Should sick people wear filter masks instead of spreading their germs?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the idea of whether sick individuals should wear filter masks to prevent the spread of germs, particularly in the context of contagious illnesses like drug-resistant flu. The conversation touches on broader themes of public health, societal behavior, and the implications of illness transmission.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that sick people should wear filter masks to avoid infecting others, likening the spread of germs to a form of bioterrorism.
  • There are humorous comparisons made between babies and bioterrorists, suggesting that they spread germs indiscriminately.
  • One participant mentions a colleague's view that children under a certain age may continuously reinfect their parents with viruses, proposing a connection between children's immune development and illness transmission.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of allowing motorized wheelchairs on sidewalks, drawing a parallel to the discussion about public health and safety.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of humorous and serious viewpoints, with no clear consensus on the necessity or effectiveness of mask-wearing for sick individuals. The discussion remains unresolved, with competing views on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect personal opinions and humorous takes on societal issues, while others introduce anecdotal evidence regarding children's health and public health perspectives. The discussion does not resolve the complexities surrounding illness transmission and public behavior.

Rach3
1. Babies are terrorists; thus they should not be allowed on planes.

2. Motorwheelchairs are motorized vehicles with wheels and should not be allowed on sidewalks (same as motorcycles).

3. Sick people should wear filter masks rather than using random people in the street as guinea pigs to be infected with a novel subspecies of drug-resistant flu.
It's not pretty, but someone had to say it!
 
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Rach for president!
 
My campaign pledge is to take the hardline against babies in this global War On Annoyances.
 
Man, you complain too damn much, and this is coming from me, a complainer!
 
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:smile: I think 1 and 3 might be closely related. Babies are definitely bioterrorists, constantly spreading nasty germs everywhere they go!
 
mattmns said:
Rach for president!

No,

1. Babies are terrorists; thus they should not be allowed on planes.

So who is doing something about it? Nobody!

2. Motorwheelchairs are motorized vehicles with wheels and should not be allowed on sidewalks (same as motorcycles).

So who is doing something about it? Nobody!

3. Sick people should wear filter masks rather than using random people in the street as guinea pigs to be infected with a novel subspecies of drug-resistant flu.

So who is doing something about it? Nobody!

So, who is our hero? Nobody, therefore:

nobody for president!
 
Geez, I already find it frustrating enough driving behind buses. You're suggesting that I should have to drive behind a motorized wheel chair?:biggrin:

Of course this would be just as terrifying for the person in the wheelchair.

Could you imagine making a left turn in a wheelchair in downtown traffic doing a top speed of 5km/h? lol
 
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Moonbear said:
:smile: I think 1 and 3 might be closely related. Babies are definitely bioterrorists, constantly spreading nasty germs everywhere they go!


I had a colleague with an interesting point of view: That until your children all reach circa age 12 you will be periodically re-infected by viruses (his example was Rhinovirus) that you already have some resistance to. He selected age 12 as the point at which children develop a fully functioning immune system. I like to think of it as more related to hygiene vs "lowgiene".

Anyway - these folks at the George Washington U School of Public Health think the same way with regard to flu:

http://www.healthinschools.org/ejournal/2005/dec1.htm
 
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