The Subreddit That Catalogs Anti-Vaxxer Covid Deaths(slate.com)
slate.com
The Subreddit That Catalogs Anti-Vaxxer Covid Deaths
https://slate.com/technology/2021/09/hermancainaward-subreddit-antivaxxer-deaths-cataloged.html
35 comments
In the past five years or so, reddit has really become a very hateful and bitter place. More than ever before are dissenting opinions met with snark and vitriol, and positive, charitable discourse has generally disappeared. I ultimately felt much better after deleting my account.
It highly depends on the subreddits you subscribe to. The defaults and many big subreddits are a cesspool of vitriol, but some others have a great community.
Definitely agreed. Any particular favourites these days? Would love to find some current events or general interest type subs. /r/TrueReddit used to have some good discussion, but I find it similarly snarky and uncharitable these days.
AccidentalWesAnderson
dataisbeautiful
datasets
ImaginaryColorscapes
retrocomputing
dataisbeautiful
datasets
ImaginaryColorscapes
retrocomputing
What are you interested in?
I feel like the US has become a very hateful and bitter place. One could say there was an inflection point in that about five years ago, though it has been going on much longer.
I suspect that Reddit is reflecting that, rather than driving that. But it seems to happen to almost all sites eventually, unless they go to great lengths to avoid it.
I suspect that Reddit is reflecting that, rather than driving that. But it seems to happen to almost all sites eventually, unless they go to great lengths to avoid it.
I would say it started with the tea party protests. Everything about them was a protest looking for an excuse.
The Tea Party was hijacked by the Republicans, who attempted to galvanize American racial, xenophobic and anti-leftist fears against Obama in predictable race-baiting fashion. They failed to prevent a second term, but Trump's populism capitalized on the seeds of white rural discontent, reactionary fear and paranoia that they planted.
I think all of this is the result of the presence of a Black liberal (not even a leftist, mind you, but Stalin incarnate as far as the right was concerned) in the White House causing a cascade failure in American culture, and it's kind of beautiful to see.
I think all of this is the result of the presence of a Black liberal (not even a leftist, mind you, but Stalin incarnate as far as the right was concerned) in the White House causing a cascade failure in American culture, and it's kind of beautiful to see.
I would put it 7 years ago, at least with media and aggressive narrative crafting against certain groups.
That subreddit is fine. It's documenting COVID deniers getting smacked upside the head with reality.
This post summarizes the spirit of the subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/psyp4w/for...
The tl;tr version:
This sub Reddit is a consequence of the anger and frustration rest of us feel by repeatedly suffering because of your hatred, your ignorance, your irresponsibility, your lack of compassion and empathy and your childish defiance that you all wear like badges of honor. At least until you end up in the ICU on a ventilator, then suddenly it’s all “COVID IS NO JOKE!”and begging for Prayer Warriors.
All these things, as well as others too numerous to mention, have made this dark place we’re in possible and has allowed for the creation of the HCA. So, if you’re looking for someone to be outraged at, just take a look in a mirror.
This post summarizes the spirit of the subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/psyp4w/for...
The tl;tr version:
This sub Reddit is a consequence of the anger and frustration rest of us feel by repeatedly suffering because of your hatred, your ignorance, your irresponsibility, your lack of compassion and empathy and your childish defiance that you all wear like badges of honor. At least until you end up in the ICU on a ventilator, then suddenly it’s all “COVID IS NO JOKE!”and begging for Prayer Warriors.
All these things, as well as others too numerous to mention, have made this dark place we’re in possible and has allowed for the creation of the HCA. So, if you’re looking for someone to be outraged at, just take a look in a mirror.
So fighting hate and lack of compassion with...hate and lack of compassion? This is fine with you? Is everyone who isn't vaccinated hateful and lacking compassion?
At this stage of the pandemic it's clear that the vaccines won't lead to herd immunity. I have personally seen a significant amount of vaccinated to vaccinated spread. For some folks the dangers of the vaccine may be higher than Covid, for example an 18 year old male who already had Covid.
I am personally pro vaccine. While I don't believe it will stop the spread of covid I think it will likely slow the spread. More importantly, I believe that it will provide extra protections to those who are vaccinated. Even though I don't agree with a lot of the arguments against vaccination, I don't think they should die, and I certainly won't celebrate it. It disgusts me that anyone would celebrate that. I think it's shameful.
At this stage of the pandemic it's clear that the vaccines won't lead to herd immunity. I have personally seen a significant amount of vaccinated to vaccinated spread. For some folks the dangers of the vaccine may be higher than Covid, for example an 18 year old male who already had Covid.
