask slips; you pull it up.  I see it all the time.  It happens.  I am not talking about that.  I am talking about the person who has the mask over his/her mouth, but not his nose.  Or the person who has the mask on their chin.  You are risking your health.   You are risking your life.  You are putting MY life at risk and I don't appreciate it!

Stop taking risks that endanger your life. Wear the mask.  Wear the mask PROPERLY.  Keep me safe and keep yourself safe.

BE SAFE.