COVID Misinformation/Ignorance

[Guest219794]

I am lucky that I don't have to deal with that.  My family understands the difference between political propaganda and science.  And- I chose my friends, so no surprise that they aren't idiots.

My suggestion:  Treat it like religion.  Religion has nothing to do science, knowledge, or facts.  Religion is based on faith.  I have come to understand that this current political faction is like a religion, complete with charismatic leaders, etc...

A huge portion of this country believes that the earth is 5,000 years old.  If the subject came up, would you try to convince them otherwise?  Smile, move on, and talk about the weather.

Admittedly, it's not a great analogy.  For the most part, those who perpetuate a fundamental, literal interpretation of the bible actually believe it.  In this case, those who instigated the massive disinformation campaign did it purely for political gain.  These are people who rely heavily on science when they invest in the oil fields recommended by geologists, seek out the best oncologists, etc...  They know full well that the public health measures they scorn would save thousands of lives, but continue with there BS to maintain and build power using their ignorant followers as disposable commodities. 

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

14 hours ago, hherrn said:

I am lucky that I don't have to deal with that.  My family understands the difference between political propaganda and science.  And- I chose my friends, so no surprise that they aren't idiots.

My suggestion:  Treat it like religion.  Religion has nothing to do science, knowledge, or facts.  Religion is based on faith.  I have come to understand that this current political faction is like a religion, complete with charismatic leaders, etc...

A huge portion of this country believes that the earth is 5,000 years old.  If the subject came up, would you try to convince them otherwise?  Smile, move on, and talk about the weather.

Admittedly, it's not a great analogy.  For the most part, those who perpetuate a fundamental, literal interpretation of the bible actually believe it.  In this case, those who instigated the massive disinformation campaign did it purely for political gain.  These are people who rely heavily on science when they invest in the oil fields recommended by geologists, seek out the best oncologists, etc...  They know full well that the public health measures they scorn would save thousands of lives, but continue with there BS to maintain and build power using their ignorant followers as disposable commodities. 

Agreed 100%.  Also fascinating that so many of those who are rejecting the truth and insinuating that the lives of the elderly who were "old and sick anyways" are meaningless, often also staunchly proclaim to be "pro-life." ?

[Cari1030, RN]

I feel this in my soul, ha. 

I just graduated in August, I was doing clinicals when Covid showed up here (I'm only about 45 mins from where the first cases showed up in the US; my older daughter went to school with the teen known as the second patient here), I did my preceptorship all Summer, and throughout all of this, I've been working my normal job in retail. I don't think the public expects to run into a RN student (or now, a licensed RN, as I don't have a job as a nurse yet), so they like to tell me all about the conspiracy theories out there and how stupid all of this is and how it's all fake. It drives me nuts! 

I'm lucky because my family and most of my friends are totally not on that level and the nurses I worked with in the hospital were amazingly level headed as well. But the general public...arg, I can't. 

I like to vent via facebook arguments. ?

[Cari1030, RN]

I also keep getting asked my opinion about the vaccine, if I'm getting it, etc...and then people go into a rant about how it's not safe and I'm probably going to die and blah blah blah. 

[guest1143647]

On 1/23/2021 at 12:28 PM, SmilingBluEyes said:

There is ignorance and there is willful ignorance. The latter is what frustrates me.  And all those working in healthcare are sick and tired of it.

What can we do? As nurses we educate but those willfully deciding to remain ignorant, we can do nothing about.

I hope this vent helped; I sure don't have a lot of advice. Hang in there and don't forget to breathe and let go of what you cannot control yourself.

(((hugs)))

You might be surpised)or maybe not),but MANY healthcare professionals actually promote these ignorant and false beliefs.

There was a coworker(a nurse) that believed Covid was caused by 5G cell towers. Another nurse thought that since I worked in a facility that I should not be allowed to work in homecare because I worked in a LTC facility around Covid patients. Yet this same nurse NEVER wears a mask at work. She gets away with it because it is one on one nursing with no supervisors around.

[SteeleFox]

I'm a pre-nursing student who has been motivation by the pandemic to return to school and get my BSN so that I may help my community. Seeing all the disinformation going around about COVID has been disheartening. But seeing how much my nursing friends have made a positive impact on this fight has been my inspiration to finally follow my dreams.

GS ED, you and all the other nurses who have been fighting this pandemic and giving it your all are true heroes. Please don't let the ignorant individuals who choose to believe fiction over science bring you down. Just remember that there are plenty of us who have seen what all of you are doing and hope to one day be on the front lines helping to combat this and future epidemics. You are worth far more than you could even imagine. Thank you for doing what you do and dedicating your life to this profession. 

[toomuchbaloney]

COVID Task Force Briefing

The best way to combat misinformation is with good information. 

[MarkMyWords]

Here are some reasons for the ignorance. Naive and gullible people who don't know anything about science including educated individuals with PhDs.  Secondly. A distrust of doctors and the medical "greedy" business. Third. A distrust and skepticism toward the media and government that is not telling us the whole truth and is scaring us into submission.  Fourth. Some denial and wishful thinking that is widespread.   All in all people believe what they want to believe. It is often not logical or rational. Based on feelings and emotion

I am not saying these reasons or excuses justify stupidity but it explains it. Basic psychology of belief that I have studied for years. It also applies to conspiracy theories and strange beliefs and politics. I have a friend a PhD who is like  this because of the internet rubbish and thinks the election and space travel was faked. Just avoid listening to them!