Then start with one. One other person. It doesn't matter what you are, just who. [He doesn't mean to get angry, but he's definitely getting a little intense about it. This is something he's very strongly convicted on.]

If you don't let anyone close to you they can't prove you wrong either and that's not fair to them. "For their own safety" is just an excuse. If you don't let them decide for themselves you're taking away their choice and assuming they're weak before they can even prove they're not.