Serious question: why is wearing surgical masks a thing ONLY in Japan?

[texhnolyze]

Surgical mask? You can find it everywhere.

It's pretty common too here in Indonesia, thanks to the air pollution. People also more care about their surroundings when sick nowadays. I usually wear the fabric ones so they're reusable.

 

[Vormund]

Probably going to see them more often here in Australia.

I think it's a good idea especially if you are using public transport.

 

[Nightbird]

Give me that mask in black and I'll absolutely wear it outside

 

[Deleted member 52442]

do i wear this because i'm sick or to avoid getting sick?

 

[hombremalo]

You can always use it yourself to avoid getting sick

 

[Blade Wolf]

I am Taiwanese and I wear them all the time

 

[Deleted member 16516]

do i wear this because i'm sick or to avoid getting sick?

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The former rather than the latter, to prevent spreading your virus to others via sneezing and coughing.

 

[sirap]

do i wear this because i'm sick or to avoid getting sick?

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You wear it when you're sick. It's more of a courtesy for others really.

 

[Excuse me]

If you are woman you don't have think about make-up. Also, as probably said before, it's not just Japan thing. You can spot masks every day in SK and China as well. Given that in SK many use it to cover from yellow dust.

 

[fieldafar]

Probably going to see them more often here in Australia.

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I sometimes see tourists wear them and am kinda surprised it hasn't caught on here yet.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Pretty normal thing here in south korea.

 

[Valkerion]

do i wear this because i'm sick or to avoid getting sick?

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Both, particularly when the flu and what not is going around your area. Especially if you use public transportation.

 

[Deleted member 49611]

i think it's cool and a good thing they wear them. i wouldn't mind wearing them because some people can be absolutely disgusting. here nobody wears them (UK) and the only people i've seen wear them are tourists. people would look at you like you were an idiot if you wore a mask in public.

i'm the kind of person who constantly carries hand gel in public. i hate using shopping trolleys, touching door handles, or putting my hands on rails, etc. i don't want to be breathing in your rotting breath, smelling your BO, or have you sneeze/cough right beside me.

 

[texhnolyze]

do i wear this because i'm sick or to avoid getting sick?

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Both.

 

[Zombegoast]

I've seen very few people wear them when commuting to work.

 

[Deleted member 2625]

Saw them a lot in the Toronto subway.

I'm pretty sure the people wearing them weren't doing it "as a courtesy ".

 

[Vilam]

Wait, healthy people wear these? Not sick people? That only makes me think they're even weirder than I did before.

 

[Gabbo]

I see a handful every now and again in the downtown core, especially when commuting around (subway, streetcar, etc) in Toronto.
I always assumed people were doing it to avoid other people's germs/getting sick

 

[Theodran]

Reasons for why people wear these masks in Japan include:
- To prevent people around you from catching the cold you have
- To prevent others from infecting you with cold or other air born diseases
- Because they didn't bother making up
- Because they don't want pick up artists and scouts to bother them

 

[Nikus]

It's especially annoying bc my dream is to be a singer and maybe it's a laughably delusional and unrealistic goal (at least for a successful singer) or a pipe dream, but that doesn't stop me from taking it very seriously.

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Can't give an answer about the masks, but I wish you the best! :)

 

[Yinyangfooey]

I'm glad people do this. Here in America, people still fucking sneeze into their hands

 

[SABO.]

It's not ONLY in Japan, ya dang weaboo.

 

[Deleted member 46958]

My mother be on that trendsetting business. She asked me once why the Japanese did this, I showed her a video and she went ahead and picked up a slick one to be worn casually. Smart and chic.

it's good practice.

 

[Zombine]

It's not. If I'm sick I have to wear one.

 

[Siggy-P]

I think they're a fantastic idea and the west should embrace it.

But I ain't being the first person to walk around with some surgical mask looking like an idiot.

 

[Kinketsu]

I think it is good sense, hence them being used in hospitals. That being said, it doesn't seem to do anything to prevent the mass outbreaks of influenza that break out here several times a year. Still, it must be better than nothing. Hospital waiting rooms, buses, trains, with most of the people wearing masks during cold / flu times just makes sense to me now after 10 years living in Japan. Anything else seems kind of gross. Apart from being courteous by not infecting other people, it also helps to protect you from other people.

I prefer the social side of it though. Over here in Japan, it can also just indicate to others that you are feeling ill / poorly / under the weather / even hung over. It can be used as purely a "leave me alone" time talisman.

Pro mask.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

I'll be rocking this on the train.

