Tactics and tropes of the antivaccine movement revisited, reluctantly

[HuckleB]

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/01/24/tactics-and-tropes-of-the-antivaccine-mo/

"...

Why am I mentioning this? The reason is simple. Over the years, I think I’ve come to learn just about every antivaccine trope, canard, strategy, and argument there is. At least, I know all the major ones, nearly all of the minor ones, and even quite a few of the obscure ones. As a result, I’m rarely surprised anymore, even when of late antivaccinationists have taken to referring to supporters of science-based medicine as “vaccine injury denialists,” a term antivaccine activist Ginger Taylor notably used in “The Role of Government and Media,” a chapter in the anti-vaccine book Vaccine Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children, which was edited by Louise Kuo Habakus and Mary Holland. Now, Taylor uses the term frequently on her blog in a hilarious bit of Pee-Wee Herman-like, “I know you are, but what am I?” (That actually might be a topic for another post entirely.) So when I see people writing about the tropes and tactics favored by the antivaccine movement, I know I’m quite qualified to judge whether they know what they’re talking about or not, as I’ve spent nearly a decade in the trenches on Usenet and in the blogosphere.

...

Kata is the author of a recent article in Vaccine entitled Anti-vaccine activists, Web 2.0, and the postmodern paradigm – An overview of tactics and tropes used online by the anti-vaccination movement. Her opening sets the stage:

Vaccinations are a significant public health achievement, contributing to dramatic declines in morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases [1]. However, by reading certain websites, one might be persuaded to think the opposite – that vaccines are actually ineffective, useless, or even dangerous. These are merely some of the arguments posed by the anti-vaccination movement, an amorphous group holding diverse views that nevertheless shares one core commonality: an opposition to vaccines. The popularity and pervasiveness of the Internet today has facilitated the transmission of such beliefs.

Many people search online for health information, and the information found impacts patient decision-making; it is therefore essential to understand what is shared online. This paper provides an overview of how the new generation of the Internet (Web 2.0) and its emphasis on user-generated content has combined with characteristics of the current postmodern medical paradigm, creating a new environment for sharing health information. The anti-vaccination movement has taken advantage of this milieu to disseminate its messages.

..."


The larger research piece Orac discusses is behind a pay wall for most people, but it goes much deeper, and he does list a number of the usual tropes here, although "too many, too soon" and "alternative schedules are justifiable" should be added. Suffice it to say that I was a bit surprised to see the same old tropes pulled out on DU the past two days. This study came out in 2011, but it appears that nothing has changed for the true believers, and they remain as consistent in their steadfast dangerousness as ever.

I won't be around much today. So have a good one.

[Rex]

1. Anti-science FUD. For people that refuse to listen to common sense.

It is sad to see so many people gobble it up and ask for seconds.

[HuckleB]

7. Indeed. -eom-

[HuckleB]

2. Another piece covering some of the same area.

http://www.skepticnorth.com/2012/04/antivax-101-tactics-and-tropes-of-the-antivaccine-movement/

[Buzz Clik]

3. It is interesting that most anti-vaxxers are liberals.

But, it is not the only area in which mainstream liberals/progressives side with the anti-science crowd.

I was banned (for life?) from the Energy and Environment group for arguing pro-science. It was a truly telling moment with respect to the host who pulled the trigger. A story for another day.

======

Great OP.

[HuckleB]

4. There are many anti-vaxers among liberals, but it is a bipartisan phenomenon, I think.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/02/conservatives_and_liberals_hold_anti_science_views_anti_vaxxers_are_a_bipartisan.html

[Buzz Clik]

5. It's not as cut-and-dried as climate change denial, I agree. n/t

[SwankyXomb]

6. When they swarm this thread, as they're sure to do

remind them that their anti-vax woo is only allowed in the Creative Speculation forum.

[HuckleB]

8. I hope that's true, but I don't know if it's actual DU practice.

It should be, yes.