mozz OP , 11 days ago

It’s not intended for productive effect. It’s a way to identify people who aren’t loyal to the orders of the tribe, and get violent with them.

As it does for a lot of other things, “On Tyranny” by Tim Snyder breaks this down very very well. He talks about the power of symbols, Nazi pins and yellow stars and the “Trump” flag and things like that, in the growth of fascist movements, and the important often overlooked role they play in starting to shape the fabric of day-to-day ordinary people’s lives in obedience to the leader, and engaging ordinary people in enforcing it.

The thing with banning masks isn’t about improving society in any way; as you point out, it’s pure nonsense looked at in that light. It’s about identifying the ones who won’t get in line.