Progressives and vaccines II: a case study

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Friday June 20, 2014 · 5:15 PM PDT

2014/06/20 · 17:15

So yesterday I wrote this other diary. My general intent was to express dismay that people here are so intolerant of anyone who decides not to vaccinate, or even is hesitant about vaccinating, his or her children.

The response was roughly what I expected. (Although I didn't expect to be compared to a proponent of gay conversion therapy; that was a level of ignorance and belligerence that actually surprised me.)

So now below the fold I'm going to give an example vaccination decision that I had to make in my life. Anyone who wishes to do so can explain to me in the comments how your simple, unified 'anti-anti-vaxxer' theory would have applied.

SViking

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Thursday June 19, 2014 · 10:34 PM PDT

2014/06/19 · 22:34

Recently there have been a number of diaries here (and one tasteless comic) on the subject of childhood vaccination. The tone of these diaries is what I would call 'anti-anti-vaxxer': the primary purpose of the content is to ridicule and to villainize people who choose not to vaccinate their children or themselves. Even if one could defend some of the diaries themselves as well-intentioned and informational, there is no question about the tone of many of the comments.

I am not writing this diary to promote a particular stance on vaccination, either 'pro' or 'anti'. Rather I am writing to express my dismay and disgust that our community is so closed-minded and prejudiced when it comes to this topic. Reflexive hostility to differing points of view is not something that I generally associate with our side of the political spectrum.

Join me below the fold, and let's try to have a rational discussion about this sensitive subject.

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