honestly you see this all the time in Bangkok. people think the mask is for themselves not for others. your coworker prob thinks he's protecting himself from dust or something, which is common here especially during burning season when the air gets bad. but yeah pulling it down to cough defeats the whole purpose, it's like wiping your hands then putting the dirty towel back

theres also a cultural thing where some thais wear masks just because they feel self-conscious or have a cold and don't want to look sick. but the logic on how germs actually spread is pretty weak. i've seen people on the bts with masks below their nose talking loudly right into someone's face. drives me nuts too but good luck changing minds

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ngl this is super common here. i think part of it is that masks got marketed as personal protection during covid so people internalized that even if the science says otherwise. your coworker prob thinks he's being considerate by having it on between coughs, like he's containing it somehow. i see the same thing at my local 7-11 all the time, people pulling masks down to sneeze into the air then yanking it back up. the logic just isn't there.

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yeah it's not just ignorance, it's a mix of habits and social signaling. a lot of people here wear masks because it's what you do, like wearing shoes outside. the actual mechanics of transmission just don't get taught, so you get stuff like your coworker treating it as a magical forcefield. i've seen people on the skytrain adjust their mask to sneeze into their hand, then put it back on. defeats the whole point.

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yeah Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but if you're up for a detour, try Som Tum Nua near Siam Square. their som tam pu pla ra is insane if you like the fermented fish sauce kick. way more pungent than the On Nut spot, just less grilled chicken options

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