# Convincing acquaintances, friends, and family to get vaccinated **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [August 7, 2021, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172 "2021-08-07T00:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/21 "2021-08-07T17:31:43Z")
Your friend is actually part of the last phase of the experiment. She is the control group and is much more likely to get sick and die. 4 BILLION vaccine doses have been given so far, with 40 million more per day. Your fried is a fool. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/22 "2021-08-07T19:27:55Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Carrots will at least help preserve your relationship. Quite frankly, there isn’t a relationship to preserve. I couldn’t give a flying fuck if they all died of COVID. I am just sick and tired of this whole pandemic thing and everything it entails. If I can reduce the chances that four deniers might not be spreading COVID around by throwing a few bucks at them I’m happy to do it. Besides, they didn’t want to mask around Mom (85 years old) because Mom was vaccinated so they couldn’t get her sick. There is a very good reason I had so much weed on me when we got together, most of it was for me! ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/23 "2021-08-07T19:31:36Z")
I hear ya. I just went out in my apartment complex and a bunch of 20-40 somethings walking around with no masks despite signs saying that local health officials “encourage” face coverings. That’s why I’m kinda batty on this stuff because if our experts aren’t going to have a great sense of urgency, then frankly, I don’t expect the general population to, either. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/24 "2021-08-07T19:49:42Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > If I can reduce the chances that four deniers might not be spreading COVID around by throwing a few bucks at them I’m happy to do it. This touches on something I don’t understand. I hope someone can enlighten me. What is the mindset of the people who decide to get vaxxed for rewards such as money or freebies? Like, they really believe the vaccine might be dangerous, but screw it, they’ll face the [fictitious] dangers for a few bucks–like, “Ha, ha! Just kidding–it’s not THAT dangerous!”? Or they staunchly refuse the vaccine because freedom, but for $50, meh, freedom isn’t that important? Avoiding a deadly disease isn’t sufficient to motivate vaccination, but $100 is? Do your relatives change their minds when they accept your money? Or do they continue to rail against the vaccine even after they’ve been vaccinated? ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/25 "2021-08-07T20:08:04Z")
After dinner, we went back to the hotel and I started drinking heavily and wasn’t paying attention. I do remember that one sister proudly announced that she only got the shot because Trump did. She said she would never have gotten it if Biden had been involved because she knows he would put other CT things in the shots. Plus, if Biden had been in charge we would still be waiting for a vaccine to be developed. There was more but by that time I was numb enough to zone out. For the record, I don’t usually drink heavily. I don’t really have a drinking problem, I have a family problem. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/26 "2021-08-07T20:25:30Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > This touches on something I don’t understand. I hope someone can enlighten me. What is the mindset of the people who decide to get vaxxed for rewards such as money or freebies? Like, they really believe the vaccine might be dangerous, but screw it, they’ll face the [fictitious] dangers for a few bucks–like, “Ha, ha! Just kidding–it’s not THAT dangerous!”? Or they staunchly refuse the vaccine because freedom, but for $50, meh, freedom isn’t that important? Avoiding a deadly disease isn’t sufficient to motivate vaccination, but $100 is? I think the mindset is: 1. I don’t need it 2. It’s a nuisance 3. I might feel sick afterwards, and maybe even miss work So I don’t want to do it. Enough money/peer-pressure, etc. overcomes that. I don’t think most of the anti-vaxxers are really afraid of the vaccine, they just don’t want to deal, don’t like being pushed around, and are a little afraid they might miss a day of work. Yes, there are a few people who are actually terrified of the vaccine, but I think that’s a pretty small number. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/27 "2021-08-07T21:00:16Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Enough money/peer-pressure, etc. overcomes that. I know a guy who let another guy shoot him with a paintball gun from ~10 feet away for $20. Another guy let someone pepper spray him in the face for some amount of money, \< $50. Both events were filmed. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/28 "2021-08-08T00:15:42Z")
I only know two unvaccinated people. One says she has a medical issue, and I believe her since she is reasonable about everything else. The other is a rabid CTer and anti-vaxxer. The only thing I can do is when I invited our critique group into my home when the person with a medical condition recovers enough to get vaccinated not invite the anti-vaxxer. The only thing I can think to do is to make them give up something. I don’t think it will get her vaccinated, but it will protect the rest of us. Two of us are over 80, so it matters. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/29 "2021-08-08T00:42:37Z")
My mother and brother refused to get vaccinated. They both believe in conspiracies, etc. (For instance, one time I overheard my brother telling my mother about how the vaccine is the mark of the beast. He is literally mentally challenged, but she would rather listen to him than me.) He got his second shot today. He is on welfare but has a “little” job that falls below the welfare income cap. There are two people working there who have non-functional immune systems, so to continue working there he had to get a vaccine. As of yesterday he was still watching religious anti-COVID vaccine videos on Youtube, and I suspect he won’t stop. Unfortunately he wasn’t “convinced” to get a vaccine but essentially strongarmed. It sucks when a friend or family member does something objectively stupid (like refusing potentially life-saving preventative medicine) but if they’re an adult you can’t force them. It’s similar if you have family members who won’t stop drinking alcohol, taking drugs, etc. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/30 "2021-08-08T01:00:50Z")
