Dealing with friends who feel different than you about flu shots.

[Anonymous]

I think the OP wasn't running away from the person because of his views but because his kids might be sick. I also don't think a rational fear against getting the vaccine is unheard of, but folks who think this is all one big government conspiracy are a bit out there.

[Anonymous]

"Exactly -- because she doesn't agree with you, she is compared to someone with disabilities and her opinion is equated with paranoia about government plots and black helicopters. Speaks volumes about you."

You are obviously being purposefully dense to make a point about your own political agenda regarding vaccines.

The rest of us actually understand what PP was trying to say, which is that sometimes people who are highly-educated (and therefore, apparently intelligent) make dumb statements based on pseudo-science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I too have run into this with a couple of highly educated mom friends.

However, their background isn't in epidemiology or any of the sciences, so I mentally give them a pass when they say bizarre things. Although now that I think about it, I'm a little taken aback that they would even utter a bizarre, black helicopters, mind-control thing in the first place.

I don't know anyone like that -- especially not anyone highly educated. If that is your take on anyone not getting the vaccine, then it speaks volumes about your state of mind, tho.

Here's the funny thing. The more educated you are, the less likely you are go get vaccinated. This is at least true for the childhood vaccines.

I don't mean this to imply that vaccines are not a good idea. I am very pro-vaccination myself. But the data is the data. Uneducated people go with the advice of their doctors. Educated people question things more. And sometimes the answers they come up with on their own aren't the best.use

Thanks for that info -- it's interesting to know. What i meant when I said I didn't know anyone like that was, i don't know anyone who is anti-vaccine because they had fears of government conspiracies or "bizarre, black helicopters, mind-control things." Rather, they have well-thought out reasons for not getting vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Exactly -- because she doesn't agree with you, she is compared to someone with disabilities and her opinion is equated with paranoia about government plots and black helicopters. Speaks volumes about you."

You are obviously being purposefully dense to make a point about your own political agenda regarding vaccines.

The rest of us actually understand what PP was trying to say, which is that sometimes people who are highly-educated (and therefore, apparently intelligent) make dumb statements based on pseudo-science.

How do you know what "the rest of us actually understand" on DCUM? Are you channeling more than one anonymous PP's opinion through your anal probe?

[Anonymous]

What I think is especially rich is when those who choose not to vaccinate (fine, your choice) get in a huff because those who do choose not to associate with their children.

If you choose to opt out of "herd immunity," then to be fair some of the "herd" might not want to associate with your child. It is known that vaccines work on a population scale best, and are not perfect on an individual level. Even if my child is vaccinated, if your child isn't I have every right to limit my contact with your child.

You made your choice (not to vaccinate) and want to be accepted for that, now you allow me to make my choices, too. Don't expect that your actions or non-actions don't have consequences. Just as you have a right to protect your child's health in the manner you see fit, so do I.

Luckily, no one in my close circle is so rigidly anti-vaccine. If they were, I would definitely limit contact with them right now because my child tends to get respiratory issues like croup at the drop of a hat. It just isn't worth it to me to expose her right now before she is fully vaccinated against swine flu, and yes, we are limiting all contact with other kids (classes, playgroups, etc.) until I feel better about it. Its not worth a stay in a hospital to me.

[Anonymous]

I've found at my daughters pre-school people are all over the place when it comes to this discussion. I'm happy to say I feel like I'm in the middle again! We've had the seasonal flu shot but not H1N1. I don't know exactly why I feel hesitant to get it. There have been children hospitalized from the pre-school so you'd think I'd be running to get it. I guess I hope we will weather the flu like many other people have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Exactly -- because she doesn't agree with you, she is compared to someone with disabilities and her opinion is equated with paranoia about government plots and black helicopters. Speaks volumes about you."

You are obviously being purposefully dense to make a point about your own political agenda regarding vaccines.

The rest of us actually understand what PP was trying to say, which is that sometimes people who are highly-educated (and therefore, apparently intelligent) make dumb statements based on pseudo-science.

How do you know what "the rest of us actually understand" on DCUM? Are you channeling more than one anonymous PP's opinion through your anal probe?

