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[His Majesty]

don't write off friends for being stupid or naive

That's what happens when you have only two parties in a country, one right wing and the other parody right wing, and if the parody party spends 30 years to destroy education to make people believe in fantasy and conspiracy theories instead of science and reality, all in order to remain in power.
Thank the Republicans.

also this, polarization means people are willing to believe anything as long as the right people are saying it

 

[Occam]

That's what happens when you have only two parties in a country, one right wing and the other parody right wing, and if the parody party spends 30 years to destroy education to make people believe in fantasy and conspiracy theories instead of science and reality, all in order to remain in power.
Thank the Republicans.

 

[cyberheater]

The person who thinks vaccines cause autism.

I guess a lot of you are young but a good friendship is a precious thing worth more then a stupid argument.

How is OP the idiot here? Do you honestly believe being anti-vaccine is just an argument and opinion and nothing more like it doesn't affect others' health?

It's not worth losing a good friendship over. Not by a long chalk.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Just try to agree not to talk about it around each other. You ending the friendship won't change her anti vax position so you aren't helping anything by trying to put your foot down.

 

[Hylian7]

I guess a lot of you are young but a good friendship is a precious thing worth more then a stupid argument.

It literally is a danger to others for them not to vaccinate their kids. That is a bigger deal than a friendship.

 

[Muffin1611]

You're prepared to lose a good friend to a stupid argument. Who's the idiot here? What's the matter with you?

Are you serious?

Being anti-vaccination demonstrates that one doesn't know how simple fact-checking works.

Instead they find a couple reports on the net that are questionable at best and dismiss thousands of actual research, partly because, duh, the government is in on it.

I couldn't discuss ANYTHING with such a person.

And not being able to talk properly with each other is, dare I say, a huge fucking hurdle in a friendship.

So don't call people idiots just because you prefer blissfull ignorance over knowing who your friends really are.

 

[Caddywompus]

That's not even close to being a topic worth losing a genuine friendship over. People have stupid uninformed opinions but this isn't a dangerous hate filled one that could impact others lives negatively. This issue could eventually be resolved with more informed sources over time it's not like you're trying to change a person's ingrained opinion since birth.

 

[Skellig Gra]

It literally is a danger to others for them not to vaccinate their kids. That is a bigger deal than a friendship.

And cutting this person out will prevent what exactly?

 

[Ran rp]

You're prepared to lose a good friend to a stupid argument. Who's the idiot here?

the person trying to get people killed

 

[Seventy70]

If you want to find someone that has no quirks or agrees with you 100%, good like finding a friend at all, OP.

 

[xxracerxx]

I guess a lot of you are young but a good friendship is a precious thing worth more then a stupid argument.

I mean, if that friend has a kid and doesn't vaccinate them...how would you feel? This is GAF, the land of strong opinions on circumcision, yet some here don't see the big deal on being anti-vaccine.

 

[elhav]

For anyone interested, that whole "Vaccinations lead to autism" fiasco started with this one false article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(97)11096-0

After sceientists failed to replicate the article's results, they found that the research itself was bogus.

And so, even after that, it was too late. The worldwide press and misinformed people already went banannas and many were afraid to vaccinate their children, which in turn led to dead/diseased children.

 

[Muffin1611]

That's not even close to being a topic worth losing a genuine friendship over. People have stupid uninformed opinions but this isn't a dangerous hate filled one that could impact others lives negatively. This issue could eventually be resolved with more informed sources over time it's not like you're trying to change a person's ingrained opinion since birth.

EXCEPT IT LITERALLY IS

We had people in the other thread who would die if others don't vaccinate their kids properly ffs

 

[Messofanego]

That's not even close to being a topic worth losing a genuine friendship over. People have stupid uninformed opinions but this isn't a dangerous hate filled one that could impact others lives negatively. This issue could eventually be resolved with more informed sources over time it's not like you're trying to change a person's ingrained opinion since birth.

