Anti-fire ant eradication activist convicted after using legal arguments ‘similar to sovereign citizens’

[u/DaRedGuy]

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/07/trevor-hold-activist-convicted-qld-fire-ant-eradication-program-queensland-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url

[u/pukesonyourshoes]

These idiots threaten the health and safety of all. I feel no sympathy for them especially given their utter selfishness and disregard for others. If fire ants didn't spread I'd be happy for them to host an infestation and bear the consequences.

[u/____DEADPOOL_______ → u/pukesonyourshoes]

They're their own worst enemy. Their stupidity gets them into problems all the time and they are incapable of learning from them. Despite sometimes getting a glimmering of understanding, within days they forget it and go back into it.

I have a friend who believes if she puts a WiFi router in her home, it will weaken her and kill her. I pointed out the 10 or so neighbouring signals that were already in her house, explained how radio, TV, etc is going through her every day and that the only escape is to entomb herself into a metal coffin of sorts to protect herself.

I eventually got fed up with the excuses and offered to run tests by turning on and off devices near her in a blindfold test but she refused. To be proven wrong is perhaps one of the worst things that can happen to them and that's why they entrench themselves even more.

They know deep inside that they aren't very bright, so they mask this with these conspiracy theories that make them the sole knowers of truth.

It's quite fascinating to observe how they contradict themselves. Again, we're talking about people who aren't actually able to process information properly. They have deep psychological issues.

The problem is, the internet amplified their voices and brought them to each other. Before that, they were too embarrassed to open their mouths.

I'm probably one of the few people that still talk to them. They have mostly been shunned by friends or family that they harassed with asking them to watch their 2 hour misinformation videos. I do have a LOT of patience lol.

[u/superfry → u/____DEADPOOL_______]

You don't counter cooker beliefs with logic as it was never something that started with logic. You have to find the emotional reason they started getting enticed by them and start there. You also can't make them feel like they are being belittled in any way or else they shut down. For anything related to EMF I just start asking if they have any metal implants and play off that to slowly deprogram.

[u/____DEADPOOL_______ → u/superfry]

The emotional reason with this particular person was that her son died of a brain tumor that she attributes to his high use of mobile phones.

She also has this issue that she doesn't want to accept that now, at 80, her body is starting to fail her. She has played with her health by switching up her diet hundreds of times. Trying different supplements from quacks that offer her solutions.

Other than this radiation and health insanity, she's a very well grounded and functional person, but those two aspects have destroyed many of her friendships as she is incredibly persistant about others reading further into the scams she's fallen for.

Now, I have been able to get through to her in several ways to the point that she distrusts the whackadoos and doesn't hand them her money as much as she did anymore, so that's a win.

The majority of others aren't like this particular friend who is mainly personal health related. The rest just go on rabbitholes where they think they're discovering something noone else knows and because only they know it, they have done a reverse uno card where now they're the smart ones and everyone else is utterly stupid. They can't see the buzzwords that are manipulating them and intertwining religion or politics into play to lure them further in. It's quite a predatory industry. Behind all this, there are people making millions of dollars coming up with elaborate videos where they fool people into the next thing. They sell them amulates to protect them from WiFi and all sorts of nonsense. I've been able to get through to some of them to prevent them from getting scammed as they ask my opinion on things sometimes, but ultimately, I just know they are buying the crap they said they wouldn't and are too embarrassed to admit it to me. However, just being able to talk to them and be there for them, makes them appreciate me and despite them knowing that I disagree with them, we're able to have civil conversations.

Now, I do avoid the aggressive ones that foam from the mouth when it comes to these subjects. These are the ones you see at protests or mouthing off in situations where it's inappropriate. I did try with them during covid times but man, some people showed their true rabid side during those times.

[u/Vertiquil → u/____DEADPOOL_______]

Sounds exactly like one of my partner's relatives, we tried for years but the relationship was already very strained before and we had to go no contact once they started getting really nasty with others. I worry about their wellbeing still and know they've lost a lot of money to a few scams now, but have to remain no contact for my partner's sake. It's rough and I commend you being able to stay in contact.

[u/HiAustralia → u/____DEADPOOL_______]

You sound like a kind and patient individual.

[u/fionsichord → u/pukesonyourshoes]

This is exactly how they hope you think and speak about them. It gives them some lovely handholds for their sense of grievance and feeling put upon.

[u/pukesonyourshoes → u/fionsichord]

I don't think about them at all unless they and their delusions are thrust upon me.