Wandering along a dubious path

Twist

Yesterday I went to the ATM at the ING bank in Amstelveen (so I could unblock my card, I had made a mistake). In front of the bench was a queue of about 15 people, neatly along red cones. The ATM on the façade was out of order. Hence the queue. So I joined the back of that row of face masks. I hadn't thought of bringing a face mask; I had planned to withdraw money outside. Fortunately, a gentleman came behind me who was not wearing a face mask either. A stocky, powerful type, I estimate close to seventy, military gray moustache.

"My face mask blew off when I got off the bike," he apologized. "I have to ask inside for a face mask, I hope they have one. Mine fell to the ground, and I'm not going to pick it up off the ground." Another face mask in the environment.
"No, I understand," I replied, "it doesn't help anyway and to also keep street dirt in front of your mouth..."
The gentleman tightened. "I don't do it for myself. I've already had Pfizer twice. I don't understand those people who say that the virus doesn't exist and that it's just a flu and all that. But I just keep my distance." He demonstratively took a step back because it was certainly not a meter and a half away that we had kept. "I" – with the emphasis on 'I' – respect the rules." He clearly already knew what kind of meat he was dealing with.
"Yes" I confirmed, "I do that too, I also wear a face mask where it is expected of me". It's true, I also put on a face mask sometimes. It's only a few minutes a day for me and if it bothers me I just pull it down a bit so I can breathe through my nose. I'm not that principled. I sometimes forget to put it on, it's not such a theme for me. But what they do to children with those things is worse than bullying. Or shelf stackers, who have to walk around with such a thing all day, it's really too bad for words. Soon you will see babies lying in cribs with mouth masks on (hadn't I seen such a photo before, from an Asian hospital?).

It's just like with the curfew with those face masks: it doesn't do a damn, but a group of upturned medics just shouts what it has to do. They 'expect' something based on nothing at all – just because they say things to each other, they drive each other crazy with assumptions and doomsday scenarios for which they could be held responsible. Face masks, curfew, lockdown, one and a half meters, droplet contamination: there is not a speck of scientific evidence, on the contrary, and yet the economy and society are being ruined with it. At least they can now say 'we tried'. Well, thank you!

We moved a few meters towards the entrance again. "And, didn't you suffer from the injections?" I did my best. He looked at me fixedly: "I have sailed all over the world. I've been everywhere, the East, America, Africa – I've served in India, I'm full of vaccinations. Never had any problems. I never have anything. But you can go in."
I looked: both ATMs were still occupied. But the gentleman insisted. "You can just stand in the hall, then we will move on a bit". The waiting time is not shortened for a second, I thought, but I don't say such things out loud because that is not in line with the herd mentality to which we have to bend. Contradiction is not tolerated... So I said goodbye to him and stood in the hall. I saw the sign that you had to wear a face mask – unfortunately, I didn't have that with me and it doesn't help anyway so don't worry about that. Furthermore: if I had to cough and sneeze, I had to do it in my elbow. They mean: elbow cavity, just like you can't cough into someone's knee but you can cough into their knee.

If I had to cough and sneeze, I shouldn't have come here at all. If you have to cough and sneeze, you won't get among people, let's start with that. And if I have to cough because I choke or something, then I'm not contagious so why does it have to be "in my elbow"? Why all those half-hearted and inconsistent rules?

The lady who had just used the ATM was going to disinfect her hands so I walked in. It was hot and musty. There were people sitting at discussion tables, there were people talking at counters... Despite the face masks, they still managed to get breath out of that stuffy space in their lungs. After all, that breath floated quietly around the splash guards, otherwise they would suffocate from lack of oxygen. In short: the ideal place to get infected. Thinking you are protected by mouth masks and disinfectant gel, reusing other people's breath all day long. Top arranged, thanks to the RIVM.

Fortunately, I was outside again within two minutes. I hope I make it out alive. Looking back, I saw the soldier struggling with the ATM, otherwise I would have given him a final greeting.

For a change, I completely agree with Koopmans.