A New-Age Anti-Vaxxer Begins to Melt
poetry by Devaraj
Look, I’m not taking it; Okay, so the hospitals might get full if there’s another wave, and yes this country is rammed full of old people, but the Gov should stop people getting so fat, let’s face it they’re the ones who are clogging up the ICUs.
So, you’re saying that not taking the vax is comparable to eating McDonalds or smoking 20 Rothmans a day; like an unhealthy lifestyle choice kind of thing? That’s your new-age, conscious perspective, is it?
Look, it’s dangerous; no one’s tested it and here check out these 5 homemade conspiracy videos I’ve just binge-watched on YouTube; conclusive proof that Tony Fauci is the Devil and Bill Gates the Antichrist. And don’t talk to me about confirmation bias and the fact that only someone with colossal, largely submerged issues with authority would believe this nonsense, I don’t care.
Well, yes it would be great if enough people take it such that some others don’t have to. But aren’t you also a part of society and don’t you actually feel a responsibility to take some care of the people in the culture that you’re immersed in?
Look, I’m not going to say I’m special or I’m different, cos then I know you’ll jump right down my throat; but basically yes, fuck you, I am special and I am different, in fact I’m spiritual and I don’t need to take the vax because I don’t smoke or eat McDs and I can chant and affirm my immune system into such a state of ultra-resilience that there’s no way the virus could ever get me; and don’t go on to me about that anti-vax new-ager on Facebook who’s been forwarding conspiracy videos all year but who is now posting pics of himself in the ICU with tubes coming out of his nose, cos he’s not surrendering to the propaganda despite what he’s going through and anyway he was always a bit of a weirdo that one so probably it was his karma to get it anyway.
Jesus, can you even hear the stuff you’re coming out with? You’re totally avoiding taking any form of social responsibility and giving excuses for your behaviour that would embarrass the biggest chain-smoker and binge-drinker in town.
Look, stop trying to pressure me, or otherwise I’ll just double down and binge-watch more and more conspiracy videos on YouTube until my sense of self-righteousness is pumped up so strong that it overwhelms the underlying sense of social guilt that I’m feeling beneath the surface, okay?
Yes, you’re right, there has been a lot of propaganda and coercion and psychological games and for every individual who does finally get the jab, just so they can go on holiday or get into Costa Coffee, there likely are 5 more who just double-down and dig in for the long term; I hear what you’re saying.
Look, it’s not like I’m a bad person, so stop trying to make me out to be one. I’m really just trying in my own way to deal with this whole thing. I’m scared and I don’t trust what I’m being told. Yes, I had a bad experience of authority when I was a kid, my dad was never there and always trying to control me when he was. I just hate being told what to do; I’m used to things being more stable than this and I just want it to go back to normal.
I hear what you’re saying. I agree that a lot of the communication has been awful. No one in authority really talks about the issues. But really everyone is in the same position as you are and just trying to get through things the best they can. Sometimes we have to do stuff out of a sense of social responsibility even if we don’t believe in it ourselves. That’s just a part of living together. And letting go of defiance doesn't mean you're giving your power away for ever. Just that was how it felt when you were a kid.
I know, I know. I’m still not going to take it but I do hear what you’re saying.