"It’s a way of saying, “I, like you, fellow mask wearer, am visually displaying my willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.”" Yes! I, I think this is how I operate, but I've never thought about it in such a way. Thank you for this.
For me (45 years in and counting), I completely concur with you, Caleb. This is definitely how I operate. Thanks to Jayson for capturing and clearly explaining what for me has been 常識. Great line, Jayson!
Been in Japan nearly 17 years and I think you wrote a nuanced article about the many reasons people are still masked up. However I think the primary reason goes back to “the nail that sticks out, gets hammered down.” The majority of people in Japan don’t want to stand out from the crowd. It’s a sad and pitiful state of affairs, but it’s similar to so many other things. I took my mask off on Monday and celebrated.
My fiancé recently quit her job as a nurse in a large hospital after months of harassment over her choosing to have ever so slightly ash blonde highlights in her hair. Not the same as masks of course but still good evidence of one of the few negative points of living in Japan.
One thing I noticed early on is that if you're the only one wearing a mask in a room full of people, there's a certain level of awkwardness that arises that makes you want to take the mask off.
The same is true if you're the only one not wearing a mask in a room full of mask wearers.
In some ways, I associate it with being over or under dressed for an event. You can't stop thinking about it! You want to match those around you for the simple reason that we're social apes who want to be like everyone else in most situations.
Yes! This awkward negotiation even happens outdoors, when you maybe have your mask down, and you're about to walk past a couple who are both masked up. You feel pressure to pull it up as you pass them, but then once the coast is clear, you might slide it back down again.
The whole thing is both fascinating and very silly.
Interesting read. Curious to know how things have developed since you wrote this. Are you still wearing a mask? When we ventured to Seattle a few weeks ago, I was surprised to see many people still wearing masks in public. They're virtually non-existent in Toronto/ my workplace.
"It’s a way of saying, “I, like you, fellow mask wearer, am visually displaying my willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.”" Yes! I, I think this is how I operate, but I've never thought about it in such a way. Thank you for this.
For me (45 years in and counting), I completely concur with you, Caleb. This is definitely how I operate. Thanks to Jayson for capturing and clearly explaining what for me has been 常識. Great line, Jayson!
Been in Japan nearly 17 years and I think you wrote a nuanced article about the many reasons people are still masked up. However I think the primary reason goes back to “the nail that sticks out, gets hammered down.” The majority of people in Japan don’t want to stand out from the crowd. It’s a sad and pitiful state of affairs, but it’s similar to so many other things. I took my mask off on Monday and celebrated.
I think this is true everywhere though. My brother in law lives and works in rural Tennessee and felt a lot of social pressure to *not* wear a mask.
I live in Minneapolis where people continued masking for a few weeks after the mandate ended.
More power to you, Stephen. I've only been here 13, so I haven't worked up that degree of IDGAF yet.
Sadly, I think you're probably right, but I'm trying to stay optimistic in assuming that there's more to the story.
My fiancé recently quit her job as a nurse in a large hospital after months of harassment over her choosing to have ever so slightly ash blonde highlights in her hair. Not the same as masks of course but still good evidence of one of the few negative points of living in Japan.
One thing I noticed early on is that if you're the only one wearing a mask in a room full of people, there's a certain level of awkwardness that arises that makes you want to take the mask off.
The same is true if you're the only one not wearing a mask in a room full of mask wearers.
In some ways, I associate it with being over or under dressed for an event. You can't stop thinking about it! You want to match those around you for the simple reason that we're social apes who want to be like everyone else in most situations.
Yes! This awkward negotiation even happens outdoors, when you maybe have your mask down, and you're about to walk past a couple who are both masked up. You feel pressure to pull it up as you pass them, but then once the coast is clear, you might slide it back down again.
The whole thing is both fascinating and very silly.
Ha, definitely! A big society wide dance where no one entirely knows the steps
Another excellent line! Very clever.
Interesting read. Curious to know how things have developed since you wrote this. Are you still wearing a mask? When we ventured to Seattle a few weeks ago, I was surprised to see many people still wearing masks in public. They're virtually non-existent in Toronto/ my workplace.