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Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them

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While professions like doctor and engineer have been, for safety and security reasons, making their workers wear masks, the pandemic has pretty much made it into a standard thing, so for most it has felt quite unreal to be wearing them everywhere they went.

However, while it is a bit of an inconvenience—especially for those who wear glasses—the pros surely outweigh the cons, and there is actually quite a sizable number of people who enjoy wearing a mask, and would most likely continue wearing them for non-COVID reasons.

People of Reddit have been discussing just that—reasons why people like to wear masks, outside necessity due to the pandemic. And, believe it or not, quite a lot of people found ample reasons to wear a mask, sharing these reasons with the internet.

Bored Panda has collected the best and most interesting answers to the AskReddit question what’s a non-COVID reason that you like wearing a mask for? and created a curated list that you can find below. So, check it out, vote, comment, and let us know if you prefer wearing a mask more than just to keep yourself safe from airborne diseases.

More Info: Reddit

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#1

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them It greatly decreases the amount of times that I've been told by men to, "SMILE".

TempestuousKat , Elvert Barnes Report

Final score:

172points

John C 2 years ago

I've learned I can just squint a little, and that reads as a smile. Win-win cause I'm not really smiling, I'm extremely skeptical of you.

17points

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#2

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Protection from other illnesses too like during flu season. So many people go out and about even while sick without a mask (pre covid). I wish it could become a new normal to wear a mask if you're feeling sick and have to go out, even after mask mandates end.

123triceratops , Phillip Pessar Report

Final score:

161points

Jack 2 years ago

SO TRUE

25points

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#3

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them I can talk to myself without people seeing my mouth move.

Weak_suicide , A Yee Report

Final score:

157points

Hazel Joseph 2 years ago

I thought I was the only one! I mouth things I want to say but really shouldn’t, and that is gonna be hard to stop.

24points

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#4

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Its nice and warm in the winter

pieremaan , Kai Hendry Report

Final score:

156points

Daria B 2 years ago (edited)

Guess it depends on the climate and the material your mask is made of. Mine get all literally wet, like, water inside the mask, because of my breath condensation. It does get less painful to breath the dry cold air, though, this one I admit. It kinda feels like burning inside your nose when exposed directly. Anyway, I'm not an anti-masker, but I keep looking forward to going back to wearing masks only when feeling sick. It's uncomfortable, and I miss my make-up too. u.u

12points

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#5

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Asthma. Breathing is easier if I don’t have to smell peoples crappy perfume.

LiteratureOk1832 , Steve Banfield Report

Final score:

149points

Scooter Premium 2 years ago

I would upvote this 1000 times. I am allergic to most perfumes.

29points

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#6

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them No one thinks I'm a Trump supporter

dirtyswrk , Todd Van Hoosear Report

Final score:

139points

Yvette Desmarais 2 years ago

I wear a U.S. flag mask. Really confuses them.

28points

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#7

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them I have pollen allergies, mask helps a TON

UnclePiccolo , TravelBakerCounty Report

Final score:

124points

Synsepalum 2 years ago

I wish they helped my year-round allergies. Alas, they do not.

12points

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#8

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them I'm a fresh heart transplant patient and I'm required to wear one in public for the first year. Not strictly COVID, but literally any pissbaby infection that most anyone can shrug off could end me at this stage.

MikoRiko , Governor Tom Wolf Report

Final score:

123points

Leesquee 2 years ago

I had a liver transplant in 2014 and consider it my DUTY to the mother of the young man who gave me a second chance at life to do whatever it takes to protect his gift.

77points

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#9

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them It allows me to pull faces at people who annoy me at the grocery store without repercussions. Which actually makes the whole process more pleasant.

Oeebag-a-donuts , Elvert Barnes Report

Final score:

121points

Rikke Visby Wickberg 2 years ago

Remember not to do it, when the mask mandate lifts. A friend told me.

14points

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#10

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Am autistic, makes it much easier to be around people because you don't have to worry about what your face is doing.

reversedposterior , Elvert Barnes Report

Final score:

116points

Jack 2 years ago

I TWO HAVE AUTISM AND ADHD I FEEL U

24points

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#11

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Hiding my face. Just going about my business, DON'T LOOK AT ME!

