The stupidity of the anti-vaxx nutcases

[Clair De Lune]

That's cruel to the cat too I know it doesn't help with the actual issue but could you get cat stroking gloves?

 

[LeytonCatLady]

That's cruel to the cat too I know it doesn't help with the actual issue but could you get cat stroking gloves?

I didn't know they were a thing!

 

[Clair De Lune]

I didn't know they were a thing!

We can make it a thing VaxCats21™

 

[hitmouse]

I think he just means time will tell. He's not anti-vax in general, just scared of the Covid jab and wants more time to assess if it's safe. The only proof he can offer is from random articles written by people like Joseph Mercola and Kate somebody, and he accepts it without question because they have medical qualifications. Trying to point out that having qualifications isn't the same as using them responsibly doesn't seem to work either.

And I take it pointing out that there are, in fact, several people who have medical qualifications who think you should get the vaccine hasn't helped? Sounds like a horrible situation.

 

[Yossarian]

We can make it a thing VaxCats21™

"Like a mask, but for your hands." ™

 

[Dystopiary]

I think he just means time will tell. He's not anti-vax in general, just scared of the Covid jab and wants more time to assess if it's safe. The only proof he can offer is from random articles written by people like Joseph Mercola and Kate somebody, and he accepts it without question because they have medical qualifications. Trying to point out that having qualifications isn't the same as using them responsibly doesn't seem to work either.

Not Kate Shemirani, the nurse who recently got struck of because of her spreading of dangerous misinforamtion?

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

I think he just means time will tell. He's not anti-vax in general, just scared of the Covid jab and wants more time to assess if it's safe. The only proof he can offer is from random articles written by people like Joseph Mercola and Kate somebody, and he accepts it without question because they have medical qualifications. Trying to point out that having qualifications isn't the same as using them responsibly doesn't seem to work either.

joseph mercola is a dietary supplement peddler (albeit a qualified osteopath), and kate shemirani has just been struck off, there is a video of her son being interviewed explaining quite how off the rail she is.
Not sure how you can break this to him without creating conflict in your household though, shitty situation.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

joseph mercola is a dietary supplement peddler (albeit a qualified osteopath), and kate shemirani has just been struck off, there is a video of her son being interviewed explaining quite how off the rail she is.
Not sure how you can break this to him without creating conflict in your household though, shitty situation.

I have explained that to him. Unfortunately, I think he views the Shemirani situation as her being victimised or "silenced" rather than just sacked for spreading bullshit (as a salesperson would be if they misrepresented their product) and thinks Mercola's "qualified" status is enough reason to take him at his word without questioning it. He says he's going to send me more articles by different people. I'll read them when he does, but not sure I'll have the mental energy to debunk them tonight, although I'd comfortably bet everything I own on their authors also having a dubious history too.

I always knew we didn't see eye to eye on this, but enjoyed our kitchen debates as a trio because we could still disagree respectfully. I'm very upset at the idea that I might not be welcome any more and that I've been shunned and consigned to the naughty chair, and also that he no longer trusts me around his cat, who I've looked after in the past when he's been away and who seems to quite like me.

 

[WouldBe]

He then said he might consider socialising with me again if I didn't get the second jab.

When it's due get the second jab and just don't tell the nutter you've had it.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

When it's due get the second jab and just don't tell the nutter you've had it.

Thank you. I'll definitely get it, because I shouldn't have to do the wrong thing just to humour someone's paranoid opinions, but yeah. I might need to lie for the sake of keeping the peace in the house, which pisses me off because I thought I'd left that behind in my last flatshare (not about this specifically, but just certain flatmates who I needed to avoid making angry). But you're right that's an option.

 

[Serge Forward]

When it's due get the second jab and just don't tell the nutter you've had it.

And shit in his shoes, the twat.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I have explained that to him. Unfortunately, I think he views the Shemirani situation as her being victimised or "silenced" rather than just sacked for spreading bullshit ...

Has he seen/heard the interview with her son, who explains how mad she is, and has been for years?

I posted links in THIS POST.

If he still thinks she is being victimised, after listening to her son, he's totally lost down the rabbit hole.

