Are you tired of reading these headlines? I am definitely tired of writing them. In the middle of a global pandemic, as the United States is about three days away from recording over 200,00 deaths resulting from the spread of COVID-19, people are choosing to make the scientifically-proven preventative measure of wearing a mask as their political peccadillo. At this point, they are literally dying on their anti-mask hill, because we have countless stories to substantiate the claims that even removing your mask once can cause serious health issues derived from complication with the virus. It happened again, on Tuesday, at a Target in Florida, when a group of people charged the aisles blasting Twisted Sister’s We’re Not Going to Take It, shouting at the customers to, “Take you masks off!” and claiming, “they don’t do anything.” One high-pitched wastrel even pointed to the unfortunate children forced into this impromptu circus and said “do it for the children, set an example!”
Anti-maskers in Florida invade a Target pic.twitter.com/Z8TWbl8ihD
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) September 16, 2020
[From Twitter via Towelroad]
The only bit of relevant commentary on the entire clip is the person videoing the Dunce Brigade who is heard on the video saying, “f**king idiots.” Look at the age of these people. These aren’t old farts nattering on about their rights and how they can’t be forced to do anything. These are young people who aren’t just being defiant, they are actively promoting dangerous information. And you can tell by the court jester in the red shirt that somebody in one of the aisles did remove their mask because Red Shirt bounced up and down like his daddy just increased his allowance. What is the point of this? It’s not even worth it to speculate any more. I just want legal action at this stage. They don’t get to ‘make a point’ when it puts our health on the line. Oh, and Dee Snider (one of my heroes!) caught wind that these fools grabbed his song for this little stunt and he told them to get the hell outta here with that:
No…these selfish assholes do not have my permission or blessing to use my song for their moronic cause. #cuttheshit https://t.co/LPDAjSszbf
— Dee Snider🇺🇸 (@deesnider) September 16, 2020
I called out Florida in the headline, but anti-mask rallies and demonstrations are happening everywhere. I live in California and some have taken place a stone’s throw from me (and if I had better aim, I might have nailed one of ‘em, too – KIDDING!) It would be one thing if these types of people were just becoming punchlines, but their message is lethal and we have to, at some point, make them accountable for that.
In case the Target Truthers weren’t enough to send your lunch back up, listen to these idiots in Utah as they fight for their ‘right’ to die a horrible death. Wait it out until the end of the clip, because when you think it’s peaked – it gets worse. Oof.
This has to be an SNL skit. It just has to be. pic.twitter.com/HURtVSr9DL
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) September 14, 2020
Photos credit: Twitter and some ridiculous anti-mask people on IG who I won’t direct any traffic to
I can’t watch any more of these videos,they make me feel violent. I just don’t understand why they aren’t arrested? They should be arrested and tasered into submission if they resist.
I know. I fear these people are getting some traction. On Twitter so many people were chiming in with comments like “well, it’s not great but at least they didn’t steal the merchandise and burn the place down.” Because merch and buildings apparently matter more than public health.
The mask shaming, Covid minimizing parents on one of my college kids parent FB pages are out of control. And now that Big 10 football is back they are more smug than ever, saying shit like “see…these libs university presidents can’t deny that the pandemic is over.”
I can’t anymore. With all of this. How do we ever get past this hellish era? (Rhetorical question.)
Ugh. I haven’t seen any of that, but probably because I am never on FB and I haven’t even been on Twitter lately. Why are people so awful, I just don’t get it.
I feel very lucky I am not living on american soil right now. This is completely crazy. America…what happened to you? Sending you love and courage for what’s coming… my heart breaks for all the lives that could have been saved if people had more solidarity for one another.
Unfortunately it’s not only in the USA…I live in Quebec and this past Saturday there was an anti-mask rally in downtown Montreal. Cases here are slowly inching up again, but sure, have an anti-mask rally. Idiocy truly knows no bounds.
Unfortunately LadyMTL, I feel as if America is exporting our unique brand of crazy to Canada. I just hope it doesn’t become as widespread there.
Yep, these idiots driving us all back into the primordial swamp are in Australia too. No country is immune to the stupidity.
