How to Win Enemies and Not Influence People

Last night, a friend I admire on Facebook posted a link to an article about vaccination; specifically, the author of the article was anti vaccine.

This article was in response to an outbreak of measles tied into Disneyland (or is it DisneyWorld?) in California.

Now I will admit I was not at my best as we've had lots of illness and I'm super tired, so I was feeling a little more on edge than usual.

The article was SUPER annoying to me.  I know my friend (who is awesome) was focused on the first part of the article.  The author of the article talked about how food and water and toxic chemicals are all very important, probably way more important than being vaccinated against measles.  He also has serious concerns about what is in the vaccines.

But he ended the article by saying the following about parents who choose to vaccinate, and this is copied from the article (apologies for the slightly off color language):

Finally, be angry with yourself for not opening your eyes to the snow job and brainwashing which have taken over your mind. You NEVER asked the doctor any questions. You NEVER asked what is in the vaccines. You NEVER learned about these benign infections.

Let’s face it, you don’t really give a crap what your children eat. You don’t care about chemicals in their life. You don’t care if they sit around all day watching the TV or playing video games.

All you care about is drinking your Starbuck’s, your next plastic surgery, your next cocktail, your next affair, and your next sugar fix!

Wow.  Just wow.

I was totally offended and wrote so on FB, openly, which isn't really great.  I shouldn't have because I could tell I was annoyed and FB isn't a great place to sound off when annoyed.

But SERIOUSLY?  REALLY?  All I care about is my next plastic surgery, cocktail, or AFFAIR?

I don't think I'm the only person who, when attacked unfairly, struggles to even remotely consider the arguments of another person. We do vaccinate our children.  We have many friends who do not.  I have read the arguments and analyzed the data and based on what I know (which certainly isn't everything), we feel it is wise to vaccinate.  I believe parents should have the right to decide against vaccination.  There have been negative responses to vaccines.  Parents need to evaluate and decide whether their child should be vaccinated and if so, if they should do it on the schedule promoted by the medical establishment.

But we vaccinate.

And we do care very much what our kids eat, watch, and do.  Our poor girls can't even buy cheap nail polish for their fingernails, because I read that there are toxic chemicals in most nail polishes and they can get into their bodies.  (The expensive stuff?  $10 a bottle instead of $1.)  I think and pray about how to limit the children's exposure to chemicals that can cause hormone disruption. I am FAR from a health nut, but I care so incredibly much for my kids and for this guy to accuse me of laziness and stupidity is really obnoxious.

So...what can I learn from this?

Well, I can learn that it is less likely that someone will listen to me if I start yelling and treating someone else like they are morons because of their position in a certain area.

I do have strong beliefs in areas like abortion, gay marriage, and homeschooling.  But wow, it does NO good to be rude and antagonistic to those with the opposite position.  I am not a debater and rarely DO debate, but when I talk to someone with different views, I would be wise to be polite and kind as much as possible.

Good lesson to ponder.