Haha. Nope, I am not one of the black helicopter folks. I think you are purposefully trying to rile up the woman to whom you are responding here, and I was trying to make it clear that most of us (sorry if I presume that the average DCUM has both reason and basic reading comprehension skills, that is indeed a leap) would understand that from her posts.

But feel free to work yourself into a frenzy!

[Anonymous]

I guess I don't understand the people who get the seasonal flu shot, but not the H1N1.

I understand why someone might opt out of both, or someone would get both. I even understand if someone would get only H1N1, because it is so much more widespread and is riskier to children.

But why seasonal and not H1N1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I think is especially rich is when those who choose not to vaccinate (fine, your choice) get in a huff because those who do choose not to associate with their children.

If you choose to opt out of "herd immunity," then to be fair some of the "herd" might not want to associate with your child. It is known that vaccines work on a population scale best, and are not perfect on an individual level. Even if my child is vaccinated, if your child isn't I have every right to limit my contact with your child.

You made your choice (not to vaccinate) and want to be accepted for that, now you allow me to make my choices, too. Don't expect that your actions or non-actions don't have consequences. Just as you have a right to protect your child's health in the manner you see fit, so do I.

Luckily, no one in my close circle is so rigidly anti-vaccine. If they were, I would definitely limit contact with them right now because my child tends to get respiratory issues like croup at the drop of a hat. It just isn't worth it to me to expose her right now before she is fully vaccinated against swine flu, and yes, we are limiting all contact with other kids (classes, playgroups, etc.) until I feel better about it. Its not worth a stay in a hospital to me.

You have every right to vaccinate or not vaccinate. No one is in a huff or even cares what you do. Believe me, I don't care if your children don't play with mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Exactly -- because she doesn't agree with you, she is compared to someone with disabilities and her opinion is equated with paranoia about government plots and black helicopters. Speaks volumes about you."

You are obviously being purposefully dense to make a point about your own political agenda regarding vaccines.

The rest of us actually understand what PP was trying to say, which is that sometimes people who are highly-educated (and therefore, apparently intelligent) make dumb statements based on pseudo-science.

How do you know what "the rest of us actually understand" on DCUM? Are you channeling more than one anonymous PP's opinion through your anal probe?

Haha. Nope, I am not one of the black helicopter folks. I think you are purposefully trying to rile up the woman to whom you are responding here, and I was trying to make it clear that most of us (sorry if I presume that the average DCUM has both reason and basic reading comprehension skills, that is indeed a leap) would understand that from her posts.

But feel free to work yourself into a frenzy!

I'm not in a frenzy. I'm enjoying watching you hop from foot to foot as you use every underhanded argument technique in the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I think is especially rich is when those who choose not to vaccinate (fine, your choice) get in a huff because those who do choose not to associate with their children.

If you choose to opt out of "herd immunity," then to be fair some of the "herd" might not want to associate with your child. It is known that vaccines work on a population scale best, and are not perfect on an individual level. Even if my child is vaccinated, if your child isn't I have every right to limit my contact with your child.

You made your choice (not to vaccinate) and want to be accepted for that, now you allow me to make my choices, too. Don't expect that your actions or non-actions don't have consequences. Just as you have a right to protect your child's health in the manner you see fit, so do I.

Luckily, no one in my close circle is so rigidly anti-vaccine. If they were, I would definitely limit contact with them right now because my child tends to get respiratory issues like croup at the drop of a hat. It just isn't worth it to me to expose her right now before she is fully vaccinated against swine flu, and yes, we are limiting all contact with other kids (classes, playgroups, etc.) until I feel better about it. Its not worth a stay in a hospital to me.

You have every right to vaccinate or not vaccinate. No one is in a huff or even cares what you do. Believe me, I don't care if your children don't play with mine.

Then I am not speaking to you, am I?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I think is especially rich is when those who choose not to vaccinate (fine, your choice) get in a huff because those who do choose not to associate with their children.

If you choose to opt out of "herd immunity," then to be fair some of the "herd" might not want to associate with your child. It is known that vaccines work on a population scale best, and are not perfect on an individual level. Even if my child is vaccinated, if your child isn't I have every right to limit my contact with your child.

