I think the assurance only feels needed for that exact reason, many people do not have any IRL community that is covid-aware.

I feel very lucky to have almost half my IRL sphere be on their shit about masking. I don't know if I would still be masking if they weren't, just to be frank.

I think we should do more to combat the relaxed liberal attitudes slipping in around masking in that thread like "I'll only do it when I'm sick/in flu season". I can understand the fatalism that produces those desires, but they probably shouldn't be allowed here, or at least should be strongly disputed.