MASKING HUMANITY - by Rob Tyson, Dr Gary Sidley and Paul Stevens

I post these videos as a personal record — not just for myself, but for anyone who believes it’s important to remember history as it truly happened. As time moves further from the Covid years, our memories can soften or fade. But we must not forget the pressure, fear, and social dynamics that overtook so many lives.

This video serves as a reminder — a snapshot of a time when common sense seemed to be suspended. The era of mask mandates was, to me, one of confusion and compliance rather than clarity and science. I share it in the hope that we never repeat the mistakes of that time.

Two moments stand out to me vividly, and I still think about them often.

The first was in 2021 at Costco. I entered the store without a mask, knowing full well what kind of reaction I might face. Sure enough, I was stopped at the door and told I’d have to wear one. I calmly stated, “I don’t wear masks.” The greeter warned me that entering without one could result in a fine. I said I was willing to take the fine. Inside, I was the only person without a mask. The atmosphere was surreal — I remember feeling like I had stepped into a different world. It was eerie, and strangely isolating.

The second incident happened in 2022, during a property purchase. I walked into a lawyer’s office and was immediately told by the receptionist that wearing a mask was required. Again, I said, “I don’t do that.” I explained that if the lawyer wanted my business, she would have to meet me on my terms. To her credit, the lawyer quickly emerged, welcomed me without a mask, and we moved forward with the meeting. It was a rare moment of reason in an otherwise confusing time.

I share these experiences not to stir division, but because they happened — and they matter. These are just two examples of many, but they speak to the climate we lived through and the importance of standing by your convictions, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Resisting the narrative wasn’t easy, especially when it felt like nearly everyone around me had bought in. But it’s because of that pressure that I feel it’s so important to remember, and to reflect. That’s what this video does. It brings those strange, difficult days back into focus.

To the writers and producers of the film: thank you. This kind of documentation matters.

Here’s their original YouTube post:

"Masking Humanity: The Human Toll of Mask Policies in Care Homes and Hospitals" is an independent documentary produced by Smile Free in association with Trisk Films, and written by Rob Tyson, Dr Gary Sidley and Paul Stevens.

What happens when "public health" forgets human connection?

Masking Humanity is a powerful documentary uncovering how masking policies in care homes and hospitals beginning with Covid caused deep, lasting harm - especially for people with dementia, the elderly, and patients at end of life.

Through interviews with families, frontline workers, and experts, the film exposes:

The political motives and lobbying that drove global mask guidance

The isolation and distress caused by faceless care

The failure to protect basic human dignity

Why this terrible episode is set to be repeated unless those in health and social care find the courage to speak out

Published with huge thanks to all contributors. (https://youtu.be/0M4vsO5xJPc?si=X4npt7uLQA4fMEQc)

Web Site: https://smilefree.org/