I am personally pro vaccine. While I don't believe it will stop the spread of covid I think it will likely slow the spread. More importantly, I believe that it will provide extra protections to those who are vaccinated. Even though I don't agree with a lot of the arguments against vaccination, I don't think they should die, and I certainly won't celebrate it. It disgusts me that anyone would celebrate that. I think it's shameful.
It's not a celebration, it's factual. The common format is screenshots of their social media anti-vax posts, followed by a loved one or family member announcing their death.
That's reality. The posts themselves usually contain no commentary aside from giving it a title. Looking at the most popular posts for this week, I picked a couple of examples.
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/ppm601/kri...
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/ppq315/lau...
The ones that do contain commentary are perspectives of dealing with COVID patients. Some examples of that:
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/pqm303/an_...
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/prhzi9/a_m...
Finally, the reason why the subreddit is named the way it is.
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/pncpqu/bec...
That's reality. The posts themselves usually contain no commentary aside from giving it a title. Looking at the most popular posts for this week, I picked a couple of examples.
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/ppm601/kri...
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/ppq315/lau...
The ones that do contain commentary are perspectives of dealing with COVID patients. Some examples of that:
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/pqm303/an_...
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/prhzi9/a_m...
Finally, the reason why the subreddit is named the way it is.
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/pncpqu/bec...
“So fighting hate and lack of compassion with...hate and lack of compassion? This is fine with you? Is everyone who isn't vaccinated hateful and lacking compassion?”
People can only sacrifice so much for the people spitting in their faces.
People can only sacrifice so much for the people spitting in their faces.
Yeah, and bodily autonomy or freedom and liberty is way too much.
If your "freedom" can kill other people it's a problem. You are "free" to never stop on red lights, and just go, but you obey that rule for the general good. Vaccines are stopping at the red light and waiting for it to turn green.
If it helps you, pretend the subreddit was a collection of people posting memes about red lights are for sheep, and then a picture of a car accident.
If it helps you, pretend the subreddit was a collection of people posting memes about red lights are for sheep, and then a picture of a car accident.
And those people who don't want freedom can easily protect themselves with no sacrifices by never leaving their homes. It's all up to them to make educated choice between safety they desire and freedom of everyone else.
Every time I get in a car there is a chance someone will not stop on a red light. If 30% of people didn't stop at red lights, would you tell the drivers that follow the law to stay at home or arrest the drivers running red lights?
Because as a driver I can easily protect myself with no sacrifices by never leaving my home. It's all up to me to make an educated choice between safety they desire and freedom of everyone else.
Do you see how weird the argument sounds? No sacrifices is a lie. You think it's fun staying at home for a year? That it requires no sacrifice?
Because as a driver I can easily protect myself with no sacrifices by never leaving my home. It's all up to me to make an educated choice between safety they desire and freedom of everyone else.
Do you see how weird the argument sounds? No sacrifices is a lie. You think it's fun staying at home for a year? That it requires no sacrifice?
Absolutely they should stay home if they don't want to take the risk.
Technically I think we could ban anyone from going outside and save lot of lives in traffic and with covid.
I don't see any sacrifice if one wants to stay safe. It is their freedom to not go outside house. It is not their freedom to oppress others and take away their freedom by forcing them to do anything. Specially being vaccinated.
Technically I think we could ban anyone from going outside and save lot of lives in traffic and with covid.
I don't see any sacrifice if one wants to stay safe. It is their freedom to not go outside house. It is not their freedom to oppress others and take away their freedom by forcing them to do anything. Specially being vaccinated.
That is the most ridiculous rebuttal I have ever heard. Based on this ideology there should be no laws at all of any kind, speed limits, traffic lights, stop signs, theft, assault are all violating your freedom.
As such, I have nothing else to discuss with you. Feel free to have the last word. </end>
As such, I have nothing else to discuss with you. Feel free to have the last word. </end>
Its at least as dark as the old fat people hate. Seems like the only reason it is allowed is because the state has effectively sanctioned the blaming of the unclean. As a place to vent frustrations against things you disagree with its fine and good. As a place to breed hatred for people who think differently from you its probably not good.
It's literary cataloging the deaths of people that believe that COVID is not real. It's about reality.
Cataloging seems to give a dispassionate connotation to the whole thing. Shitting all over dead people is not really dispassionate and at one point in recent time would universally be reviled. This is like westboro baptist church levels of inappropriate.
I would agree if the subreddit was indiscriminately shitting on people who died of COVID. Instead, it singles out only the people who spent the last months of their lives denying the disease, downplaying it, spreading propaganda, disparaging masks and vaccines and dunking on people doing the right thing--basically singling out people doing everything they can to keep the pandemic going. Sure, it's Schadenfreude, but not hate.
