People’s attitudes are definitely changing about the COVID-19 vaccines. The once young, seductive, and beautiful medical marvel that would return our world to normal and solve all of our problems has aged badly. Now the vaccine is an old, worn out, useless, and likely a harmful burden.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushers have extended the narrative too far. Now its tenets are obviously illogical and even self-contradicting.
Now is the time to help people connect the dots. Now you can help people realize just how destructive the narrative has been. Now you can help people change their attitudes. And more importantly, change their actions. Let’s put an end to this scandemic.
But you still have to be careful when talking to people about COVID. Otherwise, you will start more arguments and create more bad feelings.
This article provides methods for you to help people connect the dots and change people’s minds.
Connecting the dots is like therapy
What are dots and connections?
In the analogy, “connecting the dots”, the dots are the person’s data or facts. Their facts are essentially whatever they believe. What people believe is often false and always inaccurate.
The connections between the dots are the meanings, relationships, and conclusions they mentally create about the dots.
All the dots and connections fit together to form a system of beliefs.
People desperately want and need a stable belief system in order to function.
If you intend to mess with a person’s belief system, you better do it carefully as explained next.
Rules of psychological therapy
In our current age of rage, changing a person’s mind is difficult and dangerous. People are so paranoid, that they become hostile if you say anything that threatens their system of beliefs.
If you want to help a person clean up their confused thinking, you must communicate in ways that allow them to contemplate their ideas with all of their attention. If you inject your beliefs into their consciousness, it is a disturbance and a challenge they have to respond to. This irritation usually causes a heated argument.
Your primary activities are to ask questions and listen. You encourage them to focus only on their belief system. This process has nothing to do with your ego. I know that breaking the habit of being superior is difficult. But it is necessary.
Analyze each answer and figure out your next question to ask. If their answer was reasonable, move on to a more challenging topic. If the answer has errors, ask about their supporting data and conclusions. Your questions should help them improve the accuracy of their data and the validity of their conclusions.
So why is this process different than what the person is already doing? You are helping them extend their thinking by allowing them to review their data and conclusions. People are often hypnotized and programmed with shallow and illogical propaganda from the TV.
Propaganda can often be dismissed with a little questioning.
(Disclaimer: I do not have any training in Psychology. These guides are my opinions which I developed from my experiences. I do not guarantee results.)
Now some examples of what to do.
Where to start
The first step is to ask the person about an old narrative data point that everyone should know. For instance, “Do you think the COVID-19 vaccines are 95% effective at preventing infections?”
Hopefully, they give you the correct answer and say “No, they are not effective.” If they start running through all the correct reasons why they are sure the vaccines are not effective, let them run. Just listen and agree.
Keep them running by asking other thought-provoking questions.
Do you think the authorities lied to you? (Fauci, Pfizer, FDA, CDC, WHO, government, etc.)
Do you trust the authorities?
Why did the authorities lie?
Do you think the actions of authorities have harmed people?
How much more harm will the authorities do in the future?
What can we do to prevent the authorities from doing more harm?
These questions stimulate additional thought and conclusions.
On the other hand, if the person thinks the COVID-19 vaccines are effective and everyone should get them then other questions may help.
Other questions
There are an infinite number of possible questions and paths to connecting questions. Diagramming all variations is impossible. However, here is a short list of suggested questions.
Do the COVID-19 vaccines prevent infections, transmissions, hospitalizations, or deaths?
Do you know how many mutations there are of COVID-19?
Since the COVID-19 vaccines were designed to target the original virus, how well do they work for the new mutations?
Do you think vaccine manufacturers can provide shots that target mutations before they occur?
Do you know anyone who got sick with COVID after they had a booster?
Do you know how long the boosters are effective?
How many boosters do you think people should get?
Do you think some people are harmed by vaccines or boosters?
Do you know anyone who was harmed by the vaccines or boosters?
Do you think children are harmed by the COVID-19 vaccines?
Do you think children should get COVID-19 vaccines and boosters?
Have you heard about the Pfizer trial data?
Have you heard about the data Pfizer collected when vaccinating the general public?
Do you know how “risk/benefit calculations” are used in medicine?
You are likely to run into various types of problems when asking these questions. Here are additional suggestions for handling common problems.
What to do if the person has a false data point
When you ask a question and the person gives you non-true data, ask them if they would like to see contrary data. If they are not interested, you may have to change the topic. The person may be so stressed by the propaganda they can’t think about it anymore. Several people have yelled at me that they don’t want to talk about it.
If they are interested in seeing data, provide references. But don’t take the position that their data is wrong and your data is right. Doing so would create conflict and probably re-enforce their beliefs. What they do with the information you provide is totally up to them.
What to do if the person has a bad conclusion
The best strategy is to ask questions about the person’s data points and conclusions that support that bad conclusion. Rethinking their supporting beliefs may change their bad conclusion.
What to do if the person asks you questions
Express your beliefs as your opinions, not as the truth. Avoid making the person wrong. Keep the conversation going so that you can return to asking them questions later.
What to do if the person is adamant about getting more boosters
People have yelled at me, “I got a booster, and will get another booster as soon as it is available.” I reply, “If that works for you that’s great!”
I acknowledged their right and independence to make decisions for themself and their body. And if they push me to get vaccinated I insisted that everyone has the right to make decisions for themself and their body.
The COVID injections don’t prevent infections, transmissions, hospitalizations, or deaths. Therefore, getting vaccinated does not protect other people.
What to do when a person resists or starts to argue
If at any time you detect resistance or disagreement with you, you know you have violated some rule of therapy. You need to immediately backtrack and figure out what you did to put the person’s attention on you. Find a way to return the person to thinking about their data points and conclusions.
Dare to communicate and change people for the better
This article provides many powerful suggestions for helping people review their thoughts about the COVID-19 pandemic.
With these tools, your conversations with people will but safer and more successful.
The above suggestions are not perfect or exhaustive. But now you have a plan.
Now you have new methods for communicating.
Now you can practice and perfect new skills.
Now you can help people change for the better.
interesting discussion! i do wonder about and hesitate to call it a vaccine, instead of "gene therapy" that irreversibly alters your genetic output with no mechanism to turn it off... but i like your approach... asking questions and listening to responses is a skill i wish i was better at doing.