He thinks it’s literally the mark of the beast, but he’s doing it to keep a “little” job?! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/31 "2021-08-08T01:22:40Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > > [@nelliebly](#): > > > > This touches on something I don’t understand. I hope someone can enlighten me. What is the mindset of the people who decide to get vaxxed for rewards such as money or freebies? Like, they really believe the vaccine might be dangerous, but screw it, they’ll face the [fictitious] dangers for a few bucks–like, “Ha, ha! Just kidding–it’s not THAT dangerous!”? Or they staunchly refuse the vaccine because freedom, but for $50, meh, freedom isn’t that important? Avoiding a deadly disease isn’t sufficient to motivate vaccination, but $100 is? > > I think the mindset is: > > 1. I don’t need it > 2. It’s a nuisance > 3. I might feel sick afterwards, and maybe even miss work > So I don’t want to do it. > > Enough money/peer-pressure, etc. overcomes that. That’s one possibility, but I think another is just being scared of it, so their subconscious risk/reward calculation is out of whack. Up the reward, and the calculus changes. I also think these two groups make up a lot of the people who go on about the conspiracies. They want to be convinced they shouldn’t do it. I would not assume everyone pushing the conspiracy stuff actually believes it. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/32 "2021-08-08T03:48:49Z")
I’m already vaccinated but if I promise to get a booster when it’s available will you post pix of the new kitten? Done and done 🙂 > [@Pet pictures!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-pictures/920105/550): > > I love black cats. They look like little panthers. Great pic, btw. When we had a black cat, I took a lot of pics of a black blob with yellow eyes. George is almost 5 months old and is 6lbs. He is fascinated by the litter robot and keeps jumping in and stopping it in mid-cycle. The missing litter always baffles him. [[Imgur] ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/191587192@N04/51364545834/in/album-72157719407794290/) He’s a fierce hunter (notice the fluffed tail and spine hair): [[Imgur] ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/191587192@N04/51363809631/in/album-72157719407794290/) He’s smart enough to know whe… @nelliebly thinking about it further, in the case of my idiot relatives, its all a case of “You Aren’t The Boss of Me! My Body, My Choice and if I choose to get jabbed for money it’s MY choice.” The ringleader was totally against the idea until she got wasted on my dime and saw the money. Then she suddenly thought that getting the Trump jab was the best idea ever. Once she agreed, the other two went along. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/33 "2021-08-08T03:58:11Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I don’t really have a drinking problem, I have a family problem. It’s sort of like the old saw: Insanity is hereditary – you get it from your kids. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/34 "2021-08-08T04:02:33Z")
Squeee!!! You deserve all the kitty cuteness! ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/35 "2021-08-08T04:34:00Z")
Isn’t he the cutest lil guy ever! And I do deserve it, I didn’t beat hubs to death when he got COVID. Knowing that I have another one (orange male) reserved for when hubs gets Delta will stop me from beating him to death again. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/36 "2021-08-08T04:48:02Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > its all a case of “You Aren’t The Boss of Me! My Body, My Choice and if I choose to get jabbed for money it’s MY choice.” I think you’re onto something there. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Then she suddenly thought that getting the Trump jab was the best idea ever. Maybe if we all call it The Trump Jab, more people would get it. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Knowing that I have another one (orange male) reserved for when hubs gets Delta will stop me from beating him to death again. How many times have you already beaten him to death? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/37 "2021-08-08T05:11:18Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Maybe if we all call it The Trump Jab, more people would get it. I have a friend who lives to troll trumpers. She has been posting all over social media that evil Biden is going to give all of _OUR_ vaccines to those dirty furners if we don’t use them up. Thanks to my idiot sister, friend is spreading Trump Jab all over facebook and twitter. If they won’t get jabbed for logic and compassion, maybe they will get jabbed out of spite. > [@nelliebly](#): > > How many times have you already beaten him to death? Hmmmm, well, the first time was when he “filed” my social security card and forgot where he had filed it when I needed it for a new government job requirement. Because my driver’s license was over 10 years old but not expired, social security wouldn’t accept it. I spent several weeks going back and forth between motor vehicles and social security trying to get things straightened out. I finally had everything I needed for my new social security card when hubs suddenly started digging around in our file cabinet. He triumphantly pulled my social security card out and I promptly killed him. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/38 "2021-08-08T05:15:45Z")
🎶 He had it comin’ He had it comin’ He only had himself to blame If you’d have been there If you’d have seen it I betcha you would have done the same 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/39 "2021-08-08T12:55:47Z")
Yes. His critical thinking and logic are weak, but that’s what is expected. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172/40 "2021-08-08T14:36:29Z")
I came across something interesting in my studies this morning. It’s a relevant metaphor (and a possible argument to use on anti-vaxxers) from an ancient Jewish sage, [Shimon bar Yochai - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_bar_Yochai) (c. 70 CE). > R. Shimon bar Yochai taught: > > This may be likened to people on a ship, one of whom took a borer and began boring beneath their own place. The others said to them: “What are you doing?” They said in response: “What does that matter to you? I’m boring under my own place!” Said they: “Because the water will come up and flood the ship for us all." Not sure what “this” he was referring to, but the example surely fits here. The anti-vaxxers claim their decision affects only them, when that decision is, in fact, drowning us all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convincing-acquaintances-friends-and-family-to-get-vaccinated/948172.md?page=3)