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Former Anti-Vaxxers Explain What Changed Their Perspective

Anti-vaxxers are kind of a joke but they're also kind of a very real threat to the human race.

They are also natural selection in action. Because of the bogus findings of one person that vaccines cause autism, people en masse have decided to make their children a danger to public health.

But not everybody is an anti-vaxxer for life. Some people eventually learn their lesson...but do they learn it the easy or the hard way?


u/emperornitebyte05 asked:

Ex-anti-vaxxers of Reddit, what made you change your mind?

Here were those answers.

Very Superstitious

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My dad is an anti-vaxxer. His belief stems from my cousin passing away at 3 months old, shortly after her vaccinations. It was SIDS, so it never really got a cause. He believes it was the vaccinations.

I was only 22 when I got pregnant and having grown up with anti-vaxx beliefs being flung at me, it was natural for me to side with that because it was all I'd known. I was adamant that I didn't want any vaccinations for my daughter under 3 years old at least.


In my midwife appointment while I was pregnant, they explained to me the importance of vaccinations and gave me data about the decreased incidents of diseases since the introduction of routine vaccinations. I couldn't refute the evidence.

Then when I had her preemie, it was even more important that she was vaccinated because getting sick could've cost her her life.

I just had to be open minded and consider the affirmative side, despite what my upbringing had taught me.

sharkieclarkie

How To Save A Life

I was a homeopathic medicine believing crunchy who grew up in the 70s. I believed vaccinations would diminish a person's immune system, and contracting an illness would help one develop resistance to the illnesses of the world. I know, stupid.

I ended up getting my kids vaccinated when one was 8 and the other 2. One day, it dawned on me that if my child caught a communicable disease like mumps or measles, he could inadvertently pass it to a fetus in utero if he was near a pregnant woman and the mother's resistance was low. And my thought process was that she could not get vaccinated to protect her baby if she was pregnant, but my child could.

Essentially, the whole notion of herd immunity smacked me upside the head, and I woke up.

Elivandersys

Lucky You Survived That Long

My family was very into all things natural and holistic growing up, vaccines were "poisoning your body" and preventing your immune system from fighting off germs. I just believed what my family said, and never wanted to rock the boat. Then I went to medical school and learned real science.. and off to get all my vaccines I went.

Some of my family still doesn't know that I got them.

butwhyactually

More Than One Issue

I was an anti-vaxxer because I have a terrible, extreme phobia of needles that result in full-on panic attacks and other unpleasantness. So you can imagine how extremely pleased I was to discover a way to legitimize my desire to avoid them at all costs, yes? Especially since I was raised among people who took the ideas behind anti-vaxx arguments seriously, but otherwise called me a wimp for being afraid.


So when I left for university and found myself among people who were super understanding of my fears but thought my anti-vaxx opinions were disgusting, things started to change. I came to terms with the fact that I don't think I ever really believed that vaccines were bad (as evidenced by the fact that I was never capable of properly articulating what was bad about them) and started dealing with my phobia properly.

Fairwhetherfriend

No Correlation

I was anti-vax and yet had a kid with autism. I was so ignorant of the truth of vaccines, but also too ignorant about autism. It's not a death sentence, it's not to be feared. My kid with autism is a fantastic human and I often wish more people were like him.

So anyway, when I had my next kid, I vaxxed on-schedule, and he's pretty neurotypical, just a smidge of ADHD. So along with my own anecdotal experience, I did the research, read a lot, and learned that the Wakefield study was bullshit, and that vaccines don't cause autism or ADHD. But in defense of my ignorant self, when you're a new parent, you're vulnerable to fear-mongering. Thankfully I saw the light.

headcoatee

One Fad To Another

Sister was anti-vax. She is always into the newest soccer mom fad. I honestly think she has Munchausens by proxy. Her kids all have weird food allergies/illnesses but have never been diagnosed.

Anyway, she decided not to vaccinate her fourth child because her third has autism. Fourth had failure to thrive so she decided to get him vaccinated so he had less issues. She's moved on from anti-vax to keto and gluten free diets.

madtrippinfool

A Quick Ask

My daughter was born in 2001 before "the study" had been thoroughly debunked and proven willfully fraudulent.

