I am a train driver and took a train up north from King’s Cross last night with a quite a few football fans. Plastic bags and high spirits. Most of the time they can be reasonable but there are exceptions.
I think for me your commentary is an exemplar of what’s made you come to prominence recently in the medical world. You aren’t afraid to stand up against the group and tell them what you believe is right. Even at great risk to yourself or your reputation.
Much like the Asche conformity tests showed that most people will go along with the group so as not to put their head above the parapet or risk indignation.
You have no such fears.
Brave people who commit acts of heroism usually say they are just doing their job, but in a world where many other scientists stopped doing theirs I would like to say thank you on behalf of myself and especially for those who no longer can.
Well done. I was once on the tram in Manchester and a teenager got on, still smoking. It's not allowed on the trams, but no one said anything, just simmered in that very British way! I approached him and sat down, and said very politely that the smoke made me feel ill, and I would really ppreciate it if he would put the cigarette out. He did - a little huffily :) - and I thanked him . No unpleasantness.
Well done. Great story. Very brave. As a man, if I had gone that road, it would have been instant confrontation verbally moving rapidly to physical confrontation because, it sucks, that is just the way the World is for the vast majority of males.
Speaking of which, anyone noticed that a lot more people are not just being rude to one another but actively - short-fused - resorting to anger and even violence nowadays? I see it all the time now. PTSD from the coof years? Or are the jabs affecting the brain? I hate to say it but it reminds me of early stage dementia where people, trying to remain in control, realise that at some level they are losing it.
You make some good points JC. But I know males who very successfully embody non violent speech and are equally capable of winning people over and diffusing volatile situations. These are skills we all need to learn. I include myself!
OMH! Thank you for mentioning the change of behaviour because I have noticed this too. I thought it was just me. Yes I find people to be far more abrasive and inpatient
In a "post truth world" speaking the truth, and reminding everyone of their Human Rights ( the flip side of which are responsibilities) is THE radical act.
Thank you for your courage, and for embodying this truth in all the ways you do.
I love how you handled this but I’m left with a puzzle that I don’t know how to solve. While I agree with the concept of inalienable rights, the notion of your rights ending where another’s rights begin is exactly what was used to compel people to take the jab. Of course that argument turned out to be false, but what if it hadn’t? What if, after sufficient time we found out they worked? Even more troublesome, what if we learned that they actually did lower transmission but still had the risks for adverse events? Where does someone else’s rights begin and mine end in those cases?
Bodily autonomy is an inalienable right and no one else rights supersedes your right to bodily autonomy. No one has the right to interfere with your bodily autonomy. Even if the jabs did work, your body is your property and cannot be trespassed upon under any circumstances.
Your opinion, which I agree with. Many, especially those on the left who buy into the collectivist mindset, would disagree with you. I think DJ's point is an excellent one. Which doesn't change the fact that you did good! (bad grammer, but "well" doesn't cut it).
This can be settled by proof of claim. If someone is making a claim they must first prove it or they have no claim. In particular, this must happen if it affects your rights. There was and is no proof of the claims that were made about the vaccines.
It reminds me of when slavery and later apartheid was considered constitutional.
You can rationalize anything in an insane society.
I was worried that the jabs were going to be relatively safe in order to build trust. Then, a while later, oopsie we messed up with this new technology, sorry folks!
At least that would keep the group think momentum going.
But they really messed up and doubled down. That's why they're not getting the boosters haha
You solve it by always opting for freedom, and against coercion. At least in cases like you cite. Toby had a really, really good piece that speaks to your dilemma beautifully, IMO.
Fantastic result Tess! but I think one has to have internalised the power of one's inalienable rights and really believe them to be able too achieve something like this. And perhaps more importantly one has to have had training or else naturally embody the principles of non violent direct action and non violent speech. Because my guess is that if you had come from a place of anger rather than peace all hell would have broken loose. So most of us have skills to learn!
