Are anti-vaccine people conspiracy theorists generally?

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Why would you ostracize someone with HIV or AIDS? Why would they need to be quarantined, which I never suggested they should be. People with HIV have been prosecuted for knowingly spreading HIV, but in general it is relatively difficult outside of intercourse or sharing needles to get HIV unlike the flu, MMR, TB etc.

Public health measures actually evolved rather quickly with our understanding of HIV. The Practice of Public Health - The Social Impact Of AIDS In The United States - NCBI Bookshelf

Your first paragraph - this was not known in the beginning. At least, the general public, people outside of those who unleashed this deadly virus, did not know anything in the beginning, and quarantine was called for by many, including our nation's leaders, lawmakers, etc.

Isn't it interesting that a flu virus somehow knows, each Autumn/Winter, that it's time to come out of dormancy and go infect people?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Thank you for continuing to provide evidence to the OP.

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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.

It's absolutely the truth. When anti-vaxxers are given the argument that their stance puts the vulnerable at risk, their standard response is that their responsibility lies solely with their own kids. The greater good is not relevant to them. I stand by my words. By the way, nice how you tried to put words in my mouth. I never said anything about anyone being monsters.

"Snowflake" is the perfect description. I don't care if you don't approve. I'm not trying to be different or original. This isn't a creative writing class.

The "solution" is that we maintain herd immunity to protect the vulnerable in our society. The antivax movement puts that at real jeopardy. There are some things that can be compromised on. Since herd immunity is a mathematical requirement, the numbers have to be met. It's not a matter of opinion and is not influenced by any desire to give equal weight to "beliefs".

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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.

Then say something that means something and back it up. Nurses are not traditionally so anti science.

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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.

Okay, you may be an RN

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, Burn ICU.
Then say something that means something and back it up. Nurses are not traditionally so anti science.

You all are up in arms about ONE nurse on here, AN.... this thread specifically, which is a very narrow slice of the nursing population as a whole.

I'm sorry that you don't think I've contributed anything meaningful to this conversation. I don't think what I've said can be heard over the noise. No worries. I'm out.

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Eh, I find conspiracy theorists usually lack the proper explanation of how they ended up where they ended up in society and life and these conspiracy theories offer a seemingly logical explanation. The moms who cling to these beliefs instead of taking ownership of the fact that they had a child in their 40's and its that choice that increased their chances of having a child with needs/ autism. Its easier to believe in conspiracies than the truth sometimes. .

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Dream on.

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

Do you fail to see you have issues with your personal beliefs? The evidence is there and you can clearly see it isn't coherent to your personal beliefs, but you fail to provide any substantiating evidence to support your beliefs you just hold more tightly to your beliefs.

Do you ever change your mind when presented with facts?

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Dream on.

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

Lol. How ironic.

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I don't know if most anti vaccine folks are conspiracy theorists.

But, I think if you turn the question around, the answer is probably yes.

In other words, if you were to ask a bunch of people who believe in conspiracy theories about vaccines, they would be against vaccines.

I think the same could be said for many groups who believe things that are not true.

Take, for example, birthers. Sadly, a significant percentage of people in this country believe Obama is not American. In other words, there are whole bunch of gullible morons out there. If you were to poll that group, would probably find a huge percentage of anti vaccine people.

I think the same could be said for many groups of gullible, simple minded people.

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Oh yeah- regarding the direction this thread has taken- a quote from Mark Twain:

"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

(I think he commandeered proverbs 26;4, but that's not my strong suit.)

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Oh yeah- regarding the direction this thread has taken- a quote from Mark Twain:

"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

(I think he commandeered proverbs 26;4, but that's not my strong suit.)

Why I bowed out of this thread several pages ago.

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