A debate on the efficacy of masks

Alvez_48

Well-known member
I hesitate to post this but for those wanting a genuine debate on masks between two experts in a proper debate format well here it is:-

 
Alvez, what do you make of the Tea Party video.? Bunch of right wingers talking cobblers or not........
The number one thing that strikes me about that video (I've watched the entire 40+ minutes) is not the backing of a congressman, or the sheer number of doctors on the video, but the fact that Facebook, Twitter and YouTube acted incredibly quickly once it has reached millions to delete it. Twitter users have also been blocked until they remove the video from their timelines.
Awaiting the usual suspects to come along and debunk the video because it was published by a right wing based website and not a far left one.
 
Scientist v Philosopher so far, Just about finished watching, I'll give a summary when its done.
 
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The debate was between a doctor of philosophy and a doctor of physics. The former advocating for masks, the latter arguing that masks don't have a measurable benefit, to either the wearer or others.

The two guys had a different approach, the philosopher was very argumentative and tried to dismiss the scientist as, well to be honest lying. The approach and the content made him quite difficult to listen to. The physicist had a more measured approach and quoted scientific papers.

The Philosopher, dismisses the Physicist arguments as mis-representation of the quoted papers.

The philosopher uses anecdotal evidence, which we are all aware of already.

To summarize:

We should wear masks because it is obvious they work as they block aerosols
The government should not make people wear masks as they are ineffective

The philosopher was a better speaker and only had anecdotal evidence for the effectiveness of masks
The scientist quotes papers, but you would have to read those to confirm he isn't misrepresenting

No real winner
 
The debate was between a doctor of philosophy and a doctor of physics. The former advocating for masks, the latter arguing that masks don't have a measurable benefit, to either the wearer or others.

The two guys had a different approach, the philosopher was very argumentative and tried to dismiss the scientist as, well to be honest lying. The approach and the content made him quite difficult to listen to. The physicist had a more measured approach and quoted scientific papers.

The Philosopher, dismisses the Physicist arguments as mis-representation of the quoted papers.

The philosopher uses anecdotal evidence, which we are all aware of already.

To summarize:

We should wear masks because it is obvious they work as they block aerosols
The government should not make people wear masks as they are ineffective

The philosopher was a better speaker and only had anecdotal evidence for the effectiveness of masks
The scientist quotes papers, but you would have to read those to confirm he isn't misrepresenting

No real winner


It's funny you say that because the comments suggests there was a winner .. given that a debate is won by those watching passing judgement.
 
I should have waited a bit, the philosopher clearly hates the scientist and started to personally attack him.
 
It's funny you say that because the comments suggests there was a winner .. given that a debate is won by those watching passing judgement.
Have you got a link to the original Alvez, I'd be interested to hear what others said
 
Just closed the debate off. That was great Alvez, I am supposed to be working, but public health trumps commerce, surely.

On the subject of no winner. I would assume that most people eat up the philosophers points, and voted him the winner. I would want to look at some of the scientists claims in a bit more detail. If the papers say exactly what he represented, then we shouldn't be wearing masks, but that is a big if.
 
I watched 30 mins but the second bloke is too boring for me to continue.

In a nutshell, a mask will stop you spreading the virus to others (assuming you have it, and are asymptomatic) BUT won't stop you catching the virus if spread by people NOT wearing a mask. So wearing a mask will help stop the spread so why not wear one?

Public health has improved massively over the last few centuries as knowledge of disease has increased, not least by surgeons etc keeping things clean - and wearing masks.
 
Only his mannerisms were criticised, not what he actually said.

Pretty important distinction ;)
I watched 30 mins but the second bloke is too boring for me to continue.

In a nutshell, a mask will stop you spreading the virus to others (assuming you have it, and are asymptomatic) BUT won't stop you catching the virus if spread by people NOT wearing a mask. So wearing a mask will help stop the spread.

What are you on?! None of that is true what you've just posted in your statements, beyond parody.
 
If you wear a mask and glasses, and the glasses steam up with your breath it's quite obvious that the mask isn't stopping the droplets they're just being pushed upwards and out of the mask at the top. You need a proper mask and it needs to fit properly, anything else is at best useless.
 
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