Warlord_of_Mom , BuddyL Report

Final score:

114points

VeninTheNonBinaryRogue 2 years ago

Don’t look at me. Don’t acknowledge me. I don’t exist. *fades back into the shadows*

13points

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#12

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Hides my acne

gabrielcutler21 , Drazen Nesic Report

Final score:

92points

Katerina Huskova 2 years ago

Causes my maskne 😷

22points

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#13

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Don’t have to put on a full face of makeup. Fill in my eyebrows, put on mascara and I’m good!

tofueggs , Sarah Stierch Report

Final score:

92points

Jess 2 years ago

We can be ugly in peace ;)

22points

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#14

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them thecheese14326 said:
Anxiety

bitfarb replied:
This right here. Combined with my hat I feel so much more comfortable doing my shopping. I'm out in the open, but still in my protective cocoon. Covid has been nothing but stress, but oddly it's the most comfortable and confident I've felt in public.

thecheese14326 Report

Final score:

91points

Dodo 2 years ago

Definitely helps my anxiety. I've had so many issues with my face, going back 20-odd years. Masks take care of that. Downside is that I also have anxiety about not understanding people, and masks make that worse.

8points

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#15

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Mouthing along to the song I’m singing in my head without getting weird looks

Proffessor_egghead , joey zanotti Report

Final score:

83points

Philenzortia 2 years ago

Yes! I do love to do this 🤟🏼

8points

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#16

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them I don't have to mind my expression as much. Like... normally, people can see your mouth and it's expected to have certain expressions. I don't have to sweat that as much with a mask on.

grombleduke , ContentAl Report

Final score:

82points

Ozacoter 2 years ago

This is my favourite part. I cant walk well so any light walking makes me pant. With the mask nobody sees it (so I dont get judged) and I dont need to worry about them seeing my idiot face while breathing throughout my mouth

10points

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#17

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them I drink coffee and don't have the best oral hygiene. Used to be that sometimes I'd realize that my breath was bad while talking and it would destroy my confidence. Now the mask takes care of that. Not only does it mask the odor well, but it makes me more cognizant of it. And my oral hygiene has actually improved for it...

Gr1pp717 , Fernando de Sousa Report

Final score:

75points

Vicky Z 2 years ago

Bad breath might hide other problems and have nothing to do with coffee though

15points

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#18

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Wearing a mask gives my completely deaf right ear something worthwhile to do. As I can't hear anything through it, that ear's only other function is to add handsomeness and symmetry.

nosnowtho , Olgierd Report

Final score:

74points

Piet Puk 2 years ago

I have a sign about my hearing disability on my face mask. It is nice to not have to tell it in shops etc.

23points

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#19

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Whenever I’m concentrating or working on a task I tend to stick my tongue out or leave my mouth open and I really like it when people don’t see that

Conscious_Fondant634 , Baker County Tourism Report

Final score:

65points

Nina 2 years ago

Same. I hate it and I Will stop concentrating on the task at hand and instead close my mouth and get really self-conscious.

9points

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#20

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Defeats the facial recognition software.

rschoppe2 , Marco Verch Report

Final score:

63points

Caro Caro 2 years ago

In some countries that's a blessing. What's going on in Hong Kong now is sad.

8points

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#21

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them It keeps me from biting my nails or anxiously picking my face.

kodex1717 , Phil Roeder Report

Final score:

63points

Caro Caro 2 years ago

That's true but sneaking candy in your mouth is hard :D

4points

#22

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them It hides my teeth

salmonsensual_69 , Bennilover Report

Final score:

60points

Rikke Visby Wickberg 2 years ago

It hides my double chin.

13points

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#23

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Black mask goes hard with my outfit and hairstyle

pineapple_boiii , Amaury Laporte Report

Final score:

57points

Daria B 2 years ago

Actually, yes, in Korea, you could see young men / boys wearing masks as a fashion statement even before the corona. After the pandemic hit, I even saw some confessions on YT about how they feel about it. Like, "I used to wear it to look cool, but now, this was unexpected..." stuff like that.

14points

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#24

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Covers my double chin

Catlover2727 , Ron Frazier Report

Final score:

54points

Stephanie Keith 2 years ago

Yes, and anyone who has dental issues. Masks help so much with insecurities, when it comes to missing teeth.

13points

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#25

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them My room is dry and I have been having a lot of bloody noses..if I wear a mask to bed the dry air doesn’t get to my nose and it keeps my face warm lol

nisquik , Wonderlane Report

Final score:

53points

zovjraar me 2 years ago

ooh i need to try this... i also get bloody noses in dry air, but haven't thought of wearing it to bed.

9points

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#26

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them I was in New York a month ago (I live in Florida). It wasn’t cold enough for New Yorkers to wear scarfs yet, but it felt like it to me because I live in the south. So wearing a face mask was a handy way to warm my face without looking like a tourist lol

selfmade117 , Eden, Janine and JimF Report

Final score:

51points

VeninTheNonBinaryRogue 2 years ago

✨face scarf✨

5points

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#27

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them I have a massive gag reflex that gets really sensitive in the winter, especially when moving from a warm air environment out into a cold air environment. Winter for me means painful retching and a bit of vomiting 2 to 3 times a day since I was 14 (27 now). Since wearing masks, the air I breathe is warmer and my gag-reflex calms down.

