Wearing foam rubber padding all the time has benefits, but that doesn't mean everyone should do it. There are other considerations beyond mere safety.

Or at least bike helmets all the time. Lots of people get seriously injured or killed because of falling and hitting their head.

I expect mask wearing will be more common in cultures where it was almost unheard of like western Europe and the US. But even in a country like Japan where it wasn't unusual, it certainly wasn't anything like the norm.

Wearing a mask is a lot more convenient than foam rubber padding.

Just think of how many lives will be saved if people never leave their homes.

Amazing how insecure people get when you suggest a simple gesture that would ultimately better society. Mask wearing is normalized in the East, why not in the West? Is it because "mah freedoms?" Grow up.

Did you just reply to the wrong comment? I didn't say anything about masks.

Your comment wasn't constructive and at worst, sounded like you were making light of mask wearing by suggesting we should just never leave our houses. Of course if everyone was confined to their houses, there would be less sickness but nobody is debating that. We're debating the normalization of mask wearing.

It sounds like your concern is masks, not saving lives. Because if you care more about saving lives you will realize people only need to stay home. Fewer fatal accidents, infections, and other disturbances if people just never ventured outside their homes.

I'm not sure what kind of strange reality you're speaking from but it's not one that currently exists.

It has been both enlightening and pleasant to not have caught any symptom-causing diseases in the past 12 months. Unknown whether mask wearing played a part of course.

I’ve heard it argued that our immune systems need exposure to germs to keep them effective.

I've heard that too. But never does anyone back it up with anything that could be remotely called good science.

Agreed. I think of the 5+ times I’ve gotten sick from planes and airports and I kick myself for not having worn masks during air travel in years past.

You probably need everyone else wearing masks to have a big effect and that's not likely to be the case going forward although you can obviously take whatever precautions you like.