You made your choice (not to vaccinate) and want to be accepted for that, now you allow me to make my choices, too. Don't expect that your actions or non-actions don't have consequences. Just as you have a right to protect your child's health in the manner you see fit, so do I.

Luckily, no one in my close circle is so rigidly anti-vaccine. If they were, I would definitely limit contact with them right now because my child tends to get respiratory issues like croup at the drop of a hat. It just isn't worth it to me to expose her right now before she is fully vaccinated against swine flu, and yes, we are limiting all contact with other kids (classes, playgroups, etc.) until I feel better about it. Its not worth a stay in a hospital to me.

You have every right to vaccinate or not vaccinate. No one is in a huff or even cares what you do. Believe me, I don't care if your children don't play with mine.

Then I am not speaking to you, am I?

Sorry, I forgot you could tell who you were talking to. I can't tell, because my channel with the mothership is clogged so I'm not picking up the right info; it's been going on for days. I really should complain. Can you do it for me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Exactly -- because she doesn't agree with you, she is compared to someone with disabilities and her opinion is equated with paranoia about government plots and black helicopters. Speaks volumes about you."

You are obviously being purposefully dense to make a point about your own political agenda regarding vaccines.

The rest of us actually understand what PP was trying to say, which is that sometimes people who are highly-educated (and therefore, apparently intelligent) make dumb statements based on pseudo-science.

How do you know what "the rest of us actually understand" on DCUM? Are you channeling more than one anonymous PP's opinion through your anal probe?

Haha. Nope, I am not one of the black helicopter folks. I think you are purposefully trying to rile up the woman to whom you are responding here, and I was trying to make it clear that most of us (sorry if I presume that the average DCUM has both reason and basic reading comprehension skills, that is indeed a leap) would understand that from her posts.

But feel free to work yourself into a frenzy!

I'm not in a frenzy. I'm enjoying watching you hop from foot to foot as you use every underhanded argument technique in the book.

????
I think you are confusing me with someone else. I only posted the two statements above. So I don't understand how these are "underhanded argument techniques" and in fact don't think I am even arguing.

I only defended the woman who made the comment about the educated friends, because I felt you were jumping down her throat unnecessarily.

Why don't you just clearly state your position or thoughts, rather than picking a fight? I still don't understand where you are coming from or what your perspective is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Exactly -- because she doesn't agree with you, she is compared to someone with disabilities and her opinion is equated with paranoia about government plots and black helicopters. Speaks volumes about you."

You are obviously being purposefully dense to make a point about your own political agenda regarding vaccines.

The rest of us actually understand what PP was trying to say, which is that sometimes people who are highly-educated (and therefore, apparently intelligent) make dumb statements based on pseudo-science.

How do you know what "the rest of us actually understand" on DCUM? Are you channeling more than one anonymous PP's opinion through your anal probe?

Haha. Nope, I am not one of the black helicopter folks. I think you are purposefully trying to rile up the woman to whom you are responding here, and I was trying to make it clear that most of us (sorry if I presume that the average DCUM has both reason and basic reading comprehension skills, that is indeed a leap) would understand that from her posts.

But feel free to work yourself into a frenzy!

I'm not in a frenzy. I'm enjoying watching you hop from foot to foot as you use every underhanded argument technique in the book.

????
I think you are confusing me with someone else. I only posted the two statements above. So I don't understand how these are "underhanded argument techniques" and in fact don't think I am even arguing.

I only defended the woman who made the comment about the educated friends, because I felt you were jumping down her throat unnecessarily.

Why don't you just clearly state your position or thoughts, rather than picking a fight? I still don't understand where you are coming from or what your perspective is.

The mothership sent me to clear up all the confusion regarding vaccines and to put a stop to the mockery that is passing for debate. I was sent down via black helicopter just before H1N1 began. I sure hope this pandemic doesn't last long because I'm already homesick.

[Anonymous]

Wow. What a ridiculous "debate". And to think most of the people here are educated, presumably bright and somewhat respectful people. You are all ridiculous. Get off the computer and do something productive with your day.