Two big rallies in Berlin in the last two months. Mostly made of members of the extreme right AfD party, anti-vaxxers…and just all-around losers. The right-wing parties in Europe are following very closely what goes on in the States and figuring out what they can copy and pull off here. Even MAGA hats in Berlin.
But where is a safe place to live? Away from morons an idiots? Real question.
This entire world seems to be heading right into Idiocracy. As a US citizen, I sincerely apologize for the people here whose entire lineage is never been raised right. This feeling here is “incandescent with rage”
I was going to say, sadly it is in Canada too. In Alberta, where I am, a lady went nutso in a fabric store. (Search Fabricland – it is all over Twitter)
We had an anti mask rally a few weeks ago – they did it outside and the signs didn’t make sense, so they didn’t really get coverage on the news (and they shouldn’t)
I’m not sure what needs to change, but the world is exhausting these days.
Alberta basically *is* the States, as far as the rest of Canada is concerned…
There was a lone protester standing at the corner of a major intersection here the other day holding up a “covid hoax” sign (plus other words I couldn’t read as we were quickly driving past). We live in a small Ontario town near Ottawa. I was not surprised but it was still unsettling to see.
Sadly the Qanon element that wraps around so many “issues” has become truly insidious and no country is immune.
Thankfully the vast majority of people in my area and in Canada are doing what’s required right now. We can almost always come together as a country, something I have never taken for granted.
My friend in NY was apologising to me for this sad phenomenon but I assured her there has always been the “strange ones” and their soap boxes, regardless of decade or country. Still, this collision of Trump, Qanon, the pandemic, accelerating climate change etc is unprecedented. I hope what needs to be done can be done.
I just don’t understand why people are like this, periodt.
Agreed – and these are the exact same people who think it’s perfectly fine to murder black people by kneeling on their necks given the mere suspicion/report of a minor crime.
This is extreme white privilege, right here, the ability to flagrantly put lives in danger and openly ignore restrictions and law and know that you will suffer no consequence whatsover.
Exactly
Funny you should say that. I saw the giant white guy at a school meeting w his gross flip flops & out of season shorts, maskless & “protesting his rights” to be germy w food in his beard. I have NEVER wanted to see someone tased as I did when he mouthed off to police. I felt VIOLENT. I was itching for his PAIN. INHALE. Exhale. Have to tell myself it’s over….I cringe to be American today. CRINGE
If only they could just infect themselves and not innocent people …..
@ It’sjustblanche, that is my dream!! Unfortunately, they are killing their grandparents and anyone else who happens to be immune compromised. I happen to be immune compromised, but I am fortunate that my husband is a doctor and took this extremely dangerous at the first notice in February. He wears a respirator that looks like it’s for miners, covers his entire face. I am in Texas too, and you are NOT able to get a COVID 19 test, UNLESS you have a doctors note. It’s ridiculous and this state is killing people as it has been since the beginning.
In Indonesia, anti-mask protesters are arrested, and made to dig graves for victims of Covid.
Normally I’m against forced labor, but in this case I’ll make an exception. Round ‘em up and get some shovels from Target.
Wow, that’s hard core! Seems fitting though.
I love this!
Excellent. This is what should be instituted here, too. Unfortunately, it’s incarcerated people who are forced to dig graves while themselves locked in conditions daily that drastically increase the probability of getting covid-19. This country is so depressing most especially for BlPOC and Black folks in particular. I know each time I leave my home that this might the last. Tomorrow is not promised.
They’ve likely been ginned up by Russian trolls spreading fake information on social media. They’re doing it on both sides of the political spectrum. A lot of people aren’t smart enough to catch it. Interestingly, conservatives are a lot more likely than progressives to fall for misinformation. Progressives are more successful at catching it and shutting it down.
White ppl are lured into the russian troll mis-information hole faster than most progressives. I got the genetic white-hair/skin from way back- never identified “white as family is mixed POC&” and never get micro-targeted by any MAGA or Q. Had no idea why the white ladies I knew were losing their minds over Bill Gates being the devil or whatever. Now that I’ve studied the cults of MAGA & Q I see how there’s a giant slow cyber brain washing happening. ppl don’t need to live cloistered in Guyana to be in a cult of self destruction. Those russians know how to seduce & destroy.
