The discursive force proposition of speech codes theory (Philipsen, 1997) suggests that knowing the norms of a culture allows members of group to explain, predict and control discourse about actions related to the norms. In this presentation I show several examples of discourse related to mask mandates in the US and reactions to peoples' decisions to comply or refuse to comply with such mandates. Two discourses of mask mandates emerged in the US during 2020 and beyond, one that considered them public health measures and the other that considered them political oppression. Each time mask mandates were either enforced or ignored, the discursive force of the mandate had to be calibrated: the likely consequences of enforcement, compliance or refusal had to be assessed and tested for the actor(s) to evaluate whether to enforce or comply with the mandate. Attempts to enforce mask mandates in the US have had consequences ranging from ridicule to assault to airline bans on serving alcohol to armed homicide. Apart from this extreme case, I argue that calibrating the discursive force of speech codes is an ongoing process through which cultural change occurs every time a norm is called into question.