Yesterday I watched this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER74aA3Rhjo and found myself nodding in agreement and wanting to hug the person responsible for it.
It has long been a bugbear of mine that otherwise intelligent and knowledgeable people often seem unable to get their point across without being dismissive or insulting towards those who have not "heard" their message.
As a parent of an autistic child, I have become embroiled in discussions about homeopathic remedies, reiki, special diets...the list of anecdotally successful remedies is endless. And I have tried most of them at one time or another, because when you haven't slept properly for several days and you can see your child is in distress you will try ANYTHING.
I will freely admit that, if any of them had appeared to work, I'd have stuck with them until they no longer did. Even whilst knowing that they were probably useless. Because desperation and sleep deprivation make being rational really difficult.
If I feel this way, as someone who will always trust the opinion of the professionals dealing with my child, imagine how alienated someone with a bias towards alternative therapies, and a belief that the MMR causes autism, feels when they are told they are "stupid" or sarcastically congratulated for giving their child and others a death sentence by not vaccinating them.
I understand the frustration inherent in trying to explain to someone that their beliefs have no basis in fact. As "the lady with the autistic child" I am often asked by nervous parents whose children are approaching the age for their MMR whether I think it caused his autism.
I tell them that in my opinion there is no connection. That, had he not been my first child, I might have picked up on the signs that, with hindsight, were there from approx. 6 months and that, although at the time I had my doubts, I chose to vaccinate because I preferred the risk of autism to the risk of my, or someone else's, child being exposed to a potentially fatal illness. I then tell them that it is a choice only they can make.
It is not my place to tell them what to do, they are the ones who will live with their decision. I can only give them the information I have, direct them to credible sources and hope. Telling someone their fears are stupid will guarantee that they do not hear your message.
So if you want to get your point across and educate people without alienating them or insulting their intelligence, follow the example set in this video. Please. Speaking as one of the people you are trying to reach, I am desperate, scared, guilt-ridden and sometimes ill-informed. I am vulnerable, not stupid.