@ LaraK, good for them!! Every country should adopt this action for these stupid people who are screaming in thee streets with the, my body my choice, BS! Seems to me they are taking OUT rallying cry for reproductive rights!!
IWhat is going on in the USA ? Seriously!? I live in South Africa and I have been feeling proud of South Africans, everywhere I go most people are wearing masks, in malls and shops you’re required to wear a mask before entering and people are really adhering. Every school child in the country has been supplied with 2 cloth masks and has to wear a mask every day, and they do wear them the whole day! Which is why cases are going down drastically and most of the lock down regulations have been lifted. Last night our president informed the country that from next week Monday the country is moving to level 1(the lowest level of the lock down ) which means almost everything is going back to normal but we still have to wear masks and wash hands regularly. Masks do work! And our president was very clear on that from the very beginning of the pandemic.
It’s weird how in some places people are fine with wearing masks. I’m in Chicago and in the city I see most people wearing them. In some suburbs, people are great and in others, not so much. It sadly has become a reflection of politics, Right wingers have developed this idea that masks are either unconstitutional, ineffective, or both. And the propaganda that reinforces this crazy view is relentless.
People are largely not wearing masks where I stay in Chicago. It’s sad because it’s a majority Black population and many elders. What is wrong with people? Even management in my building is telling us be nice to people who don’t wear masks. It’s insane.
Neighborhood postal office folks dont wear masks. They are hardcore MAGA Q overweight & another lady is in her 70s. All vulnerable per data, but brainwashed & self-destructive. They call it freedom
I live in a so called 3 world country, east-european actually, and even we don’t stand for this bull s***. We have corruption up the wazoo and poverty and 2/3 of the population doesn’t have indoor plumbing, but even we have laws that fine and arrest you if you pull this kind of s***.
We wear masks, even the elderly wear masks and gloves and sanitise.
What the hell America?
It’s rugged frontier individualism run amok. It’s anti-science my-opinion-is just-as-valid-as-your-expertise assholery.
Sometimes freedom of speech is humiliating.
Exactly this. American individualism and, sadly, it applies across racial categories. American imperialism is real and it’s killing us.
It’s a version of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Stupid people are too dumb to recognize their shortcomings, so they can’t even realize they are stupid. It’s why you cannot reason with them or change their minds.
Yes, all of this and subsequent comments.
Also South African here. I have been in the office, the whole day, with a mask on. And so is everyone else in the office. I take breaks to get fresh air but wearing a mask is just the norm now.
I honestly don’t understand this resistance to mask wearing.
I’m so tired of saying and thinking it but yeah I don’t understand it either. No one is asking you to go into battle, wear a mask. I’ve worn heels, nylons, earrings, jeans and bras that are more uncomfortable than a damn mask. And honestly I kind of love it because then I don’t have to put makeup on or smile at people. It has nothing to do with anything other than being a complete asshole who, like our orange buffoon in the WH, has a superiority complex and thinks that their internet research and FB moms group has better knowledge than scientists, people who have actually dedicated their lives to studying this.
Also, the woman who lead this ignorant parade was one of those who testified down there at some town hall or something and talked about demons and 5G and all the batshit crazy stuff QAnon is spreading.
Yeah, it’s a wonderful time to be working in retail, between falling profits so no raises, and the constant threat of eventual horrible death every time we let customers in. Selfish bastards.
My thoughts exactly, Kay. People are in that Target working for minimum wage, and these asshats come dancing through with no mask on? My husband saw the video and said he would have gone to the sporting goods section and grabbed a bat and started swinging. (violence is not the answer but I understand the feeling)
My husband was just saying yesterday you should get to swing at these kinds of people with a bat. Great and fed up minds, apparently?
In Indonesia they make antimaskers are forced to dig graves for COVID victims
I saw that. It should be the same here.
Put them in hospitals, cleaning up in the Covid wards as well. Let them see first hand just what it does.
