Tell me about livescience.com

[Orrex]

A cursory inspection suggests that it's a crank website devoted to fringe contrarianism masked as "skepticism," but I don't want to be to hasty in my judgment.

The reason I ask is that I've been arguing with an "I'll never wear a fucking mask" type of asshole, who cited a livescience article as his source saying that masks are unnecessary at best and harmful at worst.


Your thoughts?


TIA

[Iggo]

1. First I think I've heard of it.

I just took a few minutes going from top to bottom on the front page, and clicking into a couple of articles, and my first impression is that it's "Science Light", or maybe "Science Entertainment."

(I flashed back to the first time I read a copy of USA Today back in the 80s or 90s.)

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. I haven't seen much editorializing.

I have read some good stuff there.

[cayugafalls]

3. There are better sources. Livescience is advertising heavy and presents its content for the laymen.

I have read several of their articles on masks. They are ok, but I feel they are light on the footwork required to form a firm opinion.

Wearing a mask is a difficult choice right now, due to the amount of conflicting reporting all over the internet. I have spent a great deal of time researching the subject.

Here is one;
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440799/

Here is another that talks about several materials and their efficacy. Click the link and scroll down to download the PDF of the paper.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Filtration-Efficiency-and-Pressure-Drop-Across-Materials-Tested-with-Aerosols-of-Bacillus_tbl1_258525804

I will wear a mask for the simple reason that most of the articles that I have read state very clearly that there is some benefit if it is made properly and with the right materials.

I hope this helps.

[Warpy]

4. Cloth masks on healthy people are a feel good idea only

Openings between the threads in cloth might be microscopic, but they're open barn doors to viruses. In addition, once the mask gets wet with condensation, fluid in those openings can facilitate the transfer of virus particles to the inside of the mask. Or if the person has been infected but is not ill, to the outside of the mask to be dispersed into the air.

The best thing a cloth mask will do is keep your fingers out of your mouth or nose.

The N-95 mask will stop virus particles and will continue to work when it's wet. I see them as useful for the people who are symptomatic and need to go to the hospital, or for close caregivers either in the home or in hospitals.. A combination of a mask and good handwashing was found to cut the transmission of flu within families by a good 70% and it's likely the same for Covid.

These were the original guidelines until Big Dummy's stooges at the FDA and CDC were bullied into changing them.

Science isn't always pretty or productive of false confidence. People who are making cloth masks to sell aren't hurting anyone and if those masks stop hand-mucus membrane transmission, good for them. It just won't stop droplet transmission.

In 1918, people were ordered to wear masks and everyone did. The masks did nothing to prevent transmission.

[Orrex]

6. A point that I've seen made, and which I can't support or refute

Is that the countries with more successful containment (Taiwan and South Korea in particular) made extensive use of masks, and this appears to correlate with low transmission rates.

Of course, many other factors are at work, and I don't know what kind of social distancing they practiced, not to mention better access to healthcare overall.


Thanks for your input, especially re: masks & hand-washing.

[Warpy]

7. They also have political systems unlike ours

Those systems saw what was happening in China (where most people wear cloths masks to keep from breathing dust and grit in the air swept in from Mongolia) and reacted swiftly to try to contain the spread. It wasn't the masks, it was governments coming down on the side of public health instead of commerce.

Again, a cloth mask will keep your fingers out of your nose and mouth but that's about the best you can expect, especially when it gets wet.

I won't discourage anyone from wearing a cloth mask. Just don't think it makes you bulletproof and that you can take chances in crowded spaces.

[Orrex]

5. Thank you all

My job provides masks, either surgical or N95, because I'm required to go into people's homes.

Even if I'm not 100% protected, I'm hopeful that the masks will reduce my likelihood of transmitting the virus if I should be infected.

Regardless, the guy on that FB discussion is a complete tool, masks notwithstanding.


Thanks again!