2 ms·

I'm not so sure it's specifically that always, maybe initially. Perhaps someone has a strong opinion about a thing. They -know- they are right, and every news

I'm not so sure it's specifically that always, maybe initially. Perhaps someone has a strong opinion about a thing. They -know- they are right, and every news source is wrong. Until they find one also right. So far, we agree, that's what they want to hear. But they keep turning to this source, who is spreading wild theories and untruths in other facets. But they were so right about issue X, they must be right about this too! I think this pretty much sums up why so many 'conservatives' ended up unvaccinated. I cannot imagine that they set out wanting to hear that vaccines are unsafe or will give you microchips. Something/someone they trusted led them down this awful path. As much as I support free speech, the last few years have really shown me the dangers of it, as well. But how can you regulate? Any arbiter is going to have a bias.

ribs 5y ago
I think it’s likely that ‘conservatives’ (and New Age enthusiasts, and others) wanted to hear anti-elitist messages, messages that discredited experts, which anti-vax messaging is congruent with.
- Applejinx 5y ago
  Anti-vax messaging and riling folks up to gather in large, angry, infectiously yelling maskless groups is a really good way to leverage an unanticipated pandemic against the population of an enemy country, especially if you figure your own country can fight off the pandemic better… or you literally don't care about those who live in your own country as long as the enemy dies. As a bonus, you can then get the enemy country to think the pandemic is brought by immigrants, or was invented by its own internal enemies, as a way of pushing for civil war or at least continuous, aggrieved, domestic terrorism. The pandemic has all kinds of uses if you control the discourse and can find something to blame. It becomes a natural disaster or some kind of pervasive biological weapon that you don't even have to deploy… just foster and nurture.

ribs 5y ago

I think it’s likely that ‘conservatives’ (and New Age enthusiasts, and others) wanted to hear anti-elitist messages, messages that discredited experts, which anti-vax messaging is congruent with.

Applejinx 5y ago
Anti-vax messaging and riling folks up to gather in large, angry, infectiously yelling maskless groups is a really good way to leverage an unanticipated pandemic against the population of an enemy country, especially if you figure your own country can fight off the pandemic better… or you literally don't care about those who live in your own country as long as the enemy dies. As a bonus, you can then get the enemy country to think the pandemic is brought by immigrants, or was invented by its own internal enemies, as a way of pushing for civil war or at least continuous, aggrieved, domestic terrorism. The pandemic has all kinds of uses if you control the discourse and can find something to blame. It becomes a natural disaster or some kind of pervasive biological weapon that you don't even have to deploy… just foster and nurture.