The messaging isn& #39;t getting out. The reasons are behavioral and very human. Nothing an LG or even Governor says can combat them. A short thread on a state-wide mask mandate as the ultimate *public awareness* campaign #utpol https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1313903626423693312">https://twitter.com/SpencerJC...

First: Mandates are *politically* divisive, but that doesn& #39;t influence every person equally. For every 10 Pwease No Step on Snek protestors, there are 90 ppl wearing masks and carrying on because, well, they& #39;re adults. (See: a century of behavioral science research)

Second: Ignoring, again, a vocal and unreasonable minority you& #39;ll never reach, research suggests voluntary mask policy is more divisive (social pressures, stigma), behaviorally, on those you can reach with policy https://www.pnas.org/content/117/36/21851">https://www.pnas.org/content/1...

So a state-wide mask mandate has multiple benefits. Headlines, obviously ("Oh, this is serious"). A removal of conflicting social pressures ("I don& #39;t like it, but it& #39;s the rule") for a majority who will comply. Cover for biz and local governments.

I was in a crowded convenience store last night and the only customer in a mask. Were these other people as belligerent as Eric Moutsos? Unlikely. Fatigued. Complacent. @GovHerbert needs to spark awareness with a mandate. It& #39;s basic PR (and sound health policy).

Finally, it& #39;s worth remebering the experts who& #39;ve said repeatedly 6-8 weeks of majority mask wearing would control the virus enough to wait out a vaccine. If we& #39;d mandated Sept 1, we& #39;d be nearing six weeks now.

One more thing. Check out this really amazing CDC campaign. Creative. Educational. Huge viral potential.

It failed. Educating the public and getting the public to take action are two very different things. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/why-did-the-cdc-develop-a-plan-for-a-zombie-apocalypse/239246/">https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...