I feel so bad for all the essential workers, like the Target employees, whose labor is undervalued, who are underpaid, who are unprotected, and who have no recourse when people act out like these, all for the attention. I wish they would be charged and sentenced to community service at the morgue, like has been done in Indonesia:
https://www.newsweek.com/anti-mask-dig-graves-covid-19-victims-indonesia-1531687
Feel exactly the same way. Underpaid workforce, plus transport workers, health workers, teachers, cleaners… and in turn, children from minority groups (https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/09/16/913365560/the-majority-of-children-who-die-from-covid-19-are-children-of-color) all put at risk by these stains on humanity.
These selfish scum can’t see the irony in how their actions only extend lockdowns and restrictions by sparking off clusters and outbreaks.
Right! Wear and mask and we could actually get back to doing something we can’t! Not everything of course but some. But no, there people are too shortsighted, to easily manipulated, and too privileged to ever understand that. I think it’s a very unique American mindset even though I do know that there are people like this everywhere.
The whining about a simple piece of cloth is ridiculous. During the world wars, Americans gave up many freedoms and access to goods to support the country. And now supporting fellow citizens is too much to ask?
Think how many $$$ the sales of red MAGA masks could have brought in.
You left money on the table, Donald.
Tom, you are brilliant ! Too bad dumb dumb Trump didn’t think of that !
I went into a discount grocery chain, not aldi, think even more discount because they were the only place I called that had a ripe papaya. And they don’t offer curbside. I walked in, took one look at the shoppers crowding one another with masks down around the chins and left. I called the store and asked why there were too many people, no distancing, and no masks. They told me to call corporate, they said they don’t have the staff to enforce anything. I called the county health bureau. These workers are being put in danger. And the shoppers are vulnerable people. Mostly low income and I’m guessing with jobs that don’t offer insurance or sick leave. Why is it so hard to wear a mask properly and stay 6ft away?
I live in Floriduh and even Costco always has 2 or 3 losers walking around with their mask around their neck, looking around for someone to challenge them. I went and told an employee once, but nothing was done. I can’t really blame them. Who wants to approach these crazies?
I know there’s some lawyers on here. If someone comes stomping up an aisle with no mask on, and you fear for your life (covid) and tazer them, would it be considered self defense? Floriduh is all about “standing your ground” when threatened, right?
Mace/Pepper spray them if they come near you. It IS self-defense!
I think your pepper spray would fail on the self defense front because your argument is that their failure to wear a mask makes you fear for you life. Yet pepper spray makes people cough, so you’d be creating a more dangerous condition by using it.
Is it bad that I want to round up all the anti-maskers and put them on their own island??? We could all get back to our normal lives if we would just wear the damn masks. I don’t enjoy wearing one but I do enjoy going shopping, getting my hair done, etc.. I wear my mask so I can do all those things. My husband has asthma and he has no problem wearing a mask in public. I know I would feel shitty if I unknowingly exposed someone to this horrible virus.
Nope, put them all together in a large warehouse, where they can’t escape each other’s toxic exhalations. I am so everlastingly tired of whiny, entitled, petulant toddlers in adult bodies. It would be sooooo satisfying to yell “Bad Covidiot! Go to your room!” And then put a chair under the outside door handle until they promise to behave.
Can’t we just enforce some sort of waiver or registry that releases health professionals of the obligation to treat people who chose to put others at risk? It doesn’t make up for actively violating people by storming a store with your unmasked face, but they need to have real consequences beyond quietly catching covid and refusing to talk about it (this has happened to at least 3 truthers I know).
If I hear the words “BUT MY RIGHTS!” one more time, I’m going to scream. A country is doomed when its citizens cannot band together for the collective health and well-being of the whole. This is why I am in a constant state of anxiety.
JFC 🤦🏻♀️😖
And this is why, living in Florida, I am still behaving as though we are in lockdown even though our county just entered Phase 2 this week. I have no plans to change this any time before the end of this year. Screw all these people, I just wish they would get Covid and die so the rest of us could get back to living a somewhat normal life. I don’t even care anymore how awful that sounds. I should be planning to spend Christmas with my mom. Instead, the border is closed and I don’t want to risk her life. Because they don’t want to wear masks. These same idiots probably think condoms ruin the feeling of sex and are walking around spreading STDs.
