No Stupid Questions

A lot of people are saying cut them off, but I have a family member who was into the anti-vax conspiracy theories and kinda still is, but it's much less of a focus now and is pretty obviously just being carried forward by cognitive dissonance at this point. There will never be total victory, but there can be a reasonable truce.

What I'd suggest is the most counter-intuitive strategy - show genuine interest. Say "Ok, I want to know more, but I need you to be specific. Tell me what your theory is and what the evidence is, I'll take my time looking at it, and respond in detail."

Keep in mind, they probably won't pay attention to whatever your respond with. That's ok. The response isn't the point, pinning them down on what they think is. So often these things are purely emotional, and forcing them into a logical framework will make them do the work for you. As for the response, odds are it's some combination of cherry-picked data and spurious correlations, if not outright made up facts. Think of alternate explanations for what they're showing you that are more plausible than a vaccine killing people. And remember that if the vaccine really was killing people, it would be really obvious, not something we need look deep into the matrix to find.

Are people still talking about Covid vaccines? Aren’t there new conspiracies to move onto. How about Biden being a robot?

Just ask them to pass the potato salad.

People who believe in these types of theories usually want to feel part of a club or may just be gullible. Pulling up charts and figures likely will not help as they often dismiss it or change the theory. Listening to them and asking them why they feel that way and where they got the information can cause them to critically think about it and start to form the cracks in the theory. If you think you're getting somewhere, maybe ask why vaccines and not another, more accessible form of medicine.

In this case, it sounds like the family doctor may be the source. Clarify exactly what this doctor said and what they would prescribe instead of a vaccine. It may be something homeopathic or a scam, or something else indicating the doctor is spreading a vaccine lie for their own gain.

If you're getting nowhere, consider if this family member has a history of mental illness. Some disorders make people prone to skepticism and a general mistrust of the world, or cause magical thinking. Schizophrenia, bipolar (manic episodes), and OCD can sometimes be hard to spot.

Unfortunately, it could also be something ego-centered, and being "in" on a theory forms a core part of their identity, separating them from the "sheep". They could be unempathetic to the idea of their actions spreading disease, or annoyed at the idea they have to take action to protect themselves. Based on the number of emotional responses in this thread and the general advice to block them or call them names, this is, sadly, a very likely cause. In this case, the best thing you can do is protect yourself by getting the vaccine that they won't and limit physical contact. It's a very sad reality that this line of selfish thinking has become extremely prevalent since COVID. I also had a vaccine skeptic family member who only gave it up once they caught COVID. They were lucky; take a look at r/DarwinAward to see the damage vaccine denialism causes.

Stay safe OP. I hope there is light for your family member.

It's been three years, where are all the bodies? Where are the people crying out for their lost loved ones?

Oh that's right, the ones who died, died of disease and you can talk to their families online and learn about what happened.

I’ve had about 9 boosters at this point, and my nuts are so swollen from spike proteins that when I go to Walmart, they accuse me of trying to steal basketballs.

You could agree, that there are those internationally trying to kill members of the general public. Not with vaccinations, but with misinformation. Anyone they can convince, has a chance to die. Tell them to not be a stupid lemming.

I knew several people who died from COVID and one died from health complications later. I know my reality, but I guess others may need to face death directly to learn the hard lesson.

Sever ties. I'm sorry.

Punch them in the fucking face and 300 kick their asses out the door

I had this problem.

I stopped talking to them.

Agree with them. Tell them that yes indeed there is a deep state that wants to kill as many people as possible by spreading disinformation causing morons not to take the vaccines so more stupid people die. It's eugenics really and very, very heinous. Wait wasn't that what they meant?

I’m on the ONS site and there’s mountains of publications and data on Covid. Which publication did they read?

“I’ll pay for yours if it means you can’t reproduce.”

"More vaccines for me"

You stop speaking to them.

They'll either come to realize that there are real world consequences for being a dumb asshole, like their friends and family abandoning them....or they won't. Either way, you win.

I heard You'll die in six months at Thanksgiving one year.

"Really? Holy fuck, I'm immortal! Call the press! Wait, no, I don't want to be locked in a room and tested for 40 years, maybe we all just keep this our little secret."

You can't logic someone out of something they didn't logic themselves into, and they definitely got emotionally attached to antivax before they found "statistics" to back shit up.

Disengage and choose your family

I told their grandmother how silly they are.

Straightened them right out. (Happened with my close friends family)

Ask for the comparison in excess deaths comparison of vaccinated versus unvaccinated.

You just stop talking to them entirely. Sorry.

What's the best way to respond to a family member who says the COVID vaccines are being used to depopulate?

"You are a fucking idiot" usually does the job.

Don't bother. Anything bad you say will be dismissed as a 'smear' campaign against that person because 'they' (big pharma, the millions of scientists who are all in on "it") don't want you to know and they'll just shut off against you. Just take a step back from the dolt.

encourage them to go to therapy

"If you think the world's top scientists are trying to kill you, then why would you listen to any expert about anything? They'll save you from yourself when you're wrong anyway. Would you do the same for them? That's why they're trustworthy, and you and your sources are not."

Get the vaccine. Best response.

"Bye."

Then leave and stay gone.

I'm often a dick. I probably wouldn't say anything immediately, and then use that asinine opinion to dismiss anything else the person says later. Forever. They say something about , "Yeah, but you also think vaccines kill people, so we already know you are an idiot." Just on repeat on every opinion they voice, until they never want to say anything around me or talk to me.

Maybe not the answer you’re looking for, but I have an uncle like that.

I suggest going no contact if you can.

Reason being, they don’t care about facts, nothing you say will convince them.

Every time he lies about vaccines you break one of his fingers and tell him lying is bad for his health.

Jokes aside, ask him who his doctor is, call up his doctor on speaker and ask the doctor if they'd recommend vaccines. He is almost certainly lying to you because he thinks "you believe doctors, ergo I will lie and say a doctor supports my position in an attempt to manipulate you".

Not everything requires a response and at some point you have to pick your battles. They have revealed to you that they are an idiot. It is not your job to fix them.

I generally reframe it from a perspective even they think they understand: Money.

Governments want their money. Less Population = Less Taxes for them to take, ergo, no government is trying to lower their population. And do they, the audience, think that the government is willing to have less money?

I don't think so!

Tell them that's completely true, and that if they keeps spreading the truth the black vans will come for them, they know too much.

The birds have already heard the rumors, and the clock is ticking. They better do something and shut up before they end up in "the facility".

Tell them that you're a sheeple, and got the safe dose of the vaccine, since they want to keep the compliant people around. Tell them it's too bad they're on "the list" of bad people.