Dear vaccine debaters,
I have followed your arguments with interest and amusement, but now I
tire of the paranoid ramblings. I do not believe that this discussion has
a place on this newsgroup. Perhaps you should form your own, I suggest
calling it: pseudosci.paranoia. To those "pro-vacciners" you should have
by now have recognised that you are in the majority by far. It is also
clear that reason cannot sway the unreasoning. Some people just do not
understand the level of scrutiny which is required for general
acceptance of scientific hypotheses.
To the "anti-vacciners" I consider your suggestion (implied or otherwise)
that the general population are stupid and illinformed to accept the
necessity of chilhood immunisation is highly insulting. Since many of you
appear to have young children now, you are (like myself) to young to
remember the ravages of these diseases. Unfortunately you appear to have
a limited historical perspective. Remember that while you may have never
seen these diseases clinicians do see those few which now occur. Their
advocacy of vaccination is not based purely on blind adherence to medical
"truths" but on personal experience.
In my opinion to not vaccinate your children is an appallingly selfish
decision. You have the luxury to make that decision in relative safety
because sensible well-informed parents such as myself do have their
children vaccinated. Please do not try to justify your decision by
pseudoscientific arguments. All we ask is candour. You can freely say: "I
am selfish. I am afraid of the potential consequences of vaccination
which seem far more real to me than vague stories of dreadful diseases I
have never seen. I could never forgive myself if my child were to suffer
as a consequence of my actions.". I will not blame you for these
motivations, but please please do not hide behind mumbo jumbo.
You cannot complain about free will, you have chosen to live in a society
with other human beings, your free will is constrained to a certain
extent because you are not allowed to endanger other members of society
(including your own children) either through ignorance or malice. If you
want to exercise your free will to its greatest extent go and live on a
desert island, otherwise you can exercise your democratic right to
influence the majority and abide by their decision. I strongly support
banning unvaccinated children from government schools. This is common
sense not discrimination or coercion. Vaccination is never protective in
100% of cases, rates vary depending on the vaccine (just as complications
vary). Hypothetical: my child was vaccinated but unprotected and
contracted a disease from your child unvaccinated and infectious at
school. Irrespective of the fact that your child suffered a relatively
mild course due to 'superior nutrition and hygeine', my child, whose
nutrition and hygeine has been neglected because vaccination means I
don't need to bother, dies. In such a situation I would sue the
government for not providing a suitable safe school environment, and I
would sue you. Despite the fact that you deny that governments contain
people who care about children I am sure you would not deny them
self-interest.
Sorry about the vitriol but I feel strongly about this. Please note that
I think my message is also out of place. Now I have had my say I won't be
returning ad infinitum like some other participants. In fact I might
unsubscribe for a few months and hope to return to something approaching
what this newsgroup is really for!
Cheers,
simon
