A bit of an editorial

[gbailey]

When Amanda Peet said parents who don't vaccinate their children are parasites I was really offended. I don't think it's her decision to decide what people do or don't do based on what she's decided to do with her child. I'm not offended or concerned with parents who don't vaccinate or choose to vaccinate on schedule. DH and I selectively/delay certain vaccinations and we're happy with our decision. What concerns me is that many people complain about the ignorant comments parents of fully vaccinate children make about unvaccinated children. However, I've found many unvaccinated parents, especially in this forum guilty of being judgmental to parents who decide to vax.

Why can't it just be a simple case of different strokes for different folks and leave it at that? My girlfriend vaccinates her child based on the CDC schedule. She's aware that I don't. We don't argue or debate about this because she knows what I do with my child is what DH and I think is best and I don't argue or debate her because that's her child. She does what she believes is best.

My point in this long post with bad grammar is to say please lighten up on people with different views from you. It's perfectly okay to not vaccinate your child or children. It's also perfectly okay to vaccinate on schedule if that is what is best for you and your family. It's also perfectly okay to selectively vax. Sometimes the tone of a lot of posters is very defensive and judgmental. You can be giving a person the best advice ever but sometimes a certain tone is the difference between someone listening or shutting you out.
Thank you.

[xmasbaby7]

I was very put off with the tones of this forum, too, when I started reading it. It is worth developing a thick skin for, IMO, because there is such a great amount of links, debates, studies that you just can't find anywhere else.

[Deborah]

Best way to get a tone that won't offend: Remember where you used to be. The vast majority of the people here who are now strongly critical of vaccines (whether selective, delaying or non-vaxing) used to be pro-vax and used to believe everything their doctors told them. The number of times I've read: "I researched everything...except vaccines...on that I just trusted my doctor (or the authorities, or the FDA, or whatever) is closing in on infinity.

So remember where we all used to be and understand as people's point of view evolves (or doesn't).

[MountainMamaGC]

The biggest thing for me is freedom of choice. Its our God given right to choose what is healthy for our bodies. The government has no place interfering with that. I will fight for your right to choose what you want even though I may not agree with it.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Lydiah

The biggest thing for me is freedom of choice. Its our God given right to choose what is healthy for our bodies. The government has no place interfering with that. I will fight for your right to choose what you want even though I may not agree with it.

: I agree. I respect everybody's right to choose. I just want it to be a fully informed choice. I also agree there are posters here that are very critical of vaxing (although I have experienced it the other way as well here). As with everything, take from here what you feel is useful and leave the rest.

[poiyt]

I think what it comes down to is that we are all doing what we believe is *best* for our children - and we wouldnt be doing it if we didnt think it was the right way to do things. When I see people's opinions that differ from my own, and they are very strongly opposed to what Im doing - I dont get offended, I recognize that they feel as strongly as I do - and its up to me whether or not I believe them, or research what they are saying or whatever. Its an opportunity for me to have a good conversation with people and perhaps educate them on my beliefs and learn something as I go.

I simply chose not get offended...though sometimes it is very hard...

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by Lydiah

The biggest thing for me is freedom of choice. Its our God given right to choose what is healthy for our bodies. The government has no place interfering with that. I will fight for your right to choose what you want even though I may not agree with it.

[Turquesa]

I know that she later apologized for the parasite remark, and I'm glad that she did. But I still wonder, what was she hoping to accomplish with the name calling? My complete and unadulterated conversion to her side? What about the other belligerent pro-vaxers who dismiss our concerns and label us freeloaders? If convincing us were truly their goal, they would actually use rational arguments instead of the more emotive and self-indulgent rhetoric.

[Deborah]

Originally Posted by Turquesa

I know that she later apologized for the parasite remark, and I'm glad that she did. But I still wonder, what was she hoping to accomplish with the name calling? My complete and unadulterated conversion to her side? What about the other belligerent pro-vaxers who dismiss our concerns and label us freeloaders? If convincing us were truly their goal, they would actually use rational arguments instead of the more emotive and self-indulgent rhetoric.

Are they really interested in changing minds? http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...nts-dangerous/