UO Thursday, NYE Edition

fitzfizz

2020 was a dumpster fire of a year, most agree. But there are good things that come out of crappy situations. Got any unpopular opinions about this year? Anything you liked about it? 

fitzfizz

Personally, I love masks at work and I wish we could keep them forever. I get that at most jobs, people would not be willing to keep wearing them, but I would. This is the longest I have ever gone without getting sick, and I don’t have to constantly smell people’s gross breath. I love them. 

fameonmain2

@fitzfizz I 100% agree, but I don’t think it would be sustainable in schools unfortunately. It’s tough for language learners and hard of hearing students who rely on lip reading.

fifilala516

2020 was a great year for me and my husband, personally and professionally speaking (even though his industry is currently at a standstill), which I feel kind of bad for saying considering so many had it so terrible.

I would wear a mask everywhere (I've even started wearing two, since I feel like it's becoming more lax in my area) and I will get the vaccine as soon as I am eligible. I also love working from home so I would not be mad if that became permanent. 

acleverusername

I agree with mask wearing (esp since it’s now normalized) since I also enjoyed being sickness free this whole year. @fifilala516 I’ve also started wearing 2 masks whenever I go to especially crowded places like Costco.

2020 also had a really great start for MH and I: we got married and I got a new job. Then in June my company was acquired by Amazon so job situation got even better. MH and I also feel much healthier than we did in 2019 and because of supplements, MHs sperm has improved significantly. 

Overall 2020 was a good rebuilding year. But MH and I are also very aware that we’re in a unique and lucky situation. 

emeraldcity1214

I don’t think masks have been normalized. I think they are tolerated and once everything settles down and people let go of some of their fear you won’t see them at all anymore. 

@fitzfizz DH has already said he will be wearing a mask at work during flu season from here on out. He hasn’t gotten sick from patients this whole year. He usually stays sick from kids coughing in his face. Then he brings it home. 

fameonmain2

@emeraldcity1214 I kind of agree -- I think many will not wear them once the vaccine is widely available. But I do think they have been normalized for people like me, @fitzfizz, and YH under certain circumstances. Before I would seriously side-eye people in masks (I remember a family next to us was wearing them on our plan ride back to the U.S. back in February and telling DH that it was odd) but now I'll wear them when I've got a cold and other congested places (like a plane). Wish I could wear them during flu season at work myself!

fifilala516

fameonmain2 said:

@emeraldcity1214 I kind of agree -- I think many will not wear them once the vaccine is widely available. But I do think they have been normalized for people like me, @fitzfizz, and YH under certain circumstances. Before I would seriously side-eye people in masks (I remember a family next to us was wearing them on our plan ride back to the U.S. back in February and telling DH that it was odd) but now I'll wear them when I've got a cold and other congested places (like a plane). Wish I could wear them during flu season at work myself!

I used to always get sick on planes - then I had to take a business trip the week before my wedding and I was like "NO WAY AM I GETTING SICK" so I wore a mask on both flights, as well as sanitized my entire area (armrests, tray, etc.) and I didn't get sick. This was November 2019 - I remember even apologizing to my seatmates, saying "I'm not sick, I'm just getting married next week!" It's laughable now. When I do go on a plane again, I will most definitely be wearing a mask.