The other day — Tuesday, if you must know — I went to a doctor-type appointment in a big medical building. In the lobby, there was a desk with some sort of security person behind it and in front of the desk was a person who was screaming bloody murder about the rule that you need to wear a mask to go any farther into this building than that desk. The guy was about forty and he was doing that thing I think is so foolish: Arguing about a rule with someone who doesn't have the power to change or suspend the rule.
He said, loud enough that you might have heard him, that studies have proved that masks don't do shit…and it's true. A few have, though their conclusions are disputed and they phrased it nicer. Studies have also shown that masks — especially the good ones — can be very effective. It's hardly settled law.
The security-type gent wasn't having any of this and when I headed up for my appointment, they were still arguing. And what intrigued me about the argument is that it was taking place in a medical building. In case you don't know what that is, it's a building full of people called doctors. On the floor where I had my appointment — and I'll bet this was true of most every office on every floor there — there was a sign that looked like this…
So this guy is there to see a doctor and the doctor put this sign on his door. I didn't talk to the complainer but if I had, I would have asked him, "Why are you seeking medical advice from a doctor when you don't even trust the sign on his door?"