This stupidity needs to end immediately. The brainwashed are out en masse in stores wearing masks when they aren't required. And required or not, they're a stupid attempt at control of the human mind.
Sadly, it's working. I'm in the minority walking around breathing freely.
The argument falls completely apart when you add in that nobody who is asymptomatic can spread an illness they don't have. Which particles are those "for your protection" masks meant to catch in that case? I could sneeze directly on someone with no COVID effect at all.
And if you're out and about with COVID symptoms, then the argument expands to why. And in that case, your mask is useless as your exhales escape all around that mask (see the smoker examples online or the ones done in extreme cold to validate). The exhale just goes in all sorts of directions instead of straight out, but just as contagious.