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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why the f* people still think vaccines cause autism?

691 replies

coolitcathy · 16/12/2020 16:18

Name changed for privacy reasons.

Stumbled across a Facebook group about "parents against vaccines" a few minutes ago which suggested, nay STATED, that vaccines cause autism and are essentially poison. I think the hysteria is potentially getting worse due to this Covid vaccination that's getting rolled out at the mo. Is anyone still infuriated or is the anger dying down now as we all get distracted by something else happening? Also why is autism seen as such a bad thing?

(If you're anti vax I'm open to you sharing your viewpoints but I haven't seen any information that makes me consider that outlook)

OP posts:
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Kaliorphic · 18/12/2020 11:47

Attitudes on this thread demonstrate that most people believe that autism is a blight and it would be better if such people didn't exist

That's your conclusion having read the thread? I suggest reading what's actually written again rather than what you think is written may be helpful to you. As my teacher always used to say read what's on the page, not what you think is on the page. Great lesson that.

heydoggee · 18/12/2020 11:48

I know I will have to care for my child until I die. I don't need anyone to apologise to me for that fact. I don't need anyone's pity.

My life is better for having my child in it because my child is perfect. Yes, BETTER.

And that's from someone who cleans poo off carpets every day and had to take their LA to tribunal.

And if anyone ever described my child the way they described that woman with Down's syndrome further down-thread I would not hesitate to slap them.

coolitcathy · 18/12/2020 11:48

That's your conclusion having read the thread? I suggest reading what's actually written again rather than what you think is written may be helpful to you. As my teacher always used to say read what's on the page, not what you think is on the page. Great lesson that.

Could you dial back the condescension on every post? Happy to listen to what you want to say but there's no need nor benefit to phrase it like that.

OP posts:
heydoggee · 18/12/2020 11:49

@Sirzy

Any parent would take away their child’s struggles if they could wouldn’t they?
Autism isn't just struggles. That's just how it is painted.
heydoggee · 18/12/2020 11:51

When my son was first diagnosed my DF would constantly refer to my son's autism as a 'problem'. 'Well, Doggee has got a problem on their hands there'

No. My child is not a problem.

Kaliorphic · 18/12/2020 11:52

The description of the adult with Down's syndrome was incredibly upsetting

What the bit where so many lives were ruined and the really poor quality of life that the lady with Down syndrome had? Yes I found that upsetting. Wait, you didn't mean that bit did you. That bit wasn't so meaningful to you.....

Duggeehugs82 · 18/12/2020 11:52

@farawayplanet

Most autistic people are able to self care. Does this mean that we should be screened out because a small proportion have poor self care?
Those people shouldnt be forgotten just because there is only a small amount. Im not saying there should be a screening. Im saying its just convenient that when ever autism is discussed those people who need 24 hour care r forgotten becuase well its difficult to show autism in good light with someone who is profoundly disabled because of it.
Sirzy · 18/12/2020 11:52

This thread reminds me of a group I was on in Facebook where someone got angry with me for saying that for DS autism is very much a disability.

Just because someone’s experience is different to yours doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I love DS and will do anything I can to help him but yes if I could take away the anxiety which meant for 6 months he could hardly leave the house, or the issues with food meaning he has to be tube fed then too right I would because it would make life easier for him. In the Same way if I could repair the half a lung that doesn’t work and take away his breathing issues I would.

cantdothisnow1 · 18/12/2020 11:52

@heydoggee

When my son was first diagnosed my DF would constantly refer to my son's autism as a 'problem'. 'Well, Doggee has got a problem on their hands there'

No. My child is not a problem.

well that is unacceptable, I hope you raised a formal complaint.

I wasn't ever told my child was a problem, I was told he would have a difficult life. So far that has proved to be true.

Kaliorphic · 18/12/2020 11:53

Autism isn't just struggles. That's just how it is painted

It is sometimes. Maybe not for you. But for some others it is.

trulydelicious · 18/12/2020 11:53

@tootiredtospeak

I have indeed asked numerous young adults whom I work with at a SN facility if they would change being autistic if they would. It's a very small minority that I have found that wouldn't, for most they would prefer not to to have the challenges they face and not to be different

Do you think you would get different answers if you asked older adults?

Some autistic traits can bring advantages that some people are thankful to have and they may only start to appreciate later on in life and would not trade them for being NT.

