Convincing the antivaxers otherwise?

[RubySlippers123]

Anyone had any success at this or have any resources they would care to share?

A friend is driving me nuts with all the complete tosh she keeps sharing on FB. 🙈

Is she anti-vaxx in general or just doesn’t want the coronavirus vaccine?

@RubySlippers123 is she anti vaccine or just reluctant to get the covid vaccine?

If the latter, have you considered leaving her to have her opinions? You have your pro covid vaccine views and she likely considers everything you are sharing with her tosh.

Not everyone has to agree on everything and it's more likely than not that the more you push your views she'll push back with hers and you'll both a) get nowhere b) lose out on a friendship.

You can't. Just ignore them. They don't have much else going on with their lives if they want to spend time watching YouTube videos and sharing crap on facebook.

@RubySlippers123

Anyone had any success at this or have any resources they would care to share?

A friend is driving me nuts with all the complete tosh she keeps sharing on FB. 🙈

Honestly I wouldn't even bother at this point!

The anti-vax campaigns throughout the UK have been intense, sneaky and backed up by a huge amount of people with scientific connections (see HART, usforthem, FLCCC, Sam White, Yeadon etc).

By the time you've carefully responded to an article explaining why it's tosh, she'll have produced 10 new ones, it's a losing battle.

I'd attempt convincing if it was someone who was at high risk of COVID and was anti-vaccine (or someone who was terrified of COVID and was affecting MH), otherwise, spend your time on relaxing hobbies

There's a relevant saying that translates very badly but it's basically "if you argue with stupid you'll end up an idiot"

Calling someone an antivaxer, is unhelpful & contentious IMHO, is your friend against all vaccines or just this one?

I agree with you though, on the point that neither should your friend be subjecting you to FB nonsense. Ignore her posts and do not engage. I don’t expect your friend will change their mind, so why bother?

If you don't like what she posts then just unfollow her so you don't see it.

Is your friend just sharing stuff, or is she targetting you specifically and expecting a response?
If it's the former just try to scroll by. If it's the latter - you can argue until you're blue in the face but you won't shift her, in all likelihood, so it's better for you to find a way to disengage and ignore it. She'll get bored with your lack of response and move on to someone else probably. It's not your job to change her, any more than it's her job to change you.

There’s no point. Just ignore her.

This really winds me up. Are they really an "anti vaxxer" which is bandied about far too much imho or does she have some personal concerns about the vaccine?

Before I get piled upon I have had both, I work in the NHS, I have colleagues and my husband even who are not comfortable with it. That's fine. That is their right!

NO ONE should be judged for their choice on medical intervention. Anyone been judged for having pain relief for childbirth? No ones business.

And that crap about being selfish has been proved wrong. The vaccine looks after the person who has it. Not the whole sodding population. I'm sick of the virtue signalling.

@clemensiadove

This really winds me up. Are they really an "anti vaxxer" which is bandied about far too much imho or does she have some personal concerns about the vaccine?

Before I get piled upon I have had both, I work in the NHS, I have colleagues and my husband even who are not comfortable with it. That's fine. That is their right!

NO ONE should be judged for their choice on medical intervention. Anyone been judged for having pain relief for childbirth? No ones business.

And that crap about being selfish has been proved wrong. The vaccine looks after the person who has it. Not the whole sodding population. I'm sick of the virtue signalling.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Are they really an "anti vaxxer" which is bandied about far too much imho or does she have some personal concerns about the vaccine?

People with "some personal concerns" about the vaccine don't generally repeatedly share them on facebook

And that crap about being selfish has been proved wrong. The vaccine looks after the person who has it. Not the whole sodding population. I'm sick of the virtue signalling.

@wannabeamummysobad

Untrue. Vaccination reduces onward transmission and clinical severity. They're the main reason we've been able to open up and likely to have prevent the emergence of new variants here in the UK.

It's everyone's choice whether to have it or not, and no one should be called selfish for turning it down, but trying to claim vaccination only has benefits for the individual is not true (doesn't stop the anti-vax contingent promoting it though!) .

What information is your friend sharing on FB @RubySlippers123 ?

I'm not on FB (largely because it sounds like a den of lunacy and life is too short) but anecdotally I've heard that there is all sorts of unusual opinions on there about lizards, vaccines designed to kill after 2 years, 5G...probably more but that's all I can remember.

Is it that sort of thing?

I just shrug and say your choice to play Russian roulette! I mute anything on Facebook.
I know from being extremely ill that what you "should be" on paper isn't reality! I should have been mild due to age, fitness and diet reality was I was hypoxic.

The latest You Are Not So Smart podcast is worth listening to, if there is someone that you can spend time with and would like to work towards helping them change their mind.

You’ll not change someone’s mind over Facebook.

Being against one vaccine doesn't make you an anti-vaxxer.

I have a few people like this on Facebook, I just unfollow them so it doesn't come up on my newsfeed - can you not just do that?

I've had both my jags but also believe everyone's entitled to their own opinions and decisions. Leave them to make their own choices and unfollow or unfriend them if you don't want to see it

She's trying to influence you by posting on Facebook

You are trying to work out a way to influence her

How about you agree to disagree? People used to be able to do that without much bother - we don't all need to be the same.

