My husband refuses to believe in coronavirus

I have been amazed how many friends and acquaintances I thought were rational and intelligent people are listening to these crazy Qanon conspiracy theories. I just distance myself from any discussion on the subject when I talk to them. If they want to deny it all and refuse the vaccine their problem not mine. The power of social media is frightening.
When the crisis is over and things return to some kind of normal the Covid deniers might see how wrong they were. Hopefully!

A friend's husband died of Covid in April and she would be appalled at this as she tries to get her head around a very different life. I personally would get the vaccine tomorrow if available and as it protects you and, if sufficient people have it, others it is the only sensible thing to do.
I don't see how you can deny it's happening and I really don't understand anti vaccers

There was a discussion yesterday on radio about conspiracy theories, and how very many people with too much time on their hands get carried away with them. It was interesting but didn't give any advice on what to do about people who believe them and keep spouting forth. I personally don't listen to them, maybe tell him you don't want to hear any more and walk off into another room. Don't let him rule you're decision about a vaccine when you are offered one. If he doesn't want it he doesn't need to have it.

Don't forget that his defiance could put your health at risk if he takes risks himself. Ask him to sign a D.N.R. in case he gets the virus!

My mother caught COVID in hospital 4 weeks ago and passed away within a week. She was nearly 102yrs old and reasonably healthy for her age. I caught it because I was the only one allowed to visit before she tested positive. I then passed it onto my husband before we realised. We are both in our early 70’s and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy! We now have the problems of trying to sort out her funeral and everything else whilst in lockdown. I can assure your husband it does exist ??

Take him to see someone who has lost loved ones. Idiot!

There seems to be a small core of people that have that or similar belief worldwide.
I remember my stepdaughter was disgusted one day after leaving work in a Melbourne hospital , to find a demonstration going on outside.
When approached and asked what she believed , she told them that she had just finished a 10 hour shift as a radiographer in the hospital scanning people that were suffering from Covid and if that wasn't enough proof, she could try and make arrangements for him and several of his group to go into the hospital to see what was actually going on. He walked away.
Sadly , unless some people unless directly touched by anything will not believe and there is not a lot that you can do - not even worth wasting your breath!
I really wonder just what Bill Gates has done to make people think that he'd be happy to either start or spread a pandemic like this in the first place!

I wish he could meet my neighbour who is a nurse at our local hospital & deals with Covid patients in a daily basis.
She is working mad hours but still manages to keep cheerful.
Make sure you get the jab when it is available.

It should be up to you whether you have a vaccine or not and just don't discuss it with him. Make your own decision.
As far as the conspiracy theory goes I wouldn't give any encouragement by discussing it either. I would politely say you'd rather not talk about Covid at all and change the subject.

I know somebody else with this opinion and I feel that it is their way of dealing with Covid because they are terrified and if you pretend it’s not there they can cope !

The weird thing is that these silly people (I want to say worse) can never say WHY govt would need or want to "control" us. That's the argument they could lose every time which is why discussion is off-limits. As for Bill Gates, etc., I suggest your husband has been staring at too many conspiracy theories laid down by people whose only qualification is one gained paperless at the university of YouTube.

From today's Nature Briefing: "The COVID-19 pandemic created a perfect storm for vulnerability to conspiracy narratives because it has fed feelings of grief, uncertainty, powerlessness and marginalization, argues political psychologist Aleksandra Cichocka. She recommends more research into how our responses to conspiracy theories change over time, better methods of correcting misinformation and a focus on fulfilling the psychological needs that underlie conspiracy belief. “Neglecting the mental-health crisis risks perpetuating an information one,” she writes." www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03130-6?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=898f7d70df-briefing-dy-20201110&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-898f7d70df-45354182

He is entitled to his own opinions you are individuals just don't discuss it with him if it upsets you and if you want the vaccine have it

It is horrible to deal with. My son has been the same but at least I don’t live with him. I had him on the phone ranting about it. After a big row I found the easiest way was to agree with him and say it was so scary that I would really appreciate it if he didn’t talk to me about it. That worked and he took a more protective attitude to shield me. You could try that.

I'm not sure I could put up with stuff with that. OH and I have been together for 44 years but if he started blithering on about conspiracy theories, my first thought would be that he had gone mad, and secondly that I was out of there! Women should not have to put up with this nonsense. Please do not refuse a vaccine because your OH demands that you don't have one.

He is of course entitled to his own opinions ..... as are you. What he is not entitled to do tho is to continuously ram his opinions down your throat, as if your opinions are not valid. Is it just the virus ? Or is he dogmatic on other issues ? Has he always been like this ?
I can only liken this to my 90 year old mother, who knows everything and is always right ..... but I only see her once a week and just refuse to listen when she starts her lectures ?

nightwriter it must be very difficult to stop yourself grabbing his head and banging it on the nearest wall. I have read this theory on social media that Bill Gates has developed the vaccine so that he can make people autistic- what can you say. There is no cure for stupidity.

I read yesterday that GCHQ have been called in to address the anti-vax theories and online posts, many of which have been planted by Russia to cause dissent.

No point in arguing with a conspiracy theorist, if he keeps carping on about it it must be very wearing, all you can do is avoid the subject as much as possible. Don’t watch the news, now the US election is over its back to Covid .

I think many people feel unsettled and insecure in times like this and there is comfort in finding one simple solution that resolves all your problems.

Remember the years when the answer to everything was that it was the communists, with a red under every bed, and in the USA that degenerated into McCarthyism.

But as has been often said For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, = and wrong. and this applies to all those conspiracy theories.

We also have a family member who unfortunately believes that it is all a conspiracy, she talks about a plandemic. I just tell her she is bonkers so she leaves me alone now.

Nothing you can do but ignore him. It can't be easy though if you live in the same house!

Whaaaaaat? (nightwriter, are you in the USA?)

there are particular websites that seem to get a grip on some people's whole mind-set.
and i have heard otherwise reasonable and intelligent people calling in to radio stations, who sound so strange in their assertions.
one last night, he didn't think much of trump, until Covid arrived. then he realised that Biden was evil, and big business in charge of govt.. it made no sense.
the presenter tried to probe but it was pointless.
the is a highly qualified woman near here, who is an anti-vaxxer and she stops in the street to berate me if she sees me wearing a mask. says it will make me ill from lack of oxygen, and will scare people so that the govt can control them, like they did in nazi germany.
i don't say anything. no point. just try to avoid her.

Tell him to stop talking bl***y nonsense. That's what I would do, and probably add that only someone of diminished mental capacity could believe it doesn't exist.

Then refuse to listen to his rubbish. Walk out of the room every time he starts and get the vaccine as soon as it is available, without discussing it with him.

You are, after all, at considerable risk as your husband is taking no precautions as he doesn't believe the illness exists.

There are also people who still believe the world is flat. Does he tell you how to vote so why should he tell you whether to have the vaccine or not?