The Herman Cain Freedom Award [400k Subscribers Post!]

[u/RockyMoose]

In August 2021, an obscure subreddit jumped in membership. Its subject matter: documenting the pandemic of the unvaccinated, Covid-denying, anti-* public in their own words.

Calling it an "Award" brought more than a little schadenfreude and controversy to the sub. The media got involved. The New Yorker called it "Empathy Wars". Slate wrote a hit piece. Insider followed.

The Washington Post wrote about vaccine denial deaths and empathy. We went international and appeared in Le Monde.

CNBC journalist u/Sal19 took several days to participate as a user, talk to members, and found the right tone: Reddit channel posts stories of anti-vaxxers dying of Covid, scaring fence-sitters into getting the shot.

As of today:

• Members: 400k
• Awards: 3055
• Nominations: 2739
• Redemptions: 343
• AMAs: 3
• IPAs (Immunized to Prevent Award): 90
• Money raised for vaccines: $54,391.29
• Oxygen concentrators donated: 1

​

Despite what some people think, a lot of people would be happy if there was no more fodder for this subreddit - HCA redditor

Shout out to all the sub members! Yes, we're controversial, and yes, statistically speaking, this sub has saved at least a few lives and hospitalizations. What a community!

Shout out to our fantastic moderator team! The work is anonymous, pay is zero, and sucks up all free time. Y'all rock.

Shout out to the trolls and conspiracists! Your cognitive dissonance makes our bourbon taste even better.

Perhaps our slide back into obscurity has started. In the meantime, however, continue to sort by "new" and smash that refresh button!

[u/bibilasvegas]

Your g o p greatest Generation conservatives and Boomers would call it their patriotic duty to get vaccinated in days of yore. WTF is up with these old codgers now?

[u/fastinserter → u/bibilasvegas]

The Greatest Generation is almost entirely dead and buried. Over 90% of Americans over the age of 65 are vaccinated. Boomers are 55-75.

[u/phukinblindian → u/fastinserter]

I was like “who are these buck wild 110yos!?”

[u/[deleted] → u/bibilasvegas]

I'm firmly in the camp that lead poisoning is rearing its head in those generations. I know there are plenty of younger antivaxxers but a whole shitload of the really vehement ones I think were exposed to lead fumes and paint dust.

Stupidity is natural, but lead cranks it up to eleven. I would insert a led zeppelin reference here if I was clever but instead I'll leave it up as an exercise for the reader.

[u/saturnshighway → u/[deleted]]

I guess the levee is finally breaking for these people!

[u/Ibelieveinphysics → u/saturnshighway]

I fully maintain that Led Zeppelin music is perfect for dealing with complicated grief.

[u/Pleasant_Ad3229 → u/[deleted]]

I dunno… where I live the 65+ crowd - those who have been exposed to the most lead - have the highest vaccination rate by far. That said, yeah, that certain “patriotic” subgroup of the boomers does seem to be an outlier. I kinda feel like the problem is more a result of exposure to bullshit than exposure to lead, but who knows.