Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say that there is a huge amount of anti vax threads allowed on mumsnet?

310 replies

visitingagain · 09/12/2021 16:07

I fully expect this to be taken down but I am getting completely fed up with the number of anti vax and anti mask threads on mumsnet at the moment. People should be allowed to express views but some of the misinformation is shocking.

OP posts:
Saucery · 09/12/2021 17:35

@IHateWasps

I've seen people on here make up Covid laws that didn't exist and grossly exaggerate the mortality rate of Covid. Do you have a problem with that too or is that misinformation fine because it suits your agenda?
I report / rebuff those too Smile
PAFMO · 09/12/2021 17:36

@IHateWasps

I've seen people on here make up Covid laws that didn't exist and grossly exaggerate the mortality rate of Covid. Do you have a problem with that too or is that misinformation fine because it suits your agenda?
Did you report it and get it deleted? You should.
Original poster
visitingagain · 09/12/2021 17:36

@IHateWasps I certainly don't think people have a right to have an opinion about whether masks or vaccines are effective.
But I'm perfectly happy for you to say you hate them.

OP posts:
LittlestLightOnTheXmasTree · 09/12/2021 17:38

We all have the right to question the effective ness of both

A scrappy damp bit of material pulled out of a pocket after being worn multiple times, then shoved on with unwashed hands.... yeah, right, really feel confidant seeing that

IHateWasps · 09/12/2021 17:38

I tended to refute them, with a link. I don't tend to read the Covid board now though.

LittlestLightOnTheXmasTree · 09/12/2021 17:40

@IHateWasps

I tended to refute them, with a link. I don't tend to read the Covid board now though.
A link to where? Twitter? Facebook? That refutes nothing really

Even the 'experts' and scientists differ with opinions.

Saucery · 09/12/2021 17:41

@LittlestLightOnTheXmasTree

We all have the right to question the effective ness of both

A scrappy damp bit of material pulled out of a pocket after being worn multiple times, then shoved on with unwashed hands.... yeah, right, really feel confidant seeing that

I see this sort of comment a lot. It’s bizarre. No one is recommending that sort of mask. No one at all. It’s not difficult to have a decent mask on your person to use when needed. Why pretend that’s the case?
Theluggage15 · 09/12/2021 17:43

Why did you not put this thread on the covid board? And by the way not everyone can afford‘decent’ masks.

IHateWasps · 09/12/2021 17:43

@IHateWasps I certainly don't think people have a right to have an opinion about whether masks or vaccines are effective.
But I'm perfectly happy for you to say you hate them.

People like you scare me far more than Covid. What a fucked up attitude to want people censored to the extent that they aren't even allowed to question vaccines or masks. And we're not talking tin hat and Bill Gates being a lizard person stuff here.

VeganCheesePlease · 09/12/2021 17:44

But on the same vein, there are threads where if anyone is at all unsure or worried about the vaccine, they're called thick and selfish. I'm vaccinated myself but more tolerance is needed all around.
In fact, once on MN I made a comment about how I'd felt let down about the lack of care I received after losing my baby and I was jumped on by a troll for expressing an opinion. The tolerance starts with us if we want to see more of it
However, on a side note, I completely agree with misinformation being stopped.

Saucery · 09/12/2021 17:45

@Theluggage15

Why did you not put this thread on the covid board? And by the way not everyone can afford‘decent’ masks.
I know. That’s why I donate some to the local food bank every fortnight, along with essential toiletries.
LettertoHermoine · 09/12/2021 17:46

@LittlestLightOnTheXmasTree

We all have the right to question the effective ness of both

A scrappy damp bit of material pulled out of a pocket after being worn multiple times, then shoved on with unwashed hands.... yeah, right, really feel confidant seeing that

Bingo!
Seemssounfair · 09/12/2021 17:46

It is one of the issues with the internet in general, not just covid related. It gives a voice to the vocal minority with some ridiculous ideas or their own rhetoric.

Then add to that those who lack critical thinking to analyse what they read and discard their rubbish.

If it helps, in RL I don't know a single anti vaxer or anti masker.

The internet ones are best ignored and not fed.

Saucery · 09/12/2021 17:49

Bingo!

Oi, put that dabber down, we haven’t had a Face Nappies yet Grin

DottyHarmer · 09/12/2021 17:52

Too true. The anti-vaxxers are loud and persistent.

