Mother Jones article "Immune to Reason" - Page 2

[karina5]

This article is timely b/c just this weekend I found out that THREE of the crunchiest, most anti-vaccine people I know are switching gears on their opinions and becoming (slightly) more pro-vaccine.

Verrrrrry interesting.

[zinemama]

Originally Posted by mamabadger

I think the reason "alternative" sources like Mother Jones are taking this view is that they see anti-vaxers as some kind of fundamentalist anti-science faction, like people who refuse to believe in dinosaurs... To its credit, Mother Jones has a reputation for trying to take the side of reason against prejudice and superstition, and I suppose they feel this is another example of such a conflict. The title, "Immune to Reason," implies the same thing.

Originally Posted by xmasbaby7

I can tell you that thoughtful letters explaining the angle you wish they would have taken as leaders in investigative journalism will get read and thought about. An angry letter will not do much but make you feel better. If enough people give real direction on stories to report to Mother Jones, they will possibly follow up with it.

If everyone writes in saying they are canceling their subscriptions it just makes the editors less likely to cover that topic again. Instead, they should be encouraged to offer fair representation of controversial topic.

I agree with both of you. And I think it is crucial to keep this in mind when writing letters in response. MJ needs to be shown that non/selective vaxers are educated people who are very much pro-science and research.

[inthezoo]

Wow, how disappointing. I just got my issue but have not had time to read it yet. I think I will do that right now.

Dh is a better writer than I and I just talked to him about this. He is willing to write a letter too.

[llamalluv]

Wow. So, before you can get a religious or "philosophical" exemption, you have to sit through "re-education" classes?

Don't they know: "Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still"?

Something like that would make me say, "Fine. I'll sit through your class, but I'll be burning and seething inside the whole time, and I'll REALLY be against vaccines, then!"

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by A&A

Some, including a group of doctors at John Hopkins University, have proposed making it harder--allowing a philosophical exemption only after parents demonstrate a good-faith effort to educate themselves."

Any idea on how exactly this group proposes this "good-faith effort" is measured? This looks a lot like one of those "hard cases make bad law" things that would end up so unweildy that it would be almost impossible to navigate.

[MadameXCupcake]

Originally Posted by llamalluv

Wow. So, before you can get a religious or "philosophical" exemption, you have to sit through "re-education" classes?

Don't they know: "Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still"?

Something like that would make me say, "Fine. I'll sit through your class, but I'll be burning and seething inside the whole time, and I'll REALLY be against vaccines, then!"

NAK

I originally was trying to get my younger sister into highschool who was behind in some vax's. I walked in to register and asked how I could do a religious exemption in NV, she said to call the health department to get it. I called the health department they said I had to sit through a three hour class to get an exemption. I thought that was insane, looked up NV's law, found I only had to write that I was against the practice of Vaccines, nothing more. There was NO class needed just a simple statement. I dont even understand how they could say the only way was after a 3 hour class?? How can they lie to people. How many mothers don't have the time for some silly class and decide to vax for this reason? :