So I did ask the pediatrician about it, and he immediately put my mind at ease.

Thus concluded any and all worries and concerns I ever had on the matter.

stupidlyugly

Saving My Own Life

I've never been anti Vax as such, but when I was pregnant with my son I did question whether the combined MMR was riskier than paying for them to be given separately. (I can't even remember my reasoning now)

Anyway, I spoke to my doctor, researched on the internet, listened to anti vaxxers and pro vaxxers, for me it was weighing up the pros and cons.

The result is he has had all of his vaccines because when all the evidence is presented it's the right decision for most children (unless strong family history of reaction etc), the funny thing is, after his birth I developed Immuno suppression, if he hadn't have been vaccinated he could make me really ill.

thegrimrita

Playing On My Insecurity

I realized that I was being manipulated due to my fears and the fact I was very ill at the time and didn't know why. I was told that the government was killing me (among other anti-vax stuff) with flouride and chemicals and that I was going to have a terrible quality of life by 'helpful' members of the anti-vax/alt health community and when I said something that didn't fit the narrative I was verbally attacked for being a corporate shill.

There are two parts to the entire community. One part is the people like me who are just scared and concerned due to the many different things we hear; maybe we're inexperienced parents, maybe we're sick, etc. but we're hearing so many different things due to the age we live in and we're generally scared/concerned/trying to do what's best. The other part is the predatory people who prey on the first group in order to accomplish some type of goal whether that's a following or money or idk a sense of satisfaction.

PandeanPanic

Too Close For Comfort

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Not me - a work friend.

Her sister had nearly died after receiving a vaccine for HPV. She was literally the only anti-vaxxer I knew that knew a genuine real case of a vaccine going wrong.

The sister gets unwell again - the doctors verdict: "she wouldn't be at deaths door again if the people around her were vaccinated. She's got a very weak immune system she's relying on all of you to protect yourselves to protect her."

So now, my work friend is a huge advocate for vaccination.

So like most of the stories - it took someone nearly dying to change her views.

Bixx_

Two identical goats stare into the camera while standing in a field.
Photo by Jørgen Håland

When discussing love and relationships, the motto is usually less is more.

But what if there is more of one partner?

Being involved with identical twins can be quite the experience.

Can you really tell them apart?

Is everything identical?

If you're attracted to one, aren't you automatically attracted to the other?

So many questions.

Now we need some answers.

Redditor nicknamesofdaveryder wanted to hear about love and the twin experience, so they asked:

"Redditors who married someone with an identical twin sibling, why are you glad you're not with the other twin instead?"

I've never met a lot of twins, let alone gotten involved with a pair.

I have questions.

Hopefully I get some answers.

Saved

Comedy Central Wink GIF by Drunk HistoryGiphy

"My late husband's twin was a non-functioning alcoholic and my husband wasn’t. My husband says joining the navy was what saved him from going down that road."

iteachag5

Falling Asleep

"Story time! I am an identical twin (we still look so much alike!) and one night I spent the night at her house. She and I fell asleep in the same bed because we were up late talking, etc. Her husband slept on the couch. The next morning my twin went to take a shower and her husband laid down on the bed with me (thinking it was her of course). I jokingly said 'Hey sailor, looking for a little variety?' He shot off the bed and said 'If I was looking for variety, do you think I'd choose you??'"

tanyagal2

The Good Guy And The Other One

"I didn't marry him but I dated an identical twin. His twin's girlfriend and I used to joke around that she got the evil twin. He was just a selfish, messed-up person. One of the benefits of breaking up with my boyfriend was no longer having his twin in my life. Plus, his ex gf and I are still great friends! The good guy was just the lesser evil. She wanted to get as far away from that family as I did. The best thing to come out of those relationships was our friendship."

super-ro

Love Wins

"My dad's an identical twin. People have a hard time distinguishing them, but to my mom and me, they look like two completely different people because of the way they walk/talk/etc. Obviously, my mom only fell in love with this one person. When you love someone it's actually pretty easy to tell identical twins apart."

michaelsgavin

Issues

Threaten Ashley Olsen GIFGiphy

"The other twin has the same personality as I do. We argue readily and are super competitive with each other. We butt heads on a lot of issues."

why_not_send_a_nude

Personality clashes aren't just a twin thing.