Obviously I'm not talking of those who have severe limitations as a result of being autistic.

tootiredtospeak · 18/12/2020 11:56

Heydogee the fact you feel like that suggests that autism would never be eradicated because there would be some parents that choose to still keep it in their childs DNA. But to shout down the ones that wouldn't with the suggestion its genocide I think is unfair. Your opinion is valid of course but isn't overriding which is what I have been trying to get across there are other ways to think about this without the need to make it so emotive.

heydoggee · 18/12/2020 11:58

@tootiredtospeak

Heydogee the fact you feel like that suggests that autism would never be eradicated because there would be some parents that choose to still keep it in their childs DNA. But to shout down the ones that wouldn't with the suggestion its genocide I think is unfair. Your opinion is valid of course but isn't overriding which is what I have been trying to get across there are other ways to think about this without the need to make it so emotive.
I haven't shouted that down. I talk about it down thread.
heydoggee · 18/12/2020 11:58

@Sirzy

This thread reminds me of a group I was on in Facebook where someone got angry with me for saying that for DS autism is very much a disability.

Just because someone’s experience is different to yours doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I love DS and will do anything I can to help him but yes if I could take away the anxiety which meant for 6 months he could hardly leave the house, or the issues with food meaning he has to be tube fed then too right I would because it would make life easier for him. In the Same way if I could repair the half a lung that doesn’t work and take away his breathing issues I would.

Autism is a disability. Autistic people recognise that.
tootiredtospeak · 18/12/2020 11:59

Truly delicious possibly it's always going to be hard to get everyone's view. I am only presenting my own.

heydoggee · 18/12/2020 11:59

@Kaliorphic

The description of the adult with Down's syndrome was incredibly upsetting

What the bit where so many lives were ruined and the really poor quality of life that the lady with Down syndrome had? Yes I found that upsetting. Wait, you didn't mean that bit did you. That bit wasn't so meaningful to you.....

Lives RUINED? Really?!
tootiredtospeak · 18/12/2020 12:02

You arent considering my view only your own. I am considering yours. That is the difference.

heydoggee · 18/12/2020 12:03

@tootiredtospeak

You arent considering my view only your own. I am considering yours. That is the difference.
You're not reading the whole thread, clearly
ForestNymph · 18/12/2020 12:03

@farawayplanet

Most autistic people are able to self care. Does this mean that we should be screened out because a small proportion have poor self care?
What amazes me is there are NT people with poor self care, low intellectual ability, low levels of independence. No one ever suggests wiping out NTs from the gene pool because of this.
Kaliorphic · 18/12/2020 12:04

Lives RUINED? Really?!

Yes. You really can't see that can you? And here lies the problem when you can only see things from one point of view.

heydoggee · 18/12/2020 12:05

@Kaliorphic

Lives RUINED? Really?!

Yes. You really can't see that can you? And here lies the problem when you can only see things from one point of view.

If society supported them and their disabled sibling better their lives would not be ruined. Hence the disability not being the issue, the lack of services is the issue.
Kaliorphic · 18/12/2020 12:11

If society supported them and their disabled sibling better their lives would not be ruined. Hence the disability not being the issue, the lack of services is the issue.

It's not just about services. It is also the disability.

Duggeehugs82 · 18/12/2020 12:12

What ive learnt from this thread is some people r just not able to understand or accept that their opinion is not a fact. And others have different opnions and they r not wrong. Ive learnt some people think if u have a severely autistic daughter and by that i mean not independent and needs 24 hour care. And somehow wishing they was independent is somehow wrong and wishing they didnt have the difficultes is in the same thinking the whole population of autistic adults should he wiped out. 🤦🏼‍♀️ ive also decided some random people on a forum telling me i have no right to feel sadness and depression, for the way my life is ,is just that , random people on the internet and i will just carry on having my therapist to help me come to terms with it.

SinkGirl · 18/12/2020 12:15

"Not being able to speak" is potentially a factor within having learning disabilities that make you "low functioning" but it's not the only factor.

I never said it was. I said that the skills of communication, comprehension and expression alone make your experience of life completely and utterly different from those who do not have those skills.

@ForestNymph I have no crystal ball, I can’t know for sure what my children will be like in adulthood. I do have a reasonable idea of what’s likely based on their current level of difficulties and the views of their various specialists and therapists. I am doing everything I can to try to support them and help them to learn things that aren’t coming naturally to them as they would to a neurotypical child. I think it’s likely one of my children may learn to talk based on his current level - the other I suspect never will due to the fact that he can’t make more than one sound, and never has. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to support this, and also try every other means of supporting different types of communication. There are of course stories of children who were nonverbal / no receptive language skills until adolescence and then suddenly developed them, but we all know this is not the norm.

You didn’t answer my question though. If you couldn’t communicate or understand language would you be happy with this and believe you have a decent life? I think there are lot of things that many people take for granted and have no idea what it would be like to live without them.

Thespidersweb · 18/12/2020 12:15

I wish MN would ban anti vax V pro vax.

All’s they do is give posters looking for an argument to show up.

I’ve been here seven years and no fucker says anything different on them. There are plenty of recent vax threads people can add on to but nope... posters want to start their own anti vax argument thread ...