@speckledostrichegg I think you might have been too keen to prove me wrong that you missed the fact I never posted the comment- just simply applauded someone for make it.

On the point of "people with personal opinions not sharing them repeatedly" that's ridiculous. Most of my friends are pro covid vaccine and share thoughts at every given opportunity.

Personally I do think it virtue signalling and completely hypocritical. Most people I know who are double jabbed didn't do it for "society" they did it so they could travel without quarantining and for their own health concerns. In fact I'd say the travel jabbers are worse as they travel with little regard for the impact on the citizens of the countries they are visiting and the wider vaccination rates there but that's for another day.

Just leave people be. If people want the covid vaccine it's their prerogative, if they don't it's theirs too.

And before someone pulls the "strain on the NHS" card - we are all a strain on the NHS!
Unless you are going to say smokers, drinkers, your silly DC who drunkenly cuts their hand on glass, the DV victim who repeatedly goes back to their abuser, the parent who knew ahead of the birth the child had a high chance of needing lots of medical intervention etc shouldn't have access to the NHS we all fund then your argument is mute.

Covid exists, some people will die if they contract it. If you are worried vaccinate yourself and your immediate family. Do not travel internationally and most importantly stay out of other peoples choices.

@speckledostrichegg

The anti-vax campaigns throughout the UK have been intense, sneaky and backed up by a huge amount of people with scientific connections (see HART, usforthem, FLCCC, Sam White, Yeadon etc).

This. Also PCR Claims, the Telegraph.

They are securing funding from somewhere, to orchestrate this mass attack on UK public health. For what means, it's still unclear, but I do hope their house of cards isn't too far from tumbling down.

[quote DumplingsAndStew]@speckledostrichegg

The anti-vax campaigns throughout the UK have been intense, sneaky and backed up by a huge amount of people with scientific connections (see HART, usforthem, FLCCC, Sam White, Yeadon etc).

This. Also PCR Claims, the Telegraph.

They are securing funding from somewhere, to orchestrate this mass attack on UK public health. For what means, it's still unclear, but I do hope their house of cards isn't too far from tumbling down.[/quote]
And you are not on the conspiracy theory side?

It's a confusing world right now - because that sure as hell sounds exactly like a conspiracy theory yet it is not because it is on the 'right side'!

[quote wannabeamummysobad]@speckledostrichegg I think you might have been too keen to prove me wrong that you missed the fact I never posted the comment- just simply applauded someone for make it.

On the point of "people with personal opinions not sharing them repeatedly" that's ridiculous. Most of my friends are pro covid vaccine and share thoughts at every given opportunity.

Personally I do think it virtue signalling and completely hypocritical. Most people I know who are double jabbed didn't do it for "society" they did it so they could travel without quarantining and for their own health concerns. In fact I'd say the travel jabbers are worse as they travel with little regard for the impact on the citizens of the countries they are visiting and the wider vaccination rates there but that's for another day.

Just leave people be. If people want the covid vaccine it's their prerogative, if they don't it's theirs too.

And before someone pulls the "strain on the NHS" card - we are all a strain on the NHS!
Unless you are going to say smokers, drinkers, your silly DC who drunkenly cuts their hand on glass, the DV victim who repeatedly goes back to their abuser, the parent who knew ahead of the birth the child had a high chance of needing lots of medical intervention etc shouldn't have access to the NHS we all fund then your argument is mute.

Covid exists, some people will die if they contract it. If you are worried vaccinate yourself and your immediate family. Do not travel internationally and most importantly stay out of other peoples choices. [/quote]
Presumably if you applaud something it means you agree with it?

So you also mistakenly think vaccination only has benefits for the individual?

@speckledostrichegg since you are so concerned the parts that my applause focused on are in bold below.

This really winds me up. Are they really an "anti vaxxer" which is bandied about far too much imho or does she have some personal concerns about the vaccine?

Before I get piled upon I have had both, I work in the NHS, I have colleagues and my husband even who are not comfortable with it. That's fine. That is their right!

NO ONE should be judged for their choice on medical intervention. Anyone been judged for having pain relief for childbirth? No ones business.

@hamstersarse

Which bit pertains to conspiracy theory?

The link between these organisations has been proven.
The fact that they are being funded is self explanatory.
The "mass attack" between organisations has been demonstrated by the leaked Telegram conversations where individuals have discussed plans and diversionary tactics".

I guess that may loosely fit the definition of "conspiracy theory", but does it fully when it's shown with fact rather than theory?

[quote DumplingsAndStew]@hamstersarse

Which bit pertains to conspiracy theory?

The link between these organisations has been proven.
The fact that they are being funded is self explanatory.
The "mass attack" between organisations has been demonstrated by the leaked Telegram conversations where individuals have discussed plans and diversionary tactics".

I guess that may loosely fit the definition of "conspiracy theory", but does it fully when it's shown with fact rather than theory?[/quote]
Said like a true conspiracy theorist

They are always based on 'fact'

Possibly referring to this part irt conspiracy theories -

They are securing funding from somewhere, to orchestrate this mass attack on UK public health. For what means, it's still unclear, but I do hope their house of cards isn't too far from tumbling down.