 

[bimble]

ah that's really sad LeytonCatLady. I think i've lost at least one old friend over this stuff but that's a hell of a lot easier than falling out with the people you live with. Poor cat too.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Thanks bimble , cupid_stunt and everyone else who's replied. I spoke to him this morning and we're both calmer after a good night's sleep. We've kind of agreed to disagree about the vaccine, as he says he's not really sure what to think as we're all being bombarded with different advice from all sides. He apologised for snapping at me and admitted he was harsh but it just stemmed from anxiety. I accepted the apology and let him know I would never put the cat at risk because I love her as much as he does, and that if he's uncomfortable about me touching her, I respect that. He's fine with us still crossing paths and chatting, and I explained that I think it's fine for us to disagree on this issue and I don't want this to come between us as friends, so we've agreed to physically distance when talking. We both think that's a fair compromise.

 

[hitmouse]

Yeah, I was annoyed that one (and I think two, but the second guy doesn't really talk much) of my housemates weren't getting it, but that's still a lot better than your situation. What's the third housemate like, are they also anti-vax leaning?

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Yeah, I was annoyed that one (and I think two, but the second guy doesn't really talk much) of my housemates weren't getting it, but that's still a lot better than your situation. What's the third housemate like, are they also anti-vax leaning?

The third housemate is sceptical of the Covid vaccine for similar reasons (it was rushed through, he thinks Covid has too low a mortality rate to justify it etc) but he's still been masking up and social distancing because he doesn't want to risk anyone's life, so he seems to contradict himself. I think he's not sure what to believe either. Also, his mum's a doctor who's had her jab, and she's fine, so he's not entirely anti. However, he invited me along to his birthday get-together in the park and said he wasn't bothered that I was jabbed because we don't exactly get in each others personal space anyway! So he takes sensible precautions but doesn't make a big thing of it.

 

[cupid_stunt]

he thinks Covid has too low a mortality rate to justify it ...

That's all very well, but does he fancy getting it & ending-up with 'long covid', over a million people are still suffering months after infection, in some cases over a year on, that's bloody grim, is he aware of that?

 

[LeytonCatLady]

That's all very well, but does he fancy getting it & ending-up with 'long covid', over a million people are still suffering months after infection, in some cases over a year on, that's bloody grim, is he aware of that?

I've tried to tell him, but he's kind of dismissive! Some people assume that'll never happen to them...until it does.

 

[scalyboy]

Thanks bimble , cupid_stunt and everyone else who's replied. I spoke to him this morning and we're both calmer after a good night's sleep. We've kind of agreed to disagree about the vaccine, as he says he's not really sure what to think as we're all being bombarded with different advice from all sides. He apologised for snapping at me and admitted he was harsh but it just stemmed from anxiety. I accepted the apology and let him know I would never put the cat at risk because I love her as much as he does, and that if he's uncomfortable about me touching her, I respect that. He's fine with us still crossing paths and chatting, and I explained that I think it's fine for us to disagree on this issue and I don't want this to come between us as friends, so we've agreed to physically distance when talking. We both think that's a fair compromise.

Sympathies - you're in a tricky and unpleasant situation. I would find it upsetting to banned from stroking a cat that I loved, and all because of this farcical 'shedding' fantasy. But congrats for managing to reach this compromise. Is there any chance you could move out? I used to live with someone whose politics, as I got to know her better, became more and more unappealing and distasteful to me. I'd try to keep quiet but every so often ferocious arguments would erupt. We tried not to talk politics but whenever the news came on the radio it was tense, as she would sometimes make a comment. I moved out in the end.
What I mean is: well done for achieving this truce, but I'm not sure it can last for ever, if they persist in acting on their silly views it may become intolerable. Just my two cents.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I've tried to tell him, but he's kind of dismissive! Some people assume that'll never happen to them...until it does.

I am sure the majority of the 4.5m that have tested positive in the UK, the 1m+ long covid suffers, and 150k+ dead, thought it would never happen to them.

