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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Laurence Fox causing scaremonging and false information over Covid jabs

132 replies

Suetully · 28/08/2021 10:59

He stated he is ''‘Following the tragic death of BBC journalist Lisa Shaw from vaccine-related complications, and the unending lies about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, I will not be sending my children to school until I have received a cast-iron guarantee that my children will not be vaccinated without the consent of both parents for a disease that has negligible chance of serious illness to them.‘We are in the middle of a mass delusion and it is time for people to wake up. Children’s lives are at risk.

‘However, I fully support the provision of vaccination for children in vulnerable groups with fully informed parental consent.’

A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘No decisions have been made on vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds and it is inaccurate to suggest otherwise. Ministers have not yet received further advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on this cohort.’

Now AIBU to be angry that he is misleading the public into thinking that the schools/govt are going to start vaccinating the kids without consent as nowhere was this ever stated as fact. And the govt have issues statements online to counteract the false reports online that this was not the case for under 16s and that the laws have not changed. Yet he is spreading false information rather than doing his research.

OP posts:
hamstersarse · 28/08/2021 12:29

@hopeishere

He's only causing "mayhem" with a tiny minority who don't get he's an absolute tosspot.

The vaccine probably will be offered to kids as it has been in lots of other countries.

And he’s perfectly entitled to his opinion

I really despair that supposed actual adults seem totally incapable of tolerating a view which is the opposite of their own.
Why are people so fragile?

Original poster
Suetully · 28/08/2021 12:30

''Do you really want private companies like Twitter and Facebook deciding on what people can and can’t say?

Did you do your GCSE history?

It’s really not that hard to see that this form of censorship is truly terrifying

Let him spout his nonsense all he wants. ''

Well no what's more terrifying is he is saying the schools/govt will force vaccination on kids when this isn't true so it's libel. By all means say your piece but if it's wrong information info it should be censored.

''. It really doesn’t matter does it? Do you really think he’d persuade someone who didn’t think what he thinks already to do a complete u turn?

It doesn’t matter what he says. ''

it does matter though in that people do believe his false info and will start copying him and pulling their kids out of school. Haven't you seen the crap anti vaccers online spreading their crap and masses believe them.

OP posts:
MeredithGreyishblue · 28/08/2021 12:31

He isn't causing mayhem. He'd love to cause mayhem but most people know he's a spoilt man child shouting into a vacuum. Most people laugh at him and his pompous nonsense.

Honestly, ignore him and he'll go away.

ancientgran · 28/08/2021 12:31

@plodalong12

I didn’t know about any of this until this thread. You can be unaware of what people are ranting about by not following them, you know.

yea he is a twat but my point is many people don't and he's just causing mayhem and people buy the misinformation

Why are you
A) Treating people as though they are less intelligent than you and
B) Caring what he says if you don’t like him?

Some people do have strange views. I was talking to a HCP from our local hospital (I seem to have acquired a season ticket at A&E and I think they think my husband is abusing me) She was telling me she won't them vaccinate her children because it will make them infertile.

I don't know if I should report her.

hamstersarse · 28/08/2021 12:32

@Suetully

If you really think that free speech and expressing an opinion isn’t important, and is totally fine to be policed by Twitter and Facebook, I think there’s no helping you

Original poster
Suetully · 28/08/2021 12:32

''And he’s perfectly entitled to his opinion

I really despair that supposed actual adults seem totally incapable of tolerating a view which is the opposite of their own. ''

you are missing the point, the point he is saying his kids aren't safe at school and he will remove them cos they will get vaccinated when vaccinations can't happen without parent consent for under 16s. It's not his ''opinion'', it's the false information.

OP posts:
MeredithGreyishblue · 28/08/2021 12:34

@Suetully

''And he’s perfectly entitled to his opinion

I really despair that supposed actual adults seem totally incapable of tolerating a view which is the opposite of their own. ''

you are missing the point, the point he is saying his kids aren't safe at school and he will remove them cos they will get vaccinated when vaccinations can't happen without parent consent for under 16s. It's not his ''opinion'', it's the false information.

He's not a public announcement service. He's a random twat on Twitter. Who do think is taking his advice seriously???
HeronLanyon · 28/08/2021 12:34

Alarmist scaremongering ffs. Problem is it works on extremely cerebrally vulnerable people.

HeronLanyon · 28/08/2021 12:35

Some ecvps, that should read.

Original poster
Suetully · 28/08/2021 12:35

''If you really think that free speech and expressing an opinion isn’t important, ''

ok so if I was to say you were a racist and you were a thief who abused their kids would you say that is ''an opinion and free speech'' or completely false information''? There is a difference between free speech and lies.

So fine if he is against vaccinations, that's his right but not in saying that schools are forcing it on kids or allowing kids under 16 to choose.

OP posts:
hamstersarse · 28/08/2021 12:36

@Suetully

I think you are missing the point.

You are calling for censorship, and I don’t think you understand the consequences of such thinking. Asking Twitter and Facebook to decide what is ‘right’

There actually was talk the other day of no parental consent being required, he hasn’t just made it up anyway?!?

www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-nhs-draws-up-plans-vaccinate-12-15-year-olds-the-telegraph-2021-08-25/

Original poster
Suetully · 28/08/2021 12:37

''He's not a public announcement service. He's a random twat on Twitter. Who do think is taking his advice seriously???''

it's all over my fb and loads of people commenting he's right. And for many people in Britain they listen to celeb views.

