Stupid question, I don't mean to offend...

[Roon]

but why do some Japanese people in downtown Tokyo wear surgical masks?

[LeftyMom]

1. They don't feel well, and they're trying not to spread germs.

[firedupdem]

2. I thought that happened only during the sars epidemic? n/t

[Tom Kitten]

3. Heavy particle pollution?

Living in Portland after the Mt.St.Helens eruptions spewed ash all over the NW many people wore surgical masks...The banks posted signs outside telling customers they had to remove them before entering...

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. I don't know...

Seriously can't you just tuck it in there and leave it alone for the rest of the day??

[DarkTirade]

4. Partly paranoia, partly civic-mindedness.

Most of them do it because they themselves are sick and they don't want to pass it on to the people around them. However during the bird flu scare and whatnot it became common for people to wear them just to be on the safe side.

[ghostsofgiants]

5. I bet for some it's become some kind of fashion statement as well.

I have no evidence to back that up, of course, haha.

Which makes me think of when I was in high school I always wanted to buy a respirator mask like painters use so I could take it to parties and put it on when someone lit a cigarette. I thought it would be hilarious, haha.

[Roon]

6. Great answers guys

When I had pneumonia a few times last year, I was told to wear a surgical mask for 72 hours after I was released if I was going to see anyone. Thank goodness I had a ride and didn't have to ride the bus home from the hospital. I just can't see myself boarding a bus with a mask in this country. People would FLIP!!!

[baldguy]

8. Because the Japanese have a higher proportion of weirdness than we do.

[Haole Girl]

9. What a stupid thing to say

And not funny either.

[insanity]

11. I think its kinda funny

One of the things I like about Japanese culture is that as a Westerner it is so weird compared to my own. I don't think its a knock against them at all.

[dem629]

10. What could possibly be offensive about that question?

[Roon]

22. Excuse me?

Are you new?!?!?!?!

[IndianaJones]

12. they don't want to breathe the air of foreigners..which they despise. nt.

[NightWatcher]

13. I wish the people around here who insist on going outside when they are sick would do the same

it's freakin polite to not spread, nor want to catch whatever is going around. Be it SARS or the common cold.

[demokatgurrl]

17. I agree. I'd like to see them handed out at work

to people who are inconsiderate enough to come in when they're sick.

[LeftinOH]

14. They don't want to spread -or catch- germs... a nice idea, and very polite..n/t

[surrealAmerican]

15. In addition to the reasons already posted ...

... some people wear them because of their allergies, although that is unlikely this time of year.

[onlyadream]

16. There's a guy who lives around me who wears a gas mask

whenever he leaves his house (plus thick rubber gloves). I've seen him many times at the supermarket, where an employee told me that the man had all sorts of medical problems when he came back from Vietnam. Either that or he is very OCD.

[tinymontgomery]

18. They do that in Korea

also. They don't want to spread the germs. Very considerate I think.

[billyskank]

19. Pollution.

[Jamastiene]

20. Here in America, people do it too sometimes.

I have seen surgical masks in waiting rooms in at least 2 of the VA hospitals my aunt has visited. Their reason is that if you have the flu, wearing the surgical mask will keep you from spreading it so bad. That's the reason they offer them to people in the waiting rooms.

[pitohui]

21. i've seen it in tijuana, mexico as well?

i thought they are afraid of catching something, or are from mexico city, have asthma, and imagine the mask does something -- i just don't go to mexico city myself because of the rumored bad air

during the cedar fire from san diego it had to be explained on the news that the masks don't do that much and should not be relied on, it was better to stay indoors, but there were idiots even out there jogging! (california-type idiots, not mexican idiots)