Common Sense

I hate to see things not entirely accurate continuing to make the news cycle. It always takes an element of truth to get people to believe a lie; or to be kind - to believe a distortion. Often times something is promoted based on an assumption, but it is written as fact. Even some of the most well known doctors promoting the anti-vaccine message are disseminating incorrect facts. If one is to read carefully their literature, they do not back with footnotes or sources. They are careful in their wording saying things like "it is believed", "it is apparent". Words like "possible" are used in the text, but with the author expressing their view in such unyielding beliefs and strong language,  their opinion is misconstrued as a fact rather than just a possibility. Their opinion is promoted in such a way that certain words are almost hidden in the text. The fact that it is an opinion rather than science will get lost in the article if one does not pay close attention. In this way, they carefully protect themselves from making factual statements, while convincing people it is an absolute fact. They are protecting themselves from being seen as propagating falsehoods. People protecting themselves from lawsuits use this technique all the time. 

We need to be careful when we research. We need to seek truth, not just search for something that will back up our own preconceived opinions. If we are not reading and thinking critically, we will miss the small red flags that might be there to warn us that an article should not be implicitly trusted.

Accurate facts are warranted in every decision, but not many seem to be thinking for themselves these days, jumping instead on bandwagons that may or may not apply to them. It doesn't have to be all or nothing in either viewpoint. We all need to weigh the consequences. There are vaccines in regard to a life-style choice that most should refuse. Common sense and critical thinking would go a long way. Again, Gardasil and probably even the Hepatitis B vaccine are lifestyle choices. Gardasil is clearly used to protect a life-style choice that most 12 year olds it is being offered to and even teens are not involved with and therefore it is a vaccine most should refuse. Families are able to reason that out for themselves. It is imperative they are allowed to decide for themselves.

A little common sense is warranted in every decision but not many seem to be thinking for themselves these days, jumping instead on bandwagons that may or may not apply to them. It doesn't have to be all or nothing in either viewpoint. We all need to weigh the consequences. There are vaccines in regard to a life-style choice that most should refuse.  
 
Careful research and critical thinking a must, because someone is waiting to do it for us if we allow that by not basing our actions on truth.

 
 
 

 
 






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