When Someone Says You’re “Stupid” About Vaccines

How to weather ad hominem attacks

A young person I was talking to last week had an uncomfortable encounter at dinner at her boyfriend’s friend’s house. The conversation turned to whether or not it was a good idea to mandate vaccines for school inclusion.

“Well, everybody got the vaccine anyway,” their host said.

“Actually, not everybody did,” her boyfriend replied.

“People who don’t get the COVID vaccine are stupid,” their friend insisted.

She and her boyfriend exchanged glances.

“I didn’t get it,” she piped up.

“Yeah, well, you’re stupid,” their friend said.

“Hold up,” her boyfriend retorted. “I didn’t get vaccinated for COVID either!”

“Yeah, well, you’re stupid too!”

Ad hominem attacks

As I’ve written about on this Substack before, when you don’t have an argument that holds water, you try to kill the messenger.

Yessiree. Call someone who thinks differently from you names! Shame them! Ridicule them!

Problem solved.

Except it isn’t.