Hi Reader,
As you know, I have blogged here about the increasingly violent rhetoric of the anti-vax movement, including threats on the lives of scientists and physicians who study and promote vaccination, bomb threats against vaccination clinics at Sherri Tenpenny’s Facebook page, and general calls to violence.
Today, I received this comment at my most-viewed blog post, entitled, “Dear Anti-Vaxxer, this is why I do not care for you”. Granted, this post is not known for its friendliness to the anti-vax movement. However, my post does not call for violence against anti-vaxxers, nor would I ever espouse such a strategy. I do not wish for anti-vaxxers or their kids to get sick. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I hope they see the potential adverse sequelae of their decision before it’s too late to prevent a disease with a simple vaccination.
The comment I received is just another example of a certain subset of the anti-vax movement, especially over the past month or so where the true implications of their behavior have become crystal clear to the general public. They are getting backed into a corner and are, unfortunately, lashing out in unproductive ways. Anyone who writes a blog about the benefits of vaccines has probably received a similar comment, and I think they should be pointed out. I am not sure if the poster realizes that he is not, in fact, anonymous despite his attempt to avoid attaching a name to his post.
The smiley adds just the right amount of gravitas, no? Part of me realizes that this is just one rogue moron who does not speak for all anti-vaxxers. The other part understands that all it takes is one.