YES IT IS

 

[Zvonimir Boban]

I guess a lot of you are young but a good friendship is a precious thing worth more then a stupid argument.

I have enough grey hairs as it is, I don't want dangerously stupid friends exacerbating that problem.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Yeah I'd dump a friend who was anti-vax. Just like I would if they denied climate change.

There are better people to spend my time with than that.

 

[Messofanego]

If you want to find someone that has no quirks or agrees with you 100%, good like finding a friend at all, OP.

Being anti-vaccine isn't some eccentric character trait smh.

 

[Orbis]

Sometimes you just gotta agree to disagree. Not every battle is worth fighting, especially with friends and loved ones. I have disagreed heavily with people in the wake of the EU referendum but never lost a friend.

My advice? Let it cool off and forget about it. If it keeps happening and causing friction then perhaps then you can think about whether it's worthwhile.

 

[Derwind]

I dunno if this is worth losing q best friends over, man. It's a dumb opinion for sure. But there are worse things to disagree over.

I dunno, someone that has a reckless stance that can and does kill innocent people is pretty bad. There's definitely worse things to believe in... but anti-vaxx ideology does have the body counts.

 

[cyberheater]

I have enough grey hairs as it is, I don't want dangerously stupid friends exacerbating that problem.

I have to confess that did make me chortle. Ha ha...

 

[RagnarokX]

Explain to her that the original study that "found a link" between vaccinations and autism was conducted by a person who had vested interests in alternative treatments that would benefit from doubt being cast on vaccinations and that he got his findings by cherry-picking cases in a non-scientific manner. The scientific community never endorsed the study. It came to prominence purely from the media and groups with vested interests sensationalizing it. There has been no valid scientific study finding such a link.

 

[Micael]

For future reference if someone argument for why something is true is because they saw it on the internet, just link them a flat earth website, it should be enough to show just how idiotic the argument is (or the person making the argument is), although I guess if we are talking about an anti vaccination person this might just be yet another crazy stupid shit that person will end up believing.

 

[Jmanunknown]

You're prepared to lose a good friend to a stupid argument. Who's the idiot here? What's the matter with you?

Its not a stupid argument when anti vaccination people have a legitimate affect on society as a whole.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/steven...st-measles-epidemic-in-20-years/#9f8cb0d6069d

http://time.com/27308/4-diseases-making-a-comeback-thanks-to-anti-vaxxers/

https://www.cfr.org/interactives/GH_Vaccine_Map/index.html#map

 

[Seventy70]

Being anti-vaccine isn't some eccentric character trait smh.

Being stubborn and thick headed is though. Obviously, OP and their friend both have the same interest in mind. She is just misguided.

If I cut myself off from anyone who was being stupid, I would have no friends or family.

She was being a jerk though and OP deserves an apology at least.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Your friend's an asshole.

 

[FunnyBunny]

I struggle with the idea of ending friendships over disagreements such as this; it sends each person deeper into their own bubble.

The anti-vaccination movement has done terrible damage to people. And I believe the science is pretty conclusive: vaccines save lives. But would ending a friendship with someone who doesn't believe this help change their mind? Or would it only reinforce the image of the illiberal left?

I also understand the OP is in a difficult position. They have to do what's best for them and their well-being.

 

[Scorpion Soldier]

You're prepared to lose a good friend to a stupid argument. Who's the idiot here? What's the matter with you?

It's not the vaccination argument per se, but more that she chose to use me as an example Quote I put in the OP:

I would never want my kids to suffer such a cruel fate

Or that she immediately insinuated that I never even researched a condition that I have myself... I wasn't offended, but more hurt, and I thought that even if I interpreted it in a certain way that she could at least apologize for how she said it, but I only got this out of it; yeah, don't interpret it in that way then.

