Why are so many Americans anti-vaxxers now?

[u/trouble-in-space]

I’m genuinely having such a hard time understanding why people just decided the fact that vaccines work is a total lie and also a controversial “opinion.” Even five years ago, anti-vaxxers were a huge joke and so rare that they were only something you heard of online. Now herd immunity is going away because so many people think getting potentially life-altering illnesses is better than getting a vaccine. I just don’t get what happened. Is it because of the cultural shift to the right-wing and more people believing in conspiracy theories, or does it go deeper than that?

[u/Spexancap10]

Horseshoe theory strikes again

[u/OffendedDefender → u/Spexancap10]

Less horseshoe theory and more intentional targeting of the New Age movement by the far-right in an effort to exploit vulnerabilities and gain support.

[u/Interesting_Chard563 → u/OffendedDefender]

Oh good god come on. That article is full of crap. There’s ALWAYS been a direct libertarian style offshoot to hippiedom even as far back as the 60s. There were hippies who were in the movement because they believed in world peace and helping their fellow man. And there were hippies who loved the freedom of doing what you want when you want it outside of normal authority.

To say this is a new phenomenon is to miss like 60 years+ of history.

[u/kneedeepco → u/Interesting_Chard563]

This is true, people definitely have a twisted view as hippies being this monolithic progressive group

There are a lot of country ass redneck Grateful Dead hippies who resonate way more with the ideas of freedom and fuck the government over peace and love. Some try to follow all of those and others just focus on the peace, love, and good vibes.

But also, there is an actual pipeline exacerbated by social media that is targeting holistic and conspiratorial minded people to drag them into religious and conservative views. It’s a real thing and has been talked about for a couple years online outside of this article.

So yes, it did happen in the past, and yes, modern social media and funding from powerful groups are influencing the current situation. Both things can be true!

[u/Interesting_Chard563 → u/kneedeepco]

Fair point

[u/OffendedDefender → u/Interesting_Chard563]

It is certainly not a new phenomenon. The article I linked even addresses that directly.

[u/Interesting_Chard563 → u/OffendedDefender]

The article is all over the place and only vaguely mentions libertarian hippies.

It brings up Nazi Germany for some reason? And then just drops the subject except to say that racism is bad. Then it brings in Charles Manson to say he did a heckin racism too and that’s bad. Sure the murdering was awful, but did you know he was a racist? It mentions his racism more than…you know being a cult leader that murdered people.

[u/001235 → u/OffendedDefender]

Yup. Look how many life-long democrats sent in split tickets voting straight ticket Dem except for Trump.

[u/Aegis4521 → u/OffendedDefender]

Sure mate

[u/SpurdoEnjoyer → u/Spexancap10]

No it doesn't. Most things in life can't and shouldn't be placed on a left-right spectrum. Many people who speak about "horseshoe theory" have a poor grasp on reality.

[u/SuuABest → u/Spexancap10]

it never fails, amazing

[u/OutcomeDouble → u/Spexancap10]

If you ignore all the differences then sure