It's not that they have no utility at all, it's about what credible protection is being provided given the type of masks used and way they are being used. The example you have cited is part of the argument for them not working. As you say, exactly what protection is being gained by wearing a mask to walk through a door which can be taken off seconds later and unless you need a wee won't need putting back on again except for a few seconds more when leaving. Yet this is apparently so critical that it was previously a legal requirement.james2001 wrote:Saying "masks don't work" is an extremely ridiculous position to take. It's as bad as the "if everyone just wore masks all the time, covid would go away" attitude that comes from the other side.
There are some things that have been totally ridiculous, like the bar/restaurant rule where you have to wear a mask walking to your table, going to the bar and going to the toilet, but you don't have to wear it at your table (i.e. 90% of the time you're in there), that sort of thing is basically a placebo at best, much like the parts of the world with outdoor masking mandates.
Same for the placebo effects/bits of implied psychology which you've touched on too.