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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not challenge my anti-vax boss?

36 replies

wildraisins · 08/01/2021 04:12

On a phone call with my boss yesterday. We have a good relationship after years of working together. We were talking about the Covid vaccine and my boss casually mentioned that they are an anti-vaxer (using that actual phrase), are glad their children won't be getting the vaccine as kids aren't being offered it, and are also glad that they will be at the bottom of the priority list as young-ish with no underlying conditions.

Some of my family are vulnerable and NHS workers and are getting the vaccine soon and my boss said they were glad about that because once enough people are vaccinated we can go back to normal.

I quietly seethed! I think people like this are quite selfish to rely on others to be vaccinated (not just for Covid but generally - my boss' kids have had NO vaccinations and rely on the immunity of others).

But I didn't say anything to challenge it. AIBU? What would you have done?

OP posts:
Sinful8 · 08/01/2021 04:23

Be quiet change the subject, if they have a meaningful intelligence they will know your judging them.

If not, meh.

Thedogscollar · 08/01/2021 04:26

I'd say nothing as quite frankly you would be wasting your time.

Nicolastuffedone · 08/01/2021 04:28

Nothing. You wouldn’t change their opinion, if that’s what they believe then that’s what they believe 🤷‍♀️ Would they be able to change your opinion on vaccinations? You can quietly seethe all you like.....it won’t change anything.

Aprilx · 08/01/2021 04:37

Not something I would get into in the workplace.

Hospitalknickers · 08/01/2021 04:50

YABU as it's not really your business. Different strokes for different folks and all that Smile

scotsllb · 08/01/2021 05:19

It's not your place to say anything. It's his opinion of which he entitled and that's that.
It's hard when it's something you feel strongly about but his views are his for his own reasons and that's ok too .

GintyMcGinty · 08/01/2021 05:39

What would you achieve?

awesmum · 08/01/2021 05:52

If you and your family are getting the vaccine I'm not sure what the issue is?
Your boss is entitled to their opinion just as you are.

SheeshazAZ09 · 08/01/2021 05:57

You either believe the vaccine will protect you or you don’t. If you don’t then there is no point having it. By the way there is no evidence that those who are vaccinated will not still spread the virus. There are plenty of scientists and medics who warn that vaccinated ppl can still spread it.

squeezeapplesmakejuice · 08/01/2021 07:19

Absolutely nothing. You have done the right thing by being quiet. It's not a reason to lose your friendship over.

Winebottle · 08/01/2021 07:21

I wouldnt't have said anything. You are not going to change people's views on it by argument.

It's not selfish to not want the Covid vaccine. I'd be happy to go back to normal now. People want it for themselves, not for the greater good.

ZaraW · 08/01/2021 07:56

I have a friend who is a nurse on a Covid ward. She called out an anti vaxer to stop posting false information. The response was she didn't know what she was talking about and fell for the media lies. An alarming number of people agreed. You can't argue with stupid.

pointythings · 08/01/2021 08:08

You did the right thing. You can't argue with antivaxxers, it's like arguing about religion - there's no rationality in the antivaxx position.

MaMaD1990 · 08/01/2021 08:11

I would pick your battles and stay quiet, as its your boss. You can't reason with stupid.

Shakirasma · 08/01/2021 08:16

YANBU

  1. Antivaxxers are stubborn and stupid. You would be wasting your time and energy on an argument you cant win.
  2. It's your boss, and therefore not worth damaging your professional relationship on a pointless argument.
Lonecatwithkitten · 08/01/2021 08:24

Unfortunately I can understand why you are seething - their logic is all mixed up they are anti-vax, but believe the vaccine will get us back to normal.
They are looking forward to gaining from a herd immunity created by others taking the vaccine. Sadly these are exactly the kind of people you can not reason with.

amymel2016 · 08/01/2021 08:29

Say nothing. I’m yet to meet an anti-vaxer with even an ounce of intelligence, it’s like arguing with a pigeon. My main issue would be that I would have now lost all respect for them.

Timbucktime · 08/01/2021 08:33

Just accept that everyone is perfectly entitled to their own personal opinions, you have yours and they have theirs, and just get on with your own life.

contrmary · 08/01/2021 08:37

If he says he chooses not to vaccinate himself or his children, there is nothing for you to "challenge" him over. Vaccines are not compulsory and people should be free to choose whether the risk the vaccine brings is less than the benefit.

If he makes statements about the vaccine that are untrue (planting tracking chips in people, giving us AIDS, sterilising BAMEs) then you should challenge him for evidence over those.

AlwaysLatte · 08/01/2021 08:38

You won't change his mind. You can't cure stupid, unfortunately.

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 08/01/2021 09:06

I had a similar discussion with someone yesterday. I was keen to challenge the misinformation about the vaccine being unsafe because it was developed too quickly as that narrative would spread and builds distrust. Alot of money time and expertise has gone into its development but the key is investment to accelerate the process. That doesn't make it unsafe. However there are alot of stupid people in this world.

BluebellsGreenbells · 08/01/2021 09:10

I agree.

He’s rather trust everyone else having had the vaccine than the vaccine itself.

Now of children aren’t allowed the vaccine, COVID is more likely to rip through the school as those surrounding his child are unprotected.

Timeforabiscuit · 08/01/2021 09:12

What tends to work is reminding people of polio, measles and the umpteen other infectious diseases we have a vaccine for, and to loudly say damn right I'm getting a jab if it's offered!

Just saying "I'll take yours if you're not having it" tends to give them pause for thought.

BornIn78 · 08/01/2021 09:16

The only thing I would have said would have been at this point in the conversation...
and are also glad that they will be at the bottom of the priority list as young-ish with no underlying conditions
I’d have said “you know you’re not going to be forced to have it right? So your position on the priority list doesn’t matter”. I’m sure there’s be plenty a hint of ConfusedHmm in my voice and them I’d change the subject.

Propsneeded · 08/01/2021 09:35

@Shakirasma

YANBU
  1. Antivaxxers are stubborn and stupid. You would be wasting your time and energy on an argument you cant win.
  2. It's your boss, and therefore not worth damaging your professional relationship on a pointless argument.
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