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I prefer this:

Me and the boys avoiding the flu.

 

[Nista]

I wear them on airplane trips all the time. I don't need everyone else's germs recirculated on me constantly. And it keeps my sinuses from drying out so bad on long flights.

We got lots of different styles that you can buy at the supermarket around here.

 

[The Real Abed]

I see people once in a while in the US. Mostly I think they're just germaphobes and are trying to avoid a cold and that's fine.

 

[Cation]

It's seems like OP addressed it, but to clarify - these masks make sure the wearer doesn't spread their germs. It doesn't protect the wearer from other non-mask wearer's germs.

If you wanna protect yourself from other people's germs, you need a higher certified mask

It's a common misconception. That's why it's called a surgical mask btw lol.

 

[Minamu]

When I was in Seoul this summer, a lot of young people had regular and fancy masks like this, both in the street and in night clubs. I was told, in the case of clubs, it could be that they are celebs wanting to be somewhat under cover. I've no idea if it's true, but black velvet masks with likely fake diamonds is pretty hot.

 

[DanteMenethil]

For the same reason they litter a lot less. They give more of a fuck of people around them.

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

its smart and we should do it but in america its likely because some thick necked cop would go ballistic on someone wearing one for no reason, or youll just have the police called on you for being suspicious

up in Seattle I've seen them become more common over time, which makes sense since people are going to and from tokyo to seattle in the thousands every day

 

[elenarie]

Hmm, I was under the impression that getting sick and letting it run its course is good for you as your body's immune system strengthens over time that way.

 

[Ashodin]

Ties into a lot of culture in Japan where if you get sick you miss work and are seen as lazy

 

[Froli]

I'm having a hard time finding a vogmask/pollution mask in my area. Would be nice to have one when I'm doing my morning walks

 

[pleaseinsertdisctwo]

Wow my mom told me she has surgical masks at her office that her NON-ASIAN coworker bought and she should bring some home.

 

[pleaseinsertdisctwo]

Can't give an answer about the masks, but I wish you the best! :)

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Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

 

[aerts1js]

It was everywhere in Korea, and tbh, helped with the air pollution as well.

 

[DPT120]

I've seen people where those masks all the time in China. I've never been to Korea but from everything I've seen, it seems like they where it all the time as well.

 

[TaterTots]

It would never work in the US due to security concerns.

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This is the right answer, for the US anyway. You can't enter business's with your face covered etc. Never know who has a gun and such.

 

[demosthenes]

When I was in Seoul in April 2019, a lot of people were wearing them there too.

 

[Bio-Frost]

This is the right answer, for the US anyway. You can't enter business's with your face covered etc. Never know who has a gun and such.

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Maybe, depending on location. I've gone to target, walmart, etc with mine on for no issue.

 

[pleaseinsertdisctwo]

"Be careful what you wish for"

Bc of the Corona virus, my local Walgreens now has a section with surgical masks (and on the front it lists reasons to wear it even if you aren't sick so HAH).

So perhaps it'll be more common now after all

 

[amanset]

This is the right answer, for the US anyway. You can't enter business's with your face covered etc. Never know who has a gun and such.

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Half of San Francisco seemed ot be wearing them when I was there last week.

 

[Zulith]

I agree we need more mask culture especially in our big cities where public transit and lots of other situations were you have to be around big groups of people often is part of your everyday routine. I'm in the Bay Area, and it's very slowly starting to catch on more and more. At first it was mostly Asians residents and visitors, but after all the wildfires (which n95 masks were recommended to protect you against the smoke were seen everywhere), and now coronavirus ... you see way more people doing it.

You still see lots of people not giving a fuck, and coughing all over everyone as if they are TRYING to get others sick so they can be a part of their misery. It's an American culture thing (probably lots of other cultures as well) and it rubs me like no other. Consideration for your fellow man is at an all-time low.

 

[Deleted member 8852]

Because when I am sick, I don't go outside.

 

[Thordinson]

This is the right answer, for the US anyway. You can't enter business's with your face covered etc. Never know who has a gun and such.

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My gf went into tons of businesses while wearing a mask as she was sick and didn't want to spread her germs. No one told us anything.

 

[TaterTots]

My gf went into tons of businesses while wearing a mask as she was sick and didn't want to spread her germs. No one told us anything.

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Privileged area I suppose? There are stores here that actually have signs saying not to cover your face or wear hoods if you enter the store. Probably due to the amount of robberies.

 

[dyreschlock]

Looks dumb. 🤷

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It's not for fashion.