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I want to talk about this too...
I do think people often miss the whole point of “arguing with anti-vaxxers”.
I AM NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF THE ANTIVAXXERS!
But what you can do is show the genuinely hesitant how ridiculous antivax lies are.
Correct the lies.
Reassure. https://twitter.com/ENirenberg/status/1332104110208937988
I do think people often miss the whole point of “arguing with anti-vaxxers”.
I AM NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF THE ANTIVAXXERS!
But what you can do is show the genuinely hesitant how ridiculous antivax lies are.
Correct the lies.
Reassure. https://twitter.com/ENirenberg/status/1332104110208937988
One way this is articulated (often by those you’d hope would know better) is:
“Don’t call them anti-vaxxers: it alienates them, and people have genuine concerns...”
YES WE KNOW!
Those of us who’ve spent years arguing with actual #antivaxxers and also reassuring the hesitant
1/
“Don’t call them anti-vaxxers: it alienates them, and people have genuine concerns...”
YES WE KNOW!
Those of us who’ve spent years arguing with actual #antivaxxers and also reassuring the hesitant
1/
...we can actually spot when someone is genuinely hesitant pretty quickly.
Or whether they are sealioning, or JAQing off.
There are what one might call “tells”.
Sometimes there will be exceptions. But you know who is really good at spotting an actual #antivaxxer?
2/
Or whether they are sealioning, or JAQing off.
There are what one might call “tells”.
Sometimes there will be exceptions. But you know who is really good at spotting an actual #antivaxxer?
2/
People who have actually spent years engaging with them in the, as it were, trenches.
And you know what? We know quite a lot of them by name, or in many cases names.
I’m not planning on playing football with them or singing carols anytime soon, though.
And you know what? We know quite a lot of them by name, or in many cases names.
I’m not planning on playing football with them or singing carols anytime soon, though.
And this brings me to another point:
“Don’t mock them! Don’t be rude! It looks bad, and you lose the moral high ground*!”
No.
No.
No.
They deserve mockery.
They are risible.
They deserve rudeness, and insults.
These people spread lies which kill and maim.
*Or something?
“Don’t mock them! Don’t be rude! It looks bad, and you lose the moral high ground*!”
No.
No.
No.
They deserve mockery.
They are risible.
They deserve rudeness, and insults.
These people spread lies which kill and maim.
*Or something?
We should mock them.
The popularity of successful put downs of #antivaxxers on FB sites dedicated to such things, and reddit threads etc shows that the vaccine hesitant like a good meme...
Ridicule them, but never forget how dangerous they are.
Their lies maim and kill.
The popularity of successful put downs of #antivaxxers on FB sites dedicated to such things, and reddit threads etc shows that the vaccine hesitant like a good meme...
Ridicule them, but never forget how dangerous they are.
Their lies maim and kill.
So please, before you condescendingly suggesting we’re doing it all wrong: take a moment to reflect on WHY we tackle #antivaxxers the way we do.
Ask yourself if (just possibly) the person missing the nuances here is you?
And, better still, act as an ally?
Ask yourself if (just possibly) the person missing the nuances here is you?
And, better still, act as an ally?
And that is a Friday morning rant.
BUT ranting is pointless, if you’re not also asking; trying to get a solution.
So please, think before criticising. Our tactics may be more subtle than they appear, more carefully thought through than first impressions might indicate.
BUT ranting is pointless, if you’re not also asking; trying to get a solution.
So please, think before criticising. Our tactics may be more subtle than they appear, more carefully thought through than first impressions might indicate.
And let me link back to @ENirenberg ’s thread which sparked this:
https://twitter.com/ENirenberg/status/1332104110208937988?s=20
Also, look! Pretty dress!
For @Brainmage ‘s crossword later.
https://twitter.com/ENirenberg/status/1332104110208937988?s=20
Also, look! Pretty dress!
For @Brainmage ‘s crossword later.
And thinking about this as I fed the ducks (and crows):
People might say that arguing with #antivaxxers is a waste of time and energy.
No it is not.
They say that by teaching someone something you gain a far greater understanding.
1/ (subrant)
People might say that arguing with #antivaxxers is a waste of time and energy.
No it is not.
They say that by teaching someone something you gain a far greater understanding.
1/ (subrant)
And it’s true! When you explain something to someone you really have to understand it, by teaching someone else you learn a lot.
Same happens when you correct anti-vaccine lies.
You have to not just know they are wrong, but explain how they are wrong.
They won’t listen...
2/
Same happens when you correct anti-vaccine lies.
You have to not just know they are wrong, but explain how they are wrong.
They won’t listen...
2/
But there are always watchers, listeners.
The actually hesitant who are in the same room, in the same page, in the same thread.
And they either see lies left unchallenged, or they see someone refuting the lies:
Ideally, refuting the lies with confidence and style..
3/
The actually hesitant who are in the same room, in the same page, in the same thread.
And they either see lies left unchallenged, or they see someone refuting the lies:
Ideally, refuting the lies with confidence and style..
3/
And perhaps a bit of humour.
And it does take practice.
And here’s a counterintuitive bit:
And those best places to refute anti-vaccine lies aren’t always the people who are most knowledgeable about vaccines and immunology.
I said it was counterintuitive.
Hear me out:
4/
And it does take practice.
And here’s a counterintuitive bit:
And those best places to refute anti-vaccine lies aren’t always the people who are most knowledgeable about vaccines and immunology.
I said it was counterintuitive.
Hear me out:
4/
The best analogy I’ve thought of is getting and expert to debunk an astrologer.
Do you want an astronomer? They’ll actually know what the constellations are up to, where the planets are?
Or do you want someone who has actually practiced debunking astrology?
5/
Do you want an astronomer? They’ll actually know what the constellations are up to, where the planets are?
Or do you want someone who has actually practiced debunking astrology?
5/
Because if an astrologer says:
“But if you look at their birth chart, you’ll see Mars is rising in Capricorn...”
The astronomer is likely to be just baffles by this complete and utter gibberish; and can end up looking as if they don’t know what they’re talking about...
6/
“But if you look at their birth chart, you’ll see Mars is rising in Capricorn...”
The astronomer is likely to be just baffles by this complete and utter gibberish; and can end up looking as if they don’t know what they’re talking about...
6/
IF the audience is familiar with the concepts of birth charts and where Mars is rising (NB this IS gibberish, I know nothing of astrology).
Same with anti-vaccine lies.
We see a graphic and go:
“OMG, you’re actually referring to Mawson?”
7/
Same with anti-vaccine lies.
We see a graphic and go:
“OMG, you’re actually referring to Mawson?”
7/
And we can immediately link to blogs etc who handily rip Mawson to shreds, for the pile of utter bollocks it is.
But ACTUAL vaccine experts don’t need to know about this sort of dross.
It’s like mercury rising in Capricorn. https://retractionwatch.com/2017/05/08/retracted-vaccine-autism-study-republished/
But ACTUAL vaccine experts don’t need to know about this sort of dross.
It’s like mercury rising in Capricorn. https://retractionwatch.com/2017/05/08/retracted-vaccine-autism-study-republished/
