This Chatbot Can Help You Talk to the Vaccine Deniers in Your Life.
Parents who do not want to vaccinate their children may seem so distant from all of us that it is difficult to understand how they formed their views. But everyone probably had friends and family who were at the time but didn’t know what to say .
Shame doesn’t work, however much you want it to. But you can have a helpful, supportive conversation that will take the person away from conspiracy theories and toward fact-based ways to keep their children healthy and safe. Before you begin this talk, you can use a Verywell “Conversation Coach” to help you practice what to speak.
This is not a sophisticated AI full of anti-Waxer techniques, but rather a guided conversation that guides you to more helpful answers and questions. For example, when a friend mentions that he does not intend to vaccinate because of certain risks, you should not go into hero mode with arguments. Instead, the coach suggests the phrase, “Okay, why do you think so?”
Listening to the person is the first step to a productive conversation, as is agreeing on common goals such as keeping children safe. The coach also gives some tips on how to avoid interruptions in conversations – don’t bite when they talk about big pharmaceuticals.
If you are talking about your child, there is a bot version that will help you talk to your partner. Verywell also has a guide to talking with your doctor that you can bring to the office to discuss your concerns in depth.