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T. Komenick's avatar

I would only add that (1) for people who speak English (or whatever the local language is) as a second language, masks can completely prevent communication, because it's hard enough to understand without having the person you are talking to muzzled; and (2) for those of us who have experienced sexual assault, the experience of having a hand-sized mask forced onto our faces can provide an extra level of trauma, as it can bring back terrible memories.

I have the misfortune of living in France, a culture completely without empathy. There is no way in hell I would ever tell anybody in my real life why I am having so many panic attacks at the grocery store. I pretty much don't go anywhere in public anymore (the grocery store is only for things I run out of between "big shops" at the Internet-based grocery store where I drive in and they just put my things in the car), and I have grown to hate my country.

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quarteralien's avatar

Thank you. I always push back when people say it's no big deal. I point out that they can't have it both ways. If it's no big deal, then it's no big deal if not everyone does it. If it is a big deal, than acknowledge it and allow it doesn't feel the same to everyone.

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