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I think I live in roughly the same area as you OP. I don't go to Walmart (it would take me 40 minutes to get to one with traffic and it doesn't have groceries anyway). But I did notice something similar at the main grocery store I go to. I think a lot of it is just people adjusting back to normal. I know I didn't even realize the sign on the grocery store said I didn't need to wear a mask.
They way their notice is worded, it reads, "You Must Wear a Mask" (in big letters). But then under it it says, "unless you are fully vaccinated... etc, etc). I wore a mask to the store for about two weeks and I happened to notice many one other person not wearing one. The second time I noticed someone not wearing one, it was an employee and he was near the door so I asked him, "Are masks still required?" and he explained it to me and I took my mask off and thanked him. Walking into the store, I only say those big bold letters and I didn't want to hold up the people behind me by blocking the door by reading the whole thing. Most other places where masks aren't required are more clear.
But I do wonder why, now that a majority of people in the store are wearing masks, why more don’t seem to realize it’s optional. Or if they do realize it’s optional why they choose to keep wearing when 75% of the people in our area I’ve been vaccinated with at least one shot. 65% of had two. You would think that would mean more than half the people in the store would stop wearing masks because they’ve been fully vaccinated. I will stress, I don’t care in that it doesn’t bother me what other people do, but I care from a naturally curious person’s standpoint. I’m the type of person who, for example, might hear about a new scientific advancements on the news I need to know the, “why” about it and will spend hours afterwards researching to try to understand why and how, etc. It’s just my nature.
That was a few weeks ago and at first, I was almost the only one (and a few employees) who weren't wearing masks. Then more and more people stopped wearing them. I just went last night because I ran out of sour cream (for a recipe) and I noticed a fair number of people not wearing them for the first time.
As for the age of people, it started off with mainly older men. I even commented to myself I was the only woman not wearing a mask. But now older women too. Younger grocery store workers aren't wearing them, but younger people shopping still seem to be--but those people often have kids with them (and I realized it's been a long time since I've seen kids in the store too!). But I figured maybe they were doing it for their unvaccinated kids (you know, trying to be an example or wearing a mask since the kids have too--since they would be unvaccinated).
But I get it with your curiosity. I am the same way. I don't care in that it doesn't bother me what other people do if it doesn't affect me. But I am curious and like to know (or try to figure out) why. I think it's because shopping is painfully boring and people watching is entertaining.
Yes, thanks.....that’s all this was: curiosity.
And it’s true, at least around here, that the first group to drop off the masks were elderly, and that makes sense. They were the first to get vaccinated. (Didn’t notice any gender difference, though.)
Heading out now to non-Walmart locations.....let’s see who is still wearing masks. Humans are interesting specimens, aren’t they?
I wonder where that is, because here.....DC area....it’s the opposite. I first noticed the masks dropping off among the older crowd at the grocery store, while the younger ones still wore it. That of course was when the vaccine was still in limited supply and only the 65+ people had gotten it.
That's continued in the DC area, the Millennials and Gen Yers are masked while others are not.
And for some of those wearing masks when it's not required it's simply virtue signaling. I know some of those.
Because Walmart is disgusting? Need to protect yourself from more than Covid there? I honestly don’t know but there is a reason I don’t go to Walmart so maybe it’s just because it’s Walmart. I might wear a mask if forced into a Chuck E Cheeses too…
Okay, I am being a snob here, but I think most Walmart shoppers are like sheep and they have become used to doing what other people tell them to do that they might have lost the ability to think for themselves (compared to most of those who don't shop at Walmart). They have become so used to wearing masks, that it might be difficult for them to adjust to a world where masks are no longer necessary. The typical Walmart shopper might also not follow objective medical news as much as other people might.
AND/OR they just might like the feeling of security wearing a mask might give to them.
The sheep are those discarding their masks without a moment's reflective thought....simply because they were given permission to. Like children on the last day of school for the year.
The benefits accrued from the reduction in airborne communicable disease transmission....that masks play a part in....predate COVID-19 by as many years as man has been congregating. The primary reason I wear my mask is to protect myself and others - not to comply with any edict.
Smart people - particularly seniors long known to be more vulnerable to serious consequences from the likes of bronchitis, flu, etc. - will continue to wear masks in crowded indoor settings out of an abundance of caution. It is an idea long overdue for implementation.
It is because I am immune compromised, and vaccinated. Of the 6M people with immune issues, they do not know how effective the vaccine is. Some showed no antibodies, some show partial.....
So until they figure it out, I wear a mask.
There were others wearing masks, but not many.
There a are a lot of reasons you may see masks. Maybe they are not able to take the vax, and wearing the mask.... like they are supposed to in most areas.
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Could simply be cultural. I don't know that any other countries view masks as an infringement on freedom like some here do.
Heck, many Asian countries have been wearing masks for as long as I can remember.
It's a mixed bag where I'm at. Very few people wear masks but I don't see a frontrunner for gender, ethnicity, age, etc.
The mask thing is fine, if you want to wear one, go for it. What I do find funny are the plexiglass things between cashiers and the public. Time to stop the charades here.
The sheep are those discarding their masks without a moment's reflective thought....simply because they were given permission to. Like children on the last day of school for the year.
The benefits accrued from the reduction in airborne communicable disease transmission....that masks play a part in....predate COVID-19 by as many years as man has been congregating. The primary reason I wear my mask is to protect myself and others - not to comply with any edict.
Smart people - particularly seniors long known to be more vulnerable to serious consequences from the likes of bronchitis, flu, etc. - will continue to wear masks in crowded indoor settings out of an abundance of caution. It is an idea long overdue for implementation.
Usually agree, but not here. The old are just SCARED. Their mortality nags at them worse than a henpecking wife of 50 years. Many older people also still think the MEDIA is "News". It's not, it's just Democrat Propaganda.
The people that discarded their masks did so because businesses and agencies stopped MANDATING them for entrance. It's that simple.
I picked up a prescription there yesterday, and after two weeks of not having to wear a mask ANYWHERE (and also seeing almost everyone in stores and whatnot without masks), I was hit with how virtually everyone in Walmart was wearing a mask.
And in case I have to explain more about the demographics, this is in a very liberal area, and the customers are primarily working class or lower. (Some “middles,” like me, but not too many.) I suspect many of them are illegal aliens, also, since the Walmart neighbors a town that has a very high percentage of them.
Ideas?
Wish people in my Walmart were wearing a masks. Many didn't even during the height of the pandemic. I'm about the only one I see wearing a mask in my area.
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