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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
doskant · 16/07/2020 11:42

I’ve given up with the family and friends who think this is a conspiracy. If it makes them feel better to pretend it doesn’t exist all well and good for them. Find it difficult to ignore my husband’s strange ideas at times though. At one point he suggested it was a “little strange” the outbreak “just happened” to coincide with an election in his home country. Very elaborate conspiracy if his home country has managed to convince the entire world to pretend there is a virus for the sake of one election Confused

KittyFantastico · 16/07/2020 11:46

We desperately need a vaccine. A vaccine against stupidity.

Vaccines will make it worse. I read a FB post this morning that claimed Bill Gates is Hitler reincarnated and is planning to inject us all with tracking chips Hmm

contrmary · 16/07/2020 11:53

There are two questions to consider, has COVID-19 been faked, and could it have been faked?

The first question is obviously no. If you base your opinions on evidence, there is overwhelming evidence that it exists from reputable sources, against a few nutters with wild theories about 5G radiation.

The second question is less obvious. It's perfectly plausible that global governments could fake a virus like this if they thought it was the best way to meet their ends (whether evil or otherwise). Experts can be paid off, people willing to say the right thing can be made into "experts" while the people who know it's wrong are dismissed as idiots.

Most conspiracy theories can be likened to this. Something could have been faked, therefore people want to investigate whether it has been. If it fits their world view, if they would prefer it to be fake, then they will find the evidence to "prove" it.

I like to think of the holocaust at times like this. I wasn't there so I have to rely on evidence and expert opinion. An overwhelming amount of proof in fact, in the form of eyewitness testimony, archival evidence, archaeological remains showing that it did happen. Against this there are a few blatant racists who come up with frankly ludicrous evidence to the contrary. The holocaust obviously happened. But that does not mean that a government, or group of governments, could not fake a similar atrocity if the circumstances were right and it suited them.

The fact that something was real does not mean that it would have been impossible to fake, if that makes sense. Therefore it should be no surprise that some people go down the conspiracy route, sometimes with the best intentions, often not. With holocaust deniers the answer is usually that they are racists. With COVID deniers, I'm not really sure what their angle is.

doskant · 16/07/2020 11:54

Another excellently thought out theory is the one where the “vaccine” will have tracking chips in it to monitor us. Not sure why tracking chips are needed when our mobile phones collect every bit of information about us in real time. Can’t get rid of those though. How else will they educate us sheeple on “the truth” without social media?

doskant · 16/07/2020 11:56

Spoke too soon. @KittyFantastico knows all about the evil chips.

knittingaddict · 16/07/2020 12:00

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

Or another way of looking at it is, this is a new virus with a new disease and no one knew at the beginning what we were dealing with. In fact we still don't. It was always going to be a developing story with twists, dead ends and back tracking. Unlike films, real life is messy.

Ginfordinner · 16/07/2020 12:04

[quote HijadelaLuna]www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/13/30-year-old-dies-covid-party-texas[/quote]
Natural selection at its finest

Rabbitjam · 16/07/2020 12:28

I'd love to know who they think is benefitting from covid or fake covid. The western world is capitalist and this certainly isn't beneficial for the economy.

Scout2016 · 16/07/2020 12:32

Is she registered with a professional body? I never ever normally want people reporting and I'm not quick to complain but this sounds to cross a line. Everyone is entitled to views that don't entirely fit with all aspects of their profession, for religious grounds or whatever, but this is too out there and dumb for comfort.
I'd drop her as a friend too.

Scout2016 · 16/07/2020 12:37

@Ginfordinner yeah I've been thinking along those lines with some people.

pigsDOfly · 16/07/2020 13:21

There's absolutely no point in trying to argue a case for logic with these sort of people, they'll just tell you that you're wrong and that an end of it.

Even the most sensible and logical arguments will not change their minds.

It doesn't matter that what they're saying makes no sense. They think they, and the people who agree with them, are smarter than anyone else and only they can see through the bullshit all the rest of us accept.

Either ditched them as friends or learn how to tune out to that part of their conversation whilst mumbling 'hmm, hmm' from time to time.

mrbob · 16/07/2020 13:25

@fallfallfall

Well it’s certainly been a massive PR screw up from the get go. Loads of smoke and mirrors double speak worldwide.
A virus doesn’t have “PR” It is not Kim Kardashian
CandyflossKid · 16/07/2020 13:30

I know someone who believes the same conspiracy theory, that Covid 19 does not exist!
She is very vocal about it and believes it is the result of a "higher power".
She upset my mum by telling her all this ........ 2 weeks after my dad died from Covid

MsEllany · 16/07/2020 13:46

“Oh you’re one of those”.

Then block. I can’t be arsed with these idiots and if she’s not a close friend then don’t bother.

Madhairday · 16/07/2020 14:38

My friend got handed this in the street.

Says it all that it's in comic sans Grin

to be annoyed that friend thinks Covid19 is a lie
GladAllOver · 16/07/2020 16:36

Yes. Comic sans brain. :)

marcopront · 17/07/2020 18:36

What I want to ask the conspiracy theorists is how they convinced people like the president of Tanzania to not tell anyone about the conspiracy. He told people it was satanic and couldn't survive in churches. Officially there is no coronavirus in Tanzania and there have been no tests since May.

I am really impressed if someone convinced him to deny the existence of something that isn't real.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-africa-52723594

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