Are anti-vaccine people conspiracy theorists generally?

[Emergent]

I have an old friend from years ago who I now keep in touch with on Facebook. Her posts are fascinating in the amazing variety of conspiracy theories, some outrageous, some maybe partially true. She's a big believer that cannabis oil will cure just about anything and that information of course is being suppressed by the drug companies and the government.

She blames many, if not all, health problems on vaccines. She also subscribes to some disturbing anti-Semitic ideologies, blaming the network of high powered Jews, led by the evil Rothschild family.

I swear, the internet has turned slightly eccentric people into extremists. 30 years ago this woman was into macrobiotics, native Americans, and New Age philosophies.

[Farawyn]

I want to live in a free society.

That means I have to let people make their own decisions about not being injected with flu vaccine, even if those decisions are wrong, misguided, not based on evidence, etc.

I also understand that attempts to use force and actual force will just cause them to strengthen and steel themselves against vaccination further, because that is human nature.

If we were talking about a virus that was causing mass death or deformity I would change my stance and say go ahead and use force. We're not there.

Yes, because many people are educated and get the flu shot. You do realize how many people actually do die from the flu each year, do you not?

[Farawyn]

Oh Boston. Conspiracy Theory is just a subcategory of Paranoia. We've certainly seen some paranoia (with a touch of drama) from the pro vaccine side, for example...

"Antiscience will be the undoing of the world" (cue scary music).

It will be. Vaccines alone. If you lot get your way of a "free society" and all meds and vaccines are done away with and we rub lavender oil all over each other, it will be the end of us all.

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

It will be. Vaccines alone. If you lot get your way of a "free society" and all meds and vaccines are done away with and we rub lavender oil all over each other, it will be the end of us all.

I'm unclear about what you are trying to say here. Are you asserting that MY desire is to get rid of all vaccines? And run lavender oil on people? Lol.

Even though I have said over and over I am provaccine?

I have argued here for talking to people respectfully about this issue and realize we all come to the table with anecdotes and biases -- and that those things color how we talk about things. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Honestly I think anything I've said in this thread is common sense. But I will agree, I haven't made super sexy sweeping generalizations that make for great drama and angst. And yeah, I'm not sure what exactly mandates should look like. Sue me, or make assumptions about me, villianize me and put me in the antivaxx camp -- because it's fun to do that, right?

And it's also super helpful in having meaningful discourse.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

It should be abundantly clear by now that anti-vaxxers do not care about the vulnerable and compromised people in society, so bringing them up in any conversation is completely futile. They say over and over that it's just not their responsibility to consider other people when making decisions about their kids. They care only about their own children, who are apparently hearty and healthy in the face of serious diseases, but for some reason are delicate snowflakes with respect to vaccines. They so fear vaccines, many of which are composed of 'killed" or inactivated viruses, yet show no significant apprehension about their kids coming into contact with the real, full strength thing. It makes zero sense to prefer to expose a child to a live, completely intact microorganism versus an inactivated, weakened, or "killed" one. But logic is not really their strong suit.

That's a silly thing to say. We are not monsters who care nothing for our fellow man. Stir the pot much?

"Snowflakes" is overused and outmoded. Be creative and come up with something different and original.

Thanks for the illogical label. You just want to fight, not work toward a solution.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Oh, it was funny. A little levity.

It's not really funny when some of your colleagues are being vicious - like you deciding, without even saying why, that I'm not an RN. I'd bet that I've been one at least as long as or longer than you have been alive.

If you were the recipient of meanness, you wouldn't find it so funny.

So many people on here get angry right away. There's no real room for any difference of opinions. Sad thing for supposed professionals, mature men and women.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I do hope your children have never used the internet or a cell phone. Because, take it for what it is, sex is easy to find. And a lot of it is not factual, unfortunately. In my experience, pre-teens and teens seek it out when they aren't getting any factual information about it. Kids are curious creatures and Media is extremely easy to find and access.

I also agree that parents need to be the moral compass for their children when it comes to sex - if you have read my previous posts, we are on the same page with that. Presenting facts is just that. Facts. Comprehensive sex education is meant to help parents start and continue conversations at home. I have many tools to do so for parents.

I also send home a letter before I teach telling parents what comprehensive sex education is, the topics we cover, and give them an option to opt their child out of it. Thus far, I have not had one parent opt their child out of the class.

I admit you also lost me at the Duggars. Their belief system included covering up the sexual assaults of their own daughters by their son.

I agree their son and the parents' cover-up of his behavior were wrong. I forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Again this is part of a fundamental element of conspiracist ideation, the ability to hold simultaneous belief in two mutually exclusive beliefs.

In this life, there are many, many choices we must make as to whose interests come before someone else's interests.

You want yours to come first, too.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Not wanting to repeat herself because you were too lazy to read the evidence she already provided is not a cop out.

You have assumed that I didn't read it. I actually did read it. So there, Ms. Smarty Pants.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

She was lost because what you said made absolutely zero sense.

You her mouthpiece?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Wow, I just noticed my autocorrect put "nude" instead of Nurse...

When all else fails, take your clothes off.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Yet again Kooky- I really can not tell if you are shooting for irony, or what.

I sometimes wonder how people pick a name for this forum. I am not wondering that now.

Aren't you the clever one!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

1. No, illegal immigrants are rarely a problem with vaccination rates. False Narrative on Measles Outbreak - FactCheck.org. Statistics | At a glance: Mexico | UNICEF Legal immigrants have to show proof of being fully vaccinated prior to immigrating. The recent outbreak of measles at Disneyland was caused from European visitors being inadequately/not vaccinated. It had nothing to do with immigrants.

2. It is highly unlikely that any natural castophe would ever release biological pathogens due to the safeguards set in place. The military does not produce biological agents for war. That was outlawed in the 1970s.

Dream on.

There is none so blind as he who will not see.