Reply #65: That single question, perhaps not.

[Ms. Toad]

isolated from the context. On the off chance you really don't understand how you're coming across (and really would like to continue to have substantive conversations on the matter) here's a summary of the particular conversation thread that led to the question above:

The substance of the concern was the growing number of new vaccinations added to the mandatory vaccination schedule very shortly after being introduced.

You responded that there was only one failed attempt to add HPV.

I responded that HiB and Chicken Pox were additional new vaccinations that followed that pattern.

You responded with disbelief, demanded evidence and added snark about whether I understood what the word mandatory meant.

I provided a summary of the state and territory list compiled by the CDC, but forgot to include the link.

Instead of asking if I forgot the link (which someone really interested in a substantive conversation might have done), you proceeded to lecture me about the meaning of the word evidence, and repeated the question about the meaning of the word mandatory - which is irrelevant to whether or not HPV, HiB, or Chicken pox had been added to the list.

So - if the question above had been the first question, not a snarky response to the substantive concern about the vaccination schedule, I would have answered it and we could have a substantive discussion about legal mandates, narrow exceptions to those mandates, enforcement of the law versus what people get away with, whether religious exceptions should be allowed - perhaps even how those impact concerns I have about the current vaccination schedule.

So, as I said, I'm not interested in contests over put downs or nitpicking over the meaning of words. If you want to continue the conversation - and really didn't know how you're coming across - now you do. Feel free to change it, but don't expect a response to a question that began as a put down until we've re-established a substantive, polite, conversation and the question is relevant to that conversation.