I’m really sorry you can’t go see your mom, Izzy. That must suck so bad. If it helps you’re not alone. A lady was interviewed on the local news the other day. She has been in a committed relationship with her beau for six years. They haven’t been able to see each other since March because he’s American. She said there was thousands like her in limbo because the border to the States is closed. She looked so hurt, I felt really bad for her. It seems like every day, you discover another awful side effect of covid that isn’t related to getting covid, but avoiding it. I still have no idea when I can go back to volunteering at the senior’s home, I don’t think it’s going to happen this year either.
I was in the grocery store the other day, wearing my mask of course. Because I understand that science is real. And I sneezed. Out of no where a great massive sneeze. When you sneeze with a tight fitting mask on you understand just how much fluid is coming out of you. All I could think was how grateful I was that I had not potentially contaminated everything in the vicinity by spewing droplets everywhere.
And for all these can’t wear a mask toddlers, even my 2 year old can wear a mask and he asks me for hand sanitizer when he touches a public surface.
Ha ! Your toddler is amazing. Good job ! I like hearing things like this. Toddlers know more about the dangers of this virus than some adults.
I don’t understand this at all. I don’t understand the argument let alone the need to be an asshole about it. Why are there not consequences for this sort of thing? Why is this not considered as some level of bioterrorism?
Because Donald Trump is in the white house and he doesn’t care and neither does the GOP majority in the senate.
“police on standby”
these people were allowed their protest, in this clip I saw no weapons, no pepper spray, no riot gear, no one getting knocked to the ground or dragged into vehicles
very sad situation
And what they are doing is 100,000,000x more lethal than any peaceful protester. Ugh. These idiots should be forced to dig graves too
This is officially the stupidest f***ing rebellion ever.
Celebrities have made “it’s all about ME” culturally acceptable. We live in a very sick society that does not value empathy and compassion. The virus is in our mind and our collective unconscious. Read Jung. Or any ancient spiritual teachings, this has been talked about for ages and we are now reaching a breaking point.
Imagine the privilege of seeing a lifesaving piece of material to go over your face as tyrannical. Meanwhile, Black/African Americans are literally being shot in the back, harassed in their own homes and shot in their beds by cops, with little to no justice. It’s almost like they see this and think “bUt WhAt aBoUT mEEEe!”
Guys, I just cannot with the thought of more years with this. Barr is literally out there saying governor mandates for masks and business limitations are an intrusion on civil liberties right behind slavery, and I just am flabbergasted by the level of methodical, sociopathic evil of which that man is capable. They’re literally attempting to dismantle states rights now in preparation of a federal takeover, and these idiots would hand us all over on a platter.
Covid seems to be bringing out the most Darwinistic response I’ve ever seen.
I’d almost be okay with them killing themselves with their idiocy and selfishness; but they put so many other people at risk.
And Dee Snyder is always the absolute best.
This pandemic would have been long over had it not been for these morons. If everyone was responsible and followed Covid-19 safety protocol, the virus wouldn’t keep spreading. Remember this virus can’t move on it’s own, it needs people to do that.
One of my best friends who I’ve known and loved since I was 6 years old is a mask denier. It’s shocking and distressing to talk to her. It’s so strange because she’s a democrat and normally a reasonable person. The only thing I can think of why she’s acting this way is because she’s going through a divorce And maybe she’s snapped.
She has 2 young kids and insists that they don’t wear masks and she brings them around other people including her elderly mother, no masks. She keeps saying that she and her kids are healthy and if everyone has enough vitamin C that everyone will be fine. I keep pointing out that not everyone is as healthy and she could be an asymptomatic carrier. It’s like talking to a brick wall. I’m in mourning for our friendship. I feel like I lost my friend. It’s depressing. I don’t know what to do about it.
