Stop Misusing Face Masks!

Today New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled a collage that was made from face masks while proclaiming it as a “self-portrait of America.”

If that collage had been unveiled a year or two after the Coronavirus pandemic had burned itself out, it would’ve been a lovely commemoration to those who had served on the front lines of this pandemic. It also would’ve been a very moving tribute to those who caught the Coronavirus. It would’ve been as moving a tribute as the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt (which I’ve actually seen in person the times when it was unfurled on the Mall in downtown Washington, DC).

Unfortunately, not only is the pandemic still ongoing but there is currently a serious mask shortage both in the United States and in many other countries. I’ve heard stories of doctors and nurses having to reuse their masks and gloves multiple times (even though they are meant to be single-use) because the shortage is so bad. I’ve had to wear bandanas as face masks myself because the pharmacies that usually sell face masks have been sold out for several weeks and I’m now required to cover my nose and mouth whenever I have to go grocery shopping.

To use much-needed face masks in an art project at a time like this is incredibly wasteful. Now is NOT the time for face mask art projects, especially if it deprives someone in the medical field of a face mask. Additionally New York City is still a major Coronavirus hot zone with a huge number of deaths. It has gotten so bad that the subway system has to close every night so the trains can be disinfected.

But even that face mask collage project is pretty tasteful compared to what certain social media influencers are doing with their face masks. A few of them are making bikinis out of them, taking pictures of themselves wearing those bikinis, then posting them on social media. Of course this has provoked outrage because there are health care workers who have to literally scrounge around for a single face mask while these asshole influencers—such as Yulia Ushakova, Jade Marie, Yana Koshinka, and Katja—are using them as bikinis. We have a major pandemic that’s literally striking the world and these idiots are using face masks as if they’re competing in a Project Runway challenge.

I’ve already had a dim view of these influencers after having to deal with their stupid Follow/Unfollow Game on Instagram. I even made a video explaining what this game is and how one can avoid getting sucked into someone else’s Follow/Unfollow Game.

Their antics with face masks have not changed my mostly negative attitude towards them.

People really need to stop misusing face masks for anything other than their intended purpose because we are in a crisis situation and there is a shortage of face masks around the world.