It's a human thing.

We can't help ourselves.

Different People

Triplets GIF by RuPaul's Drag RaceGiphy

"I work with a guy who married an identical triplet, one of the triplets also works with us. I asked him one day if it was weird working with someone who looked just like his wife. He got a little pissed and basically said they are all very different people and he doesn't see much of his wife in her."

LeafMeAlone_99

He's Evil

"We’re not married but known each other since we were 12 and have been together 3 and a half years. His twin is a massive di**head who tried to break us up multiple times, was madly in love with me in his own words, and after 2 years of pursuing me declared I was a terrible person and put him through hell. Because I didn’t break up with his TWIN BROTHER to date him."

xMollyP

Life Choices

"My husband and his twin brother look very different to me, although they are identical and get mistaken for one another all the time. They couldn’t be more different in terms of personality. They have different values and life goals, hobbies, one is introverted and the other is extroverted. If they were two people who didn’t look alike, I would automatically not be attracted to my brother-in-law simply because we are not remotely compatible personality-wise."

"Also they have very different styles. I do not find the way my husband’s twin dresses/grooms his hair attractive. It’s so wild to me when people can’t tell them apart because they couldn’t be more different in my eyes."

lanieeeeeeee

Opposites

"Well, my wife and I have been together for 30 years. She has a 'mirror' twin. Even now, if you don’t know them well or interact frequently you will not be able to tell them apart. They are complete opposites. I married the extrovert, she has never met a stranger, will try anything at least once, and can find a positive aspect in almost everything she encounters, they are also best friends, my wife drags her sister along all the time."

"Once she’s out she enjoys our activities. I love my SIL, all three of them, but so glad I married the one like me. The mirror part even goes for looks, when I see my wife’s reflection I see my SIL, it’s weird sometimes. Also, attitude and personality are everything, I have never been 'attracted' to her twin."

redbonecouchhound

The Look

Sexy Damon Wayans Jr GIF by Global TVGiphy

"I used to date an identical twin. Although I found his brother objectively handsome, I wasn't attracted to him at all. It was cool to directly experience how attraction goes far beyond just the looks."

Liatessa

I've never been intrigued by twins, and now I never will be.

confused man in blue t-shirt

Sander Sammy on Unsplash

My Father was considered a genius.

At 16 he graduated high school as Valedictorian, joined the United States Navy as soon as he turned 17 then was promptly recruited by Admiral Hyman Rickover's team converting the Navy from diesel to nuclear power.

He served as a nuclear and electrical engineer on naval vessels after the conversion project ended, then as a reactor inspector for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after retiring from the Navy.

He also needed a full time babysitter in order to survive. Things like paying bills, buying groceries, feeding himself all escaped him. He lacked any semblance of common sense.

Really smart people doing very unsmart things isn't uncommon.

And sometimes a person is labeled a genius who's really an idiot with good brand marketing.

Keep reading...Show less

Corporations don't get big overnight.

A lot of tough decisions, big wins, and sometimes even bigger losses, go into their growth.

But sometimes companies make mistakes that the public simply cannot let slide, and it can be hard to imagine how the company could stay afloat after the backlash.

Redditor Astro_Shogun asked:

"What decision by a company received the most amount of backlash from the public?"

Dang It, Photobucket

"When Photobucket decided to take the whole internet hostage by asking for 400 dollars a year for what was previously a free image storage solution. The move broke years of forum posting and erased a significant portion of the web collective knowledge."

- denpo

"Yup. And now they're holding almost all of my son's childhood photos (some of which I managed to save in other places) hostage."

- KnockMeYourLobes

"Browse any forum thread from the early 2000s and practically all the images are gone because everyone used Photobucket back then. It will be the same way with Reddit whenever Imgur goes under."

- NothingOld7527

So Salesy

"JCPenny doing away with sales and trying to present itself as a more upscale store. Sales immediately plummeted, and they reversed course quickly."

