Should I defriend a Facebook friend if she is an anti-vaxxer

[bluestateguy]

She's a college friend.

I'm getting really sick of the bullshit she is posting, the junk science and the ways she just brushes aside facts when somebody else calls her out.

[Aristus]

1. I would. Isolate her. Quarantine her. Avoid all exposure to her.

Anti-vaxxers are a deadly disease...

[jwirr]

2. But first make sure that she understands how her decision effects others.

[MH1]

3. I don't defriend someone for a reason like that.

You can fix it so you don't see her posts in your newsfeed.

I have a few conservatives (mostly family) on my FB friends list, that I've done that with so I won't be aggravated by their posts. I like to assume that they still see MY posts. Although the smarter ones have probably hid my posts as well.

It's nice to stay connected to people, even those we disagree with (as long as they aren't violent or really ugly personalities). Although you may not be able to change her views, some other event could happen that drastically changes her worldview.

[TheNutcracker]

4. If she is a real friend, why not respect her opinion while keeping yours? Or is she just a Fakebook

friend? Why not just skip over what she posts? IF you defriend her, you will hurt her. Does she deserve if she is a real friend? I see our culture less tolerant every day. How important is Facebook, really, that you cannot just skip over the 'vaxxer' comments? There are many areas of parenting that are different from others, even friends.

That's my op, and given only because you requested one.

[Aristus]

8. You are probably a gentle, loving and compassionate friend.

Which is wonderful.

But if you express respect for someone bad, even damaging, opinion, it's indistinguishable from validation of that opinion.

[melman]

16. It's just Facebook

[BlueCaliDem]

5. I would...after I told her how her posts might affect and confuse people with that misinformation.

She has the right of free speech but that doesn't immunize her from criticism.

Yes, she has the American right to speak her mind...but so do you.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Good DUers have thousands of reasons for defriending on Facebook and disowning family members.

This dilemma seems as good as any to me.

[HappyMe]

7. I think there is a way to block all of her postings.

If you are/were close I would do that. If you aren't particularly close - go ahead and unfriend her.

[KingCharlemagne]

9. Does she have anything useful to say or contribute? If so, then don't

'de-friend' her (unless her anti-vax ideas are cauing your blood pressure to go up).

The cure for bad speech is more, better speech.

[SheilaT]

10. I thought that when you unfriend someone on FB

they did not get a message to that effect.

I have blocked getting stuff from FB friends who post conservative religious stuff I don't like.

[McCamy Taylor]

11. Why? Are you afraid you will catch anti-vaxx from her?

[B2G]

12. Is that all she posts about?

If I blocked all of my friends who hold some opinions different from mine, I'd just quit Facebook because my feed would be empty.

[treestar]

13. No I'd suggest gently debunking her

A link to sanity or a short nonhostile statement of fact. Then see if you get other support. She may be the one to unfriend.

I had a relative post something I thought misogynistic. I plainly stated I thought that was what is was. About 8 of the relative's friend agreed with me.

[yeoman6987]

14. Keep her

What's the big deal? I have friends who put their daily meal on the page. Big whoop. I just rush past the daily pic.

[B Calm]

15. No, instead make fun of her stupidity!

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. Does it raise your blood pressure to unhealthy levels?

Then I would think about it. If you know you aren't going to change someone's mind, it's not worth the trouble of a FB "friendship."

[LostOne4Ever]

18. Just hide her posts from your timeline (nt)

[Dorian Gray]

19. One of my oldest friends

is posting stuff by that Dr. Wolfson. I never knew she was an anti-vaxxer before this week.

I can't wait to go back to my hometown and have dinner with her. I have a LOT of questions for her.