# EPA - fluoride conspiracy related question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epa-fluoride-conspiracy-related-question/571827 "2011-02-18T17:29:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epa-fluoride-conspiracy-related-question/571827/21 "2011-02-22T20:57:22Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > It’s not realy our business, but … > Just don’t bother with this. > > If she believes this stuff, any rational explanations you provide will not change her belief (because it’s not based on rational thinking, but emotional/psychological needs). And any discussions on this can easily break down into arguments and hard feelings between you and your sister. So don’t. > > Just accept your sister’s belief in this as an eccentric part of who she is, and continue to love her despite it. > > At most, just respond saying “I got your email. Thanks for your concern for me.” I agree. This isn’t a rational discussion about public health, epidemiology and toxicology. This is really a expression of fear that in today’s technological society so much of what affects us --what goes right into our bodies, even in something as simple and wholesome as a clean glass of water – is decided on by mysterious unknown people thousands of miles away for reasons that we really can’t understand. And put that way, the fear is at least a little understandable. I think the best response is something like “It really is kind of scary that there’s invisible chemicals in our drinking water. Sure sounds bad. But based on the people I met who were majoring in Public Health, I think we don’t need to worry about their good intentions. If they say it’s helping us, I believe them.” ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epa-fluoride-conspiracy-related-question/571827/22 "2011-02-22T21:06:16Z")
Wait - Lindberg’s child was kidnapped? Quick, alert the authorities and round up the usual suspects. ---
**Author:** ![SriAhimsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@SriAhimsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SriAhimsa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epa-fluoride-conspiracy-related-question/571827/23 "2015-10-23T19:56:48Z")
I don’t know who complied the list of Nobelists, but someone included one who supported fluoridation. Yet another example of shoddy research. If Connett’s name or “Fluoride Action Network” is attached to any claim, then it’s safe to conclude it is bogus. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epa-fluoride-conspiracy-related-question/571827/24 "2015-10-24T13:32:24Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > It’s not realy our business, but … > Just don’t bother with this. > > If she believes this stuff, any rational explanations you provide will not change her belief (because it’s not based on rational thinking, but emotional/psychological needs). And any discussions on this can easily break down into arguments and hard feelings between you and your sister. So don’t. > > Just accept your sister’s belief in this as an eccentric part of who she is, and continue to love her despite it. > > At most, just respond saying “I got your email. Thanks for your concern for me.” Agree. “You can’t reason someone out of a position they didn’t reason themselves into.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epa-fluoride-conspiracy-related-question/571827.md?page=1)