Towards Zero: Agatha Christie, Songkok & CoVid19 Mask Mandate

Towards Zero: Agatha Christie, Songkok & CoVid19 Mask Mandate

When I see people walking alone outdoor in wide open space, or driving alone in their car and wearing mask in this CoVid19 era, I question their intelligence and sanity. When you are alone, under the hot sun and wide open space where there is nobody around, why are you wearing mask? It is unnecessary and irrational. Well, at least that is what I thought. I keep my mouth shut, of course. You do not want to unnecessarily antagonize your family and friends and certainly not strangers over a small matter that does not affect you personally.

But then my friend ARAA or (was it RMY?), said something that reminded me of Agatha Christie novel "Towards Zero" (recommended reading for people who like detective novel) and my songkok.

In that novel, a past event that happened to the police detective's daughter made him realized that the main suspect was not guilty. The insight that he gained from his daughter's experience prevented him from arresting and charging the wrong person for the murder. A wrong person could have been sent to the gallows to be hanged.

What does my songkok have to do with any of this?

Well, in Terengganu, when I was in primary school, we had religious class in the afternoon. Other students would go back to their houses after morning school for lunch and rest or change of cloth and come back again to the school for the afternoon class. For me, going back and forth between home and school just for lunch is an inconvenience. So, I spent my time in the school library while waiting for the afternoon school. I did not go back home at noon.

During the afternoon religious class, part of the uniform for the boys is to wear the songkok. Since I do not go home after morning class, I bring the songkok and wear it even during the morning class. It is just easier to wear it during the morning class than putting it somewhere and risk losing or misplacing it. It is just more convenient to wear it throughout the day.

Well, it is the same with those people wearing masks even when they are alone. They are going somewhere where wearing masks are mandated. I suppose it is just easier and more convenient for them to wear it all the time rather than holding the masks in their hands. This point was highlighted by my abovementioned friend when I commented on the seemingly irrational behaviour of people who wear masks even when they are alone.

An experience from my past give me an insight as to why other people are doing things a certain way. The same way in the novel that the police detective's experience with his daughter gave him an insight to the action of the main (but innocent) suspect. It give me a "bersangka baik" reason rather than thinking of them as doing something irrational. It stops me from being too judgemental.  

Why am I writing this? Well, just to highlight the value of past experience & the value of reading. Mostly just throwing out my random thought on life in CoVid19 era in general.

Salam.