I honestly don't understand the anti vax movement. My cynical mind is thinking some group must have something to gain from convincing people to harm themselves and others, but I can't find any logical upside for anyone.
Is it simply to watch the world burn? Is it to discredit medical expertise in general? Or is it some stubborn misplaced sense of independence? Surely it can't simply be to thumb their noses at the "Woke"?
@mike I think it's about loss of control. The world has become so complex that there are many experts in all fields, and an individual cannot understand everything. By rejecting expertise it allows one to regain a sense of self worth - they become just as good as the experts! Except they are not.
@krst@mike good theory. And I think most see it as ‘sticking it to the man’ to not do what authorities tell them to. Even at personal risk. I think it’s not actually about vaccines but about being able to say no to authority about something/anything and feeling supported by others who feel similarly.
@mike
There are two different things people mean by anti-vax:
People shouldn't be forced to get vaccinated.
People shouldn't get vaccinated at all.
The second position is just crazy (except for a few people with special medical conditions). Some people have poisoned their minds from too much time on the Internet.
@mike
The first position is more reasonable: the general liberal position is that people shouldn't be forced into medical interventions, unless there is a serious risk of harm to others. Based upon the different risks, Ontario doesn't let children go to school unless they've gotten a measles shot, but flu shots are voluntary.
@mike When the world is changing, exposing cracks in their old false beliefs of the good old days and their own weaknesses, failures and inability to adapt.. acknowledging that, in fact, they are the problem and need to change, is too hard to accept.
"It must be everyone and literally everything else against me, because it certainly couldn't be me, right?" 🤷🏼♂️
@dabertime Vaccinating is the good old days. In my memory our parents never questioned vaccination programs. I'm guessing because they could actually remember when virulent disease destroyed friends and loved ones.
@mike
Pathological contrarianism like this is a personality defect, conditioned behavior, or the result of unprocessed issues related to a childhood fear of syringes.
@paninid I have a deathly fear of syringes (especially when taking blood) but you have to put it aside sometimes. I guess easier said than done sometimes.
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