It’s all very well to say that some posters are “unsure or worried” but I’ve observed that the majority start threads with the same innocent style, and then seem to have a lot of “research” etc at their fingertips. I’ve stated numerous times on numerous threads that no one wears their agenda on their sleeve, they do this “Oh, silly me, I’m confused” sort of thing, whilst sneaking in as much worrying stuff as they can.

PAFMO · 09/12/2021 17:56

@Saucery

Bingo!

Oi, put that dabber down, we haven’t had a Face Nappies yet Grin

Or Godwin. Wink
bigvig · 09/12/2021 17:57

@visitingagain

But *@Powerpotpie*, there aren't two reasonable sides to the anti vax debate. There is the side that presents all the scientific facts eg. Get a vaccine because it's our best and only way to try and reduce deaths from covid and other excess deaths and overwhelming health systems. And there is the other side which includes " it's not fair" "they don't mean me though" " everyone knows only old/ fat/ stupid people will die " and then all the " I'm not against vaccines BUT " threads.
There are always two sides to any debate. If by scientific facts you mean those spouted by people like Patrick Valance (no mask at Wimbledon in summer) and Neil Ferguson (both with shares in vacinne companies btw) then it's no wonder some people are sceptical.
Saucery · 09/12/2021 17:58

@DottyHarmer

Too true. The anti-vaxxers are loud and persistent.

It’s all very well to say that some posters are “unsure or worried” but I’ve observed that the majority start threads with the same innocent style, and then seem to have a lot of “research” etc at their fingertips. I’ve stated numerous times on numerous threads that no one wears their agenda on their sleeve, they do this “Oh, silly me, I’m confused” sort of thing, whilst sneaking in as much worrying stuff as they can.

A lot of them have a ‘friend’ who said all this alarming stuff to them….
changingstages · 09/12/2021 17:59

@LittlestLightOnTheXmasTree

We all have the right to question the effective ness of both

A scrappy damp bit of material pulled out of a pocket after being worn multiple times, then shoved on with unwashed hands.... yeah, right, really feel confidant seeing that

why do none of you people have a clean mask? Why are all your pockets damp? Why don't you ever wash your hands? It's so weird.
Chasingaftermidnight · 09/12/2021 18:01

And the ridiculous “side effects” posts.
I had the first AZ and my ears went hot, my tongue went chartreuse and my leg fell off
No. That didn’t happen. Stop telling lies to frighten people.

Omg - I was stupid enough to believe some of these at first.

I don’t care if people don’t want the vaccine themselves but I find it really weird that there are people who are determined to dissuade others from having it.

ShiftingSands21 · 09/12/2021 18:02

I’ve not really noticed this phenomenon so I’d be interested to know what sort of misinformation people are referring to.

fakereview · 09/12/2021 18:02

@Saucery

And the ridiculous “side effects” posts. I had the first AZ and my ears went hot, my tongue went chartreuse and my leg fell off No. That didn’t happen. Stop telling lies to frighten people.
73 people died in the UK after having the AZ vaccine. Many countries stopped using it altogether. It is not lies that people have side effects and it is not vaccine misinformation to say that people have side effects.

There are two sides to the debate and just because most of us think the risk of the vaccine is (well) worth it, that doesn't mean everyone does and that they are all stupid for not having it. Especially those who don't want a second dose or the booster after having a torrid time after the first.

Vintagevixen · 09/12/2021 18:04

There has been recent reporting of several deaths from the Vaccine - including one in Plymouth where a consultant haematologist testified that the death was caused by "vaccine induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia."

His words - not mine. This isn't "misinformation" but a widely reported case.

In the context of these rare deaths are we not allowed to discuss issues, weigh risks and decide is best for us? Clearly the OP doesn't think we are.

I have had my vacs because I am the wrong side of 50 and tubby - the benefits strongly outweigh the risks for me. For my DD age 13 I would clearly be labelled an anti-vaxxer by OP as I have decided the risks outweigh the benefits for her, and she won't be being vaccinated.

Everyone can access Medrix and all the other online academic libraries and read the studies at source. Thats what I have done and that has informed my opinion, not misinformation.

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 09/12/2021 18:08

And the ridiculous “side effects” posts

I found the side-effects threads useful - I had bad side-effects from all 3 of my jabs. Still far better than getting Covid. It's reasonable for people to discuss side-effects as long as they are being honest.

PAFMO · 09/12/2021 18:10

Is that "after" the AZ vaccine, or "because of" the AZ vaccine? To paraphrase another old chestnut.
In any case it's 9.
There are other possibly vaccine caused deaths still under coroner's investigations (or PF in Scotland) But 9 is the number of confirmed deaths.

Swipe left for the next trending thread