Actor Wil Wheaton, known for his role as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, recently explained why he still wears a mask in public.
Wil Wheaton speaking at the 2018 Phoenix Comic Fest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Wheaton posted to Facebook, “Covid is very much still A Thing and so is the flu, the common cold, and other respiratory illnesses. I started masking during the pandemic, because I didn’t want to get sick and die.”
He continued, “I have kept masking when I’m in close proximity to other people, large crowds, or small indoor spaces because I haven’t had the flu or a cold or, gods forbid, Covid, since I made that choice. It’s such a tiny, simple, thing and it makes a huge difference for me.”
Wil Wheaton speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Wheaton then decided to deride individuals who have a differing opinion, “It’s too bad that so many people have decided to make another personal health choice that is none of their business, that doesn’t affect them at all, just another part of their culture war.”
“And it tells you everything you need to know about a person when they are a dick about it,” he declared.
“From a practical standpoint: the guy next to me was coughing and sneezing his face off the whole game, and he couldn’t be bothered to wear a mask to protect the people around him from whatever he had,” Wheaton said.
“Whether it was a cold, or something more serious, I know I didn’t pick it up from him,” he shared. “That’s basically why I wear a mask whenever I’m in a crowd, and why I wish it wasn’t such a big stupid deal (pro or against).”
Wil Wheaton during an appearance at San Diego Comi-Con. Photo Credit: Genevieve, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Wheaton then claimed he is not trying to make a social statement by still wearing the mask, “I see a lot of thank yous for wearing masks in our photos. I appreciate the kindness, but we aren’t making a statement. We aren’t modeling behavior.”
“We are doing what is best for us, period. This isn’t a statement, it’s just a personal health choice,” he added.
However, he instantly contradicted himself saying, “If it helps normalize the entire thing, I’m happy for that passive bonus, but it’s not something I’m spending an action or even a bonus action on.”
Wil Wheaton speaking at the 2018 Phoenix Comic Fest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Next, he compared wearing the mask to wearing shoes, “I haven’t heard someone complain that I wear shoes into a restaurant, and I haven’t ever had someone thank me for wearing shoes in a restaurant.”
He then made it abundantly clear that his claim he was not making a social statement by wearing the mask was utterly false, “I hope it will be the same with masks, sooner than later. It’s nobody’s business, and the only people who are dicks about it are dicks about everything else, anyway.”
“I’m just tired of this being not just A Thing, but A Big Stupid F***ing Culture War Thing,” he concluded. “So. Mind your business, do what’s best for your health and in consideration of the health of those around you, and don’t be a dick.”
What do you make of Wil Wheaton’s explanation for why he still wears a mask?
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I guess Wil hasn’t seen all the evidence that says viruses pass right through masks, and that his mask is actually more detrimental to his health than no wearing one.