OP posts:
MeredithGreyishblue · 28/08/2021 12:38

If I ever do something because Laurence Fox tells me to, please shoot me. I'll be beyond all redemption by that point.

The Internet is full of people who post shite posing as truth. He's a drop in the ocean and most people (who never watched Lewis) won't even know who he is.
Don't give the prat this much power!

Original poster
Suetully · 28/08/2021 12:38

''There actually was talk the other day of no parental consent being required, he hasn’t just made it up anyway?!? ''

yea the talk was by nobody official and completely bullshit sources.

OP posts:
hamstersarse · 28/08/2021 12:40

@Suetully

''If you really think that free speech and expressing an opinion isn’t important, ''

ok so if I was to say you were a racist and you were a thief who abused their kids would you say that is ''an opinion and free speech'' or completely false information''? There is a difference between free speech and lies.

So fine if he is against vaccinations, that's his right but not in saying that schools are forcing it on kids or allowing kids under 16 to choose.

Being called racist is an interesting example.

Who gets to decide what classes as racist? Twitter? Facebook?
You really want that?

Twitter already is in this territory. Meghan Murphy was banned for saying….”men are not women”

Transphobic of course.

And here people are, calling for more of that!

Amazes me everyday

MeredithGreyishblue · 28/08/2021 12:41

@Suetully

''If you really think that free speech and expressing an opinion isn’t important, ''

ok so if I was to say you were a racist and you were a thief who abused their kids would you say that is ''an opinion and free speech'' or completely false information''? There is a difference between free speech and lies.

So fine if he is against vaccinations, that's his right but not in saying that schools are forcing it on kids or allowing kids under 16 to choose.

They all also said they'd vote for him as Mayor of London and didn't. I wouldn't worry.

Direct your anger at the people in power who have failed repeatedly. Not at an over grown 12 year old whose nanny still puts him to bed after tea.

Original poster
Suetully · 28/08/2021 12:41

''Who gets to decide what classes as racist? Twitter? Facebook?
You really want that? ''

well if I said the n word that's universally racist.

OP posts:
hamstersarse · 28/08/2021 12:42

@Suetully

''There actually was talk the other day of no parental consent being required, he hasn’t just made it up anyway?!? ''

yea the talk was by nobody official and completely bullshit sources.

Well let’s hope you are right!

Personally I’d prefer a bit of uproar about the fact it was even considered to do it without parental consent. Wouldn’t you?

hamstersarse · 28/08/2021 12:43

@Suetully

''Who gets to decide what classes as racist? Twitter? Facebook? You really want that? ''

well if I said the n word that's universally racist.

Universally racist?

Nope it’s not

AllTheSingleLadiess · 28/08/2021 12:43

If SM cracked down on all fake news, they have to hire so many moderators that there would be little content left.

Laurence wants to cause mayhem but he's not got the charisma to lead groups of people. He wants to be like Hopkins/Farage and have people like Trump know who he is but as you say he's a poor version of them.

I found it funny that a person who was very Us4Ourselves about school closures would pull out his child over vaccines for children. Iirc they aren't teens anyway.

I don't know what happens if mum says yes to a vaccine but dad says no. He has slagged off bias towards mums in family courts so I wonder if this is a threat to Billie who would allow her kids to have it?

SusieBob · 28/08/2021 12:51

"Who gets to decide what classes as racist? Twitter? Facebook? "

Well, yes, Twitter and FB do get to decide what classes as racist. Frankly given the cesspoll that SM tends to be I don't have much of a problem with obviously offensive, harmful or irresponsible messages being removed.

x2boys · 28/08/2021 12:52

Well tbh most people with half a brain will realise that schools cannot just force vaccines on kids without parental consent, they can, t even give paracetamol without loads of forms being signed, and how does he think schools can give reluctant teens vaccines without either their consent or their parents?
My fourteen year looks about 18 he, s taller than both me and has dad, nobody is easily going to give him a vaccine if he doesnt want it

conkersarebonkers · 28/08/2021 12:55

In Scotland, secondary age children (so age 12+) can give consent in school for a vaccination even if their parents have not consented.

"Secondary school pupils may be vaccinated after giving their own consent following discussion with the vaccinator, even if their consent form is not returned. Secondary school pupils should be encouraged to talk to their parent or carer about getting the flu vaccine. It’s a decision they should make together. "

www.publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-work/immunisations/flu-immunisations/school-education-resources/consent-for-school-immunisations/

newnortherner111 · 28/08/2021 12:55

People do believe false information, and so his comments are unacceptable, and should be removed.

Much as I dislike his views, I think a comparison with Nigel Farage is not appropriate.

hamstersarse · 28/08/2021 12:55

@SusieBob

"Who gets to decide what classes as racist? Twitter? Facebook? "

Well, yes, Twitter and FB do get to decide what classes as racist. Frankly given the cesspoll that SM tends to be I don't have much of a problem with obviously offensive, harmful or irresponsible messages being removed.

Please think that through

You might agree with Twitter or Facebook censoring “stuff you don’t agree with” about covid….but what about the Meghan Murphy case? Are you ok with that?

Were you ok with them banning Trump?