Also, with an FFP2 mask, no more black bogies bogeys when using the London Underground.

In the summer, it reduced my hay fever symptoms massively.

FlatTyres , 7C0 Report

Final score:

51points

Bexxxxx 2 years ago

Whoa! I didn’t even know a gag reflex could be that bad, I hope OP is still able to enjoy a good quality of life

8points

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#28

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Nobody notices if I didn't shave

paulfromatlanta , Baker County Tourism Report

Final score:

48points

Lord Mysticlaw 2 years ago

I've waxed my upper lip like maybe twice in the past two years. It's great to not worry about the fact that I'm a woman with a moustache that would make some men jealous.

17points

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#29

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them If I'm not feeling a tinder date I just put my mask on for the walk back to the bus/taxi/car and I don't have to worry about him going in for the kiss! If I like him I leave it off, it is great!

Username3029 , Baker County Tourism Report

Final score:

47points

Lord Mysticlaw 2 years ago

Wow, just realised I'm massively uncomfortable with the thought of going on a date and kissing a stranger in the middle of a global pandemic. Eww, keep all of your nasty germs to yourself, thanks.

23points

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#30

Covid May Be The First Reason People Started Wearing Face Masks, But People In This Online Group Discovered 30 More Advantages Of Them Nasty smell in subway

ChristianaDarkness , MTAPhotos Report

Final score:

44points

Jamma 2 years ago

Or public bathrooms!

1point

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Note: this post originally had 33 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Robertas Lisickis

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Saulė Tolstych

Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature.

Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature.

What do you think ?

meowgie catster 2 years ago

I’ve gotten strep, the flu, pneumonia, and a bunch of other respiratory diseases, yet I haven’t gotten covid or really even anything worse than a cold since we started wearing masks

16points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

And you've made the medical community very happy by noticing that correlative effect. :-)

13points

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Lord Mysticlaw 2 years ago

I haven't been sick since March 2020 😁😁

4points

K Witmer 2 years ago

I'm just getting over pneumonia now. I wear a mask and hardly ever leave my house. I have no idea how I got pneumonia first time I've ever had it. Scary not being able to breathe.

4points

Daria B 2 years ago (edited)

Masks are important, and I wear mine diligently. However, I'm looking forward to wearing them only when feeling sick, like we used to before the pandemic. It will feel a bit weird at first ehehehe

13points

DC 2 years ago

Guess so ... but, things aren't looking like the end is in sight. In my workplace (currently, external CAD'er, so I am the outsider, the non-permanent - that might change, but no one knows yet), there still is a mask mandate inside the building, unless you're at your desk and alone. Some obey, some very loudly don't and I'm seriously fed up with this. Corona COULD be over, if people acted reasonably this one, only one time. Yet, they act rational as within an irrational system, defend said system and find something oppressive in a literally life-saving piece of cloth. They're nuts. People in general are nuts.

1point

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Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

Let's see, witha ll the time I spend in or around sick people ---- and that's not including the hospital? .... Yeah, I've been used to masking/gloving/etc. for so long that it's just my normal. It's not "fun", per se, but neither are infectious diseases!

9points

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meowgie catster 2 years ago

I’ve gotten strep, the flu, pneumonia, and a bunch of other respiratory diseases, yet I haven’t gotten covid or really even anything worse than a cold since we started wearing masks

16points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

And you've made the medical community very happy by noticing that correlative effect. :-)

13points

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Lord Mysticlaw 2 years ago

I haven't been sick since March 2020 😁😁

4points

K Witmer 2 years ago

I'm just getting over pneumonia now. I wear a mask and hardly ever leave my house. I have no idea how I got pneumonia first time I've ever had it. Scary not being able to breathe.

4points

Daria B 2 years ago (edited)

Masks are important, and I wear mine diligently. However, I'm looking forward to wearing them only when feeling sick, like we used to before the pandemic. It will feel a bit weird at first ehehehe

13points

DC 2 years ago

Guess so ... but, things aren't looking like the end is in sight. In my workplace (currently, external CAD'er, so I am the outsider, the non-permanent - that might change, but no one knows yet), there still is a mask mandate inside the building, unless you're at your desk and alone. Some obey, some very loudly don't and I'm seriously fed up with this. Corona COULD be over, if people acted reasonably this one, only one time. Yet, they act rational as within an irrational system, defend said system and find something oppressive in a literally life-saving piece of cloth. They're nuts. People in general are nuts.

1point

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Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

Let's see, witha ll the time I spend in or around sick people ---- and that's not including the hospital? .... Yeah, I've been used to masking/gloving/etc. for so long that it's just my normal. It's not "fun", per se, but neither are infectious diseases!

9points

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