By Erin K. Costello “None of my 6 children have been vaccinated…and they never will be.” That line right there says it all. She has no idea what science could learn in the future, what future studies could show her, or what she herself could learn in the coming years, yet she is still determined to never vaccinate. She has already made up her mind to ignore, argue, disbelieve, and/or dispute whatever new information comes her way. Why is that? Anyone who is truly pro-science knows that the notion they hold true today could change come tomorrow upon learning new evidence. Yet Kate will never let that happen to her. She won’t allow herself to change or waver her stance today in the presence of new data. She won’t allow herself to learn.
0 Comments
By Erin K. Costello Lately we have seen more and more posts regarding possible tetanus exposure. This disease is especially troubling because unlike with some of the other vaccine preventable diseases, you do not build up an immunity after having survived tetanus. The advice we have been witnessing being offered in anti-vaxer groups is troubling, especially the assurance of not needing medical attention, and/or a possible tetanus shot. These posts and comments are grossly innacurate, and dangerously negligent. But before we get to correcting their suggestions, let’s first learn about tetanus. To understand how tetanus occurs, how it can be prevented, and what can be done upon possible exposure, lets first understand what tetanus is and how it effects the human body. By Everyone At What's The Harm? We are often asked how to best approach an AVer (anti-vaxer), or how to sway someone about to fall for their bullshit. We don’t claim to have the answer to these questions, nor are the answers one size fits all, however we do have some experience on these matters. Below is a collaborative effort from all the Facebook and website admins regarding methods that best work(ed) for them. This is also in no way a complete compilation since we are constantly trying new techniques, and sometimes discover a new successful approach. That being said, this is a list of the most common and effective means we have experienced thus far.
By Erin K Costello On a daily basis we see and read all kinds of reasons why parents went from pro-vax to anti-vax. Where my fellow pro-vaccine warriors debunk their scientific reasons, and excel at doing this, I can’t help but to be distracted by the reasoning behind this newly adopted belief of dumbfuckery. What drove them to research to begin with? How can they read the same studies as I do but see something entirely different? And how are they able to remain in this alternate reality of theirs? By Phil Newman Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be completely and utterly submersed in the anti-vaccine echo chambers? I’ll give you a bit of an insight from my anecdotal experience… Recently I was Zucked and put onto a 7 day Facebook ban, I thought I would use this time out to establish my sock accounts further and get to know these people a little better… and take screenshots of course. Without a doubt, anti-vaxxers believe wholeheartedly what they think to be true, is true and correct in real world situations. This is reinforced by an emotion based appeals from others, which is understandable, humans naturally take the experiences of others on board as lessons of life for themselves. What they fail to see though, is they are sitting on the bottom of the ladder of a well-oiled propaganda machine. To the top players of the anti-vaccine cult, the average joes and janes are meaningless, they do not care, they are seen as nothing more than a cash cow which I will go into shortly. Author: Rob Cavanaugh I am not a scientist, doctor, statistician, academic, or nurse. Far from it. At an early age I was keen on science. My grandparents only provided me with National Geographic, and flipping the pages of the newest issue was the highlight of my weekend visits. I could tell you the names of countless dinosaurs as a kid. That carried on throughout my life. In my teens I had a passionate interest in Astronomy and Astrophysics. In college I took science classes for electives. The Scientific Method does not escape me. You get the point. Not so long ago I was just your everyday sheep on Facebook. Sharing pictures and videos of my various board sport activities, my cat and dog, arguing about politics.. all the typical social media activities. But then I started to notice some things. By Erin K Costello If you’re anything like me, you’ve found it disturbingly fascinating how so many people on social media are easily and effectively duped into adopting the tenets of the anti-vaccination and anti-medicine movement. I’ve often argued, as I’m sure many other Facebook warriors have, that anti-vaccination-ism is nothing more than a cult at it’s core. Only, what I’ve found so remarkable is how this brainwashing was able to succeed without the traditional isolation seen with cults from the past. By Erin K Costello My first memory of falling in love with science was when I over heated a mercury thermometer while trying to get out of school one morning and causing the end to pop and the mercury to pour out on to our hard wood floor. It wasn’t the shiny, silver liquid on the floor that amazed me. It was how the droplets sought each other out and bonded into one bigger droplet. It was at this moment I became hooked. It was the closest thing to actual magic I had ever seen. Opinion By Erin K Costello I realize my post will piss some people off, and maybe rightfully so, I don’t know. But, I do feel it needs to be said. So let me begin by saying that the examples I’m about to give or hint towards here are not to be accepted as cause for a person to take their own life. I am going to use certain situations loosely as a means to explain something, however I am not suggesting that blame for any known tragic death belongs anywhere or on anyone. I am not suggesting the victim is at fault for feeling such desperation, or for acting on their desperation. Death, regardless of how it happens, is the worst possible outcome for a worse possible situation. Blame has NO PLACE in any such tragedies. |
AuthorWhat's The Harm? Archives
May 2020
Categories
All
|