Measles Outbreak.

[Epimetheus]

You are still only addressing symptoms of a greater problem and not the solution.

Symptoms can also be problems, especially in a humongous web of cause and effect like our world.

[The Rev]

You are still only addressing symptoms of a greater problem and not the solution.

Symptoms can also be problems, especially in a humongous web of cause and effect like our world.

*shrug*

Obviously I am wrong by being reasonable, therefore I back out of this thread.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

"One death is a tragedy.  A million deaths is a statistic."
- Uncle Joe "anything for a laugh" Stalin

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I just don't buy into the "Other problems are worse, therefore people willfully spreading ant-vaccination propaganda isn't really a problem" argument.

[LMNO]

Is there an official name for the fallacy of "criticism of A is invalid, because B is so much worse"?

[Cain]

The two party system.

[Lord Cataplanga]

The two party system.

I think it's actually called "Nirvana falacy".

[Jenne]

Jesus fucking christ.  I had measles and mumps as a kid. It meant two weeks off school each time. BFD.

Methinks, my dear Hawk, you were one of the lucky ones. 

And all your points about educating the public at large so that they don't inbreed, know proper hygeine and nutrition, know when to take advantage of FREE health care (in a large number of cases, vaccinations are free for MMR)...so very very valid.

To me, this all dovetails together into the same issue.  Education.

Those refusing the vaccine are sort of like those who believe in a flat earth.  Nice little belief in isolation, but really, where does it put you on the spectrum of reality?

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Is there an official name for the fallacy of "criticism of A is invalid, because B is so much worse"?

Kai has coined the phrase Dawkins Fallacy for it, which I like, because he's kind of a douche.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Is there an official name for the fallacy of "criticism of A is invalid, because B is so much worse"?

Kai has coined the phrase Dawkins Fallacy for it, which I like, because he's kind of a douche.

Excellent!

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Is there an official name for the fallacy of "criticism of A is invalid, because B is so much worse"?

Kai has coined the phrase Dawkins Fallacy for it, which I like, because he's kind of a douche.

Excellent!

I forget what thread it is, but it reflects his recent statements that basically tell western women to shut up about sexual harassment because Muslim women have it shittier because their Muslims.

Which is not only a retarded argument but also shows:
a) He's Islamophobic
b) Thinks sexually harassing women is acceptable
c) He's a douche

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

While looking up fallacies, I found this: http://richarddawkins.net/discussions/641922-the-wtf-fallacy-and-others

which reminded me of how much I hate atheists, because they are such pompous dicks. If I was World Empress, I would get anti-vaccers, rabid atheists, Anarchists, and Libertarians together in a big catered conference and not let anyone leave until they reached consensus.

[Cain]

Oxford Don has regressive and antiquated views on women shocker.

Not that I'm suggesting Dawkins' views are in any way to do with the time-honoured tradition of undergrad students sleeping with professors in order to get better grades, but I am suggesting just that.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Oxford Don has regressive and antiquated views on women shocker.

Not that I'm suggesting Dawkins' views are in any way to do with the time-honoured tradition of undergrad students sleeping with professors in order to get better grades, but I am suggesting just that.

Also

While looking up fallacies, I found this: http://richarddawkins.net/discussions/641922-the-wtf-fallacy-and-others

which reminded me of how much I hate atheists, because they are such pompous dicks. If I was World Empress, I would get anti-vaccers, rabid atheists, Anarchists, and Libertarians together in a big catered conference and not let anyone leave until they reached consensus.

That's the whole thing. Atheists have been around for ages. If someone back in the 1970s said they were an atheist, it would probably just be left at that, and you'd file it away as an interesting fact about that person. The New Atheists though, make it an identity. They let it define them, and they will let you know how retarded you are for believing in magical Sky-Daddy.

Ok, maybe. But you don't have to be a dick about it. And making a career out of it just makes you an Evangelist.

[Cain]

More to the point, telling people they are retarded for their beliefs doesn't actually shame them into thinking about it and perhaps abandoning their faith, if anything, it tends to make them more obstinate in their beliefs.

If you're looking to actually make people more secular and more rational in their daily lives, castigating them for being a dumb motherfucker isn't really going to work now, is it?