I'm pretty sure I'll be vilified for this (that's a fancy word for 'flamed'), but I feel like I might not be alone in this, so...er, ya.
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When Covid hit, experts (those are the people who both tell you what to do -and- actually know what they're talking about) told us pretty much immediately to distance from each other, wear masks, stay home, etc.. As a person who is not interested in purposely spreading deadly contagion and/or dying (I'm old and have issues) I followed these instructions with real dedication.

As a person in the South, I was constantly reminded how impressionable people are, how selfish people are, and how stubborn people are. Stores would be full of unmasked people, parents complained incessantly to the school board about making kids wear mask, and later 'virtual school.' I never failed to work up a big ball of self-righteous indignation at all of this, even though I know that people are conditioned by social media and 'the press' to believe whatever supports their world view. I even went to school board meetings pleading with people to take Covid seriously, mostly to no avail.

Vaccines came along, and I've had all 4 shots as the became available (because why wouldn't I?) and I was constantly annoyed at anyone who didn't do the same because [insert utter nonsense arguments here] and that was that.

So here we are, and it's WSOP time, and I won't be wearing a mask. By the way, here is the part where I'm going to be slagged, and that's ok. Maybe there will be some well-reasoned and compassionate responses that will convince me to Do The Right thing.

So...why no mask? Because **** it, that's why. I've done everything possible for me to do since this thing started to minimize risk to me and mine, and everyone around me even though so many did not reciprocate. We're all vaccinated and we've all had Covid. Between my 4 shots and having had it at least once, I am very unlikely to become seriously ill if I get it at the WSOP.

If I'm at the table with people who are not fully vaccinated, then fcuk 'em. They should be, and it's not my problem if they aren't. If they're otherwise compromised and yet refuse to take appropriate steps to protect themselves, fcuk 'em. They shouldn't be there. If they think it's a hoax and they won't get sick, fcuk 'em. They should pay attention to, you know, information.

There is absolutely no reason that a single solitary person should be at the WSOP and not be fully prepared, ready, and willing to be exposed to Covid. If you're there, and you aren't, then good luck. You'll need it.

I do have enough tests to do twice a day, and if I go + I will follow the proper protocols including isolation if I get it.

Maybe this should go in an 'am I the a$$hole' forum.

Mike the Mouth is proud of you.

Imagine caring.

I don't have to imagine it. I cared a lot for multiple years when virtually nobody around me (family excluded) reciprocated.

Before this thread goes downhill fast, let me just say that the real problem (maybe just a real problem?) is that there is no good solution to contracting COVID mid-tournament. In theory, the tournament could pay you the ICM value of your stack, although (a) people would flip out anyway; and (b) people would flip out at the prospect of people faking COVID to cash out the ICM value of their stack.

So, the sort of social contract of WSOP is that everyone who is there needs to not only be OK with the idea that you are massively increasing your risk of getting COVID, but you need to be OK with the notion that someone is going to knowingly sit at the table with you while infected (at least on Day 2+ of tournaments). I'm sure not everyone attending has really considered this, which sucks, but it's just an awful public health situation, even if we're all willing participants in it.

I tested positive when I got home from Vegas recently, as did my friend who played in the same event. But I suspect we got it from the total ass who was visibly sick and coughing in a cash game, but nobody was willing to do anything about. I got a table change as soon as I could. If you're sick, stay home. And card rooms need to be more aggressive about asking visibly sick people to GTFO.

Bottom line -- nobody should knowingly enter a tournament when positive, but I don't expect anyone to drop out because they test positive midway, it's shitty to just refuse to test before a tournament to maintain a state of blissful ignorance, and when you inevitably get COVID in Vegas this year, it's what you signed up for. In other words, don't be an ass, but don't expect others to be saints.

this just reminds me of Pop copy

OP, ten paragraphs to basically say “masks aren’t required anymore so I won’t wear one”? What’s with the manifesto?

Every other person playing the WSOP made the decision to wear or not wear a mask without making an NVG thread. Why is your opinion so important that you felt the need to?

I would take the opposite position: Anyone who says, I am not "required" to wear a mask, so I won't, is on the wrong side of a reasonable risk benefit analysis if sitting in a poker game in a casino these days.

A well-fitting, comfortable mask is no big deal to wear for 8 hours or more.

Spent about $65 each on two re-usable masks for travel. Best money airline or travel-related I ever spent, other than for a Global Entry pass. So far, so good, despite international airline travel monthly since Nov , 2020.

Why are you still lugging around tests? They aren't required this year, correct?

Was there for the first couple of days, hardly anyone was wearing masks - maybe 95%+ mask-less. No one seemed to care, I count myself in the majority. Had corona twice, including this year, so not likely to catch it or spread it. If I do catch it for the third time, it will most likely be milder than it was last time - and it was very mild last time.

Masks tend to not work, especially when they are just cloth. Even a properly fitted N95, which is rarely worn or fitted correctly, ceases to be useful at all when people pop them down to eat, drink or yell across the room - and this happens frequently.

Masks really, for good or for bad, aren't really a thing anymore.

As you should be.

You mean getting flamed for starting this thread, I assume.

No, you're alone. Thousands of people are playing poker every day without masks, and none of them have started a thread here to tell everyone about it.

This right here applies to many a situation, not just COVID protocol. It's essentially the definition of "defensive driving," for example.

For Judeo-Christians, it probably should have been a Commandment. In fact, forget that "do unto others," Sermon On The Mount tripe, THAT should have been the Golden Rule.

On U.S. currency, it should replace E pluribus unum.

It should have been something Yoda taught Luke, Mr. Miyagi told Daniel-san, a lesson Mary Poppins gave to those snot-nosed Banks kids, and Norman Dale's final speech to the Hickory Huskers.

Simba's mantra should have been usiwe punda, lakini usitegemee wengine kuwa watakatifu rather than "hakuna matata."

Mr. Rogers' trolley needs it engraved on that yellow roof.

CalTrans should run it on those digital traffic signs when they're not providing Amber Alerts or warning about road closures.

Sorry, Emma Lazarus, but this is the new New Colossus at the Statue of Liberty. No more "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses" thing.

I think we’ve done well without any recent Covid threads.