Apr 2, 2023·edited Apr 2, 2023Liked by Dr Tess Lawrie, MBBCh, PhD
Dearest wise Tess, it appears you struck home with your calm informative words...such a good lesson for us all to pay attention to. You inspired in the one guy his spirit of caring, the instruction we've all heard pretty often in our lives, if we've lived long enough...that of 'Do unto others as you would be done unto'...which to me is the bottom line of natural law and civilised behaviour, but not always easy to put into practice.
We all need to allow ourselves to express our natural exuberance, and our feelings, otherwise we become self censured, but the need to do so can nearly always be tempered by caring...weighing whether any pain that may be caused by expressing what one thinks, is worth the saying if it because it can bring about positive changes; whether expressing exuberance will break peoples needed rest, as was the case on the train journey. The young seem to have to learn these lessons as they go along in life, but not always from such a wise teacher as yourself, more often than not, if such lessons have not been taught by the 'teachers' in a childs' life, the lesson is learned through unjustified punishment, meted out by 'authority', or by the frustrated or angered, which more often than not might well create resentment instead of caring. Those young people were so lucky to come across you as the teacher/reminder!
Wonderful story and a strong reminder that civil western societies used to have conversations like that all the time, when ironing out minor, daily disputes and disagreements. Our government schools (with the seeds down by Marxists for the last 50 years) have destroyed that ability in our current society. Thank you for returning that tool to us!
LOVE this. Thank you. Your rights end where mine begin, and vice verse! Love this exchange on the train, many from that night will remember it (even the kids, if they were not too wasted;)!
I am a train driver and took a train up north from King’s Cross last night with a quite a few football fans. Plastic bags and high spirits. Most of the time they can be reasonable but there are exceptions.
I think for me your commentary is an exemplar of what’s made you come to prominence recently in the medical world. You aren’t afraid to stand up against the group and tell them what you believe is right. Even at great risk to yourself or your reputation.
Much like the Asche conformity tests showed that most people will go along with the group so as not to put their head above the parapet or risk indignation.
You have no such fears.
Brave people who commit acts of heroism usually say they are just doing their job, but in a world where many other scientists stopped doing theirs I would like to say thank you on behalf of myself and especially for those who no longer can.
Beautiful comment!! And I agree with everything you said but couldn’t put into words. I loved her essay today.
you engaged them on a level that assumed intelligence and, at least one with leadership skill responded in-kind. 💞win-win 💞
Well done. I was once on the tram in Manchester and a teenager got on, still smoking. It's not allowed on the trams, but no one said anything, just simmered in that very British way! I approached him and sat down, and said very politely that the smoke made me feel ill, and I would really ppreciate it if he would put the cigarette out. He did - a little huffily :) - and I thanked him . No unpleasantness.
Well done. Great story. Very brave. As a man, if I had gone that road, it would have been instant confrontation verbally moving rapidly to physical confrontation because, it sucks, that is just the way the World is for the vast majority of males.
Speaking of which, anyone noticed that a lot more people are not just being rude to one another but actively - short-fused - resorting to anger and even violence nowadays? I see it all the time now. PTSD from the coof years? Or are the jabs affecting the brain? I hate to say it but it reminds me of early stage dementia where people, trying to remain in control, realise that at some level they are losing it.
You make some good points JC. But I know males who very successfully embody non violent speech and are equally capable of winning people over and diffusing volatile situations. These are skills we all need to learn. I include myself!
OMH! Thank you for mentioning the change of behaviour because I have noticed this too. I thought it was just me. Yes I find people to be far more abrasive and inpatient
Exemplary Tess!
In a "post truth world" speaking the truth, and reminding everyone of their Human Rights ( the flip side of which are responsibilities) is THE radical act.
Thank you for your courage, and for embodying this truth in all the ways you do.
Nice commentary ahead of the Passover holiday celebrating freedom
I love how you handled this but I’m left with a puzzle that I don’t know how to solve. While I agree with the concept of inalienable rights, the notion of your rights ending where another’s rights begin is exactly what was used to compel people to take the jab. Of course that argument turned out to be false, but what if it hadn’t? What if, after sufficient time we found out they worked? Even more troublesome, what if we learned that they actually did lower transmission but still had the risks for adverse events? Where does someone else’s rights begin and mine end in those cases?
