Maybe I'm Misunderstanding Woo... But... Wasn't There A Time When...

[ElboRuum]

136. You claimed that the anti-woo predilection for pointing out this was a strawman.

Your contention appears to be that you don't have interest in the thimerosal/autism connection and the anti-woo forces jump on that rather than what you wish to discuss. My point is how can they not? Who discusses other? After all of the refutations that have been presented, this STILL PERSISTS. It is still the suspected default position for anyone wishing to discuss vaccination from the anti side.

In fairness, I never claimed that Big Pharma plays a role in anything you are saying, nor do I assume you believe anything about it one way or another. What I did offer is the counter to your argument that pointing out this very large component of the antivax argument is irrelevant to what YOU wish to discuss. My point is that it MUST be addressed to even begin to talk about any other aspect of vaccination concerns because, by default, that's the linchpin of all real concerns about vaccines in the modern era, the noise questioning their safety at a root level. This, even in the face of the obvious benefit of vaccines over their potential harm, a harm that has been thoroughly dismissed by the myriad of studies suggesting the opposite.

The reason I say this is because, realistically, based upon the history of this topic, is that we cannot have any discussion now about any vaccination concerns because those that still hold to that abominable "study" have sown the seeds of their own mistrust. It is unfortunate, but that mistrust has been well earned and even those who wish to discuss other things, perhaps legitimate concerns, have to wade through that quagmire of suspicion before their concerns appear sincere. It stinks, but it is true.

If you are concerned about the safety of vaccines, you are the very FIRST I've ever talked to who DIDN'T want to assert the thimerosal/autism link. I've conversed with many over the course of the past few years and all it's ever been has been the citing of the infamous "study" and the obviousness of the linkage between the two. It's been so persistent and so single-minded that one cannot help but be primed for the argument.