Spoon theory and masks

Short one today.

The “spoon theory” provides another way of looking at masks and why I am so adamantly opposed to mandatory mask rules.

The “spoon theory” came from someone trying to explain the problems people with chronic health issues face. He gathered up all the spoons on a table then going through various tasks for day took out spoons showing that the daily “budget” of physical and mental energy was being expended. Once the spoons were gone, the person was done for the day.

With my own issues, wearing a mask doesn’t completely stop me _but_, it does increase the “spoon cost” for anything I do while wearing a mask. That means I run out of spoons quicker and am less able to do things. And when I have expended all my spoons on “this absolutely has to be done” tasks, there are none left over for “this makes life a bit nicer to live” tasks. My quality of life goes down precipitously.  When you add in how little continuous mask wear does for the prevention of disease spread, to the extent that the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) recommends against it unless you’re sick or careing for someone who is sick, then the cost/benefit falls heavily on the “against” side.

And I’m one of the lucky ones in that my issues are relatively minor. Other people have it much, much worse.

But politicians feel the need to be seen “doing something”, even when that “something” actually makes life worse for the majority of people.