Friend’s Covid beliefs and how to respond

[Rocketearth]

I received an email from a friend in New Zealand (I’m also from NZ but live in the UK) and her beliefs and attitude to Covid had me reeling.

Turns out she’s a militant anti-vaxer, thinks all the world governments are colluding to control us all, jabs have microchips, refers to vaccines as ‘synthetic junk,’ it’s all utter garbage about how dangerous Covid can be and it’s nothing to worry about etc, it makes her furious that she had to homeschool/work from home for 5 weeks last year just for something that it doesn’t matter if it kills people who were going to die sooner anyway, and she shouldn’t have to be inconvenienced because of them.

The worst was that the people who are dying were going to die anyway so all they have got is “an express ticket to heaven,” it doesn’t matter that old and sick people are being affected the most because sooner or later something was ‘going to get them.’

And on and on it went. She also tells me that since splitting with her partner their mutual friends have cut her off and I seriously think I can’t blame them if this is any representation of her views (she was always quite opinionated generally).

Everyone is of course entitled to their opinion but I find her views abhorrent, particularly regarding it doesn’t matter if the old and sick die because they have got their “express ticket to heaven.”

New Zealand is one of the least affected countries in the world and the UK is one of the most ravaged by Covid and I find her just so insulting. She then says ‘rant over. So how are things in England? We don’t really see much on the news.’

I really don’t know how to respond to her email. I’m not a confrontational person but I’m torn between not being able to let this slide, and feeling like right now she’s not really someone who I can be bothered maintaining contact with.

She sounds absolutely awful. I’d probably let the friendship slide.

I also have family and friends in NZ and I’ve noticed that many are oblivious to how serious the Covid situation is in the rest of the world. I got a Christmas card from one which opened with “Hasn’t this year been funny?! I hope you’re still alive to read this.”

I read the Stuff news website regularly and their world news is poor. I recently saw a World news headline “Melbourne man tests positive for Covid.” One person?! Try have thousand per day testing positive in other countries.

I would probably not respond... Ever again.

I'd be cutting her off too. I wouldn't want people like that in my life.

I wouldn’t respond either to the Ignorant twit

She’s vile. Does she not have one scrap of empathy or understanding of anything outside her little world? One day she will grow old or sick and see how she feels if society discards her like rubbish.

Sounds so negative and toxic . Im don't like confrontation too so would ignore the email and never speak to her again

Why can you not tolerate an opinion that is different to yours?

She isn't a Prime Minister or a politician, she is just a friend expressing a view.

People used to be able to be friends with people who didn't think exactly the same as them. I don't quite know what happened.

She's being a dick. I'd like to say don't bother responding, but personally I think I'd have to challenge this bullshit as she's directed it at you. Ignoring is enabling. Then block if she rages back. At least you've made your view clear then.

I have family in New Zealand. They're very well aware of the devastation caused by Covid (and very grateful to be in NZ).

The worst was that the people who are dying were going to die anyway so all they have got is “an express ticket to heaven,” it doesn’t matter that old and sick people are being affected the most because sooner or later something was ‘going to get them.’

Her fellow New Zealanders don't share her psychopathic view. NZ recently voted to legalise assisted suicide. Because that's a kind and compassionate way to die. Peaceful and painless. Unlike Covid.

She sounds very thick. How can she be so unaware that vast numbers of the 'sick' (the clinically vulnerable) are full-time working fully functioning members of society? Just in the UK alone, millions of young otherwise healthy people have well managed underlying conditions. Including children.

Her sort always ignore Long Covid too. It's most definitely not just about death.

Long Covid can cause organ damage, diabetes, and hearing loss. Long term disability leaving people unable to work.

I don‘t think she is typical of people in NZ. I do think she is an arse. This goes beyond the normal tolerance of differing opinions. I wouldn’t bother with her again.

"Oh dear god, just have the fucking vaccine you incredible twit!"

“Well the situation is completely different here so I absolutely disagree with pretty much everything you’ve said. Ask me again when you’ve read up on how the rest of the world is doing!”

Then leave it at that.

My friends cousin is in New Zealand and apparently sounds very much like your friend OP. However I have also heard plenty of people in the UK with similar views. Apparently there are these people all over the world 🤷‍♀️

As for what to say. You have two options. Be polite and avoid the subject. Else cut ties completely. Not hard if in this case I would imagine.

My Auntie is in Australia near Sydney. They have had alsorts of issues in the last year. Natural disasters, fires and now millions of mice invading

Apart from the deaths I would rather be in the UK. The mice have cemented that for me. Lockdowns and masks I can take. Bloody mice trying to get into your house by the thousands. No just no.

Yep, we all have our share of idiots. She'll probably moan next how the borders are still closed .... because of opinionated nonsense spreaders like her. Don't respond since confrontation is not your thing. I would be tempted but I'm scrappy

New Zealand is one of the least affected countries in the world and the UK is one of the most ravaged by Covid and I find her just so insulting. She then says ‘rant over. So how are things in England? We don’t really see much on the news.’

There's no excuse for her not knowing about the UK. Even if all aspects of the Guardian don't please, it's free online and she needs to give her head a wobble.

I recently saw a World news headline “Melbourne man tests positive for Covid.” One person?! Try have thousand per day testing positive in other countries

Fortunately, by paying attention to cases, Victoria hope to avoid the thousands.

So how are things in England? We don’t really see much on the news
Thats because the news in New Zealand is limited to rugby, the weather and property prices in Auckland.

I wouldn't respond and wouldn't be in contact with her. It sounds like she's gone down the wrong path and is deep into the anti-vax 'thing'. Leave her to it, hopefully she'll see sense one day.

If it were me, I'd just not reply. I wouldn't trust myself to be civil!

Bloody mice trying to get into your house by the thousands. No just no.

My cats would think they were in Paradise!

Thanks for everyone’s perspectives. Of course everyone can have their own opinion but when you receive an email that is quite literally many pages long ranting about how Covid is an international con, it doesn’t matter if the sick and old die, and that she doesn’t believe so many are actually dying from Covid anyway and it’s all a con to be putting it on death certificates, then it’s hard to stomach.

Then she shared an article disputing that Covid is actually as contagious as what we’re told and giving me names of some American ‘experts’ in vaccines (who when I looked them up are clearly anti-vaxers).

Oh well, everyone to their own but I want no part of it so I won’t be responding to her.

We have a CEV person in the household.

So I would reply that it has been illuminating to see that she thinks X's life worthless.

And that would be it

I'd have to respond so she knows your cutting her off

Just say I do t want to correspond as your clearly on a completely different wavelength and don't get in touch in future

I have a women on my Facebook page like this. I made one teeny remark and she has bombarded my feed with shit. Clearly mad !!

I have colleagues in the UK who say similar things, don't watch the news and get all their information from bogus YouTube channels and Facebook. I despair.

I’d tell her COVID was killing hundreds of thousands in the UK but things have improved with the vaccine!

@Rocketearth
Wow, I'd wonder why someone would want to send me something like this email in the first place, obviously not interested in you but just having a rant - and conclude she has no one left that wants to listen to her. Sounds like an awful character, covid or not.