2 ms·
Coincidentally I found that subreddit this morning and it was a stark reminder of why I don't visit that site much anymore. It detailed the gradual death of a
by steve_adams_86 5y ago
Coincidentally I found that subreddit this morning and it was a stark reminder of why I don't visit that site much anymore.
It detailed the gradual death of a woman from her perspective and then her husband's perspective based on Facebook posts.
Someone took the time to screenshot each of them and create an image gallery, then everyone went wild laughing and denigrating these people. "Bible study is OVER" was one that stood out to me as petty and cruel.
I couldn't help but think of how ironic it was that these people railed on about others' deficiencies (of which, if they were present at all, were clearly not a deliberate choice or desire of the victims) were clearly revealing their own different yet still disturbing deficiencies.
I think I'd prefer a vaccine-avoiding person with misguided convictions over someone who publicly denigrates the deceased about their culture, appearance, family, etc. over poor decisions about a vaccine.
I refer to a couple quotes when ignorance in others is a problem:
> Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All of these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill... I can neither be harmed by any of them, for no man will involve me in wrong, nor can I be angry with my kinsman or hate him; for we have come into the world to work together. (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations)
> For if one shows this, a man will retire from his error of himself; but as long as you do not succeed in showing this, you need not wonder if he persists in his error, for he acts because he has an impression that he is right. (Epictetus, Discourses, II.26)
While we may be physically injured by ignorance of vaccines (through unnecessary spread of sickness), I think the general point stands. There's no need whatsoever to pour hate on these people after they've suffered and even died.