But me going out to buy masks is a me problem, not a societal one. Society lied and said "Don't wear masks, they are useless!" and I said "I don't believe you" and wore masks.

Some people followed societies ill informed guidance, some people mocked it, some people just shrugged and did what worked for them because you can't trust a politicized agenda to actually know what's best for anyone but themselves. I'm in group c. The government was wrong, and I as a nurse could see it laughably so, and chose to take care of myself. Funnily enough, it worked.