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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that friend thinks Covid19 is a lie

42 replies

ColdOopNorth · 14/07/2020 16:13

She's not a very close friend, partly due to geography, but we worked together years ago and stayed in touch. We usually get on great together when we meet up for a meal or a holiday but... She's got a crazy idea that coronavirus doesn't exist and its all a huge conspiracy. When she asked me if I knew anyone who'd died from it I said yes two people. She said "oh they were old they could've died of flu they don't count.". I tried to argue logically but gave up when I realised it was pointless. She then told me about getting her fortune told online and she believed that! Seriously, I was pissed off and shocked, she is a healthcare professional as well. I feel like I can't be arsed with her anymore, AIBU?

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 14/07/2020 16:15

I’d drop her like a brick.

Ginfordinner · 14/07/2020 16:16

She's winding you up.

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 14/07/2020 16:18

My brother thinks theres "some truth" to the idea that its being spread by 5G. Some people are just stupid

WhatdoImean · 14/07/2020 16:22

Ask your brother how it spreads in countries without 5G then..? Like India? Some of the major part of the US etc!

Sad... but some people prefer not to deal with reality. Best of luck with him (but from a distance :-) )

SmileyClare · 14/07/2020 16:23

Is she alright? I mean you must know her well enough to have heard this sort of rubbish about conspiracies, believing in the supernatural etc before?

If this is out of character perhaps she's having a breakdown or something. Strongly denying reality/ paranoia could be a symptom.

GladAllOver · 14/07/2020 16:25

Ask your brother how it spreads in countries without 5G then..? Like India? Some of the major part of the US etc!
And in most of the UK. There's only 5G in major cities.

Merryoldgoat · 14/07/2020 16:28

You can’t do anything about stupid. Just drop her and move on.

ArthurMorgan · 14/07/2020 16:30

My mum's on the same page. Believes this is all the beginnings of new world order and covid is part of the "confuse and frighten" plan. She went on a rant because she refused a covid test at work (she's in care) because she doesn't want the government to have her DNA. They gave her 2 weeks full pay AT HOME! I've rambled a bit but there's a lot of people that doesn't believe it's real or that it's spread by 5g or governments (soft kill method not strong enough then ?!?).

Gingerkittykat · 14/07/2020 16:37

I've got a couple of friends like this, I did try arguing at the start but it's pointless when they are convinced their ideas are true and they are backed up by numerous groups and videos they have seen.

They seem to think it is a conspiracy headed by Bill Gates to forcibly vaccinate everyone and government who want to control us by making us scared.

It's wrong to label people who think this way as mentally ill, the majority are just latching onto conspiracy theories and believe they are free thinkers while the rest of us are sheeple.

MrsNotNice · 14/07/2020 16:38

I’d have sympathy

It’s a sign the person finds it difficult to cope with reality. For various reasons.

MagnoliaJustice · 14/07/2020 16:44

She's in health care but thinks it doesn't exist? I hope for the sake of her patients she wears PPE.

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/07/2020 16:45

Well we both got tested this morning by an army run mobile station. It’s a very elaborate hoax if it is one.

Also, lots of my patients have died unprecedented numbers. So I’m going to go for real.

Needsomezzzz · 14/07/2020 16:48

Do we have the same friend!? Convinced it's a conspiracy and posts some very worrying information. Claims it's her opinion, but God help you if you dare to disagree- if you do it's because you haven't bothered to do research or opened your eyes!
It's very sad and I worry for her state of mind..

Meredithgrey1 · 14/07/2020 16:49

My brother thinks theres "some truth" to the idea that its being spread by 5G. Some people are just stupid

There was a brilliant myth busting bit on bbc news a couple of months ago where someone asked whether you could get coronavirus from 5g masts. The correspondent said "yes. If someone with coronavirus goes up to a mast and licks it, and then you go up to it and lick the same place, you can get coronavirus from a 5g mast. Don't do that, and you'll be fine"

OP, I'd struggle to have conversations with someone like that, it would be very tiring.

fallfallfall · 14/07/2020 16:57

Well it’s certainly been a massive PR screw up from the get go. Loads of smoke and mirrors double speak worldwide.

hellsbellsmelons · 14/07/2020 17:02

I'd be so bloody condensing she wouldn't want to be my friend!
'Ahhhhh.... bless you. That must be a nice world to live in. It's really sweet you think like that. Awwwww....'

Muminho · 14/07/2020 17:04

I'd like to introduce your friend to my lovely and very brave friend who has longtail covid and despite only being 50 and having no underlying health conditions has now been chronically ill for 15 weeks. Now the deaths have reduced down to a trickle I expect we'll hear more about people in this group (potentially several tens of thousands). It's a bloody scary disease.

Zilla1 · 14/07/2020 17:08

You can't always argue with stupid. Dunning Kruger had it right. Only you can know if you get anything of value from the friendship.

You could always ask her how many psychics predicted 911 and COVID though you might need to widen the later to 'predicted COVID conspiracy and lockdown' if she is a denier?

I struggle not to laugh at 5G COVID conspiracy given prevalence of COVID in nations and areas that don't have 5G.

frog22 · 14/07/2020 17:11

I had to listen to someone telling me how intelligent they are and how intelligent their 'professor' friend is and they don't believe it's a real virus. Apparently it's a way for the government to control us. They did stress that they are not one to believe conspiracy theories and their friend is a 'very intelligent man'.

What is it about a virus that people don't believe? But they can believe that governments all over the world got together and agreed on faking this?

Merryoldgoat · 14/07/2020 17:12

It's wrong to label people who think this way as mentally ill, the majority are just latching onto conspiracy theories and believe they are free thinkers while the rest of us are sheeple.

I don’t think they’re mentally ill. I think they’re stupid.

vampirethriller · 14/07/2020 17:12

I know someone like that. I asked what WHO had said when she told them. I mean I bet they were thrilled, that there was no pandemic after all and they must have been amazed that a part time retail worker with no a levels had worked it out when they couldn't?
Haven't heard from her since.

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 14/07/2020 18:27

@WhatdoImean

Ask your brother how it spreads in countries without 5G then..? Like India? Some of the major part of the US etc!

Sad... but some people prefer not to deal with reality. Best of luck with him (but from a distance :-) )

He usually rolls his eyes and says "theres no point arguing with you. You'll never accept you're wrong" Grin

He also thinks Boris is doing a brilliant job and can't see how DomCummings did anything wrong probably because he's also been sending his DC to Grandparents for a break throughout the whole thing

GladAllOver · 16/07/2020 11:02

We desperately need a vaccine.
A vaccine against stupidity.

JustCallMeGriffin · 16/07/2020 11:38

I'd actually be really impressed if it was a hoax/conspiracy/fake...that would mean it's probably the first thing in history that has made governments of all shapes and sizes from truly liberal to dictatorships agree on a common idea and run with it.

Whoever orchestrated that level of manipulation shouldn't be messed with so if you honestly believed that was the case...surely you'd be quiet because 'they' would get you otherwise!

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