Everyone can make their own choices, but I don't mind wearing a mask in optional scenarios if it gives me a good chance of avoiding a difficult and feverish few days with above average risk of hospitalization compared to flu. I can definitely picture wearing masks on an ongoing basis e.g. on mass transit even once the pandemic is done. On the other hand, we are still taking measured risks like eating indoors in not too crowded restaurants. My tolerance will likely increase once my children are both vaxxed but at the rate we're going that won't be for a while.
It's worth considering the continuum between taking the minimum possible measures and the maximum. There is space between those two.
This is one of the potentially higher risk activities that I see commonly accepted. If your area has high rates of community spread and/or the restraunt has poor ventilation, this is probably a risk that should be avoided. Choosing restraunts with outdoor seating or getting takeout to eat in a park is a very minor sacrifice to cut out one of the hishest risk activities that people commonly engage in
> [Indoor dining] is probably a risk that should be avoided
Eh. I have seen conflicting data on this. For example, some studies attributed only 1% of COVID spread to indoor dining (sorry in advance, I don't have a citation). My area is very highly vaccinated and requires all people to show a vaccine card to eat indoors, and while we do have some cases, the per capita rate right now is about 1/10000 and level.
Also, point of order, you can tell me I "should" do something according to your values, or according to some mutually agreed standard (which in this case does not exist), but you cannot tell me what I should do according to my values. I feel like this is a point of communication disconnect between those of us who favor increased or decreased COVID restrictions.
> Eh. I have seen conflicting data on this. For example, some studies attributed only 1% of COVID spread to indoor dining (sorry in advance, I don't have a citation)
This is pretty useless without details on the study conditions. If the study includes a population for which indoor dining is allowed 10% (on a per capita per day basis) but masks are mandated in other venues at a 0% rate, then the proportional amount of spread drom indoor dining should much lower that if the data is collected where indoor dining is allowed 100% and mask mandate coverage is 100%.
Similarly, if you don't bother to wear a mask in other indoor settings, indoor dining won't be as high among your risks. If you work from home, always mask everywhere and are very careful with social distancing, and have a similarly cautious bubble, indoor dining will probably be among your highest risk.
I mean "should" as in "if managing your covid risks is something you care about, this is a low impact way to reduce those risks when your local situation makes that important." Since I am not advocating any externally imposed restrictions, I think you are reading things into my comment that aren't there.
It's worth considering the continuum between taking the minimum possible measures and the maximum. There is space between those two.