I ride the Long Island Railroad once a week. My husband takes the train to Manhattan all work week. We do not feel safe from the virus on the train. For those who have not yet ventured on the LIRR, what I can tell you is the train is not nearly as crowded as it was before the pandemic hit. When I first rode the train after I emerged from quarantine, the cars were immaculate. When I approached the platform, I was greeted by a LIRR representative equipped with masks and hand sanitizer for riders to use. Now, the train still appears to be clean, but not as shiny and sparkly as when it was first made available to non-essential workers. A LIRR ambassador is no longer at the platform ensuring all riders are adhering to the face covering requirement. The problem is some riders are ignoring the face covering mandate and the LIRR does not appear to be doing anything about it. Typically, the anti-maskers have a face covering but do not wear the mask properly. Rather, they wear the mask around the chin or only on the mouth with the nose enjoying full exposure or limit mask use to instances when a conductor is present. Every night my husband enters the house, he comes in griping about the mask violators. In fact, if you were in my house last night, you would have heard him complaining about a rider who had the audacity to sit near him bare faced. Naked as a baby’s bottom- no mask in sight. This caused my husband to have a “bear” face. Anyway, let me tell you about my trip yesterday morning. While I was sitting on the train reading the newspaper, I heard a very loud and powerful sneeze coming from behind me. Admit it -you also cringe when someone sneezes. But it happens, it is allergy season. However, the sneeze did not appear to be muffled or stifled. I swear I saw the droplets from the sneeze floating in the air around me. The nasal activity did not end. There were sniffles and other nasal sounds that made me even more uneasy. I grabbed my hand sanitizer in hopes it would calm me down. I turned my head around to see where all this nasal noise was originating from and much to my dismay, the commotion was coming from a rider who had his mask around his chin. Really? Nasal issues and no mask. He did not seem bothered in the least bit that I caught him without his mask after a big sneeze. He was almost coaxing me to say something to him. When the conductor entered the car, I saw him lift the mask to cover his mouth only, leaving the nose, which just expelled a sneeze, exposed. Rather than saying anything to him, I moved my seat far from his nose’s line of attack. Why didn’t I say anything to him? I am not someone who will shy away from confrontation. In this instance, I chose to remain silent because of advice I heard from a radio announcer. He was discussing a video that went viral of an altercation that occurred in a store with a person who was not wearing a mask. He made a very valid point. When someone is violating the mask requirement (and does not fall within a legitimate mask exemption), that violator is looking for a conflict. If you call out the “mask rebel”, you are opening the door for that person to engage in a fight. Arguments lead to raised voices and agitation which is usually accompanied by the release of saliva droplets. Remember, the mask violator is not wearing protective gear and who ends up being the loser in this fight. I chose to not engage with my fellow rider and provide him with the opportunity to espouse how it is his right to not wear a mask. Instead, I resituated myself to a seat where I was less vulnerable to his chemical warfare. The LIRR needs to do a better job enforcing the face covering rule. And more importantly, riders also need to stop being so selfish. This is not about you. Wear a mask and let this be the one good deed you do for the day.
#wearamask # stopspread #covid-19 #courtesy
Kimberly Berson is an attorney that has been practicing for over 25 years. Her practice is focused on bankruptcy law and related litigation. She has served as an adjunct professor of legal studies and an instructor of paralegal courses. She provides debt relief for individuals and businesses. Please visit her website at kbbankruptcylaw.com. You may contact her at 516-847-5122 or kbersonlaw@gmail.com
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