I want to give this time and make the friendship work because honestly, it would kill me if I lost her as my friend, but the fact that she wouldn't even take my feelings into account in a worthless discussion hurt me quite a bit. We've had conversations where we've disagreed before, and if she thinks something else I'll respect that. I'll give it time, of course, and I already did some damage control in the hopes that it would be better, but I still have to deal with the event at hand myself.

Small note though, for the republican/democrat posters, I'm Dutch. Not really relevant, but just saying.

 

[SpinningBirdKick]

Never argue with idiots.

They'll drag you down to their level and then beat you with their vast idiot experience.

 

[Alcotholic]

My best friend says stupid shit all the time, but I'm not going to stop being friends with him. I know he is an awesome and genuine person who deeply cares for others. I don't think it's worth dropping someone close because of a stupid opinion. Maybe over time their opinion will change.

 

[Volimar]

http://howdovaccinescauseautism.com/

 

[Yado]

Is it that hard to understand why someone wouldn't want to be friends with a total fucking idiot who buys into anti-vac nonsense?

 

[IaN_GAF]

Show whoever got misinformed about autism relating to vaccination the evidence that the piece the information was taken from was debunked. Try to educate them with respect.

If they still choose to cling to the absolute ridiculous idea that their kid doesn't need vaccination, keep your children away from them and move on :')

 

[Messofanego]

What just happened? Did I wake up in some anti-intellectual world where being anti-vaccine is just an opinion? Is this also the world where racism is one, too, along with other dangerous beliefs that have real life negative consequences?

 

[Muffin1611]

My best friend says stupid shit all the time, but I'm not going to stop being friends with him. I know he is an awesome and genuine person who deeply cares for others. I don't think it's worth dropping someone close because of a stupid opinion. Maybe over time their opinion will change.

If that stupid shit literally kills people it's a big fucking reason not to be friends

Like, jesus christ, I'll just link this here:

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/08/health/measles-minnesota-somali-anti-vaccine-bn/

And I swear to god that I'll call everyone in this thread who still says that it's "just an opinion" after watching/reading this a fucking idiot

 

[pizzacat]

you could just not talk about that to them


or violently disagree with them until they realize youre correct because you are and everyone should stay in line if they have the great reward of being your friend

 

[Derwind]

I struggle with the idea of ending friendships over disagreements such as this; it sends each person deeper into their own bubble.

The anti-vaccination movement has done terrible damage to people. And I believe the science is pretty conclusive: vaccines save lives. But would ending a friendship with someone who doesn't believe this help change their mind? Or would it only reinforce the image of the illiberal left?

I also understand the OP is in a difficult position. They have to do what's best for them and their well-being.

I'm confused, I thought OP did try to change her mind before coming to the conclusion that their friendship might need to end.

 

[Yayate]

If someone told me I only have autism because of vaccines and also told me this is some horrible fate they wouldn't wish upon their children, yeah, I'd drop them like a brick.

This is not just a personal opinion. Not only are you endangering people, that is a legitimate very personal insult.

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

Keep your kids away from her.

 

[bj00rn_]

You're prepared to lose a good friend to a stupid argument. Who's the idiot here? What's the matter with you?

I came to the conclusion a long time ago that I'm incapable to be around vaccine conspirasits, even if they are close friends (first giving them a couple of chances to inform themselves better of course). If it was just an opinion or a political idea it would be ok, but they are contributing to unnecessary suffering and death of innocent people, including risking the lives of my own children.

 

[Farsi]

I want to give this time and make the friendship work because honestly, it would kill me if I lost her as my friend, but the fact that she wouldn't even take my feelings into account in a worthless discussion hurt me quite a bit..

We all have our moments during heated discussion. I'm sure she's thinking about it too, give yourself time to cool down. People change positions on things all the time. This isn't worth losing a friendship over.