I liken it to the so-called "Darwin Award": Yes it's dark, but it's not simply a way to goof in general on people dying.
I liken it to the so-called "Darwin Award": Yes it's dark, but it's not simply a way to goof in general on people dying.
I think it is hate because its not uncommon to hear that these people should be denied care.
It's a strange logic we are operating on.
Soon the unvaccinated will be denied care, I wonder how the statistics will play out then. With the amount of vitriol being marketed - some doctors and nurses might already be giving sub par care to the refuseniks.
Soon the unvaccinated will be denied care, I wonder how the statistics will play out then. With the amount of vitriol being marketed - some doctors and nurses might already be giving sub par care to the refuseniks.
Let's be clear, these people have been denying the reality of COVID, and a thing everyone forgets is that not only do they endanger themselves, but everyone around them, and taken even further the people who they vote for are mandating measures that make things worse, see Florida, Texas etc...
This is the same argument about alt-right. I am sorry if your belief system dictates that others must be eliminated maybe you don't deserve compassion.
This is the same argument about alt-right. I am sorry if your belief system dictates that others must be eliminated maybe you don't deserve compassion.
So upon someones passing I would tend to wonder "did they receive the best care possible?". Immediately shitting on the dead says "it does not matter what care they received, they deserved what they got". I think that is a dangerous seed to plant.
Maybe you should ask, how many people did they infect? How many people have they potentially killed either by spreading an infection or by overwhelming hospitals so that other patients pass because they can't get the care they need?
The problem about the "should they get care" problem is that it ignores the source, their refusal to help society and ultimately their demise is directly linked by their lack of action. For this subreddit specifically no one is posting COVID deaths of immunocompromised people, or the vaccinated, there is a reason. It's focusing on the denial and the end result of prayer requests, and ultimately death.
It's grim. However it's a choice they make for <insert reason here>.
The problem about the "should they get care" problem is that it ignores the source, their refusal to help society and ultimately their demise is directly linked by their lack of action. For this subreddit specifically no one is posting COVID deaths of immunocompromised people, or the vaccinated, there is a reason. It's focusing on the denial and the end result of prayer requests, and ultimately death.
It's grim. However it's a choice they make for <insert reason here>.
You are going to great lengths to justify shitting on dead people, just to put this whole conversation into perspective.
Now how would you feel if someone just got a feeling about you at the hospital and thought you were one of those types that deserved it? Maybe they mistook your mustache or your boots to mean something it doesn't. Maybe there was a hiccup in your vaccine records and you appear to be lying about your vaccine status. In your mind these people deserve it, exposed to enough of this hate you might think you can just sense who these people are. You may see it as some righteousness but you are completely ignoring the US v THEM injections. When you picture these people were they mostly the same picture of people you held grudge before 2020?
Now how would you feel if someone just got a feeling about you at the hospital and thought you were one of those types that deserved it? Maybe they mistook your mustache or your boots to mean something it doesn't. Maybe there was a hiccup in your vaccine records and you appear to be lying about your vaccine status. In your mind these people deserve it, exposed to enough of this hate you might think you can just sense who these people are. You may see it as some righteousness but you are completely ignoring the US v THEM injections. When you picture these people were they mostly the same picture of people you held grudge before 2020?
You have been respectful up until now, so I will reply, however it's apparent that neither one of us are going to change our minds.
If a drunk driver hits another person crossing the road and they both need reconstructive surgery. Who would you feel worse about? Who should get care first? How would your opinion change, if at all, if the drunk driver was posting pictures drinking behind the wheel and making fun of everyone else for not drinking and driving?
Yes, everyone is a living being, everyone deserves sympathy and compassion. However if you actively lack sympathy and compassion for others, why should I, as an individual give it to you?
If a drunk driver hits another person crossing the road and they both need reconstructive surgery. Who would you feel worse about? Who should get care first? How would your opinion change, if at all, if the drunk driver was posting pictures drinking behind the wheel and making fun of everyone else for not drinking and driving?
Yes, everyone is a living being, everyone deserves sympathy and compassion. However if you actively lack sympathy and compassion for others, why should I, as an individual give it to you?
People who cry about others having no empathy having no empathy or those that rant about everyone being triggered little snowflakes being triggered. Its all the same really.
I know everyone wants to believe that the other side are worse than them, but they are all as bad as each other. The real problem is with how more and more people are clustering out at the extremes.
I know everyone wants to believe that the other side are worse than them, but they are all as bad as each other. The real problem is with how more and more people are clustering out at the extremes.
It's very carefully marketed "othering" from the government + media. And everyone is playing along. We all want a scapegoat for our problems. Good to find a scapegoat for some of that built up anger because your boss is an idiot ?