Bodily autonomy is an inalienable right and no one else rights supersedes your right to bodily autonomy. No one has the right to interfere with your bodily autonomy. Even if the jabs did work, your body is your property and cannot be trespassed upon under any circumstances.
Yes! Most of us agree on that.
That's why they made the jabs "voluntary".
If you don't get the jab, by choice, you cannot work or whatever.
At least Jacobson could pay a fine and go on with his and his family's life...
There are laws that make discrimination on sex, creed, race , disability illegal.
But so far, there's no such laws for medical requirements, or perhaps the lawyers are purposely not looking for it.
Your opinion, which I agree with. Many, especially those on the left who buy into the collectivist mindset, would disagree with you. I think DJ's point is an excellent one. Which doesn't change the fact that you did good! (bad grammer, but "well" doesn't cut it).
This can be settled by proof of claim. If someone is making a claim they must first prove it or they have no claim. In particular, this must happen if it affects your rights. There was and is no proof of the claims that were made about the vaccines.
It reminds me of when slavery and later apartheid was considered constitutional.
You can rationalize anything in an insane society.
I was worried that the jabs were going to be relatively safe in order to build trust. Then, a while later, oopsie we messed up with this new technology, sorry folks!
At least that would keep the group think momentum going.
But they really messed up and doubled down. That's why they're not getting the boosters haha
I did have the same thought and wondered about this. Maybe she will reply.
You solve it by always opting for freedom, and against coercion. At least in cases like you cite. Toby had a really, really good piece that speaks to your dilemma beautifully, IMO.
https://tobyrogers.substack.com/p/the-principled-conservatism-of-the
Good fortune guy number two was rational. There is hope, maybe?
Thank you. Reading this story is a beautiful way to begin today. Much love to all.
Fantastic result Tess! but I think one has to have internalised the power of one's inalienable rights and really believe them to be able too achieve something like this. And perhaps more importantly one has to have had training or else naturally embody the principles of non violent direct action and non violent speech. Because my guess is that if you had come from a place of anger rather than peace all hell would have broken loose. So most of us have skills to learn!
Dearest wise Tess, it appears you struck home with your calm informative words...such a good lesson for us all to pay attention to. You inspired in the one guy his spirit of caring, the instruction we've all heard pretty often in our lives, if we've lived long enough...that of 'Do unto others as you would be done unto'...which to me is the bottom line of natural law and civilised behaviour, but not always easy to put into practice.
We all need to allow ourselves to express our natural exuberance, and our feelings, otherwise we become self censured, but the need to do so can nearly always be tempered by caring...weighing whether any pain that may be caused by expressing what one thinks, is worth the saying if it because it can bring about positive changes; whether expressing exuberance will break peoples needed rest, as was the case on the train journey. The young seem to have to learn these lessons as they go along in life, but not always from such a wise teacher as yourself, more often than not, if such lessons have not been taught by the 'teachers' in a childs' life, the lesson is learned through unjustified punishment, meted out by 'authority', or by the frustrated or angered, which more often than not might well create resentment instead of caring. Those young people were so lucky to come across you as the teacher/reminder!
Wonderful story and a strong reminder that civil western societies used to have conversations like that all the time, when ironing out minor, daily disputes and disagreements. Our government schools (with the seeds down by Marxists for the last 50 years) have destroyed that ability in our current society. Thank you for returning that tool to us!
Wonderful, what you did. A great example for all of us - not confrontation, intelligent thoughtful connection.
It is possible IMO and we absolutely must say 'No'.
Tess
I like to think that I could act like you in similar circumstances. Clearly it is the way to get us to build a better world.
LOVE this. Thank you. Your rights end where mine begin, and vice verse! Love this exchange on the train, many from that night will remember it (even the kids, if they were not too wasted;)!
Those are golden moments Tess and give one the confidence to try it again. Ever seen the book ‘ Nonviolent Communication’ by Marshall B Rosenberg?
No I haven't, thanks for signposting. I'm learning on the hoof so to speak!