Do you find these debates helpful in making your decision?

[pek64]

I think the title says it well.

For those who are, or have been, undecided, do or did you find the vaccine debates here on Mothering helpful?

Edited to request that all posts be about helpfulness of the debate forum, and personal vaccination decisions be omitted.
Edited by pek64 - 11/25/12 at 8:21am

[chickabiddy]

I've made my decision -- my 10yo is fully vaxed (on a slightly delayed schedule) and will be getting boosters as recommended -- and I'm quite comfortable with it.

This forum reinforces my decision.  [edited as directed by moderators]

Edited by chickabiddy - 11/25/12 at 8:36am

[Rrrrrachel]

I enjoy the conversations here because I really am interested in hearing the evidence from the "other side" of the issue, and being spurred to do more research of my own. It has very much reinforced my decision to vaccinate on schedule.

[pek64]

Edited to request that comments be about the helpfulness of the debate thread and personal vaccination choices are not included.
Edited by pek64 - 11/25/12 at 8:30am

[chickabiddy]

To whom are you referring?  If you had a specific post count in mind, please let me know.  [edited as directed by moderators]

Edited by chickabiddy - 11/25/12 at 8:37am

[chickabiddy]

Because we all like numbers:  in the past 4 weeks I had 46 posts in the vaccination threads.  Pek64 had 59.  I guess this means I am part of "the rest of us", and not a "regular debator", so my vote and my post can stand.

[Dakotacakes]

Yes it is helpful. Debate helps individuals think through and rethink their values and beliefs. I opt to vaccinate on schedule. This did come from hearing both sides (and honestly hearing the more shrill voices on both sides is beneificial I can see both extremes and decide which one I would rather be aligned with if I had to be). I also don't have time to get every link and every study done. Having others post them so I can review them and determine what I think is also helpful.

Most of all, I like to avoid being in an echo chamber. If all I ever heard was the case to reinforce the beliefs I already had I wouldn't ever be able to benefit from new research. I have been wrong before, so I like to continue to challenge my beliefs.

That said, after reading the studies, I have opted to continue vaccinating on schedule.

[philomom]

Not really because each side is still very carefully calling the other side "idiots". That's very unhelpful to my family.

[kathymuggle]

Dakotacakes…have you been lurking on MDC awhile?   I ask because the Op was asking specifically about MDC and your join date is quite new.

[Rrrrrachel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakotacakes 

I just wanted to take the time to post something.  I have been lurking for a year or so.  I am a mid thirties mother to one 16 month old boy.  I am a professor and have been married for 12 years. 

 

[Dakotacakes]

yes, I started lurking when I was pregnant. I more read posts then actually post, so I didn't actually register until recently. I also read more on breastfeeding and toddlers.

[tribalmax]

I find the back and forth arguments unhelpful mostly. I don't want to read 4 pages of one or two people going back and forth about the validity of their side's studies.  I mean, I have my own opinions about vaccines and enjoy reading others perspectives and new studies. But it does seem like things have gotten a little out of hand in some threads. It seems to me that a few frequent posters are never going to agree on things. Even if a 'perfect' study came out, I suspect there would be 2 camps in interpreting it. It seems like things are getting personal pretty quickly too. And that isn't helpful to anyone -- especially a new mom or dad coming to MDC to find information. IMO, a general rule of thumb would be that if there are 2 people having a conversation/debate about this issue and it goes on for more than a few exchanges just between the two people, it should probably be taken to a personal message. But hey -- that is just my 2 cents. 

Rachel

[pek64]

I needed to vote so I could see the votes, and chose the middle option to have the least impact. My intention was to not post anything about my opinions on the subject and find out if the debate thread is actually helpful. The way I saw it, there was no reason for anyone to post anything about vaccination, only about the forum.
Edited by pek64 - 11/25/12 at 8:35am

[Rrrrrachel]

I'm confused, everyone's posts seem pretty on topic to me.

[kathymuggle]

I voted slightly helpful. 

 

I morphed from vaguely non-vax (did not do it because I could not get answer to my questions - some of this was pre-internet)...      to

Believing that some vaxxes may be Ok in some very specific circumstances really disliking a number of vaxxes. So - a very sel/delayed position.

Edited by kathymuggle - 11/25/12 at 7:07am

[Sharlla]

i made my decision, my children wont be vaxed while under my care and im quite comfortable with it.
 

This forum reinforces my decision. [edited as directed by moderators]

Edited by Sharlla - 11/25/12 at 10:36am

[LiLStar]

I think debate is helpful. I don't know if its my personality type or what, but on most topics that are up for debate, I much prefer witnessing an intelligent debate vs seeking out something "unbiased" (I find that unbiased tends to translate roughly to "incomplete, not nearly enough information to make an educated decision or form an educated opinion") I like that when someone on either side makes any kind of claim, someone on the other side is going to come and point out any weak points in the argument. This is very helpful to me! 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I'm going to jump in there and help Mosaic and HHM. Let's get this thread back on track. Answer the pole and post a reply that specifically addresses whether you think debate has been helpful in making your decisions and why or why not. The term "usual debaters" is too debatable to request that those folks not participate. Members who participate with respect for the original topic are welcome. Honor requests for edits before continuing to post to this thread. Do not quote posts that you think are UAs or OT. If you did not get a request for edits but feel you could revise your post to improve the quality of the discussion, that would be greatly appreciated. 

Please stay tight to the original topic of whether the debate on MDC has helped your make your decisions about vaccines. 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I will answer because I think this is an interesting question. I've been a member of MDC for about 10 years. I started vaccine doubts when my first was born in an unexpected homebirth transfer. Because I had planned a homebirth, I hadn't yet gotten up to speed about the vaccine questions. I had to fight the hospital to not vaccinate my LO, which kind of got my hackles up. This was before I used the internet so I just had to find information from books and friends. I was in hippie town so there were a good deal of vax questioning folks around. 

When I found MDC one of the first posts I made was about herd immunity. I can't remember how I phrased the question but I was fairly naive, I know. I remember being really taken back by the reception my question received and it informed my participation in the forum to this day. I'm a MDC vax searcher and reader but I rarely participate. The threads I have appreciated have been ones that had a vibe of sharing information over the debate vibe. Though for an issue I feel I understand more fully (few in vax, to be honest) I have read some debate threads with interest. I remember following a lot of the Hillary threads back in the day. Any threads that get really snarky, however, wouldn't be something I was willing to wade through for information. In fact, I find them completely off-putting. The only thing I suppose I get from the debate threads lately is some indication of which members seem trustworthy or not. 

I voted hindering because I assume you mean these really heated debates. If you mean all the debates over the years, I suppose I would put "somewhat helpful". 

[pek64]

These debate threads, at least since I started coming onto MDC have been disappointing to me. There is very little sharing of information, and a feeling of more of a popularity contest than an actual debate.

Edited to remove comments that may have taken the thread off topic.
Edited by pek64 - 11/25/12 at 9:50am