 

[RagnarokX]

Also, as Penn and Teller so well illustrated, even IF vaccines had a link to autism the benefits outweigh that chance by an insane degree. It would be a very small chance of getting autism vs a 100% chance of not getting tons of super deadly and life-ruining diseases. It's a bet with odds that anyone in their right minds would take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfdZTZQvuCo

 

[Yado]

What just happened? Did I wake up in some anti-intellectual world where being anti-vaccine is just an opinion? Is this also the world where racism is one, too, along with other dangerous beliefs that have real life negative consequences?

It's easy for people to accept these things as harmless opinions when they don't affect them.

 

[cyberheater]

I want to give this time and make the friendship work because honestly, it would kill me if I lost her as my friend, but the fact that she wouldn't even take my feelings into account in a worthless discussion hurt me quite a bit. We've had conversations where we've disagreed before, and if she thinks something else I'll respect that. I'll give it time, of course, and I already did some damage control in the hopes that it would be better, but I still have to deal with the event at hand myself.

As we know friendships are based on mutual respect but another side to that is recognising that we are not perfect human beings and we all have off days/moments. It could be you caught her at one of those times. Only time will tell.

You sound considered and reasonable so I'm sure you'll give her the benefit of doubt.

 

[Gutek]

Ain't nobody got time for that. Cut her off.

 

[cyberheater]

I came to the conclusion a long time ago that I'm incapable to be around vaccine conspirasits, even if they are close friends (first giving them a couple of chances to inform themselves better of course). If it only was an opinion it would be somewhat ok, but they are contributing to unnecessary suffering and death of innocent people, including risking the lives of my own children.

It's a judgement call. I've vaccinated both my kids but I wouldn't be prepared to lose a friendship if someone I knew didn't believe in it.

 

[The Shadow]

I guess a lot of you are young but a good friendship is a precious thing worth more then a stupid argument.

Whether vanilla or chocolate is the best ice cream flavor is a stupid argument. Whether a picture of a dress is blue or gold is a stupid argument. Whether In-n-Out or 5 Guys has the best burgers is a stupid argument.

Whether vaccines cause autism is not a stupid argument. It's not even up for debate. The anti-vaccine moment has literally killed people. There is nothing, NOTHING, stupid about a strong stance against an anti-vac person.

 

[xxracerxx]

It's a judgement call. I've vaccinated both my kids but I wouldn't be prepared to lose a friendship if someone I knew didn't believe in it.

How do you feel about them not vaccinating their kids though? They are putting their kids lives at an unnecessary risk.

 

[Muffin1611]

It's a judgement call. I've vaccinated both my kids but I wouldn't be prepared to lose a friendship if someone I knew didn't believe in it.

You. Don't. Believe. In. Science.

You fucking accept it.

 

[Fudgepuppy]

If you really cared about her, this wouldn't have fazed you.

But since it did, it's not a healthy relationship. Take a breather for a couple of days and see how you feel.

For the record, I've cut out several people in my life as their opinions and stances just aggravated me so much that I couldn't be around them without being annoyed. Pretty heavy things though, like believing in chemtrails, 9/11 truthing, moon landing being faked, and so on.

So yeah maybe not opinions, more just lack of research/a willingness to believe conspiracies.

 

[Yayate]

As we know friendships are based on mutual respect but another side to that is recognising that we are not perfect human beings and we all have off days/moments. It could be you caught her at one of those times. Only time will tell.

You sound considered and reasonable so I'm sure you'll give her the benefit of doubt.

She's an anti-vaxxer. She believes a tiny chance of a child being autistic is worse than the alternative, a very possible death. The OP is autistic.

There's no mutual respect here. That's treating someone as less than dirt. Do you think anyone should be friends with anyone that thinks their personal mental afflictions are worse than death?

Because I sure don't.

If you really cared about her, this wouldn't have fazed you.

Someone is saying they're willing to risk death over autism. To an autistic person.

If someone I really cared about came out as an anti-vaxxer it'd be the most incredibly hurtful, painful thing ever. The fact that my condition is apparently so bad that it'd be better for me to die young.