Dear anonymous03,

I am fine, thank you, had my 2nd Pfizer shot yesterday, so should be fully protected in a week or so. My husband got AstraZeneca, since Pfizer wasn’t available at that time, and we were in a rush to have him vaccinated ASAP. I am not super happy about AZ, since it’s not effective against some of the variants, but it’s still good enough. He’s still waiting for his 2nd shot, because the time span between the two shots is longer than for Pfizer. But I feel much more peaceful since we got the vaccine, it’s a world of difference.

I agree with your point that these “conspiracy theory believers” aren’t open to facts and science. I even know that they have limited to no understanding of biology. I feel it is their own fear acting up.

Actually I have a theory that some of the people who feel “oppressed” by wearing a mask and who claim that their human rights are being violated might have actually been oppressed as children, by their parents. They have a problem with authority figures and the government as such, believing that there’s a conspiracy of world-wide surveillance, chipping and loss of freedom. The fear of losing that freedom seems irrational for us, because we know it’s just temporary and for epidemiological reasons, but for them, it’s almost like a mortal fear, and there’s nothing that could persuade them that there’s no conspiracy to subdue or enslave them.

I believe that such strong sentiments and irrational thinking can only be due to some subconscious, inner child fear. I know some of those people – they’re proud to be rebels and free-thinkers, and not “sheep” like the rest of us. So I believe they rebelled against their oppressive parents, who used to crush their will and punish them severely for their transgressions (perhaps made them kneel in the corner for hours, or similar humiliating, almost sadistic things). But they haven’t processed it properly (e.g. dealt with anger at their parents in therapy), so they’re still fighting in their mind, but now projecting their anger and fear at the government who wants to “take away their freedom”. Anyway, this is what I came up with, after observing a few of such acquaintances and their reasoning on social media.

But when it comes to these arguments, sometimes I think it is not just my fears talking. It may also be my scientific background. It kind of hits home when people simply refuse to look at and try to understand evidence. It may also be my arrogance, I guess. What do you think?

Perhaps. Maybe you feel they’re disrespecting you when they don’t listen to your scientifically backed arguments? If you take it personally, as a personal attack on your knowledge and expertise, and an attempt to humiliate you – then it’s probably an inner child wound involved, where your self-esteem might feel damaged. I don’t know, just lamenting about the possibilities…

Thank God you haven’t lost any family members to Covid. I do hope you get vaccinated soon, and till then, keep up your faith and your prayers. I haven’t seen movie The Help (or read the book), but if it helps you to write down your prayers, and you enjoy writing, then yes, by all means do it!