This semester I volunteered to teach both of my classes in-person. I’ve also given four public talks in Texas, and one at GMU. All of these venues had mask mandates. And in each case, I noticed an eerie pattern: Almost no one talks to each other anymore! In the past, I had to ask classes to quiet down so I could start class. Now I usually face dead silence. Public lecture halls used to overflow with the chatter of the crowd. Now you can practically hear a pin drop.
From what I’m told, I’m not alone. When I talk to other faculty who teach in-person (rare, I admit), they too remark upon this viral silence.
What’s the explanation? Here are my leading candidates.
1. Health fear. People avoid talking to others because they think it increases their odds of getting sick. If you initiate a conversation, the other person might move closer to hear you better, or even remove his mask to speak more clearly.
2. Social anxiety. People avoid talking to others because they’re worried about upsetting others. Maybe the other person will feel that you’re standing too close or wearing your mask improperly. Maybe they’ll even bite your head off for your offense.
3. Poor audibility. Conversation is always a gamble. If masks make it hard to hear and be heard, the gamble looks worse. So fewer people place bets by opening their mouths.
4. Lack of normal social cues. Human beings rely heavily on facial expressions to guide conversation. So if you can’t see other people’s faces, you don’t know how to talk to each other. This in turn usually leads to no talking at all.
5. General depression. People are so sad they don’t feel like talking.
6. The social multiplier. An extra factor to consider: Perhaps the preceding factors are all small, but when everyone has the same problem, the total effect remains enormous because humans feed off each other. My social anxiety amplifies your social anxiety which in then further amplifies my social anxiety.
Other stories? What’s the truth of the matter?
READER COMMENTS
Henri Hein
Oct 26 2020 at 2:23pm
For me, #3 is definitely a factor.
There is another factor related to #1, which is that it is natural to face each other when talking, and that increases risk. At least without masks, possibly with them. Talking to a stranger without facing them could be seen as rude and exacerbates some of the other points (#3, #4).
Paul from the dull channel
Oct 26 2020 at 2:48pm
I can totally confirm your observations and I am from Germany, the country where people are noticeably less chatty than Americans.
My personal experiences are numbers 4 and 5 and to a degree 3
I find it very irritating to converse with someone without seeing their facial expressions. Almost like talking on a telephone which many people find uncomfortable…see the popularity of either text messaging (no cues at all but emojis) or video chats (with almost all cues). It is easier with people I already know because I can infer their facial expressions from experience and other more subtle cues but with strangers I just don’t feel like talking through masks. Also Corona seems like the only topic nowadays so I really rather not talk about it anymore.
I might add the desire to leave indoor spaces like shops or train stations where people might have engaged in small talk but now are just rushing to get things done, leave and get rid of their masks.
RPLong
Oct 26 2020 at 3:07pm
I read data early on that stated that talking transmitted significantly more virus particles than simply sitting still and breathing. I’m a pretty quiet and reserved person in settings like these, anyway, but the possibility that talking could increase viral transmission would certainly give me added incentive to talk even less.
It’s so hard to keep up with all the information and know how to act responsibly during a pandemic like this. I think we’re all just doing the best we can. I wish people were more sociable, but I understand how hard it is these days.
Steve
Oct 26 2020 at 3:34pm
#3 and 4 are big ones for me. I can’t hear (and I’m young with normal hearing) or I can’t tell if someone is talking to me.
A Country Farmer
Oct 26 2020 at 11:47pm
This has always been the main reason why I thought the burden of proof on mask and social distancing mandates was very high (with limited RCT evidence on the former and almost zero evidence on the latter): it’s reducing our humanity.
Thomas Hutcheson
Oct 27 2020 at 8:09am
#3 & $4
#1 either omits or misinterprets the risk of contagion. Each person may be trying to avoid infecting, not being infected. After all, that’s the reason for wearing masks/social distancing in the first place.
Mark Brophy
Oct 27 2020 at 7:38pm
I normally talk to the attractive women but they’re all ugly when wearing masks.
JK Brown
Oct 27 2020 at 8:37pm
It is only common sense. The highest probability of transmission of the virus is via prolonged, face-to-face, close-range conversation. Secondarily through yelling and singing or other spittle making activities in the company of others. Masks trap some spittle emitted but do little to stop aerosolized virus inhalation.
Most people have done nothing to alter their conversation actions, i.e., learn to control their spittlemaker. Don’t talk into people’s faces, i.e., don’t look them in the eye. Don’t speak at someone, speak to their side or speak downward. Speak in a non-projecting manner.
And keep your distance. Masks are only a mitigation when distancing is not possible.
You would do better to call the person next to you and each speak into their own phone, quietly.
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