Sorry, you're having to put up with this level of ignorance and sheer stupidity.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Sympathies - you're in a tricky and unpleasant situation. I would find it upsetting to banned from stroking a cat that I loved, and all because of this farcical 'shedding' fantasy. But congrats for managing to reach this compromise. Is there any chance you could move out? I used to live with someone whose politics, as I got to know her better, became more and more unappealing and distasteful to me. I'd try to keep quiet but every so often ferocious arguments would erupt. We tried not to talk politics but whenever the news came on the radio it was tense, as she would sometimes make a comment. I moved out in the end.
What I mean is: well done for achieving this truce, but I'm not sure it can last for ever, if they persist in acting on their silly views it may become intolerable. Just my two cents.

I don't want to move out, I like this house! Anyway, I've only been here since September. I would if he was being a real dickhead all the time, but I can forgive him snapping at me in a moment of stress. After all, we've all been guilty of that. We've agreed to see how things go.

I think we kind of agree with each other but are coming at it from different angles. Like, he doesn't believe the vaccines will make a difference and the government will still find reasons to restrict us, so he's being wary of anyone vaccinated. I'm also scared there will be restrictions for ages, which is why it's important to me to keep my friendship with these two housemates. There's five of us there altogether. The other two are a civil servant currently working from home, who has had his jabs but doesn't interact much; and a bus driver who's always friendly but has chosen not to get the jab himself - however, he views this as a matter of personal choice and hasn't judged me for getting mine. I don't know what he thinks about shedding and am praying it won't occur to him because it could leave me with limited people to talk to! And I can't afford to move anywhere right now, so I'd be stuck. That's why I want to maintain friendly relations if I can.

 

[scalyboy]

I don't want to move out, I like this house! Anyway, I've only been here since September. I would if he was being a real dickhead all the time, but I can forgive him snapping at me in a moment of stress. After all, we've all been guilty of that. We've agreed to see how things go.

I think we kind of agree with each other but are coming at it from different angles. Like, he doesn't believe the vaccines will make a difference and the government will still find reasons to restrict us, so he's being wary of anyone vaccinated. I'm also scared there will be restrictions for ages, which is why it's important to me to keep my friendship with these two housemates. There's five of us there altogether. The other two are a civil servant currently working from home, who has had his jabs but doesn't interact much; and a bus driver who's always friendly but has chosen not to get the jab himself - however, he views this as a matter of personal choice and hasn't judged me for getting mine. I don't know what he thinks about shedding and am praying it won't occur to him because it could leave me with limited people to talk to! And I can't afford to move anywhere right now, so I'd be stuck. That's why I want to maintain friendly relations if I can.

Certainly there's no reason why you should move out, if anything he should, he can go and live in an anti-vaxxer commune
But seriously, that's great if you've managed to maintain friendly relations. And you never know, maybe he will modify his views over time, once it becomes clear that this shedding nonsense is nothing more than a fantasy, and when the vaccinated millions are shown not to have dropped dead, grown extra heads or become Bluetooth-enabled...

You said "he doesn't believe the vaccines will make a difference" - I do wonder if some of the more 'moderate' vaccine-hesitant people are beginning to change their opinions as it's becoming clearer that the vaccination programme has been a major factor in slowing the infection rate. It plainly is making a difference. Maybe the more extreme ones will dismiss the stats as 'MSM propaganda' but the more sane ones will abandon their position?

 

[Combustible]

She makes a compelling argument

 

[keybored]

She makes a compelling argument

She sticks to her key point.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

She makes a compelling argument

Is she just a liar who knows how that trick works, or does she really not know how it works?

The expressions on the people behind her.

 

[DaveCinzano]

She makes a compelling argument

So gosh-darned smart she even squeezed some extra DO UR RESEARCH!1!11!! in the lunch break

 

[Orang Utan]

It’s because ignorance and gullibility make you magnetic

 

[DaveCinzano]

It’s because ignorance and gullibility make you magnetic

And that's why Australians are so clever and sceptical - you can't fight science

 

[scalyboy]

She makes a compelling argument

“YO! Magnets!” - Jesse from Breaking Bad

 

[keybored]