How to Deal with the COVID-19 Deniers and Disbelievers

Holocaust deniers, anti-vaxers, and flat Earthers...now Coronavirus deniers. 

We’ve seen them throughout history— those who refuse to believe the harsh realities, who favor political or religious orthodoxy over science, who employ conspiracy theories, who minimize trauma to justify their political views and agendas, and then who proceed to indiscriminately revise history.

They routinely conflate confidence with immunity, and survival with the economy. They reduce the threat through political and economic concern, employ logical fallacies and false analogies. They argue by striking contrived similarities to the flu and car accidents. They actively defy isolation orders, and ignore the biological and epidemiological realities and capabilities of a rampant, deadly virus. They are often the same people who spew falsehoods while they horde Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves and masks, thereby making them unavailable for others who need those supplies. “Moderation” is not in their vocabulary.

By doing so, the Deniers and Disbelievers have effectively exposed the damaged relationship between individuals and our society—and our responsibility to others. 

On an individual basis, they are almost instantly recognizable, but their preconceived belief sets are not unique to any single demographic.

They don’t belong to a single generation—they are young, middle aged and elderly. They don’t belong to a single class—they are rich, middle class, and poor. They are educated and uneducated. From rural farms, suburbia, and urban centers. Men and women. Republican and Democrat. Conservative and Liberal. 

They are quick to compare the COVID-19 virus to the common cold or flu, and invoke analogies of automobile accidents. That “the cure cannot be worse than the disease.” That economic “depressions are just as deadly as pandemics.” They are often proponents of “herd immunity” who are ready to sacrifice our sick and elderly for the economy. They are incensed that their Constitutional rights are currently being violated. Nor do they have any faith that our economy will roar back to life when the curve of this pandemic is effectively flattened, nor have they ever really read our Constitution or possess anything more than a cursory understanding of it. 

Some of them may think they are immune to this virus, but they are just as vulnerable to contracting it as those who take it for the threat it is. 

They are the Florida Spring Breakers who defiantly say, ‘If I get corona, I get corona.” 

They are the people who jammed beaches at Reyes National Seashore in California, and the sidewalks around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.—just so they could see the cherry blossoms.

They are the Hasidic Jews In Brooklyn who openly defied isolation orders and held weddings following their governor’s Stay-At-Home Order. 

They are likely like the 8,700 people who shared a post on Facebook claiming that “there is no virus.” That same post was traced to the city of Wuhan, China.

They are the CEOs of Tesla, GameStop, Uline and others that defiantly remained open and countered closure requests by local authorities, until they faced a PR nightmare that caused them to relent.

Is it possible to effectively communicate with COVID-19 deniers and disbelievers? I’ve found that the answer to that is a qualified “Yes.” Qualified, because you will simply not be able to reason with them if they have adopted a strident zero sum approach to the issue. 

Here are some guidelines as you at least try to communicate with them:

Begin by first by discussing what this pandemic is—and the threat it presents to all of us. 

Defining the problem is the first step in solving it.

And then, ask them if they can accept a variable sum, nuanced view of the problem, and if they can, propose a number of varied solutions that may apply to their specific circumstance. What are the solutions they propose?

Ask them, “how will you view this virus if it infects you, or those you love?” “What actions will you take when it is suddenly next door to you?”

If they begin down a political track, politely stop them, and tell them you would prefer to stay on the track of public safety as a principal focus. 

If they believe they are immune to the virus, ask them “Why?” Ask them: “Are you really as healthy as you think?” It’s an important question because 60% of Americans have at least one underlying medical condition—whether it's high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism, Lupus, sleep apnea, obesity, or something else. 

If the denials continue, determine whether they are “cherry picking” extracts of studies, taking them out of context, inflating figures, and making select “facts” fit their preconceived conclusions. If they are, stop the conversation. Shut them down. Walk away. They deserve nothing less. 

If they can’t view this pandemic for what it is, my advice is to do all you can to ignore them. Because they don’t deserve anyone’s attention. If they are on a social media platform, snooze or block them. Early and often. 

If you can’t ignore them, shun them; and if they are close to you, keep them at a healthy distance. At least until this is over. And it will—be over.

When that day comes...when this is over, this is one of the silver linings we’ll take away from this pandemic: we will have good clarity about people—we’ll remember how they viewed and treated this global crisis—one that all of us can play a part in resolving. We’ll know who was part of the solution, and who was part of the problem. Whether they helped you understand the environment, or if they only served to obfuscate it. 

Our best, most constructive task right now is not complicated or hard: it’s only to be on the right side of this issue, to be responsible, and lead through our own example.

Stay well.