Asians with face masks - WTH?
 

WTH is up with Asians wearing face masks when out in public. I was hiking the other day - on a fairly remote trail in the Angeles National Forest, and 99% of the Asian hikers were wearing masks. Anyone know why? Ever seen this?

Asiatic Bird Flu

Asiatic Bird Flu has hit the Angeles National Forest?

Banditos!

Its a pretty routine scene in certain parts of asia because of pollution.

Maybe they didn't like the smell of California.

In Japan the wearing of a face mask is common practice (and regarded as polite) when you have a cold. This helps prevent the spread of illness which is important in a very dense population.

i know they wear the sun shade deals over their faces and cover their hands from the sun often around here. ive heard its because a tanned person in their culture will mean a laborer, lower class sort of person.

Asians don't really have nearly the body odor we honkeys have(biological fact, look it up). I vote the masks are to shield them from the smell of us pale barbarians.

I understand if they are sick, but ALL of the hikers we wearing masks. It was a bit surreal.

I just spent a month in Beijing visiting my wife ... I made a comment regarding all the people wearing "surgical masks" mentioning that I didn't think they would really help against pollution or the flu...

She said most wear them for warmth... not perceived filtration..

I see your in So Cal.. so the warmth thing might be a stretch..

Asians do think and have a whole different outlook on the world than Caucasians do... I have spent 12 weeks this year in China with my wife and her family.. they really look at things differently

Taken last week in Forbidden City, Beijing

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296690788.jpg



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296690844.jpg

This girl was smoking hot...and wearing a mask... I didn't want to be an ass and be obvious taking her picture...she made me weak in the knees... Luckily for me I was at Forbidden City w/o my wife... she had appointments that day


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296691048.jpg

When I was in Japan in '84-'85, every Japanese person seemed to be wearing a face mask or a plastic helmet of some sort...

Yes...


I worked in the Sandbox years ago with a labor force from Thailand.... Daytime temps could get to 100-120F and these guys wore long sleeve shirts, and covered there heads with turbans...

When I asked why, I was told that dark skin meant lower class...

I was told that during the Victorian era, a tan was a sign that a person was a "laborer" and so people desired the "pale look" and used make-up to achieve the un-tanned look.

Eric - that post says "douchebag" like I've never seen it before! I'll never get that horrible image out of my memory!

Agreed. Just came back from Shanghai. Air is lousey, people use them riding bikes and scooters (keeps their face warm).

Also agree with you on Asian women - they are hot!

+1 I see it all the time in Japan. As for the Asian hikers in SoCal...next time ask them I guess...

my neighbor wears it anytime working out in the yard

When I visited Thailand, I wondered about the same thing. The guide told us that the long sleeve loose cotton shirts actually kept them cool and not get sun burn. Just like folks who travel the desert regions, they even rap their heads up.