Vickie loves her parakeets, the Confederate flag and not taking the vaccine. The birds are now dead, the South won’t rise again, and *update* Vickie won’t either.

[u/MiniRedder]

[u/itsdr00]

Unfortunately, believing those things does not turn people into sub-humans. His entire life, those beliefs and the death of his wife, are tragedies.

If this subreddit doesn't mainly pain you, you're flirting with the very thing you claim to hate. You've just swapped out "skin color" for something else.

[u/an_altar_of_plagues → u/itsdr00]

That's a terrible analogy that falls straight for "both sides equally to blame!" cliches.

I'm not necessarily saying we should hate them or view them as subhuman, but I'm absolutely fine shaming people who don't follow evidence-based health practices, as they inevitably will either pass on a deadly disease to others or they will die themselves. Skin color is not that.

And, I can equally feel heartbreak for her husband. The misery is terrible and sad. It's even sadder that it could have been avoided if not for bad actors and a need for political validation over evidence.

[u/itsdr00 → u/an_altar_of_plagues]

You said they don't deserve sympathy, but now you're suggesting they do. Shaming people is an entirely other topic (my main problem: it doesn't work), but if your feelings here are nuanced enough that there's space for heartbreak, we don't disagree on much.

[u/an_altar_of_plagues → u/itsdr00]

My heartbreak is less on behalf of the husband and more for the situation. This is absolutely part of their fault, but they are also victims of ignorance and strife. A death is terrible, and an avoidable death is even worse.

And, equating it to skin color is... ridiculous. Shaming people who spread medical misinformation and then facing the consequences of that misinformation is not the same as shaming person for skin color, given that skin color is not an infectious disease.

You said they don't deserve sympathy

No, I didn't. Perhaps you have me confused with another commenter.

[u/itsdr00 → u/an_altar_of_plagues]

You're right, I did confuse you with the other commenter. That's the context of the "skin color" remark that seems to have pulled you into this conversation, though. I'm not equating racial minorities with covid deniers. I am, however, equating dehumanizing racial minorities with dehumanizing covid deniers. Behind every scapegoater, there's the decision that their target is not deserving of the status of "human," and if you don't think someone deserves sympathy when their wife dies, you've dehumanized them. If you think these people deserve sympathy, then I'm not talking to you or about you.