They were primed to buy into it – by decades of programming about saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety being the single most important thing in life. Even to the extent of stifling the expression of life.

It goes back generations and has many facets but the most obvious antecedent is the ululation chorus regarding the Danger of Speed – defined by the ululators as any speed beyond that posted on a sign standing by the side of the road. Such speed killed, they said.

Or rather, asserted.

Of a piece with the assertions made recently about "asymptomatic spread" (and not wearing a "mask") killing.

Usually, "granny" – the hypothetical old person whose actuality never had to be proven before the asserted asymptomatic, non-"masking" putative killer was actually proscribed and punished.

Perhaps you see the correlation?

It was never a defense – either in court or by the side of the road – to point out to a cop or a judge that driving 65 rather than 55 (often, on a road that it was previously legal to drive 70 on) had not resulted in any harm or even a screech of the tires. Just as it never made any impression – against the hysterics' feelings to the contrary – that a person who isn't sick and hasn't got any symptoms of sickness cannot spread a sickness he hasn't got by failing to wear a "mask" – or standing closer than six feet to someone else.