Glaucon’s Mask

GLAUCON: Socrates, I wear my mask to protect others, why don’t you?

SOCRATES: Tell me, how does the mask protect others?

GLAUCON: Why Socrates, it protects them from COVID.

SOCRATES: I did not ask what it protects them from, I ask how does it protect them?

GLAUCON: It stops my spit from exiting my mouth and getting on someone.

SOCRATES: Do you normally spit?

GLAUCON: No Socrates, but I talk and breathe of course.

SOCRATES: Do you spit when you breathe and talk then?

GLAUCON: Well, no, but the tiny particles in the air that exit my mouth have virus on them, you do know Socrates, the virus is aerosolized.

SOCRATES: That is interesting Glaucon, may I ask for you to clarify, you wear the mask to stop spit, yes?

GLAUCON: Yes.

SOCRATES: Not large spit, but tiny spit when you breathe or talk, microscopic that is aerosolized?

GLAUCON: Yes.

SOCRATES: So, in theory if you had a virus, you would be breathing out air that has virus on it being stopped by the mask, correct?

GLAUCON: Yes Socrates.

SOCRATES: Excellent Glaucon, so you can confirm you are able to breathe in the mask?

GLAUCON: Yes, absolutely.

SOCRATES: The exchange of air in and out?

GLAUCON: Yes.

SOCRATES: Then I ask, how do you know the air you’re breathing in is not the virus?

GLAUCON: Because other people are wearing the mask Socrates.

SOCRATES: True Glaucon, but the mask does not stop the exchange of air, you said so yourself you can breathe with the exchange of air – in and out. Therefore, you can exchange viral air in and out. If I were to take a pebble and drop it on the inside of the mask, would the mask stop the pebble?

GLAUCON: I suppose it would.

SOCRATES: Now if I were to drop the pebble on the outside of the mask, would the outside of the mask stop the pebble?

GLAUCON: Yes, I suppose it would, the mask would stop the pebble in both directions.

SOCRATES: Indeed, therefore, if the mask does not stop the air from getting out in one direction, it would not stop the air from getting in in the opposite direction now would it?

GLAUCON: I suppose not.

SOCRATES: Thus, aerosolized virus can be expelled from the mask; inversely, aerosolized virus can enter through the mask then.

GLAUCON: I suppose it would Socrates. But what if we keep our distance?

SOCRATES: Then of what use is the mask?

GLAUCON: The projection of air could make a difference?

SOCRATES: Would it? If air is expelled what difference is the projection?

GLAUCON: Instead of virus hitting straight on, it could be diverted?

SOCRATES: Does the trajectory change what the virus is at all, I mean does the virus change when straightly projected, rather than linger?

GLAUCON: I supposed not, a virus is a virus.

SOCRATES: Correct, so the trajectory is irrelevant, less it changes the composition of the virus, which it does not.

GLAUCON: What about a double mask, I do that sometimes in crowded places, essentially making giving it more obstacles – like Swiss cheese.

SOCRATES: Glaucon, if we already have confirmed that you can breathe through mask and the trajectory is of no importance, of what use is the second mask? By your very presence of breathing, the virus – on aerosolized breath – finds its way through the so-called Swiss cheese.

GLAUCON: I suppose you would be correct Socrates, then the mask does not stop the virus?

SOCRATES: Yes Glaucon, and if it does not stop the virus, it does not protect others now does it?

GLAUCON: No Socrates, no it doesn’t.

SOCRATES: Now, join me Glaucon for wine and feast, I always enjoy my discussions with you.