Ran into two ladies at the deli counter of the grocery store. They noticed

[applegrove]

the clerk didn't remove their gloves after talking in the phone. When i thought back i agreed. Then she handled their sliced meat. They got her to change her gloves. They said they needed to be extra sure because they didn't want to get covid. They said they were not going to get vaccinated. I panicked and started saying because we were all the same size we were in a vulnerable category (obese). They said they were afraid of side effects. I said the chances of any side effect from a covid vaccine was less than getting covid and ending up in hospital. That my sister had side effects like sore joints but that was just her body getting into fighting form. That if you went to a cemetery and looked at the grave markers many would be children back before we had good vaccines in the 1950s. Few graves were children afterwards. They listened to me. I was quite upset as i told them Delta is way catchier. They said they would think about it. Thank you DU for arming me with persuasive arguments. I should have gotten their phone numbers so i could follow up or get some health authority to. Sending them vibes that they take proper care if themselves. I have not run into that much here in Ottawa. I hope they are okay.

[Hugin]

1. Some people need a little gentle persuasion...

They're afraid and a little word of reason helps motivate them.

I'm glad you stood up and made a case they could hear.

[niyad]

2. You. did good. The rest is up to them.

[Dream Girl]

3. There's a chance you got them moving toward a vaccine. They sound persuadable.

They were concerned enough to ask the counter person To change her gloves. I bet they are just you informed but not ignorant like Trumpers. My guess is that they and others like them will eventually get the shot.

[NoRethugFriends]

4. Nah. They're ignorant. Vaccine much more important than gloves (nt)

[Dream Girl]

5. Ignogrant yes, but persuadable.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. Thank you for educating them.

I doubt I'd have been so good if that had happened to me.

Again, thank you.

Oh, and I'll add that I've been able to get my BMI down from obese to normal since last summer. I'm very, very happy at that. I know how very hard it is to lose weight. Worse yet, overweight and obesity has been normalized in recent decades. Just look at a yearbook from the 1950s or 1960s and you'll be struck by how few overweight people there are. And almost no obese ones.

I'm beyond glad I've been able to take off the excess weight.

[applegrove]

7. I am on a diet. I need to do this for a whole host of reasons. You are an inspiration.

Thanks.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. It helps a lot that at my age, 72, my appetite simply isn't what it used to be.

It's been easy to cut back a lot.

When I was a little kid, I was famous for being able to eat second and third helpings. I ate a lot. I was also very active, and had zero weight problems for a long time.

Around the time I graduated high school I stopped being so active and started gaining weight. It was not at all an issue for several more years. I'll spare you the rest of my life, but will say that weight is a complex thing.

I'll repeat that the main reason I've been able to lose weight recently is a lack of appetite. That makes it incredibly easy. I do honestly think it's connected to age. It's also connected to paying attention to my appetite. We easily get into the habit of eating whatever we'd been used to in the past, and just carry that on into the future. Lucky me, I've not been absorbed by that.

I hope this is somewhat helpful to the rest of you.

[applegrove]

13. Yes. Great insights. Thanks.

[hedda_foil]

12. The people in those yearbooks were age 14 to 18.

Check out a few current yearbooks and see if there's a discernable difference.

[SheltieLover]

8. Ty for doing your part!

I've gotten a few to agree & even made the appt. For one right there on my phone!

[applegrove]

9. I'm too passive. I should have done more.

[SheltieLover]

10. No way!

More assertiveness likely would have frightened them.

You did great!

[femmedem]

14. Your response was spot on!

You saw that they were vaccine-hesitant not because they are Covid-deniers but because they are afraid of vaccine side effects. You spoke directly about what motivates them. You spoke from a place of compassion, not judgment. You were awesome, and you may have saved their lives.

[applegrove]

15. Thank you. I hope you are right about it working.