I’m in the same boat, as my best (and basically only) friend in my neighborhood is a Trump supporter. She does wear a mask when required, but she is downplaying the virus and sent her kids to school even though she works from home and her kids are old enough to do their work by themselves (middle and high school). I’ve been uncomfortable with her political views before, when she disbelieved Kavanaugh’s accuser, but I think Covid might have broken our friendship. I’ve never been one to agree to disagree on moral and social issues, because I think there are “wrong” views to have, like being anti-BLM, so I’ve been unhappy about her opinions for a while, but I think it might be over now. I honestly don’t know.
I was in Florida for nearly a week as my dad died on Labor Day. I had to fly to Knoxville and help my mom drive back to Orlando. While in TN getting gas, we were met with…no masks. Except one lady I saw pumping gas who happened to be African-American. I forbid my mom from going inside and we got the hell out of there.
While in FL I was surprised to see most people masked. Also, not as many giant Trump signs as I was bracing myself for. Seemed reasonable enough.
Then I got to the Orlando airport. While the airport itself was fine (low crowds, short lines, etc) I happened to see one giant of intellect walking around wearing his “This mask is useless” mask.
I suppose I could get myself a mask that says, “Masks are our best defense” or “Trump is an orange blight on humanity” but I don’t feel the need. Because I enjoy living in a society where everyone is allowed to have their own beliefs, and constructive conversation/debate is valued. I’m not interested in provoking people that way. But that’s just me.
And yet these same people would be screaming to high heaven and filing lawsuits if they found out a surgeon had operated on them without wearing a mask.
But there’s no reasoning with this depth of crazy.
These people are sociopaths who get some kind of perverse thrill thinking they may actually end up killing someone (or many people) and get away with it. They are the same people who support Trump’s persecution on non-whites, because they lack any sense of compassion or human decency. If there were justice in the world, they would only spread the disease to each other, but unfortunately that’s not how the pandemic works.
How do you do this and not feel like a total POS. Like wow…
I work with one of these types and he’s always sending me ‘anti-mask’ BS because he knows I firmly support the use of masks. Today’s was something about how if masks don’t protect against wildfire smoke then of course they don’t protect against the virus? Like, WTF. He doesn’t seem to grasp that the point of the mask is not to filter out every single virus particle. It’s to prevent your respiratory droplets from going far from your body and decrease the risk of you infecting someone else if you do have it. I have not heard one pro-mask person or doctor or scientist ever say that a cloth mask will filter out all virus particles and prevent you getting the virus 100%, yet this is what they latch on to. “Masks don’t work, it says so right on the packaging”. I am just so frustrated with all of this.
On a side note, he was the first person in my office to get COVID. We were all masking up and he was in our office for hours at a time in meetings, even ate lunch unmasked 10 ft from other masked employees, while he had mild symptoms. Despite being in close quarters with him no one in our office got it from him. He’s literally proof that they work. But yeah, the masks don’t work…
I just read an article about a judge in Indonesia sentencing 8 people who refused to wear masks to digging graves for people who died of Covid. Maybe the hardline approach should be taken in the US. That would teach them a lesson they never would forget.
Idiots the lot of them. Just wear your mask, this is on chump change our wannabe president.
I read(can’t verify) that in India if you’re caught without your mask, they make you be on bury brigade, where you bury poor souls lost to Covid. I’m good with this punishment,, fines don’t teach lessons unless they’re large, this could do the trick.
I’m cranky & have no patience for this.
Let them all die and good riddance. Thoughts and prayers for their innocent victims, like the ones killed by those selfish newlyweds and their moronic pastor.
I’m a special education aide and work with severely disabled students. None in my class have conditions that preclude mask wearing. If they can wear masks without whining, even when they hate the feeling of it, and even when the elastic hurts their ears,etc., these people have no damned excuse. Even with intellectual disabilities, they understand that its not nice to get others sick and sometimes we have to put our wants aside for other people’s needs.
I just don’t understand what major government agenda these morons think masking the population accomplishes.
Hiding our faces from CCTV seems like a fairly radical anti-government action to me.
Shutting down the economy doesn’t win incumbents additional terms in office.
There is literally NO BENEFIT to the government.
Edited to add: even my Trump supporting family members think wearing a mask is “just common sense.”