- flyingcircusdog

Cheap Jewelry

"Gerald Ratner said the reason his jewelry company could sell stuff so cheap was because the products were crap. It destroyed the company overnight."

- simplemtbman

Front Wheel Drive

"Ford, in the '80s, tried to replace the aging Fox body Mustang with a front-wheel drive, Mazda-based car. This was pre-internet, but car people got UPSET and deluged Ford with a letter expressing their anger."

"Ford backtracked, kept the Fox body around, and released the vehicle that was going to be the new Mustang as the Probe. It lasted two generations, but the Mustang soldiers on."

- StillN0tATony

Online Only

"Microsoft got roasted when they announced Kinect and always-online were required for the Xbox One. Took all the momentum they had from the 360 era and put them miles behind Sony."

- Jerry_Williams89

Childhood: Destroyed

"Sonic having human teeth."

- LightDash

"I just immediately pictured teeth in a Sonic milkshake and had a horrified reaction before my brain caught up to you meaning the character."

- Rolizas

Questionable Upgrades

"Very recently, T-Mobile. A company that 10 years ago called itself the Uncarrier by making a series of pro-consumer changes to its plans and the previous CEO built almost a sort of cult of fans of the company. Then T-Mobile acquired Sprint and got a new CEO."

"A couple of weeks ago, T-Mobile internal documentation revealed it was going to automatically upgrade customers on old grandfathered plans up to new plans, which were more expensive. Customers would have to call in to opt out of the change. 'They weren’t raising customers’ rates, they were moving them to better plans.'"

"Well, major tech news got ahold of that, and then even some local news stations, and T-Mobile quietly 'clarified' a week later via internal communications that only one percent of their customers would be affected."

- artimaticus8

Coming Together in Hate

"Anyone remember the Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad when she solved police brutality?"

- vernon3

"Those moments are precious. There are a few things these days that bring everyone on the Internet together. That was one of those things. We all hated the Pepsi ad that solved police brutality."

"That ad had it all. Pandering, ignorance, arrogance, and talking down to their audience."

- notwoutmyprob

"And a Kardashian."

- Kitchen_action

With Every Purchase

"I couple of years back a local Detroit area car dealership decided the best way to celebrate MLK day was to give away free car alarms with every purchase."

"Nobody liked that."

- graveybrains

A Sale Gone Too Well

"Hoover UK offering two free flights to America if you spend £100 on their products. They anticipated that people would spend a lot more than the minimum required which would cover the approximately £600 value of the tickets."

"When the company was deluged with purchases around the £100 mark, they reneged on the offer, which prompted a very expensive lawsuit. The fallout was so bad that the UK division of the firm was sold to a rival company."

- Live-Dance-2641

New Drink, Who Dis?

"New Coke."

- PeggyWithPhatA**

"After the relations disaster, the public clamored for the decision to be reversed, and Coca-Cola released 'Coke Classic.'"

"Coke Classic soon had an even higher market share than Coke did before the public relations fiasco, and a new theory made the rounds: that Coca-Cola deliberately made these decisions, simply to gain publicity, and increase market share."

"The reaction from Coca-Cola’s executives was, 'We aren’t that smart, and we aren’t that stupid.'"

- Malthus1

A Tweet Turned Sexist

"Burger King stating that 'Women Belong in the Kitchen.' What they were TRYING to say was that they wanted more diversity. People didn't see it that way, and in the end, they had to issue an apology."

- zerbey

The Downfall of an Incredible Publication

"Here’s one there should be a public outcry about."

"Disney bought National Geographic and controls everything it does. This is the last year the iconic magazine will be available. I’m incensed."

- redheadMInerd2

(The writer of this article is equally incensed.)

Predicting the Future

"I feel like whatever YouTube is cooking up lately will be the next one."

- Just_Aioli_1233

"Tech companies sure know how to kill off highly popular and profitable apps, super quick. It’s interesting to watch it happen in real-time. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, all losing tons of followers and destroying their own stock."

- Eleanor_of_Accutane

It's easy to see how all of these mistakes resulted in huge backlash, sometimes at the total expense and downfall of the business.

But some of these mistakes were made by companies that are still huge today, and to a certain extent, that's kind of surprising.