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11. They're very common in Japan

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 02:09 PM

Jul 2013

So common, at anime conventions in America, you'll see some kids wear surgical masks along with their cosplay costumes.

The difference is, in Japan it's to help prevent spreading of colds and flu, and not so much because of pollution.

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Does anyone have a problem with people looking like this? [View all] jberryhill Jul 2013 OP

No. We started seeing Chinese wearing face mask during the SARS epidemic. question everything Jul 2013 #1

As long as they are not Muslim women, it's okay jberryhill Jul 2013 #2

Fair observation. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #4

LOL..... haikugal Jul 2013 #5

Or black men Fumesucker Jul 2013 #13

No, if they want to drive question everything Jul 2013 #15

I'm willing to bet this person has a driver's license jberryhill Jul 2013 #16

And if they are stopped by police and have to show the license question everything Jul 2013 #64

But that's not the issue jberryhill Jul 2013 #70

We didn't always require photos on driver's licenses. surrealAmerican Jul 2013 #47

We did not always require air travelers to to through tight security and question everything Jul 2013 #65

Yet, for all this supposed "need" to be identified by photo ... surrealAmerican Jul 2013 #66

I know I had a "fake ID" that was someone else's license (without a picture). MADem Jul 2013 #76

+1 HiPointDem Jul 2013 #22

No problem at all.. haikugal Jul 2013 #3

I have a problem with people LWolf Jul 2013 #6

Finally! MuseRider Jul 2013 #67

I have no problem with this at all. nt octoberlib Jul 2013 #7

reminds me of John Brunner's "The Sheep look Up" hfojvt Jul 2013 #8

Most of the time, it's a simple doctor's disposable mask, which is almost 100% ineffective... onehandle Jul 2013 #9

They freak me JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #10

They're very common in Japan Wednesdays Jul 2013 #11

They have some cool ones in Japan: Scurrilous Jul 2013 #30

But since the eyes are also mucous membranes, one wonders why closeupready Jul 2013 #38

Because the belief that these masks are effective is irrational jberryhill Jul 2013 #44

Would not bother me, but I would be wondering why. n/t RebelOne Jul 2013 #12

As long as they remember to take it off when going into a bank- LeftinOH Jul 2013 #14

What LeftinOH said...(nt) Demoiselle Jul 2013 #59

It doesn't matter to me what anyone wears. I will add, that it is sad and troubling morningfog Jul 2013 #17

They aren't needed and aren't effective jberryhill Jul 2013 #45

They don't help with asthma at all? morningfog Jul 2013 #48

Never seen an operating room without one on everyone's face... cherokeeprogressive Jul 2013 #60

Yes, necessary and effectual. But probably not ManiacJoe Jul 2013 #68

Are bodily fluids generally splattering around your city? jberryhill Jul 2013 #73

No bigwillq Jul 2013 #18

They could be terrorists. Comrade Grumpy Jul 2013 #19

they are wearing it for health reasons. Apologists of misogyny suck. Western Cultural has evolved KittyWampus Jul 2013 #20

lol. what a stupid comment. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #23

Can't disagree with your sentiment. LanternWaste Jul 2013 #34

Use of the word "suck" as a pejorative is kinda interesting.... jberryhill Jul 2013 #43

What are those health reasons? jberryhill Jul 2013 #46

They're wearing those for health reasons leftynyc Jul 2013 #21

ridiculous. it's the same thing. you're not objecting to the veil, you're objecting to your HiPointDem Jul 2013 #25

A surgical face mask is the same thing as a burqa? Huh. uppityperson Jul 2013 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author HiPointDem Jul 2013 #31

i meant 'same thing' = covering the same bits of anatomy. i should have been more clear. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #32

Of course... jberryhill Jul 2013 #40

You're incorrect on BOTH counts Scootaloo Jul 2013 #56

I like to shop at the big Thrift stores but all the lint from the clothing being... Tikki Jul 2013 #24

I would Mace them until they remove the offending covering, but they're already prepared. leveymg Jul 2013 #26

Only if they shave their heads geek tragedy Jul 2013 #28

No, but unrelated to the question you want an answer to. Igel Jul 2013 #29

But they do remove them for photo ID's jberryhill Jul 2013 #41

I have a problem with it because they're getting ripped off olddots Jul 2013 #33

It's gotta be a pretty messed up region if one "chooses" to wear these LanternWaste Jul 2013 #35

Do you believe those masks actually do anything re: air pollution? jberryhill Jul 2013 #42

Hard to object to a medical necessity. Deep13 Jul 2013 #36

It's medically necessary in DC? jberryhill Jul 2013 #39

depends. Deep13 Jul 2013 #49

But in some societies, it is common jberryhill Jul 2013 #51

Not this one. nt Deep13 Jul 2013 #90

No. treestar Jul 2013 #37

I think it's a good practice Shankapotomus Jul 2013 #50

No problem with those 'attachments' elleng Jul 2013 #52

I have a problem with people needing to look like that. Eddie Haskell Jul 2013 #53

Necessary for some for survival liberal N proud Jul 2013 #54

Could be just a matter of time... JNelson6563 Jul 2013 #55

If it is cold as hell Aerows Jul 2013 #57

Coal Fly Ash might make you do that. postulater Jul 2013 #58

I live close to a Coal plant as well. scary thing... darkangel218 Jul 2013 #84

Personally I don't give a damn who wears what, as long as they take it off for photo ID pictures... cherokeeprogressive Jul 2013 #61

No. When I was in China and Hong Kong this past May I saw it all the time Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #62

Explain the "public health" reasons jberryhill Jul 2013 #71

I would suggest they not walk into a bank like that Ruby the Liberal Jul 2013 #63

There are plenty of banks in Beijing jberryhill Jul 2013 #72

Lots of people from Asia in my city u4ic Jul 2013 #69

Of course not. But not all masks are created equal IDemo Jul 2013 #74

i.e. respirators jberryhill Jul 2013 #75

Problem is they really are more of a panacea than anything else.. Historic NY Jul 2013 #77

I believe you may mean "placebo" jberryhill Jul 2013 #78

"A remedy believed to cure all disease"... Historic NY Jul 2013 #80

I have a big problem with the fact that they are necessary. That what you're looking for? n/t Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #79

Necessary for what? jberryhill Jul 2013 #82

The gray pollution hanging in the background of the pictures apnu Jul 2013 #87

Breathing, I assume. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #89

Interesting how women AND men wear them. forestpath Jul 2013 #81

The Vietnamese woman who lives in my home uses one frequently- she's sensitive to dust NBachers Jul 2013 #83

I always have one ready on a transatlantic flight darkangel218 Jul 2013 #85

I looked at these pictures and thought: "Holy cow! look at the pollution in the background!" (nt) apnu Jul 2013 #86

Many of the masks have carbon and charcoal filters womanofthehills Jul 2013 #88

I see photos of both men and women wearing these masks and each person is also Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #91